Episode 34 of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2, titled “A Ghost Story,” recently aired, and it takes a slight detour from the main plot. While seemingly a filler episode, it delves into the unknown and explores the theme of superstition versus scientific explanation, all while introducing new characters and hinting at future tensions within the Imperial Palace.
New Faces at the Jade Pavilion
The episode introduces three new ladies-in-waiting, sisters Haku, Koku, and Seki, to serve Consort Gyokuyou. This addition is significant because Consort Gyokuyou is pregnant, making the palace dynamics even more sensitive. The arrival of these new ladies is also a strategic move to ensure Consort Gyokuyou isn’t overshadowed by the other High Consorts, particularly Lady Loulan. The introduction of Haku, Koku, and Seki hints at potential tension and shifts in power within the Jade Pavilion.
Maomao’s Uncomfortable Situation
Maomao, known for her unique personality and preference for living in a storage room, finds herself in an awkward position with the new maids. Ouka, one of Maomao’s colleagues, attempts to bridge the gap between them, but Maomao unintentionally disregards her efforts. This leads to Maomao being drawn into a mysterious agreement.
A Night of Ghost Stories
To fulfill her promise, Maomao ventures to an old, abandoned palace wing with Ouka. There, they join a group of female attendants gathered to share eerie ghost stories. While Maomao is often called upon to solve mysterious and seemingly otherworldly events in the palace, she doesn’t particularly enjoy ghost stories.
The Thirteen Chilling Tales
The ladies commence sharing scary stories in a circle of twelve. The lady announces the commencement of the thirteen scary stories, which is notable as only 12 women and girls are present. This is a bit incongruous in concept.
The Host’s Tale and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The hostess shares a story about the time when the former emperor still reigned from these halls and of the girls imprisoned there to satisfy his desires. She tells of one woman in particular who became pregnant and died there. Before she gets to the punchline, Maomao realizes that the fumes put out by the fire are causing the girls to lose consciousness and springs into action. Maomao realizes that the enclosed room with twelve people is losing oxygen.
The Late Emperor’s Reign of Terror
The hostess’s story correlates with the late emperor’s experiences. The late emperor received young women from the Empress Dowager, took away their innocence, and confined them. One of the women became pregnant and pleaded to the late emperor, but her departure request was rejected. With her dying breath, she said, “It’s your turn next.”
Maomao’s Deduction and a Spooky Realization
Maomao and Yinghua realize that the former hostess’s tale was true. Only 12 stories were shared at the meeting, but Maomao argues that her and the others’ potential demise would have been the 13th tale.
Flashback on Season 2
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 expands on the mysteries and fans have come to love and fan the flames of political drama. There are 24 episodes in season 2 which allows for the proper fleshing out of the storylines and the arcs of characters.
Pregnancy and Rising Tensions
Tensions escalate in the imperial palace with the announcement of Empress Gyokuyou’s pregnancy. Adding to the intrigue are the arrival of Consort Rouran, daughter of a key minister from the previous emperor’s era, an unprecedented unresolved attempt on Jinshi’s life, and the disappearance of suspect Sui Reiyuu. Foreign delegations and special envoys with unreasonable demands further complicate matters, leading to a crisis that threatens the entire nation.
Production Details
The Apothecary Diaries is based on the light novel series written by Natsu Hyuga and illustrated by Touko Shino. The anime series is produced by Toho Animation Studio and OLM. Norihiro Naganuma is the director and writer, with Akinori Fudesaka serving as assistant director for the first season and later replacing Norihiro as director of the second season. Yukiko Nakatani designed the characters, while Satoru Kōsaki, Kevin Penkin, and Alisa Okehazama composed the music.
Streaming Information
The second season of The Apothecary Diaries premiered on January 10, 2025, and is available on Crunchyroll.
