Hmmm, does this count as a filler episode? It is in the manga but then again, a lot of episodes that are considered filler are also in the source material. That’s not something I can go by. It was a bit of an odd episode all things considered. I’m not sure how I’m going to review it, to be honest.
This week’s Apothecary Diaries was clearly split into two parts. But instead of being the setup and conclusion of a self-contained story or even two separate short stories, it was a self-contained mini-case and the opening act of a completely different case. And that’s kind of an odd choice. Especially with that flashback sequence in the middle that was quite long and most definitely filler and a way to reuse animation. That part was not in the manga. I wonder why they didn’t skip the short story about the captain and the salt or why they didn’t just draw it out to a full episode.
I have to admit that although I am up to date on the manga, certain bits are a little fuzzy. I should probably reread it. And I do know that Apothecary Diaries is generally better than a lot of anime about continuity. As such there is a real possibility that some things we saw in the salt murder case are going to become important later and I just forgot about it. But it still felt like an odd pacing for this episode.
If nothing from it comes back, I guess the first part of the episode served to humanize Jinshi a little and remind us of the stakes for everyone in the show. Also, we learned that Maomao is quite fond of “booze” as if I didn’t like her enough already! In case you were wondering, Maomao is 17 or 18 at this point so should the drinking age be set at 20, she would have to go without for at least a couple of years.
To me, this part of the episode was pleasant but slightly unremarkable. It dealt with the death of an older army official we have not seen before. Most of the action happened in a single room and I’m using the word action very loosely here. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a slow talkie murder mystery. But it felt a lot like the courtesan failed murder of last week without all the salacious fun!
And oddly, it’s not like the episode was evenly split. This stand-alone mystery took up the bulk of the runtime and we just had enough left over for the set up of what promises to be a much more interesting murder. I feel so callous. A fictional man died and I’m whining about it not being paced to my liking. Horrid!
But this new murder, now this I can sink my teeth into.
I really like the royal consorts. All of them. I love it whenever we get to see them or learn anything new about the rituals around them. I find it fascinating. Gyokuyou is my favourite. She’s the most likeable to me and naturally the most developed one as we see her onscreen the most. And I love that she’s a bit of a troll. She’s also one of the few ladies aside from Maomao who seems pretty immune to Jinshi’s charms. This said, I also quite liked what we saw of the other two consorts.
But Aaduo is still a mystery. She is the oldest of the consorts and does seem the most mature for what that’s worth but otherwise, we haven’t heard much. I guess that’s a good thing, we get to find out! The Emperor only has 4 consorts that we know of. I’m not being coy it’s just that it’s a bit low for a harem. Especially if there’s one he doesn’t really…entertain… A quick Google search told me that “Emperors had access to upwards of 10,000 consorts. In terms of how many they actually had relations with, the average was around a few dozen…” That’s a lot more than 4 and really just 3. I’m wondering if there is something we don’t know yet. Something that explains this low number. Maybe Aaduo knows. Maybe her handmaid knew…
Dum dum DUM!
It’s a bit too much of an obvious route for the one consort who hasn’t gotten any screen time yet to be the perpetrator of the poisoning incident, but, it certainly doesn’t look good when one of her servants may be involved. Either way, there is murderous conspiracy afoot, and I imagine the murdered girl was either a loose end or a scapegoat.
It’s a travesty that the one official, whom Jinshi clearly looked up to, was basically murdered by accident. I mean, why couldn’t his peers just let him be a hard worker without harassing him for it? And whoever put the salt in his liquor didn’t stop to think that something was odd here? Sheesh!
I had to love Maomao’s reaction to getting some good booze, as well as how Jinshi successfully teased her with the possibility of making it illegal for her to drink for a few more years to come. But the real thrust of the episode was in that moment when she requested to die by poison if she were ever to be executed. Jinshi was duly shocked, but Maomao has the right of it. For a commoner, it isn’t about whether any given noble would or would not have them killed, it’s about how they simply *can* have them killed, for any reason whatsoever, even at the slightest of whims. This is the true gulf which separates Maomao and Jinshi.
I hope the story goes in the direction where Jinshi is inspired to do something about this egregious injustice.
Then again, perhaps there is an entirely different development arising about Maomao! O_O
I thought the first part of the episode was set-up. The show hasn’t so far dropped many threads; it seems to be weaving a pretty complex tapestry. Not sure though (for example, the unlikable noble Maomao saved in the red-light district – will he make a come-back and would it have been better to let him die?)
As for the consorts, it didn’t occur to me that there were only four. I thought those were the “celebrities”: the favored ones (either because of true favor or social standing). I mean the number four reminds me of the four heavenly beasts, so I just thought that’s a sort of cultural thing to have four important slots and then the rest. If there really are only four, that’d be a surprise to me.
That said, what little we’ve seen from the emperor, he does seem a more mellow personality than you’d usually get. However, wouldn’t having only four consorts be… detrimental to his reputation? I wouldn’t know. Maybe he’s so far above folk that things like reputation no longer apply?
I’ll just have to say I really love this show, and Maomao is without a doubt my favourite protagonist of the season.
You are correct, the four major consorts we’ve seen are exactly that: the major ones. The celebrities. The most favored of them all. But remember that one who pretended to be sleep-dancing? Also a consort. Just one that managed to evade the emperor’s favor until her true love distinguished himself in battle and took her as his wife.
The rear palace it loaded full with consorts, really, and those women who *aren’t* consorts are still *potential* consorts. Seriously, it’s a small community dedicated entirely to the emperor’s harem.
Also, I agree: Maomao is definitely a favorite of this season, and the year! 🙂
It d
It definitely is not a filler. I’m caught up on the English release of the light novel.