Might I just put this out there, I haven’t seen a single bad episode of The Apothecary Diaries. I had honestly convinced myself that this episode would be underwhelming because it was preceded by a much bigger storyline and is succeeded by what could be defined as the most anticipated episode of season 2. So, needless to say, I had little to no expectations for this episode.
There is no question nor debate any longer about how well the series executes its darker themes in unusual ways. Sometimes, it could be direct, while on other occasions, it could be so subtle that one would easily miss it. This season, in particular, doesn’t just make use of Maomao as a strong protagonist but also as an observer and a narrator. The stories flow around her rather than through her, making her a tool in her own story. Although, that is by no means a bad thing.
The Apothecary Diaries navigates different genres and styles
This episode of The Apothecary Diaries dives into the horror genre. When at first you would accustom yourself to the drama and romance of the series, it would also strike you with the element of surprise by indulging in other genres like horror, thriller, and mystery. The anime isn’t afraid of experimenting in the right ways and that’s what helps it in standing out.
Maomao and Yinghua go on a late-night getaway to what looks to be an old building on the north side of the Rear Palace. After Maomao successfully confuses Lady Gyoukuyo’s new ladies-in-waiting with her eccentricities, Yinghua is forced to take her out under false pretenses for a horror story gathering. The setup was perfect and she even bumped into Shisui in the process.
While at first, there wouldn’t be any raised red flags, that would slowly start to change. Not only does Maomao start noticing that Shisui looks awfully familiar from the angle in which they’re sitting, but there also happens to be something wrong in the air. 12 women and 13 stories; it was the perfect setup for a scary episode, had there not always been an underlying truth to rumors.
The overarching theme of secrecy
Everyone either has a secret identity or just buried secrets all throughout The Apothecary Diaries. If they are major characters, then they are bound to have secrets. This theme never goes away, no matter how serious or comedic the series may be at that moment. This consistency creates a rightful sense of doubt whenever a new character is introduced. Is the host who she says she is? Is Shisui telling the truth about her identity? Questions like these are natural to come across and their answers could be even more surprising.
It truly caught me off guard when the head lady went all berserk after the Carbon Monoxide poisoning almost killed the ladies-in-waiting. Each of the ghost stories that were told felt genuinely creepy and while they may not be real, or at least partly real, they left an impression on not only the court ladies but Maomao as well. The episode, despite being what could be passable as a filler, worked so well that it didn’t seem that way.
It acted more like a buffer between the previous episode and the next because they were not only integral to the story but also heavy hitters. However, this didn’t just abandon the concepts built so far, making the host and the older court lady a possible victim of the previous emperor. I am glad to say that The Apothecary Diaries is yet to make me rant about something I genuinely disliked rather than making me rage over the plot and its characters because of how well the execution of the anime is.
Rating: 7/10
The Apothecary Diaries is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
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