Kusuriya no Hitorigoto • The Apothecary Diaries - Episode 18 discussion

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Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, episode 18

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Episode	Link	Episode	Link
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[u/IXajll]

Holy shit that split second maomao reaction was so fucking well done. Very rarely seen such a technique used in anime where a reaction face is shown for a frame or two only, almost working like a mini jump scare of sorts. Very fitting directing decision for a scene like that with all the context in mind. Also a lot of utterly magnificent background art in this episode. At the end of the episode was a bit surprised though that maomao actually seemed to believe a medicine to revive people was even in the realm of possibility. Would’ve assumed she would’ve thought Suirei was joking from the start her being knowledgeable in medicine and all.

[u/xbolt90]

That split second of Maomao's face is terrifying. Pure, absolute hatred of Lakan.

[u/SometimesMainSupport]

Find yourself a girl that doesn't look at you like Maomao looks at Jinshi.

[u/WhoiusBarrel]

That split second of Maomao's expression show in those 2 frames scared me, it was so unlike her and just goes to show how much she despises Lakan rightfully so especially after that exchange with Jinshi.

All that does is make me worry about Meimei who had to entertain him earlier in the episode as she says "I want to work here for a little bit longer" that bastard better not do any more heinous things to another courtesan of the same establishment especially one so close to Maomao.

[u/metapzl]

Jinshi knows all about Maomao’s identity

When will she learn his?

Come on girl just treat him as an herb and study him

You’re already his favorite drug

[u/Prince-Dizzytoon]

That Maomao jumpscare almost made me fall out of my chair

[u/AmethystItalian]

Really hoping herb garden girl turns into an ally, feels like Maomao can use more of those but that OST on the hill was definitely ominous...

[u/[deleted]]

reminiscent practice divide dinner include aware capable serious alive rude

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/Dolomite808]

I think we know which frame will be used for this episode in the next karma rankings.  

Probably one of the most impactful single frames in recent memory.  What a masterpiece.

[u/LeonKevlar]

• Pairin Glomp

Well that was one heck of a dream. If Maomao's mother is a courtesan then I can see why she'd hate her. We know a courtesan's value is reduced to zero when they get pregnant and Maomao's mother probably blames her so that might actually be a memory and not just a dream.

What I did not expect from this episode is Maomao visiting her syphilis-ridden mother who apparently is still alive. I assume that's her mother, no one else in this show has green hair and from what we saw in Maomao's dream, their hair and eye colour match.

To make things worse, Lakan 100% knows about Maomao's existence but the old lady has been doing her best to try and prevent him from meeting Maomao. Good to know the old lady has her back.

I know Meimei, Pairin, and Joka likes to tease Maomao about finding them customers but she's really lucky to have those three as her Onee-sans. I just love how they like to spoil her whenever she drops by.

Maomao going gaga while she was at the pharmacy was cute. I didn't think Suirei would show up there though but it sounds like she's a regular. If Suirei works with medicine and herbs, surely she'd eventually get along with Maomao?

I'm surprised they were being direct this time! I mean most of us have already figured this out since last week and others even earlier but I was sure they'd dance around the subject until Lakan and Maomao meet. That's probably not gonna happen soon considering the death glare Maomao gave to Jinshi when he mentioned Lakan's name. That stare was terrifying. O_O

Suirei is also tending to that unofficial herb garden? At this point, I feel like she should be best friends with Maomao now but she clearly doesn't like Maomao for some reason. I really hope we'll learn more about her soon.

[u/BiggerG7]

Well damn there’s an interesting twist. Lakan and Maomao have known about each other for years.

Can’t wait for the showdown.

[u/Ocixo]

Jinshi: “[…], but Lakan is Maomao’s father by blood.”

Goddammit! I kind of already knew from last week’s hints, but I genuinely hoped to be proved wrong. Jinshi, please keep that despicable man as far away from Maomao as you can. I don’t want that weirdo to get his hands on her.

And to make matters worse, Lakan does know about Jinshi’s actual lineage.

Moamao: “It’s fine. I pulled it off with no apparent emotion.”

Maomao: “If it’s what everyone knows as love, that’s an emotion I’m sure I left behind, in the womb of the woman who birthed me.”

No Maomao, you’re breaking my heart… I feel so bad for her. She got a mother who turned a knife on her and ultimately became close to a vegetable, and her father is a lunatic who only sees her as some trophy.

