The Apothecary Diaries 1x24 "Jinshi and Maomao" - reaction & review
Added 2024-09-25 13:44:57 +0000 UTCGoogle Drive link listed below description!
Hey everyone! Here it is - my reaction to episode 24 of The Apothecary Diaries! OMG!!!!!!!! WHAT A FINALE!!!!!!!!!! You guys, if you had told me how hard I'd be crying over Lakan in this ep, I don't think I would've believed you!!! Maomao really did it, she got her parents back together! It's so sad that they both had to suffer for as long as they did, but at least it was a happy ending! The dance was SO GORGEOUS!!! And the tease we got at Jinshi/Maomao was so delightful! Of course she just wanted her ox bezoar :P I can't wait for season 2, what an amazing show this has been!! Great ep! Enjoy! ~ MH
Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13T-8zCQxoXuFukrA7qtgX-kc_DhhPjSp/view?usp=sharing
Comments
Ok cool, thanks for clarifying!
Melissa Moore
2024-10-03 13:45:24 +0000 UTCMaomao was hoping to get either Meinei or her mom to be bought by Lakan and he thought Maomao's mom was dead, and Maomao knew about her mom since she was very young.
JAMES D'ALESSANDRO
2024-10-02 16:10:00 +0000 UTCThat's great about season 2! Yeah I started to put together that he didn't know she was alive. Lol thanks, that does make me feel a little better about the whole uterus thing :P I love her choice to do the dance, it's so sweet! I also love ending with a cute funny moment from Jinshi and Maomao. Well, I'm not sure if I'd call Vinland Saga slice of life...also, I did say one of the few, so there are others! Lol she's totally quirky! But in a way we don't get to see very often. I'm really excited for Dr. Stone!!! Yay science!!! Oof, I hate to break it to you but the Spy x Family shirt does not fit anymore :P You can't see the bump in the reactions but it's quite bumpy at this point! I'd look like Winnie the Pooh :P Oh wow, I'm glad the manga is so far ahead, that's encouraging!!!!!!!
Melissa Moore
2024-09-27 16:04:17 +0000 UTCHi Spadeas! :) That's the thing, he actually had to overcome a lot! That's a good point about his position too. Yeah it was the opposite, he didn't force anything! It's so tragic that he ended up being away so long, and that he thought she was dead. I'm glad Maomao was raised by Luomen, which makes so much sense now that we know they're related! I was really shocked when I learned about how much the matron had control over this situation, it wasn't emphasized here but so many of her actions were responsible for why things turned out the way they did. It'd be really interested if they explored this more. Woooow so Meimei was in on it the whole time!! I bet Fengxian and Lakan would've been great parents to her :( That's true, she would've never met Jinshi otherwise! Ohhh yes that's right, her VA does have a great voice!!!! I'm sure someone's done a fan edit of her voice / the dance somewhere!!!!
Melissa Moore
2024-09-27 15:51:21 +0000 UTCHey Leonie!! It's bittersweet to be done!!! OMG I was not expecting so many emotions! It's a complex situation, that Maomao reveres Luomen but never really got his approval of her intellect the way she does with Lakan. Also I agree, Lakan really didn't do anything wrong and probably would have been a great father! Right up until some things got clarified for me, I was so confused on why everyone seemed to hate Lakan and/or keep him from Maomao, but now that I know the granny was the one perpetuating that, it definitely makes me see things in a whole new light o.O So that's why the granny did that, to protect the reputation of the brothel. It's absolutely awful that she put her out on the street that way! You're right, that whole thing could've been prevented. The mom wouldn't have gotten sick, possibly wouldn't have had her mental health deteriorate so much, and Lakan would've been back when Maomao was still a toddler. Their love story is so beautiful but so tragic. Lol the romantic scene couldn't realistically go anywhere right now like you said, but the tease was fun! I LOVE this anime, I think it totally deserves to be in the top 10, honestly I think it's in mine as well! I can't wait for Dr. Stone, it sounds amazing!!!!!!! ^_^
Melissa Moore
2024-09-27 15:46:40 +0000 UTCOmg I know! I think you might be right. Yeah that's kinda what I thought too when I heard "aging" courtesan! It was soooo good, I cannot wait for s2!!
Melissa Moore
2024-09-27 15:22:57 +0000 UTCIt's a beautiful ending. I can't wait for more to come. I think Mei Mei was in on it. The wager was that if Moamoa lost, he’d have to buy out a courtesan. She also said, “The old woman wants to get rid of an aging courtesan,” so I think it was the mother she was hoping to set free. It's such an exciting series. It had so many twists and turns. I can never predict it.
