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”
Tag Archives: The Apothecary Diaries
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”
The Apothecary Diaries episode 12
Rating: B+ The situation at the heart of this episode is one quite familiar to any fan of romances with class-based complications. The higher-ranked man wants to be respectful of the lower-ranked woman’s wishes by not forcing her into a situation she may not want (and which he has reasonable evidence to that end, basedContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries episode 12”
The Apothecary Diaries episode 11
Rating: A+ Barring a stunning collapse in the next couple of weeks, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is not going to be beat for best series of the season (and maybe the year), but with this episode The Apothecary Diaries makes its strongest bid for the #2 spot. In culminating multiple recent plot threads, it deliversContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries episode 11”
The Apothecary Diaries episode 10
Rating: B+ Last episode began a narrative shift away from individual mysteries and more towards how certain mysteries may be connected into a bigger picture. This episode continues down that path as Maomao interacts with two of the other four high-ranking concubines: Lishu and Ah-Duo. In the process, we learn a bit more about eachContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries episode 10”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 9
Rating: A- One of the major factors which makes this series a top-tier title for both the season and year is its effortless ability to mix its comedic and serious components and still excel at both. Episode 9 is a great example of that. Many other series could stand to use it as a model.Continue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 9”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 8
Rating: A- Maomao’s back home, so naturally she’s going to get involved in a brothel-related mystery while there. Actually, two arise, and both are left open-ended, though in dramatically different ways. The first is what initially appears to be an attempted double-suicide involving a courtesan and a customer. However, a few things don’t add up,Continue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 8”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 7
Rating: B+ If last episode was the big showpiece of the garden party, this episode is the metaphorical side of the clean-up. It covers in efficient fashion a number of matters brought up last episode, providing the smoothest and clearest sense of plot progression seen so far in the series. Few details from last episodeContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 7”
The Apothecary Diaries, episode 6
Rating: A- More than any other, this particular shot strikes at the essence of how much of an adorable little freak Maomao is. It is the franchise’s signature moment, the one that any fan of the LN and/or manga versions was eagerly waiting to see, and the anime production has executed it well enough thatContinue reading “The Apothecary Diaries, episode 6”
The Apothecary Diaries episode 5
My apologies; the (rather long) content of this post seems to have vanished on me. Unfortunately, I didn’t back this one up, so I’ll see if I can reconstruct it.
USA Anime 