Apothecary Diaries anime - airing 2023

NakamiJun

@kuali said in Apothecary Diaries anime - airing 2023:

Of course, there's one question I don't think the novels ever answered - why was Grams willing to keep Fengxian around for so long even after all the trouble she caused, and so resistant to selling her when someone came around who actually still wanted her? It can't have been because she didn't want to sell to Lakan, because if that was the case, she wouldn't have sold him anyone - or been implied to be willing to sell him Maomao if she was ever indebted enough...

I think 'Grams' feels Lakan ruined the life of a woman she considered a long time friend/younger sister in Fengxian. She probably felt he would never except the current Fengxian, regardless of what he claimed, and so it was better if she were to take care of Fengxian until she passed.

That said, we don't get a lot of characterization of 'Grams' in the novels to begin with... So that's purely my take on the few things we do get.

kuali

@NakamiJun Well, since you seem to have read the novels (mild spoilers for vol 3 / season 2)

spoiler

jazzyjeoff

This and Frieren were my two favorites of the season and both make my all time favorite list—I was a bit surprised that Apothecary Diaries had the better finale— beautifully tragic. I guess the Madam was the villain in all this —or at least had more opportunities to give the lovers a chance at a better end. My first impulse is to say the actions of those involved didn't make sense and seemed forced to make the love story tragic, but I know that’s really not true —I have known very bright people to make self-destructuve choices out of arrogance, stubbornness, spite and greed. Anyway, I haven't read what happens later, but Lakan appears to have been very well-intentioned, tragic character. It seemed a little weird that Maomao seemed to understand her father but was not warmer towards him.

NakamiJun

@kuali I think the easier answer is just that much like the 4 Princesses see Maomao as their younger sister, Grams sees Fengxian the same way. Even Grams isn't cold enough to throw away someone she cares about (though she might sell them into what looks like a better situation as far as she's concerned). The clearest picture of what that might be is the way Grams takes a broom to Lakan.

@jazzyjeoff said in Apothecary Diaries anime - airing 2023:

TAnyway, I haven't read what happens later, but Lakan appears to have been very well-intentioned, tragic character. It seemed a little weird that Maomao seemed to understand her father but was not warmer towards him.

You don't see it in the anime... Yet, it could come later if they continue the series (I hope they do), but if you want to know...

spoiler

kuali

@jazzyjeoff Grams didn't really have an opportunity to give them a better end either - had she been more cooperative, Lakan would have gotten Fengxian earlier, but her mind would still be gone.

The deliberate choices made that sealed Fengxian's fate were her pregnancy (Fengxian's choice), Lakan's 'exile' (his father's choice), blocking her letters to Lakan (someone in Lakan's household, probably his father again), and Fengxian concealing her illness from Luomen until it was untreatable (Fengxian's choice again).

Lisast

@kuali Reading through the r/anime threads, it appears this question was answered on the author's Twitter or some such. I don't know if it appears in untranslated material (or translated material I'm behind on, though I assume it wouldn't come up if it was).

spoiler

As for the show, whew. I know I expressed some doubts at the beginning of the season, but this adaptation knocked it completely out of the park. Rereading some of the early material, I realized that most of the more comedic things that stuck out to me at first were indeed in the novel, and just didn't have as much attention called to them. The anime nailed the comedic, emotional, and mystery moments. Can't wait for season two, featuring frogs and insects.

Sekki

They really ended this season at good spot. I like foreshadowing for next season. :)

wanderer_1204

there is a long wait for the second season, but if the quality is going to so high then it would be worth the wait.
The anime brought out great visuals while staying so close to the LNs and even visually elaborated on the things left unsaid. I loved it overall.
I am also motivated to re-read the entire series from the beginning.

arghc

@Travis-Butler said in Apothecary Diaries anime - airing 2023:

Lakan's reuniting with Fengxian was another hit straight to the feels. Will have to go back and see if the LN mentions tears coming to his eyes, but the anime makes it very clear just how much he cared about her.

Lakan is depicted in the anime as way more emotional than the LN. It makes one wonder how he would not have moved heaven and earth to find Fengxian and claim MM when he returned.

@Lisast said in Apothecary Diaries anime - airing 2023:

spoiler

Plus Meimei as an obvious princess in the making's feelings about Fengxian could have tipped any balance than needed tipping with respect to keeping and protecting Fengxian.

NekoInu

Not having read the LN but having watched the anime, the break-off point for Season 1 seemed very...odd.

There was an assassination attempt a few episodes ago aimed at Jinshi-sama and absolutely nothing. at. all. has been done to follow it up.

Re. Season 2: the only info I’ve seen is that such a season will appear “sometime” in 2025.

Thx for any helpful observations, clues, etc. you may have!

wanderer_1204

@NekoInu the arcs in this LN are pretty long..generally 2-3 volumes. The answer to this comes in 2 volumes (if I remember right, I haven't read it in a while). But LN doesn't stop being entertaining though. There are other developments going on. IMO that's what makes the world, the politics and the characters believable and engaging.

pcj

@NekoInu said in Apothecary Diaries anime - airing 2023:

There was an assassination attempt a few episodes ago aimed at Jinshi-sama and absolutely nothing. at. all. has been done to follow it up.

One thing you need to remember about this series is that 90% of it is told from Maomao's point of view, and Maomao is really anal about not stepping above her station. And that includes not inquiring to Jinshi whether they've done anything about it. It's not her problem to worry about it, the court has its own detectives for that, so we don't hear about it (but that doesn't mean it's not happening). The only time we get to hear about stuff like that is when Jinshi decides they need Maomao's expertise and pulls her into it.

