The Apothecary Diaries Season 2: Episode 8 FULL LENGTH Reaction!
Added 2025-03-05 14:00:11 +0000 UTC*EMPIRICAL HEADPHONE WARNINGS*
Oohhhh, MaoMao is making friends in high places! First the Emperor, and now his MOTHER has come to visit! This is a "Meet the Family" that MaoMao doesn't even realize is going down -- there's a LOT to theorize about this episode, so let's get to it!
The Rule of 8 does NOT let us down!
LINK TO REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/QNHRzZc1aBLsDEjgSEYuaD?
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
Yeah, it is what it is with the medicine - but that is good to know! So thanks for checking in episode 13! I’m glad what we had in the last episode or two subverted those expectations of where I thought the plot would go! Yeah, I feel shows like Natsume’s Book of Friends (which does some MAJOR restructuring from the source material) really makes me want to be careful! And yeah, repeating myself does…get old. So I’m glad you are considerate! I love the friendship with Xiaolan and MaoMao this series! :3 Shisuis’s fangirling is honestly adorable! And yeah, her and MaoMao have a surprising amount in common, just not the overall outward personalities! And yes, at least we have Anshi’s name now; now I just need Emperor names! But yes, Anshi is VERY powerful to be able to make people leave with a glance. Yeah, I didn’t realize she was played by Anna Liebert’s VA from monster; that soft voice is actually quite scary in how powerful it can be. Also, Lumen basically being the savior of the Current Emperor…and possibly Jinshi is WILD. MaoMao, you got more stake in this family than you realize. Honestly it might be WORSE to see them from a distance without reactions or any inclination into what they are saying! I love the idea of Maomao being an “aide” to the Inner Court Eunuch in charge! Yeah, she’s definitely moved up the corporate ladder. This series and MaoMao just being like, “Not my business” - GIRL. I hope I look as good as Anshi at 49! But yeah, I feel for her! Thank you for the comment and kind words!!
Romaniablack
2025-03-09 23:23:35 +0000 UTCI hate that Maomao gave it away, but if it’s just anime only…I guess that’s okay. And yessss, I want the Empress’s giant umbrella - OMG, Can you IMAGINE Nanami Kiryuu with that?! It’s black and gold - her favorite colors! <3 And yeah, I will retain my Shisui is Loulan theory because I find it so fun, but if it proves to be wrong, I won’t be sad, necessarily! Thank you so much for the comment and kind words!
Romaniablack
2025-03-09 21:39:06 +0000 UTCIt's honestly nothing against anyone - but yes, sometimes shows I've watched in the past (and are watching now) don't go linear with the novels/manga, so I have to ask my mods to be strict just so it doesn't stress me with potential spoilers - I'm sure it wasn't your intent, so I appreciate that! I'm sure at the end of the season, if there was something super critical or neat that the novel talked about that I missed in the anime, it would be safe to talk about it then! I appreciate your kindness!
Romaniablack
2025-03-09 04:52:12 +0000 UTCI LOVED MaoMao's buns! The fact they looked like cat ears is adorable! And yeah, the math is...mathing...but not in a good way!
Romaniablack
2025-03-09 04:49:42 +0000 UTCThank you for prefacing that! It really helps with stress so much and I really appreciate it!
Romaniablack
2025-03-09 04:49:04 +0000 UTCIf it helps, I never remember "who" accidentally spoils, just the spoilers, so I mean no harm in telling folks if things are spoilery - I'm just trying to let folks know so it doesn't happen on accident later on, so thank you for understanding!! It's good to know if someone is anime only, though, too!
Romaniablack
2025-03-09 04:48:41 +0000 UTCThank you for letting me know that! I honestly have NO idea if people have read the novels/manga or are anime only unless they tell me every time they posit a theory/impression and I've sadly had people intentionally spoil me in the past that way, so it's jaded me, but I appreciate you letting me know that!! Thank you so much for the kindness and support - I SO appreciate it more than words!
Romaniablack
2025-03-09 04:47:40 +0000 UTCFlagged for spoilers/hints/clues to future episodes, but thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2025-03-09 04:27:56 +0000 UTCNoooo - Jinshi's handkerchief! Given away like it some prize in a cereal box she had no interest in! I am hoping Maomao gets it back again, I am not ready for it to be out of the story haha. I didn't even register that amazing umbrella of the Empress Dowager initially, but now I'm imaging that over the centuries it's made its way to a corner somewhere in Nanami's giant walk-in closet! I think reflecting on your Shisui theories, perhaps there is a bit of precedence as well if you consider some of the themes of the episodes we've been given this season, such as the mirror story - being used to obscure one's location, and the Moon Fairy where Jinshi is disguised to fulfill a request, as well others. Granted they're reoccurring themes somewhat, but maybe! I'm anime only, so no clue what will happen, but this was a great reaction and discussion!
