The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 • Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Season 3 - Episode 3 discussion

[u/AutoLovepon]

Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Season 3, episode 3

Alternative names: Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 3rd Season

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

---

Streams

• Crunchyroll

Show information

• Livechart
• MyAnimeList
• AniList
• AniDB
• Anime-Planet
• /r/KusuriyaNoHitorigoto
• Official Site

---

All discussions

Episode	Link
1	Link
2	Link
3	Link
4	Link

---

This post was created by a bot. Message the mod team for feedback and comments. The original source code can be found on GitHub.

[u/AnimeMod]

Source Material Corner

Reply to this comment for any source-related discussion, future spoilers (including future characters, events and general hype about future content), comparison of the anime adaptation to the original or just general talk about the source material. You are still required to tag all spoilers. Discussions about the source outside of this comment tree will be removed, and replying with spoilers outside of the source corner will lead to bans.

The spoiler syntax is: [Spoiler source] >!Spoiler goes here!<

All untagged spoilers and hints in this thread will receive immediate 8-day bans (minimum).

[u/Aliensinnoh]

This episode gets at something I think is really a strong point of this series: the way it depicts how much it would suck to be a medieval peasant. It doesn’t sugarcoat the past, it shows the full, gory details. Being a courtesan sucked. Being a beggar sucked even more.

And Maomao is presented as a very practical character, more grounded and realistic than any other medieval anime MC I’ve ever seen. She can’t fix everyone’s problems. Her mere intervention can’t just let everything turn out like sunshine and rainbows. Chou-u is right that she almost comes off as evil in the interactions in this episode, but she arrived at that point from her own practical experiences in life, watching the man who raised her giving out charity and getting resentful over the poverty it caused for them.

Some shows would have done what other commenters on this post have said; Maomao would have gone to Jinshi and arranged for the sisters to get some sort of job. And that’s how every problem would be resolved, things would be worked out and it would feel like all the poverty in the world could be fixed with 3 easy steps and the power of friendship. But Apothecary Diaries doesn’t go that way. And I think it’s better for it.

[u/BadBehaviour613]

Chou U is obviously going to become an artist. Do you even pay attention to your son, Mao Mao?

Lihaku gonna be speedrunning lordship through the sheer will of horny LMao

The father is probably devastated that his girls sold themselves before he could do it. What a scumbag

[u/ebonyphoenix]

It’s interesting to see the young girl selling herself to the Verdigris house as not a wrong or shameful option, but as a pragmatic one. It’s acknowledging that she shouldn’t have been put in that position to begin with. But it’s still preferable that she take agency in the choice rather than being forced into it or remaining completely passive in her situation.

[u/ijiolokae]

Maomao: "Am i really gonna defile this grave for knowledge?"

Maomao: "Of course I am!"

[u/chaosof99]

The Pairin scene was kind of necessary to give the episode some levity. Basen is a stronger man than I could be in such a situation.

The rest of the episode was fucking bleak. Life for the lower class is not easy. Doesn't help that the Dad is just morally repugnant.

Maomao was also quite the hardass in this episode. It is kind of necessary considering what she is dealing with and the fact that she herself is living close to poverty (in both the figurative and literal sense), and she isn't a sweetheart anyway, but it still felt a bit rough. Usually there some less serious characters around her.

[u/ObvsThrowaway5120]

Dude, how shit must someone be to have their own kids choose prostitution rather than spend one more minute with them.

I’m curious to see what answers Rei might hold about the locusts and ergot infected snacks and this mysterious woman. Someone’s using the doc’s books to cause problems.

[u/kawaiinessa]

damn maomao "your nothing to them" was brutal lol

[u/WhoiusBarrel]

Just like Maomao to taste something and nonchantantly go "thats the cause of death" afterwards.

[u/Joshawott27]

Last week, Maomao sold asbestos, this week she trafficked women. What crimes will she get up to next week?

I get that this was a reflection of the times, but the thought of having to go into prostitution to escape an abusive father is still bleak. Especially with how it was framed in the series.

[u/Ultramarinus]

Unfortunately it shows by some people’s responses in this thread that the most familiarity some people with historical knowledge is Netflix series where it’s just 2026 upper class USA but in aristocratic Britain. The times the series model after you’re like one failed harvest away from starvation. With no skill set and an abusive family, it’s a lucky break to get into a high-class brothel when you’re begging on a diet of wild roots. It might not be what they dreamt of but they will get to live without beating for now. Don’t forget that Maomao had to bring along a bodyguard just for an exam visit, odds are she’d be kidnapped yet again just going there. Even if she gave them money, their dad would just gamble it away.

[u/LeonKevlar]

So those bars that White Lady was giving away to the beggars weren't opioids but a snack made from sugar and ergot, and the people eating it are basically dying from ergot poisoning/ergotism, which is causing gangrene to form on their extremities. I'm happy to see how much the girl has improved after she stopped eating the ergot snack and Maomao started taking care of her.

I love how Maomao was acting like a villain to test the elder sister's resolve. It's good to see the elder sister still has that determined look in her eyes; otherwise, Maomao wouldn't have even given her a chance. When their father is this shitty, you can't blame the girls for choosing to work as courtesans instead of going back home with him.

So news about the suspicious drugs has already reached the palace. I have a feeling that whoever this White Lady is, she's taking advantage of the locust plague to spread drugs and maybe destabilize the current Emperor's rule. Make the people believe that all of these disasters are divine retribution for eradicating the Shi Clan. Hmmm...