TheGrimLich

And meanwhile, I'm here to answer the question posed by the narrator at the end:

spoiler

pcj

@TheGrimLich which also means

spoiler

SupraD

Main Trailer for Anime Season 2

kuali

Alright, today's the release of Season 2 Episode 1! We've got a new opening sequence, to start things off! Though all the references I spotted were to stuff in Volume 3...

(Including one shot of things Maomao holds throughout the season... which includes a frog for some reason...)

As I recall, the announcement is that its a two cour adaptation again, so I assume this opening is just for the first cour and the second will cover Vol 4.

Anyway, here we go! Episode 25: Maomao and Maomao!

Gyokuyou: "Looking for something?"
Jinshi: "No, I wasn't trying to get her to look at me as though I was an insect again!"

Maomao, looking at Gaoshun: That's what he noticed? I thought maybe he was a closet pervert.
Maomao, looking at Jinshi: ...Like this one is...

Maomao, please don't bring up manure when Xiaolan's eating...

It feels so weird seeing Maomao be affectionate to someone. Can't say Xiaolan's a bad pick, though!

Xiaolan: "Are these commonly used words?"
Well, for Maomao they are!

Hongniang: "Lady Gyokuyou, no! She'll teach the princess all sorts of nasty things."
Maomao: Puts on a 'busted' face and doesn't even bother trying to deny it.

And we also get to meet the other Maomao! And a mysterious nameless woman who totally won't be showing up again later...

Maomao: accidentally describes every way in which she is similar to a cat
Jinshi: "I'm starting to see [the appeal of cats], too."

Aw, how cute, Maomao brought Maomao her catch as a present!

So, the progress report! We've covered Books and The Cat this episode, with a line or two of The Caravan as the teaser for next week. We skipped over the Prologue - I assume it'll come up closer to when its used. I'm guessing somewhere around the middle of the season.

kuali

And on to the episode I missed last week: Caravan!

Interesting - I think Jinshi and Gaoshun's discussion about the caravan is new. We LN readers knew it was bigger than usual, but we weren't told why this was the case... (At least, not quite yet. The Quack spilling the beans to Maomao and co was in the novels.)

Shin's getting introduced a little earlier than she was in the books, too.

But don't think you can gouge me that easily! E-he-he-he-he-he!

...There might be a little too much Grams in Maomao these days...

Quack: "I didn't know you had friends!"
Maomao: ...He's not wrong...
Funny as that was... Maomao has more friends than she'd care to admit.

Ah, yes, the great smelling. 🤣 Those poor ladies-in-waiting... But hey, at least they got embarrassed for a good cause!

And looks like there's at least one more person out there who doesn't want more Imperial Kids...

Anyway, straight on to the next episode: Corpse Fungus!

So, the outdoors tea party. Oddly enough, the first time all series I've had to turn up the volume; at my normal listening volume, Lingli's cries weren't audible and it looked as though Gyokuyou was somehow persuaded by Jinshi staring off into the distance. Such a surreal moment on first watch - I didn't even realise there was meant to be a sound there until I checked the novel!

Jinshi and Gaoshun: "Maomao isn't glaring! Sound the alarm, the end times are upon us!"

Poor Tao. And Poor Maomao: Found the truth, but lost the mushrooms...

So, what have we covered this time? Well, Caravan did The Caravan and Perfume Oil. Corpse Fungus covered Corpse Fungus parts 1 and 2.

So far, we've covered 6/21 chapters in Vol 3. Mostly in order (though we still haven't covered the Prologue).

kuali

Mirror

Ooh, we're starting with a look at the two envoys!

Gaoshun... He did a good job until he ran out of prepared lines, but the guy just isn't cut out to be a liar, is he?

Aw, Gaoshun's learned Maomao's I know the answer but I'm not sure I wanna say it dance! And came prepared with a worthy bribe to get her out of it...

Jinshi: "Have you ever heard of an otherworldly beauty?"
Maomao: ...Too many jokes, too little time...
Gyukuyou: Knows exactly what she's thinking

Gyokuyou: "Ooh, what is [Grams] like?"
Long pause
Maomao: "Moving on..."

...and is technically male. 🤣

Maomao: "For a foreigner to think Grams was an ethereal beauty... she drugged them, didn't she?"

"What are you trying to say?" I think that's the closest Jinshi ever came to having Maomao executed!

That episode covered Mirrors and the first half of The Moon Spirit, bringing us up to 7.5/21 chapters covered...

xdrfiredogx

Oh snap, I've been so very busy I hadn't even noticed that season 2 was airing! I clicked on the thread expecting to find some promotional video had been released 😅

kuali

The Moon Fairy - As I recall, that's an alternate translation of The Moon Spirit. ...I think Spirit was probably the better choice, if only to avoid implying something unintended about Jinshi.

Shisui on her first encounter with an enthusiastic Maomao: blank eyed stare

Emissary Ayla: Has the chest to attract the Emperor's attention, but seems to lack the manners!

"The Moon Fairy": If I have to go through with this, you're not escaping either, Maomao!

...Google tells me that Maomao did actually get the Italian pronunciation of Diana more or less correct (they say it closer to dee-anna than the English die-anna, apparently).. Plus she actually is a deity associated with the moon, so hey, bonus points for her knowledge of Roman Mythology!

...Looks like Ayla didn't take her 'loss' well...

What an overreaction. All I did was push them around a little. And assault one of them. Then assault several of them while sniffing at their outfits.

I really can't stand up to older women. They probably remind you of Grams too much!

I think Maomao not looking where she's going is now Jinshi's summoning ritual...

Jinshi: Why is she staring at my crotch and mumbling to herself...?

Anyway, this was another chapter-and-a-half episode, with the second half of The Moon Spirit and all of The Clinic covered. Next up is the two-part chapter Third Time's The Charm, which I'm guessing gets all of this week's episode. Nearly caught up now!