Author Archives: Theron

Winter ’24 Mid-Season Round-Up, part 1

Really, this should have been started last week, when the earliest-starting series were first hitting episode 7s, but sometimes real life intrudes. Anyway, I have plenty of time this week and next for some extra writing, so let’s take a look at how a bevy of series this season that I’m not actively episode-reviewing areContinue reading “Winter ’24 Mid-Season Round-Up, part 1”

The Apothecary Diaries, episode 19

Rating: A+ This episode represents the biggest dramatic peak in this part of the story. It is the culmination of everything that has happened so far this season and some details going back to last season, too, all bound together into one grand scheme, one greater even than the schemers who are active parts ofContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 19”

The Apothecary Diaries, episode 18

Rating: A I was going to skip reviewing this one separately and just combine it with episode 19, rather than post a review this late. However, episode 18 turned out to be loaded, the culmination of many hints and mysteries presented to date, and the previews suggest that next episode will be even more loaded.Continue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 18”

The Apothecary Diaries, episode 17

Rating: A There have been other strong episodes in this series, but this one is a microcosm of what makes this series stand apart from most other series out there. Its brilliance is in the balance it achieves in its execution; while mostly a fun, light-hearted episode about Maomao helping Jinshi to pass as aContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 17”

The Apothecary Diaries: Episode 16

Rating: A- Another episode, another mystery for Maomao, but this time it’s a longer one – taking up nearly the whole episode – and doesn’t involve the cause of harm or death, but rather the aftermath of it. In other words, the mystery is a puzzling will. One slight beef I’ve always had with mysteriesContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries: Episode 16”

The Apothecary Diaries, episode 15

Rating: A- If you’re an anime-only viewer, this episode is one you might want to bookmark to come back and watch again later on, as it drops a mountain of hints about certain bigger pictures in the series. And those hints are coming on two different fronts that may or may not be related. InContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 15”

The Apothecary Diaries, episode 14

Rating: A- Episode 14 contains the sequence that I was probably most looking forward to seeing animated from this part of the story: Maomao’s lessons to the four high-ranking consorts on how to please the Emperor, a task warranted by the arrival of the new (and presumed to be sexually inexperienced) Pure Consort. That sheContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 14”

The Apothecary Diaries, episode 13

Rating: B+ After a week off, the second half of the series begins, shifting the adaptation into the territory of the second light novel and the 5th manga volume. This also marks a significant change in the setting: instead of being in the Rear/Inner Palace, Maomao is now working in the Outer Palace, directly underContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 13”

2023 in Review: The Best and Strangest of the Year

As we say good-bye to 2023, it’s time to take a look at the highlights of the year as a whole, rather than just individual seasons. And my, this was a very full year, with over 190 series either debuting or getting new installments this year! The Fall 2023 season was the biggest and deepestContinue reading “2023 in Review: The Best and Strangest of the Year”