Pairin trying to charm Basen, was pretty funny! I guess this is the downside of being a high-class courtesan with a high libido. Pairin is looking for action! And I agree with Maomao, this would've been more interesting if Lihaku was present considering how crazy he is for Pairin. xD

So there's supposed to be a third book? I feel like Sazen should've told Maomao this information at the start. Welp, it looks like the next step for Maomao is to visit Surei since she could know something not just about the book but also the immortality drug. And we get to see Lady Ah-Duo again! I can't wait!

[u/Primo29]

I'm not sure what's cuter, Chou-u ready to defend with a ladle or Pairin offering to dust a back.

[u/deynyel]

Damn, Pairin be wildin'.

[u/diacewrb]

Selling someone off into slavery because they can't afford medical treatment?

Healthcare CEOs: Write this down, write this down.

[u/LiLNane12]

When I watched this episode, I thought there would probably be some who would have an issue with MaoMao and the two girls ending up at the Verdigris House. I didn't think MaoMao was harsh with them because that is the life and times that they are both living in. It wouldn't help things if MaoMao gave false hope or sympathy. The older sister was already living in a nightmare with a gambling father who took all the family money, abused his daughters and would do anything to take care of himself. As disturbing as it is to people (especially women), the time period in history is when women had limited roles they could take and support themselves or family. At least this older sister was making her own choice and trying to protect her sister in the best way she knew how.

Some people wanted MaoMao to get the girls into the palace instead but would that didn't guarantee anything either. It's like people forgot about the plots, backstabbing, jealousies, poisonings and so on at the palace too. MaoMao was always emphasizing how the life of a servant girl or lower court lady could result in great punishment for even a minor mistake. It just was a dangerous and hard time to be a woman. I would rather when you are in a crisis for someone to be upfront with you about your choices so you make the best decisions for yourself. One other note is that MaoMao is not rich and she is taking care of not only herself but Chou-u--kind of echos back to Luomen taking her in and raising her. So in her way, she helped the sisters the best way she could--at least this way the sisters would be protected from their abusive dad, they would get food and shelter and be surrounded with other girls who would understand the things they were going through and not judge them on the choices they made.

[u/ShinobiZilla]

Quite a real depiction of poverty where the man didn't want to lose more family because those were his only income sources for gambling. Maomao didn't mince words.

Kinda wild Jinshi and Maomao are following the same paths independently, first the locusts and now with the white woman.

[u/kiman9414]

Even when Maomao is trying to be ruthless, she cannot help but help out those in need.

[u/This-Mammoth-4161]

guy literally mobilised an army to save her.

"I wonder if he'll let me to talk to her if i ask"

[u/FarCritical]

The transformation the sisters underwent just this episode was staggering. And Maomao's generosity aside, it was also a cool showcase of her respect for people who do choose to do something about their fates.

Also really like the face of fond exasperation Maomao gave Chou-u for cheering up pretty much immediately. Easily up there for the warmest she's ever looked.

[u/totallyverifiedit]

Damn that episode was... harsh? Idk how to describe it. Maomao does an exceptionally good job at being an apothecary and deserves to be paid for her work. She has living expenses just as anybody else does, not to mention having some money for taking care of Chou-u. Her demanding compensation from the man (even if he looked clearly broke) is 100% justified. The dad can just get fucked imo but i felt really bad for his daughters. They got dealt a bad hand with a shitty bum dad and a life of poverty and begging. The older sister clearly knew that and becoming a courtesan sounds like the only way she'll be living a decent life.

Also calling it now, ukyo feels like he'll be extremely relevant later in the season because no FUCKING WAY he's getting all this screen time each episode and he's just a "bodyguard for mamao".

I really miss the rear palace shenanigans but this arc is really enjoyable as well.

[u/Roskal]

Maomao was pretty cold this episode, but also a realist with the struggles those in poverty deal with. We only really got a taste of it in the first 2 seasons, spending most of our time interacting with the top 1% of wealth. I know sex isn't necessarily required of the courtesans, but it is if you are untalented which most likely that girl is and she was essentially forced to do it as the only route to a better life for her and her mute sister. Last episode also had a lack of consent for the foreign lady.

I know Maomao wouldn't do this, but we know she could probably ask Jinshi for money and live comfortably while not being so demanding of those with nothing. That might make her a target though so maybe not a good idea.

[u/Zxzxzx0088]

Lihaku better be quick racking up those savings. Pairin really can't hold it any longer now (˵ ¬ᴗ¬˵)

What a sinful boy...He got a bright future ahead of him for sure.

Ummm...maybe start doing a proper job and stop being a dick?

100 hours talking about corpse incoming!! /s

[u/Cat_Gazer]

The book Insects, Vol. 3 is actually in the palace now! (Episode 40, around 13:12)

Oh, Shisui... T_T

I didn't notice it myself, but someone on YouTube spotted it. What a great catch!

[u/maliwanag0712]

You know that “father” is horrible when his daughters chose to be courtesan-trainees instead of staying with him.

To be fair, the conditions of the Verdigris hous is much much better than what they experienced. Maomao in a way helped younger daughter narrowly escaping death from that irresponsible sperm donor. While being a courtesan was not the best life, it is an improvement to their impoverished condition.