Rating: B+
The writing and pacing of The Apothecary Diaries have always been skillful at providing some answers while continuing to raise other questions, and episode 41, “Fox Village,” is no different. It provides a couple of big reveals but nowhere near the full truth on what’s going on and redirects some previous mysteries.
Much of this surrounds Shisui. She’s always been a mysterious character, since despite being dressed as a servant girl, she seemed to have no specific job affiliation (we never did see her at work, unlike with Xiaolin) and came and went as she pleased. Hence the revelations that she never actually was a servant girl, but instead a spy all along, aren’t even mild shockers. The only surprise on that point is that her being a spy actually explains the presence of the cat Maomao, whose ability to get into the Rear Palace has always been a mystery but – until now – one of trivial importance. Her apparently being related to Suiren is more unexpected, though as Maomao points out, there was always a hint in the similar syllables in their names. (But given how many characters in this series have similar-sounding names, that’s a clue that, understandably, could be easily overlooked.) I especially liked how that reveal was presaged by Shisui shifting her position in the marching order to screen Suiren from the snake, a detail Maomao clearly noticed. Given the size of the population in the Rear Palace, that her presence as someone who didn’t belong went unnoticed for so long is also perfectly understandable, and that she never crossed paths with Jinshi also now seems more significant, rather than just a trivial detail.
So where does that leave Shisui, then? Her personality doesn’t change one bit after the reveal, so it’s safe to assume that the behavior we saw from her prior to this is at least mostly genuine. How much she likes Maomao also seems to be genuine, since she doesn’t stop behaving like Maomao is her bestie even once they reach the village. That raises really big questions about what her motivations are in all of this; why would someone with her temperament be acting like a spy? How much was she involved in Suiren’s schemes? And is there still someone else in the Rear Palace that she’s connected to? The presence of the envoy in the fox village certainly indicates a much bigger plot, and given hints that have been dropped to viewers over time, one particular person in the Rear Palace sticks out like a sore thumb as a candidate.
The other curious detail is the business with the snake. That a woman as composed and sharp-witted as Suiren is terrified to the point of hyperventilating over snakes seems uncharacteristic, so there has to be a story there. And given the way this series has been written so far, that story has to be relevant in some way.
On Maomao’s side, exactly why Suiren is going through all the trouble to coerce/bribe Maomao into going along peacefully remains a mystery at this point. Clearly Maomao has caught her attention, but what is she hoping to gain by bringing Maomao out to this village? Especially since she does seem to know who Maomao’s blood father is, and since she was posing as a court lady for a while, she has to know his reputation. (And I agree with Maomao: trying to coerce someone like Lakan by threatening his daughter is just asking for trouble, and Suiren probably knows it, so that is unlikely to be her motivation.) And why was Maomao allowed to keep the hairpin? If Suiren was targeting Jinshi, she must have known who he really is, and so should have recognized that token.
On the Rear Palace front, seems like Lakan’s scene last episode happened at some point after most of the scenes this episode, as Jinshi and the others are only gradually piecing together Maomao’s disappearance. This all makes me appreciate again how hardly anyone involved is treated as a fool. (Excepting the quack doctor, of course.) Luomen recognizes Maomao’s secret message and the silvervine, a type of fruit long known in East Asian cultures for medicinal and energizing properties and as a stronger version of catnip where cats are concerned. Jinshi is quick to make connections once provided with information, and Seki-u is apparently good at deciphering handwriting. By the end of the episode, they have already pinned down the exit route and have ideas on parties who might be involved, so it isn’t going to take Jinshi long to piece together at least some of the bigger picture. (Indeed, the Next Episode preview suggests that will happen next episode.) The most interesting aspect here is how Lakan is going to react and get involved.
Will taking Maomao along prove to be Suiren’s undoing? It seems possible, but she also has to know that such is a risk, so now I’m more curious than ever to see where this is going. (And surely I’m not the only person who wishes the scene with Maomao and Shisui sleeping with their heads against each other wasn’t in such poor lighting. . .)
USA Anime 