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At first glance, it would be visible just how muchThe Apothecary Diariesis improving per episode. It can become difficult to keep the essence of the first season while also navigating Maomao’s growing relationships with the people around her, especially Jinshi. However, the series has somewhat nailed and combined the two perfectly. The two components work towards highlighting Maomao as the main character.
The show is filled with smart people. Those who stand on the other side of the grey line and those we follow; all have minds that come up with the most unexpected methods to kill or harm, solve, and heal. The series thrives on subtlety, relying fully on how well you as the audience can pick up on the smaller signs rather than treating its viewers as stupid. Shisui’s hint about the smell near where the mushrooms grew is simply an example of exactly that.
The Apothecary Diaries has another murder to solve
Right off the bat, we’re introduced to the brunt of the matter, the mysterious mushrooms. At first glance, they seem nothing more than a part of Maomao’s obsessive need to experiment with poisons. Those who assumed otherwise would be right.The Apothecary Diarieshas always been good at setting up its mysteries and also the misdirects with it.
In the first season it had been about the scar on the arm and in this season it is the mysterious smell lurking around a field of mushrooms. I didn’t miss the tiny frog that popped out of nowhere. It is almost as if frogs can’t leave her alone. The game of cats and frogs simply does not end.
‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Doesn’t Need a Romantic Kiss to Make JinMao the Most Adorable Couple Because of One Significant Scene
When a mid-ranking concubine dies of food poisoning, Jinshi can smell trouble in some way Maomao can smell those mushrooms. To find the root of the matter, the disguised Eunuch tasks the apothecary to find what mushrooms could be behind her death. The very sequence was a clear indication of how well Jinshi had come to know his muse. His attachment towards Maomao doesn’t just come from her aversion but also from her wits.
He knows that she doesn’t like things being handed to her on a silver platter, especially if it is a mysterious matter involving potential murder. Jinshi knows she has an advantage over these matters not only because of her knowledge of poisons and her witty brain, but because of her stature in society. Societal norms and expectations are a big theme of the series and Jinshi isn’t afraid of using them to his own advantage.
The powerful team of Jinshi and Maomao
The mystery behind Concubine Jin’s demise was the focus of the episode and like a lot of secondary stories that take place in the anime, this one also stemmed from envy and jealousy. It is a recurring pattern inThe Apothecary Diariesthat ladies-in-waiting and concubines wish ill to each other to earn the Emperor’s favor or even for their own selfish gains. The threat to Concubine Gyokuyo and Concubine Lihua’s children also came from a similar envy.
Concubine Jin’s death was a result of her own actions. She had always been one to sabotage other Concubines and couldn’t even tolerate it when her lady-in-waiting was getting more attention. A brawl out of resentment led to Jin’s death, forming a new mystery to fake it. If the women in the Rear Palace are already so devious, it would be difficult to maintain peace once the literary rates also increase.
‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Running Gag of Maomao’s Aversion Towards Jinshi Is a Contrastingly Clever Move
It was almost ironic that the very mushrooms that sprouted due to the dead and decayed body of Concubine Jin became the reason for exposing what truly happened to her. No matter how wicked she was in her waking life, at least the eternal slumber would be able to give her some form of peace. The moral code of the anime has never been black and white. It is difficult to judge someone purely on one deed or another.
The narrative style makes it even more difficult. Despite using omniscient reader’s viewpoint, the information present to the audience is limited, or rather limited omniscient. No matter how much we think we’ve solved the mystery, one plot twist after another would come to prove us wrong. The importance of observation isn’t just a message for Maomao to learn but also the audience living her story through the screen.
Rating: 9/10
The Apothecary Diariesis available to watch on Crunchyroll.
The Apothecary Diaries Episode 27 Review – Leave It to Maomao to Solve an Entire Murder Mystery With a Mushroom
Adya Godboley
Anime Content Manager
Articles Published :1879
Adya Godboley is the Anime Content Lead at FandomWire with over 1800 published articles. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-certified critic with a background in literature. From The Case Study of Vanitas to Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, her anime knowledge is one she’s gathered with years of experience. She also enjoys Marvel, DC and Superhero media with her works having been recognized by prominent figures such as Dwayne Johnson, Abby Trott and the Blood of Zeus creators.
