The Apothecary Diaries: Episode 18 FULL LENGTH Reaction!
Added 2024-11-13 14:00:03 +0000 UTC*RELATIVE HEADPHONE WARNINGS*
I'm with Jinshi...I really can do without MaoMao making that face EVER again! But, we finally get confirmation of Lakan's connection with MaoMao and he wants to meet her - but she seems to want NOTHING to do with him.
Meanwhile, MaoMao's biological family comes full into view, as Jinshi's own legacy is revealed to be shrouded and another mysterious character makes cryptic claims to our Apothecary -- the web is getting tangled!
LINK TO REACTION: https://share.vidyard.com/watch/kRdhzYuCXvWMeE3XVSP6rR?
Thank you for watching with me and for all the support!
Comments
Hey Ivy, The mods cleared it up with me and I think I just misunderstood what you were saying in your comment! Thank you for the kind words and sorry for my misunderstanding!
Romaniablack
2024-11-18 15:20:55 +0000 UTCI guess it's no big deal, I just didn't want to know about the historical figures in this show until it was certain it wouldn't spoil anything. No worries, I'll make sure the mods extra check comments and if yours has no spoilers to the plot or character development, I'll be happy to read them! Thanks!
Romaniablack
2024-11-18 14:44:42 +0000 UTCWhat famous people?
Icy
2024-11-18 13:49:19 +0000 UTCSERIOUSLY, the shadiness of what went down with Empress Cixi is so interesting; I might need to look into a book about her for season 2! And YES - true friends will hunt down, locate, and rearrange your genitals so they’re with your body when you die. And YES! Just like in Dororo!!! I am loving the connection on the channel! :3 The fact of how it all could have been prevented and the nightmare for MaoMao - it’s so tragic! And yes, her putting distance literally between her and the man that we suspect is her father as well. But YES, I want MaoMao to know she has that feeling of love within her - JINSHI! GET OVER HERE! HELP! Maybe Suiren can help with that! That is so fascinating about that dinner - I’ll have to bring that up in the future in a discussion! I’m glad that your dinner was really good! I may have to add that to the “list” of things to do when I eventually and hopefully go! And yessss, MaoMao’s mask slips about Lakan to Jinshi and Jinshi was not prepared, even if we were, to learn he’s her biological father. And she definitely knew what Jinshi was asking about or at least, she was connecting it to Lakan because she knows of her origin. I have SO MANY questions about Suirei! VERY MXTX vibes where you don’t know what to think of her or what this character’s MO is. Honestly, this series has led me to some INTERESTING rabbit holes, not that I’m complaining! Thank you for the comment and kind words!
Romaniablack
2024-11-18 03:22:54 +0000 UTCYes, that is wild about the late stages of syphillis - some people have talked about that in the Discord and it's wild! As for the famous people, please don't let me know who they are if that's cool - especially if it has to do with plot lines in the light novels that are going to be adapted later on. I had that issue with people with Vinland Saga, because it's historical as well, so I'd just rather not know until that character is no longer in the series. :) But thank you for the comment and kind words!
Romaniablack
2024-11-18 02:04:59 +0000 UTCThe show does a good job of letting us see that deception with how MaoMao chides herself on her status and that is a good point about gossip; thanks for the comment!
Romaniablack
2024-11-18 02:02:37 +0000 UTCThis one is SO good! Thank you for the comment and kind words - I may have to come back to this episode later for sure!
Romaniablack
2024-11-17 18:13:21 +0000 UTCYeah, that's clearly a subject to avoid! I really think that it speaks volumes that the older woman running the brothel would not sell MaoMao, though! Especially with how money-hoarding she is! And that is a really good point that Jinshi can now see what her "actual" hate looks like; that's gotta make him feel better...right? Thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2024-11-17 15:52:58 +0000 UTCHAHAHA RIGHT?! If search engines are going by algorithms...they're going to be worried for me! :P Hahaha! Thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2024-11-17 13:24:55 +0000 UTCYes! This worked better for the thumbnail, but I agree the other is scarier! Thank you so much for the comment and kind words - it's a lot of memory for the channel, but worth it! I have watched a bit ahead to avoid spoilers. ;) So that's good at least - I'm VERY excited at the episodes to come! Thank you for the comment!
Romaniablack
2024-11-17 13:24:27 +0000 UTCYou mentioned that everyone SHOULD know that he's related. Keep in mind that a) expressing that kind of gossip would probably get you killed. and b) humans are VERY good at self deception. Tell yourself a lie long enough and you will believe it.