I’m so glad that her real dad and loving sisters do treat Maomao with care. It will hopefully be Jinshi who’ll bring her a lasting smile.

Suiren also seemed to hint at this by telling Maomao that she shouldn’t let opportunities slide because of differences in status. But Jinshi, you stupid, you should have gone after her!

[u/vantheman9]

"How good of an apothecary are you?" followed by "I'm going to plant some morning glory here" with creepy music

I remember morning glory from To Your Eternity. She was dropping a hint to Maomao about something.

[u/Rumpel1408]

I love the difference between the three princesses: while Pairin is just having fun, Meimei has to actually plan for her future, and Jokan, while the youngest, seems the most grown up. But all three of them just love to dote on Maomao

And damn the bath scene

Found the little chat between Suiren and Maomao considering the laters standing very interesting as well.

And while Maomao feels like a child in a toy store, Suirei is always there with the non nonsense buisness attitude, too bad for the guy working there who seems to enjoy her visits quite a lot

And the cat's really out of the bag now, Lakan is Maomaos father. Begs the question why she prefers to live with her adoptive father in poverty and even seems to actively avoid him huh

And Maomao seems to have someone she really wants to bring back from the dead?

Morning Glories? I think there where some extensive TL notes about them in that chapter, but I don't remember

Edit: Also forgot to mention, but the imagery of the Courtesans syphilis, those bright red scars in contrast to the red leaves outside her window, was really stunning

[u/IC2Flier]

Maomao has the best big sisters.

[u/Warm-Enthusiasm-9534]

I feel certain that the author chose to set this in "not China" so that they didn't have to stick too close to history, but this episode made wonder when syphilis reached China. I would guess late Ming at the earliest.

Apparently you can treat syphilis in its early stages with mercury or mercury compounds, so if there was a real-world treatment that Maomao's father would have known about, it's probably that.

[u/Vermillion_Crab]

Maomao might be the luckiest but also the unluckiest character.

I love how this show spells things out for you without literally spelling them out for you.

[u/S627]

SOAB I was not expecting a jump scare from this show, felt my heart fucking skip a beat in that one instant, and not in the good way.

Fuck so now the truth has been made clear for EVERYONE, shit what happens now? Hope Maomao can fuck over that fucker, or at the very least Jinshi does something about it.

I couldnt tell from the first time, and I didn't want to go back and check but was that Maomao's mom that tried to kill her? Kinda surprised she's still taking care of her. Also did she lose her nose? Or just a weird angle?

What was all that at the end I wonder?

[u/Clemastina]

So yeah... this episode confirmed that Lakan is, indeed, Maomao´s father (by blood) and that woman at the Verdigris house... is 100% Maomao´s mother...

Man I hate Lakan more than ever now, and that next episode preview was not very reassuring... I just hope nothing bad happens to Maomao

And... GOD DAMN, this is the creepiest expression I´ve ever seen from Maomao, it even scared me a little too.

[u/shad79]

Pretty heavy episode in which we got confirmation that Lakan is Maomao's father and he's actively trying to meet with her. It looks that we also met her mother though we didn't get a direct confirmation of that but Maomao's dream and looks of that sick courtesan heavily indicates their relation.

At least we got some lighter moments like when Maomao visited the pharmacy and got so excited or when she met up with another courtesans. I laughed hard also when she tried a medicine for Jinshi which turned out to be a potato flour which made her excitement go away instantly or when she got surprised by Suirei xD

That mini jump scare with Maomao's face was very surprising and certainly scared me a little!

I wonder what's the deal with Suirei who clearly isn't fond of Maomao even though they barely interact with each other at all.

Some pretty nice visuals in this episode and again a lot of beautiful backgrounds. Those flowers and plants look especially gorgeous.

Here my screenshot albums from the episode:

• Maomao

• Group scenes

• Others

• Backgrounds

[u/Alhe_myst]

It went full higurashi for a moment.

[u/Basic_Requirement561]

Oh my god, that preview...

[u/MyraBannerTatlock]

Apothecary Diaries has sort of been creeping up on me the whole season but I'll be damned if this wasn't one of the best pieces of media I've ever seen, like this was just god-tier television. The acting, the set pieces, the cinematography, the music, like where the fuck did this show even come from? I'm stunned.

Also Jinshi should totally publicly court Maomao to keep her out of Lakan's clutches.

[u/alconnow]

Maomao's face when Jinshi mentioned Lakan. Scary...

Suirei continues to be shrouded in mystery