Rating: A- Since writing the review for episode 35, I’ve seen some discussion from those familiar with the source material which advocates that last episode would have been better-served running about a minute farther into the scene in the cave than it did. I didn’t agree with that assertion at the time, and I disagreeContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 36”
Tag Archives: Maomao
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 35
Note: My apologies for this being a bit late. Family plans interfered with getting this written in a more timley fashion. Rating: A- Jinshi has been contemplating for a while now about revealing the two big secrets he’s been keeping from Maomao: how he’s related to the Emperor (and possibly even which truth to tellContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 35”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 34
Rating: B+ To this point the series has studiously eschewed mystical explanations for anything, always going with the approach of the level-headed Maomao finding the practical explanation for events that may seem supernatural to the uninformed. You’d expected that to continue to be the case with a night where Yinghua drags Maomao to a nightContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 34”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 33
Rating: A Many fans of the novels and manga are eagerly anticipating the upcoming episode explaining why a frog is featured in the OP. For me, though, the most anticipated episode of this cour of the series is this one, the one which dealt most squarely with Empress Dowager Anshi and the previous Emperor. DespiteContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 33”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 32
Rating: B+ Last episode’s mystery with the shrine provide a glimpse into the setting’s broader history. This episode, by contrast, looks at the closer history of the setting by starting to expand on Jinshi’s dream sequence from the beginning of last episode. (In the manga version, that dream sequence comes immediately before the content ofContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 32”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 31
Rating: B+ The episode titled “The Shrine of Choosing” primarily involves one mystery while also setting up another. Unlike many other mysteries in the series, though, these aren’t life-or-death matters or (necessarily) connected to a bigger plot. Instead, these are mysteries which delves into the history of the setting. The one that’s being set upContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 31”
The Apothecary Diaries, episodes 29 and 30
Rating – Episode 29: A- Rating – Episode 30: A- Episodes 29 and 30 represent two different mysteries which may or may not be connected, though they do both fall under the general umbrella of being derived to some degree from the caravan’s arrival earlier this season. They are also, in some ways, contrasts: oneContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episodes 29 and 30”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 28
Rating: B+ In one respect, The Apothecary Diaries can be a frustrating experience, as its mysteries operate on three different levels and it’s often not clear which level a particular mystery is on. Some of its mysteries are pure stand-alones (such as the military poisoning incident straddling episodes 1 and 2 or the dancer onContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 28”
The Apothecary Diaries, Episode 27
Rating: A- Although the circumstances comprising this episode were set up at the end of last episode, this one is largely a self-contained “mystery of the week” style caper, akin to what the series engaged in through much of the first half of the first season. For not the first time, a death is involved,Continue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, Episode 27”
The Apothecary Diaries episode 26
Rating: A- This episode has a bit of everything that makes this series great: expanded world-building, exploration of rich detail, hints of bigger mysteries, behaviors just suspicious enough to warrant investigation, regular cast members being themselves, lots of pretty venues and character designs, and a fun new regular being formally introduced by name. It mayContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries episode 26”
USA Anime 