Manny
2024-09-26 11:19:41 +0000 UTCHi Melissa, unfortunately we have already reached the finale of Apothecary Diaries. Did you expect such an emotional ending? I certainly didn't. I had my doubts beforehand whether Lakan was really as evil as the show would have us believe. We had never really seen what he had done. Only his somewhat creepy demeanor assured us that there was something suspicious about him. Our only clue was Maomao's supposed hatred for him. What it turns out now is that Maomao is just jealous of Lakan. She idolizes Loumen her adopted father. He is the only person with whom she has established a close emotional connection and whom she trusts 100%. But he was the one who called Lakan a genius and praised his strategic actions. She hates the fact that her beloved father never called her that, but rather always pointed out her mistakes. This is very damaging to her ego. I think her mistrust also comes from the fact that she probably already realized that Lakan is interested in her (as we saw briefly in the flashback) but his reputation wasn't exactly good in the brothel and that's why she was a bit afraid of him as a child. But I'm pretty sure that Lakan would be a good father. He really is a very protective daddy. Lakan and Fengxian's love story was so touching and very tragic at the same time. It's such a beautiful detail that Lakan couldn't recognize any faces except those of his true love. And now someone should tell me again that soulmates doesn't exist. It was a forbidden love story that had very little chance of success, but Fengxian had an idea of how they could be together through her pregnancy that would diminish her value and allow Lakan to buy her out. However, due to a nasty trick of fate, Lakan had to spend 3 years abroad without the knowledge that his mistress was pregnant. The topic of Maomao's cut-off finger was addressed very early on in the series. Be it through a short flashback where Maomao thinks back to the traumatic night or we see her looking thoughtfully at her little finger. After these two episodes, we finally know the full context. What I didn't know is the fact that parts of fingers can grow back. The whole drama could have been prevented if the owner of the brothel (the elderly lady) had not sent Fengxian out onto the street and shielded her from the outside world. Lakan would have been able to buy her freedom much earlier. But in the end, she only wanted to protect the brothel's reputation. The fact that one of the girls got pregnant is already a huge blow to the house, if anyone discovered anything about that girl being bought out after that it would completely collapse the economic structure of the house, since the value of the girls go up over time, a client knowing the strategy could get a girl pregnant, moreover a girl wanting to get bought out for cheap might just choose to get pregnant, if that happens the house go bankrupt since everyone will play that game to get the cheapest price. So no one, absolutely no one inside or outside the house gets to know even a single more detail about Fengxian and what happened. It swept under the rug and hidden away so the house can continue normal operation. The ending with Maomao and Jinshi was also very touching. I didn't have high hopes that we'd see a romantic szene between those two, because maoamao is not too enthusiastic about him yet. the "but i guess he's easier to talk to when he's being immature" line is probably the only thing thus far that shows a potential for maomao to develop romantic feelings for jinshi. she was basically admitting in that moment that she likes the "real" him. I'm so hyped for the second season because I know what's coming. I really hope it will be released early next year. I'm glad to hear that you liked this anime as much as I did. Apothecary Diaries is in my top 10 anime list. Dr. Stone is also in my top 10 and is my all-time favorite comfort anime. In my opinion, there are no bad episodes of this anime. I recently rewatched the first two episodes and I can tell you that you can expect an exciting adventure with Dr. Stone. I'm really looking forward to next week.