L Freya
2025-03-07 03:46:35 +0000 UTCOh yeah I wasn't meaning it as a comparison with the dub either, just letting Romania know that the English subtitles did touch on the subject too. Translations can greatly affect how we understand shows. One of my biggest annoyance with a lot of official English translations (both in anime/donghua and manga/manhua/manhwa) is the lack of translation for how characters call each other in so many stories. Apothecary Diaries has been pretty good about it so far but there are cases where I've seen a character calling someone their older sister/jiejie (like Maomao does with Pairin, Meimei and Joka) but the official translation just puts it as the person's name. Apothecary Diaries by using the term "older sister" denotes the true familial connection Maomao feels towards the Three Princesses of Verdigris House whereas in another series by changing it to a character's name it can change a viewer's understanding of the relationship between characters. There are only a couple of dubs I've listened to but I do take my hat off to the script writers for them. But I can definitely think of several occasions that a dub has given me a new nuance to a character (main one being a character from SK8 the Infinity).
Anime Annie
2025-03-06 05:50:55 +0000 UTCIn regard to the discussion in the original sub - interesting to see it's more-or-less the same there too! My go to for this show is the dub, because I love the voice acting in it so much (my first watches are subbed though!). I didn't compare it in this case when posting it last week, so sorry if it came across that way, I just was excited to find the discussion actually DID occur in Season 1. Still, there's some minor differences here, and other places I've noticed between the two as well! I definitely think the point on translations affecting how we understand shows is a very true one, and I've read the rare case of troublesome sub quality in the far past where I guess fan translations were recommended when official subs aren't too great - and I've even seen the opposite, fan translations that were called bad by the masses! I'm sure the same is true for the dubs from time to time, but in my experience with the better dubs, they take some effort in translating it in a way it sounds natural in the dubbed language, which sometimes can give a new spin on a scene!
L Freya
2025-03-06 05:13:57 +0000 UTCI've had a few minor false-positive comments (jokes or comments that were not spoilers but could appear to be) that I just go and preface any relevant comment with "anime only, just saw this episode for the first time," I feel like it helps lower stress reduce any importance behind my opinions in the comment! But it sucks, and I try to get better at it!
L Freya
2025-03-06 04:36:02 +0000 UTCFor Season 1 [Episode 13, I went back and checked] in regards to Maomao wanting to bring her pestle and mortar it is in the English subs, they translate Luomen as saying: "Maomao, you probably can't take those with you. You're not a doctor. Having such things would make you appear like you're plotting a poisoning." So it kinda explains keeping it quiet that Maomao *is* practicing medicine, but still makes it sudden information thrown at us and Maomao that women aren't allowed to practice medicine in the imperial palace. Especially given Luomen follows up with saying that Maomao should be able to gradually get permission to bring things in. For the white flowers potentially looking yellow to Lady Shin I can completely understand that. People categorise colours in different ways. Main example I can think of is how the men in my life simplify the colours of things instead of seeing and describing things in varying shades (I have had debates over something being teal whilst my brother and Dad fight over if its green or blue 😆). For flowers in a shade of white that Maomao would categorise as white, Lady Shin could see it as not being a pure white, more of an off-white with a yellow tinge and so in her head she thinks of it as a yellow flower. I'm sorry for the frustrating comments that are either spoilers or potential spoilers. I have foreknowledge you as an anime-only don't have, but having watched enough anime I am always hesitant to talk about scenes the anime haven't animated as there is the potential for an anime (or even a manga) to re-order scenes in comparison to how they are portrayed in the original media [in this case the light novels]. And it's completely understandable to re-order things like that as what works with the written word doesn't necessarily always work just as well visually. I can't imagine how truly frustrating it is when it just keeps continuing to happen, no matter how many times you mention your rules on spoilers. Maomao being able to understand Xiaolan talking with her mouth full I feel is such a little moment but really shows both what good friends they are, and that Maomao has spent long enough around Xiaolan to understand her even like that 😂 Maomao only said "I could give you this" not that she would give it to them for definite (or at least that's what my shipper heart will choose to focus on 😝) I adored Shisui's little fangirling moment over the bugs 💕 Its such a fun facet of her character. And also reminds me so much of Maomao's hyperfocus and fangirling when it comes to medicines and poisons. Which adds to my hilarity over Maomao finding people