The episode led with Jinshi asking whether Gaoshun had made the necessary preparations and then saying that all that’s left is that girl since he has never once addressed Maomao by her name up until this point. Gaoshun doubts he’ll be able to hide it from her on this expedition, and Jinshi says that he […]
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Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) Episode 34 – Analysis + Important Details
This episode seems very different from that of what came before given Maomao indicated some things are simply beyond her understanding. The episode opens with Lady Hongniang introducing…
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – Episodes 26 and 27 (Season 2 Episodes 2 and 3) Analysis + Important Details
So the caravan that was brought up at the start of Episode 25 is coming in advance of their banquet for the special envoy from a foreign land,…
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) Episode 31 (Season 2 Episode 7) – Analysis + Important Details
While this episode was less eventful than the previous ones, there are a number of interesting things introduced in it, and it retained the very high quality of…
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) Episode 30 (Season 2 Episode 6) – Analysis + Important Details
This episode leads with the woman from the clinic who showed Ailan a room she could stay in last episode, and we find out her name is Shenlü…
Kusuriya No Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) Episode 33 (Season 2 Episode 9) – Analysis + Important Details
Continuing from the previous episode, Maomao sees the urgency in the situation since the building the late Emperor stayed in was going to be demolished, which would mean…
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – Episode 25 (Season 2 Ep. 1) Analysis + Important Details
It’s really nice to have The Apothecary Diaries back given how weak this season of anime looks. Jinshi and Gaoshun visit all the concubines, and one thing of…
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) Episode 32 (Season 2 Episode 8) – Analysis + Important Details
The episode leads with Maomao being assigned to the storage shed as punishment for scaring Yinghua with the salamander tail she caught. It flashes back to a hilarious…
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) Episodes 28 and 29 (Season 2 Episodes 4 and 5) – Analysis + Important Details
These two episodes were a lot more straightforward than what came before and focused primarily on four things, Gaoshun telling Maomao about a story regarding two women, one…


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 36
He's just glad to see you.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 35
We passed the point a while ago where Xiaomao's cluelessness about all this stretches my credulity.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 29
Not for the first time, I'm struck by how unconventional this show is structurally.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 19
I've learned that with the anime version of Kusuriya at least, you never make assumptions about what sort of episode you're looking at.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 26
If I chose one word to describe this series' narrative style it would be "languid".


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 28
I've found that "there are no coincidences" is a pretty good working assumption where Kusuriya no Hitorigoto is concerned.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 27
Again, it's Jinshi and Xiamao manoeuvring each other like chess pieces that provides the real interest.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 22
We're faced with a three-pronged fork of a question here.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 32
The big question is, how much has Anshi been driving events all along?


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 21
If I've learned anything in following Kuuriya no Hitorigoto for five months, it's not let its moods deceive me.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 30
I would say it was pretty atypical episode in a number of ways.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 20
Once more the theme this week is coincidence and conspiracy, and a detective's ability to spot the difference.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 23
You know Fengxian was pissed when she gave Lakan the finger.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 37
A new season, a new OP and ED for Kusuriya no Hitorigoto.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 34
If I've learned anything after 34 eps of this show it's that the more "one-off" something seems, the more you should be paying attention.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 38
One of the strengths of The Apothecary Diaries is that it doesn't seem to have extended troughs.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 39
This has to be complicated for Loumen (though not only Loumen).


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 31
When Maomao figured this out, it was such an aha moment that I actually shouted "Aha!".


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 33
Much will be made of this story, surely.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 25 (Season Premiere)
Airing as it does in premiere week, it's easy to see that this show stands on a different level that most of the schedule.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) – 24 (Season Finale)
Credit where it’s due - this is a really good adaptation of what’s clearly a good source material.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – Episode 36 Review
「華瑞月」 (Ka Zuigetsu) "Ka Zuigetsu" You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 11
「二つを一つに」 (Futatsu o Hitotsu ni) "Reducing Two to One" The tangled thread of fate slowly becomes untangled centimeter by centimeter.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 11
I thought I had this puzzle more or less figured out, but my theory is wrong on at least one part - we're one baby short.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – Episode 35 Review
「狩り」 (Kari) "The Hunt" Well, that was a watershed
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 12
「宦官と妓女」 (Kangan to Gijo) "The Eunuch and the Courtesan" I think one of recurring themes is that there is no such thing as freedom- you’re ultimately always bound by something…


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 12
My track record with LN adaptations is checkered to say the least, but it's obvious that Kusuriya no Hitorigoto is no mass-produced model.
Watching Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (The Apothecary Diaries) instead of reading it
The books are more emphatic than the anime about Jinshi's unrealized potential to be the hottest chick in the palace.
Kowloon Generic Romance Episodes 1-2 – Analysis and Important Details
People who have been following my coverage of Re:Zero Season 3 and Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Season 2 know that I love a story with a strong mystery element,…
Re:Zero Episode 61 (Season 3 Episode 11) – Analysis + Important Details
Although this episode wasn’t as well-animated as last week’s, I did appreciate it for making me like Liliana given I found her somewhat annoying before and ’cause of…
Re:Zero Episode 62 (Season 3 Episode 12) – Analysis + Important Details
This episode was more straightforward than most Re:Zero episodes, but there were still some very interesting details in it, including Subaru honouring a fallen foe and a very…


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto
Plot: Maomao, an apothecary’s daughter, has been plucked from her peaceful life and sold to the lowest echelons of the imperial court. Now merely a maid, Maomao settles…


The Apothecary Diaries, episode 36
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…


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…


The Apothecary Diaries Episodes 12 and 13
You've read the manga now watch the anime! Wait you haven't? The follow along with me to get my take on The Apothecary Diaries adaption!


The Apothecary Diaries Season 2
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 is currently streaming on Crunchyroll on Fridays....


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 13
As I speculated two Sundays ago, it would be impossible for Maomao to simply return to her old position as a lady-in-waiting.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 01
「猫猫」 (Maomao) "Maomao" Maomao is a modern scientific mind in a pre-modern world.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 05
The Apothecary Diaries is a bit of an unorthodox series to me in general, and not in an unappealing way


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 14
I suppose there's a certain irony in a virgin being the one to instruct imperial consorts in the ways of seducing and pleasing men.


Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 09
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto has a pretty flexible moral compass, which the protagonist personifies.
Kusuriya no Hitorigoto – 02
「無愛想な薬師」 (Buaisō na Kusushi) "Chilly Apothecary" Mao Mao's new job is a bizarre, yet fabulous example of the intersection between one’s skills and interests and societal needs.