Leonie2003
2024-09-26 09:27:53 +0000 UTCUsually I try to piece together a lot of things in the finale, but the thing is, this show is good enough that it doesn’t really need me to, it kind of wrapped up a nice little bow on top of all the plot lines it wanted to follow this year. As far as I am aware, before I get into any of my thoughts, Season 2 is scheduled for 2025. I THINK, they said Winter Season earlier but I cannot confirm that at this time. Of course, depending on the size of the studio, production can be a ton faster. So what should I address - first, the fact that Lakan had no idea Fengxian was still alive until the moment Meimei opened the door. That’s why Maomao’s clue: “a withered rose can still retain its shape,” was so puzzling to him. However - it could also mean that just as he could not see other faces of people, he did see Fengxian as she was initially, not in the current state she is in - and yes, Maomao did indicate later that she probably doesn’t have a lot of time left because of her disease. As for what this show made you Google, and regret, please take some solace in the fact that incident happened because there was no doctor present to help that woman at the time. Maomao is not a courtesan, but she grew up around them, so her choice to dance on the wall top is not just a traditional practice, but also a sign of her kinship with the rest of them. Of course, she ends up overdoing it. Maomao still doesn’t know Jinshi is “intact” because of his cover story, but of course we’d end on a fun moment between the two of them, who are at their peak when they’re acting goofy and silly together. I think we all knew when she started getting close to his face it was not for what everyone would think it looked like. Although just as she dislikes, but doesn’t hate, Lakan, I think Jinshi might be growing on her a little bit despite her best efforts. I did see her smirking. There is one piece of dialogue/scene I did not detect while you were reacting that I’m sure I saw when this initially was airing, Lakan let the guard who hit his daughter with the club really have it. As in he got the riot act for daring to touch her harmfully. Jinshi, you might want to tread carefully. As Meimei said, while he will never be your ally, don’t make him your enemy. “This is one of the few non-slice of life anime I’ve seen with no fantasy elements.” By the way, the Vinland Saga poster on the floor behind you is clearing its throat. 😆 Maomao is probably one of the most entertaining characters in the past year, and given her voice actress, I hate to use this word but I’d describe her as “quirky.” :) She’s quite the clever kitten, you never know what she’s doing next, but rest assured it’ll be entertaining. This show would’ve probably won a lot more of the seasonal awards if it didn’t have the misfortune of coming out at the same time as Frieren. Needless to say, it was a packed season for good shows. :) It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. Look at it this way, you’re seeing one group of characters off after they visited for awhile, but now you have a chance to make some new friends. Dr. Stone is an anime I binged through, I had that much fun with it, I’m sure you’re going to like it. I’m just going to say one word. SCIENCE. :) Oh, And non related PS before I forget one last thing on the Spy x Family movie and I’ll give the subject a rest , remember to fit the time in while you can still wear the shirt. 😉 One book closes, another opens. But this one will be back. When I was in Barnes & Noble looking for some manga last, I saw Apothecary Diaries on the shelf and it was up to like Volume 26, so based on that, I doubt Maomao will run out of mysteries to solve anytime soon. 😎
Tyler Stobbe
2024-09-26 04:08:56 +0000 UTCHi Hime :) And yes, appearances were far from being in his favor, but in the end Lakan is also a victim... His illness preventing him from seeing faces has relegated him to the role he has now, even if he still likes it and allowed him to meet Fengxian, it does not correspond to his basic status, which would have allowed him to buy Fengxian much earlier... Fate had other plans. Also, details to take into account, Fengxian offers Lakan to bet and choose the game he wants, he is more gifted at chess, she is more gifted at go, Lakan chooses go knowing that she is the one who would win and therefore choose to have what she wants. He is far from the idea of forcing things with her, on the contrary he let her do it, I wonder of the two, which one was more under the spell of the other, but it is clear that each wanted to abandon themselves to the other. The three years he was separated from her was another bad turn of fate, he thought he had only been gone for six months, and not knowing she was pregnant, he only learned it when he saw the fingers... That must have destroyed his personality too, losing the woman he loves (he didn't know she was alive) and the only trace of her he had left, his daughter, Maomao, was raised by someone else. But fortunately, Luomen is Lakan's uncle, which means he was able to leave her with him without worrying too much about her education and she was with family, the only family he respected, what's more. As for why only now, the matron seems to have her role in this story, we see her chase Lakan when he returns three years later, she never told him that Fengxian had survived and probably told Meimei to keep it a secret, she never wanted to "sell" Maomao to Lakan, even if he came several times and while she threatened Maomao several times to make her a courtesan. I hope season 2 will maybe explain some elements of the past that can make the matron's reaction understandable, but she definitely sends a lot of different signals. She seems as complex as Lakan can be. Finally, it was also for this ending that I spoke about Meimei, she had the same relationship with Fengxian that Maomao has with her, Fengxian was her big sister, she saw her fall in love with Lakan, get pregnant, get sick and in madness, all while having to keep the secret and entertain Lakan when he passed by the brothel. Maomao is 17 years old, for 17 years Meimei lived with all this on her heart, her bursting into tears seeing Lakan and Fengxian reunited at the end is perfectly understandable, but her love for Maomao is just as much, she is the daughter of her big sister, a girl that Fengxian was unable to love because of her illness and the fact that she became unstable during the three years of Lakan's absence. It is a terrible twist of fate that made Maomao never grow up loved by both her parents, because in another life, you can be sure that Fengxian and Lakan would have loved to raise little Maomao. But despite this tragedy, without all these twists of fate, Maomao might never have met Jinshi, who also defied his destiny more than once. Anyway, here is this season 1 finished, and what an ending, the only point on which I am a little nitpicking is that it would have been even more beautiful if the song used while Maomao dances, was sung by Aoi Yuki, Maomao's VA, since she also has a singing career and I love her voice ^^.
Spadeas
2024-09-25 17:36:17 +0000 UTC
