Rating: A- Note: My apologies for this being so late. This episode did have the misfortune of hitting on the front end of a ridiculously-heavy weekend of Summer 2025 season debuts, but past a certain point I also just forgot that I hadn’t done this review yet. With this episode, the franchise concludes its adaptationContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 48 (series 2 finale)”
Tag Archives: Maomao
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 47
Rating: A For the Shi clan, there is no possible happy – or even neutral – ending. At least two of its principle members knew that, accepted it, and so left the stage on their own terms. Meanwhile, the one who didn’t – and couldn’t – accept that falls in disgrace. In many ways it’sContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 47”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 46
Rating: A- The point that many fans have been awaiting for ages has finally arrived, the point where Maomao can no longer continue to deny what she’s been trying to keep herself from figuring out: that Jinshi is the Emperor’s (official) brother and thus the Crown Prince. (Or at least he was the latter untilContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 46”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 45
Rating: A The screen shot I’m using here is a bit misleading, as it represents the one humorous part of what is otherwise a very dark episode. However, in some senses it’s also the perfect shot to use, since it reflects the sensibilities of the series as a whole: even in the midst of trulyContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 45”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 44
Rating: A- Before I get into the review, a bit of news. According to a report first posted on ScreenRant, episodes 45 and 46 will air as normal over the next two Fridays, but episode 47 will be delayed by a week, thus airing on June 27th instead of June 20th. In its place aContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 44”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 43
Rating: A- No matter her situation, Maomao can’t stop being Maomao. The narrator spoke to this at the end of episode 1, and we’ve seen countless examples of it over the course of the series, but nowhere is that statement more true than in this episode. Though not treated as a hostage, that’s what MaomaoContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 43”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 41
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. MuchContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 41”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 40
Rating: A I expected the intrigue to ramp up a bit with the return of Loumen to the Rear Palace, as a person with his insight, expertise, and experience is the kind of person who could be a catalyst for action even if he’s not directly part of it. Episode 40 shows how completely IContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 40”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 39
Rating: B+ (first part), A (second part) More so than most episodes of this series, this one is a composition of two completely different parts, one which has its serious aspects but is lighter in general and one which is almost completely serious and introduces a potentially major development for the setting’s status quo. TheContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 39”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 38
Rating: A- One of the neatest aspects of this series is the depth of its cast. Maomao and (to a lesser extent) Jinshi are clearly the stars, but all four of the high-level concubines also have their strong appeals: Gyokuyou is the clever and mischievous one (as we see again in this episode), Lihua isContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 38”
USA Anime 