Zeekutar The Immortal
2024-11-14 19:13:02 +0000 UTCI *really* want to know how extravagant a gift they gave Empress Cixi to be able to get that monopoly on the salt trade! Sad that Sun Yaoting lost his friend Chen, but it did sound a little amusing him arranging Chen's "treasure" in place. Get you a friend who will search for, find, and help bury you with your amputated parts. Though it did also remind me of Episode 1 of Dororo, when we see Jukai using his prosthetics to make the dead "whole". Maomao's nightmare gives you chills. It is all the more terrifying seeing it from the perspective of baby!Maomao 🥺 Also, once again, this show does an amazing job in how they portrayed the syphilis rash appearing on the Courtesan's body, and how it looked like watercolour flowers painting across her body. But to me it's painful for Maomao to know that if Verdigris House could have trusted Luomen when he first came their way, the Courtesan may have recovered 😢 The term Maomao used 女 (onna) is a very general term to mean woman. All the ways Maomao refers to the ex-courtesan in the annex are quite generic terms that infer a little distance between them. An interesting contrast with how she talks and refers to Pairin, Meimei, and Joka. The imagery of Maomao in that dark water, alone and naked like an unborn baby, and talking about leaving behind the feeling of love in her mother's womb, it's really poignant. It almost looks like in that moment she is that baby in the womb again. But it's also yet another moment you want to gently shake Maomao and prove to her that she does know the feeling of love, and can feel it herself. Gotta love matchmaker Suiren! Also the subtitles translated it to "vegetarian dinner" but what Suiren said in Japanese is Shojin Ryori. *Technically* vegetarian dinner isn't wrong per se, but this is a specific traditional Japanese dining style of Buddhist monks that has some strict guidelines. No animal products are used whatsoever, so it is a suitable cuisine for vegans as well. Ingredients used are seasonal, and the cuisine itself is based around a Rule of Five (five colours: green, yellow, red, black, and white; five flavours: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami; five preparation methods: raw, stewed, boiled, roasted, and steamed; five elements: proper temperature, ingredients, portions, techniques, and heart; and the five senses). I actually had the chance to have a Shojin Ryori lunch when I went to Japan two years ago, whilst visiting a temple in Kyoto. The food was beautifully crafted and presented, and tasted delicious. And now I can say: well done for guessing Lakan was Maomao's father! 🥳 But the quickness with the shots of Maomao looking like *that* going by so quick is a real "blink and you'll miss it" moment. Feels like her mask slipped momentarily to reveal her true feelings when it comes down to Lakan. Which nicely contrasts with how at the beginning of this episode she felt she was able to be emotionless when telling Jinshi about pregnancy being the easiest way to "devalue" a courtesan. The discordant music, long pauses, and Suirei's cryptic answers definitely give that whole interaction between her and Maomao a very enigmatic vibe. And leaves you with more questions about Suirei. Gives me Mo Xiang Tong Xiu flashbacks of getting a couple of answers and then new questions arise and are left unanswered 😂 I did have to giggle at your research into ceremonial rites leading you down into cannibalism 🤣 The rabbit holes of research are a mysterious thing.
Anime Annie
2024-11-13 20:48:01 +0000 UTCAs much as I love the next few episodes, this one is my favorite! specially on rewatch. So many conversations reveal a lot with the added context we get later.
William Pina
2024-11-13 18:16:00 +0000 UTCPoor Mao Mao’s mother. You can see her in the opening playing go. Late stage syphilis can disfigure you. Artist of the Victorian and French Revolution period frequently depicted nobles with syphilis because the rich men would go to brothels and then spread it to their wives. You’ll see them be depicted without noses. That’s how I immediately knew Mao Mao’s mother had it. One of the things that gives me pause about the apothecary dairies is the lack of use of last names. I have three episodes I’m waiting on you to see. I’m naming them but to quote a famous meme “if you know you know” The famous scary face. It’s very well done jump scare. No screaming just silence. I love the color contrast between the warm afternoon and the cold expression of Mao Mao.
Icy
2024-11-13 17:17:59 +0000 UTCWe don’t talk to MaoMao about Larkin. The fact that the old lady would NOT sell MaoMao to him! She could have made money and choose not to… damn. Jinshi realizing that he does not see that side of MaoMao and also realizing that she does not hate him. He now knows whatever her hate looks like.
LoreleiS
2024-11-13 17:06:12 +0000 UTCIn between googling the effects of specific poisons, the intricacies of castration, how to make explosives with flour and now STDs symptoms, this show is leaving such a sus search history in its trail.
Alex Kornejo
2024-11-13 16:11:15 +0000 UTCYou got the frame! Blink and you miss it! The one frame after that is even scarier too. Caught up on the post-reaction discussion and it was excellent to listen to! I don't know how you juggle so many shows and keep it all straight! But I kinda hope you ended up just watching ahead, the comments can wait! Haha, it was great when you were ahead 3-4 episodes then there's no fear of letting anything slip through by accident.
L Freya
2024-11-13 14:04:46 +0000 UTC