thinking of her when they hear about Shisui's fanatic behaviour 😆 All of my complaints about using titles to refer to certain characters like the current Empress Dowager was leading up to this moment. Like why could we not have gotten Lady Anshi's name before this moment?! Makes it waaaay easier to keep track of the characters when talking about the current Emperor's past 😆 That single look, and Consort Gyokuyou immediately being able to discern what Empress Dowager Anshi wanted, felt very powerful. I might be wrong with my understanding of what Empress Dowager Anshi says but after Consort Gyokuyou leaves I'm pretty sure she says something more along the lines of "What a good girl" rather than "She really can take a hint." It doesn't change that she's complimenting her, and does fit with the scene of Consort Gyokuyou taking the hint from that single glance. But it is definitely an interesting choice for the translator to make. Empress Dowager Anshi wishing the previous emperor would go away is definitely understandable. But it definitely feels all the more chilling for her to say "Almost every night" in that soft voice she has. Her soft voice, to me, helps with portraying her as such a young woman. It also makes it easier (and more painful) to think of her being married off to the previous emperor when she was so young. We still don't have an exact age for how old she was at the time, but with this episode we can confirm that her body was not "mature"; which is why the current Emperor had to be delivered via Caesarean administered by Luomen. I believe the term they used to describe Empress Dowager Anshi's body at the time can also translate to adolescence or puberty. Luomen having to deliver the current Emperor in such a way also helps explain better why it was so necessary for him to be present at Lady Anshi's side over Lady Ah-Duo's when the current Emperor's brother and son were being born. Just teasing you so much with Maomao's request 😆 Now what's more of a tease: an anime showing you the characters talking but not getting to hear what is said, or this zoom out of the camera until we can't see the characters anymore so we can't hear what is said but also can't see the reaction either? 🤭 Definitely agree Maomao is so far in denial she's built a fortress on the River Nile! If you have two of the current Emperor's Consorts trusting you to the degree Consort Gyokuyou and Consort Lihua do, you have the Emperor wanting your help on at least two occasions, you're basically an aide to the eunuch in charge of the Inner Court [Jinshi], and now you've got the Empress Dowager Lady Anshi wanting your assistance?? I'm sorry Maomao, you're definitely no lowly servant girl 😂 I think for Consort Lihua's potential pregnancy Maomao is closely abiding Luomen's rules about conjecture. Consort Lihua made a motion to her stomach and suggested that she was Lady Shin's target but she never stated "I'm pregnant" or "I believe I might be pregnant". Also we know by now how good Maomao is at just not thinking of certain possibilities being the truth, or wanting to delve deeper into the truth of a matter 😆 I felt you for all the Maths. Gotta say damn does Empress Dowager Anshi look good for being 49 now. But yes definitely squick moments in regards to how old she might have been when she conceived and gave birth to the current Emperor. Just one seiyuu for this episode; Empress Dowager Anshi. She is voiced by Noto Mamiko. Noto has also been the seiyuu for Katsuyu (Tsunade's slug) from Naruto: Shippuden; Anna Liebert from Monster; Asagi from Natsume's Book of Friends; and Kiyoko from Tokyo Godfathers.
Anime Annie
2025-03-05 22:16:36 +0000 UTCyeahhh it can be stressful not knowing lol😅
Butthead faxe
2025-03-05 19:46:06 +0000 UTCI did the same once, I think we need to preface comments with a disclaimer that we are anime only! lol
William Pina
2025-03-05 18:50:50 +0000 UTCOn a lighter note.. I adored MaoMao hair. I thought the little buns look like cat ears. The creeping realization you did the math. Yeah… I think of Margret Beafort. In history.
LoreleiS
2025-03-05 18:44:23 +0000 UTCI truly do apologize for my prior comment. It was this episode that made me realize that they may not go linear with these books like they did last season and before I could go back and edit my comment you had seen it. Again, my intent was not to spoil. Going forward as I replied last time I will leave all discussion of the novel out until the very end of the season. Again I am so sorry my comment added to your frustration.
LoreleiS
2025-03-05 18:12:37 +0000 UTCThe empress has such aura. She’s so cool! I’ll hold off on further comment till next week! I have a lot I want to say and I’ll say it later.
Icy
2025-03-05 18:08:47 +0000 UTCI left a comment on the last apothecary diaries post about my take on the emporer and empress flashback and I'd like to apologize because I never condone any kind of spoiling I haven't read the manga or the novel I'm going in completely blind and just like giving theories and different perspectives as well as seeing others perspectives but I will definitely be more mindful in the future not to comment things that might seem spoilery or like I'm trying to lead you to a certain conclusion, love all your reactions and reviews you are one of my FAVES
Butthead faxe
2025-03-05 16:40:10 +0000 UTC
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