The Apothecary Diaries 1x03 "The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit" - reaction & review
Added 2024-07-17 13:34:48 +0000 UTCGoogle Drive link listed below description!
Hey everyone! Here it is - my reaction to episode 3 of The Apothecary Diaries! WOW!!! This one was so good, truly a mystery within a mystery!! I did not see that twist coming at the end! But wow, that just makes it even more beautiful! Maomao truly is a detective here, dang! She has the experience to know what's going on but also the sharp mind and intuition. Can't wait to see more! Great ep! Enjoy! ~ MH
Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k3VcNgvSH16MJh5b5ysddh-g9buxQE3p/view?usp=sharing
Comments
The Concubines are either there because they want to be or thier families want them to be. It's all political, and about making money.
JAMES D'ALESSANDRO
2024-07-24 20:06:37 +0000 UTCHey Leonie! I'm enjoying it so much! Awww that's so cute about Gaoshun's nickname! He is super likable haha! I know, they really made the most of their time in this story! I think you're right about Gyokuyou, there's a difference between favor and true love. Her worth is measured in other things, like you mentioned. Poor Fuyou, I'm so happy for her that it worked out though! It was worth the risk, I'm sure, and WOW what a plan! It's sad for Gyokuyou though, because her path is a pretty dangerous one considering what she has to go through in order to stay in power, and also it will never really equate to actual love. So true, even if she does love the Emperor, it's not like she's his only love interest. Thank you so much for all the info! That definitely helps me understand things even more and it's so cool that you've read the light novel! I'm so excited for more of this show!!!
Melissa Moore
2024-07-19 14:35:36 +0000 UTCThat's how it's shaping up so far isn't it! Thanks for the info on the servants, I had a feeling. Hmm, I had a feeling Jinshi held a lot of power too, but I wasn't aware that was out of the ordinary for him? I wasn't really sure what his role was exactly. Thanks for the name, and lol yeah I don't think Maomao's trying to be so interesting to Jinshi, that's just how it's turning out lol. Oh yeah, power and intelligence are two different things. Fuyou was so smart here! Ok got it, thanks for Gyokuyou's name! That's the thing, true love is totally different from what's going on here, I think, even though she's favored at the moment. Of course Maomao would want to make it into medicine lol!
Melissa Moore
2024-07-19 14:32:00 +0000 UTCI knowwww!!!
Melissa Moore
2024-07-19 14:28:57 +0000 UTCHey Melissa, I'm really glad to hear that you're really liking The Apothecary's Diaries so far. This episode is also really really good as the mystery in this anime is just generally well written. A few details first. Gaoshun refers to Maomao as Xiaomao. Which translates as little kitten. That makes Gaoshun ten times more likeable, because he's just totally cute. I think you'll learn to love him even more in the next few episodes. The whole drama around Lady Fuyou was really well established in the episode and you still had something going for this character even though she didn't have much screentime. But that's what the anime does very well. It can tell very realistic stories well, so they really hit the heart. I have very specific thoughts about Lady Gyokuyou's statement at the end of the episode. She is currently the emperor's favorite. However that favor can be retracted at any time, and she has no power. If something happens to her - say for a reason beyond her control she can no longer have children - she will lose that favor. She was given to the Emperor as a political prize - he may enjoy her company in and out of the bedroom but there's no love there. The Emperor will not go to hell and high water for Gyokuyou's sake, and she knows this. She's intelligent enough to know her worth is only if she can give birth to a son and keep that son alive. Fuyou gets the happiest ending of the story. She goes through a lot of trauma and uncertainty, being given as a concubine to someone she does not know or love, put in a position where she is constantly watched, all the time hoping that the person she loves is able to stay alive and make themselves influential enough to ask for her as 'reward.' She is lucky that she actually gets it. She gets to be with the person she loves, who loves her, and who put themselves at incredible risk for her sake. Gyokuyou will never have that person in her life, not anymore. She traded that possibility for power within the imperial harem, a power that is entirely dependent on the myriad dangers of childbirth and the extreme hope that she will keep the Emperor's favor and raise a son. While it may be the more 'realistic' option, it's the one that comes at the cost of Gyokuyou possibly having someone who truly loves her. I've also read in other comments that Gyokuyo is jealous because Fuyou gets the man she loves all to herself. Gyokuyo loves the emperor, but has to share him with the other concubines, so she can't be with the man she loves. I also find that very plausible, because since I've already seen the whole anime and also the light novel, I can at least make sense of it, since it's heavily implied that it could be like that. But it's never confirmed. Overall, this is a really great episode that gives you a taste of what you can expect in the anime.
Leonie2003
2024-07-18 12:32:53 +0000 UTCThat was beautiful 🥹
Manny
2024-07-18 11:16:36 +0000 UTCThe way this show is laid out, there’s usually going to be a overarching story plot point thrown in, but the focus is going to usually be on the “problem of the week.” Most of the servants were probably taken in to the rear place in a similar fashion as Maomao, since you asked. In the interest of moving things along, Maomao has picked up that Jinshi has a position of authority but she can’t figure out quite what it is - she’s deduced he seems to be ranked even higher than the serving matrons in the rear palace, and talks regularly with the top concubines. Of course, he seems to have a specific interest in Maomao and is trying to get her to crack under his so called “pressure.” Gaoshun is the name of his attendant, and he’s the one who’s telling Maomao, please don’t encourage his behavior as much as you are. Not quite sure that’s intentional… Just because the women in this time period didn’t have any rights didn’t mean they weren’t intelligent if they wanted something - in the case of Fuyou she planned to fail in front of the Emperor and get off his radar… then, to make herself less desirable she faked sleepwalking at night, while dancing on the eastern gate, as her friend was fighting in that direction. It’s a very roundabout way to do things, but the best way to get away with something is usually to make everyone think you’re doing the exact opposite. Even Gyokuyou (Gee-yo-kee-yo) (it sounds a bit like Pinocchio if that helps you get it down) is a bit jealous - from the last episode it seems she does enjoy her job, but she’s not known true love, either. To be fair, it’s an ideal that doesn’t happen for everybody. But it’s definitely it’s own kind of drug. Of course Maomao just wants to convert it into a medicine. But it sounds like her influence is already spreading in the area.
Tyler Stobbe
2024-07-18 05:03:36 +0000 UTC
