Season 2 Episode 43 of The Apothecary Diaries, titled “Festival”, has arrived, and it’s steeped in mystery, cultural tradition, and simmering danger. Here’s a breakdown of the key events and what they might signify:
Maomao’s Hostage Life
Maomao continues her stay in the hidden village deep in the forest, having been essentially kidnapped from the harem . Despite the circumstances, she’s not restrained, which is something that makes her uneasy . This lack of confinement, coupled with the behavior of Suirei and Shisui, sparks her suspicion .
A Festival of Fox Masks
The village is holding a festival, and Maomao and Shisui participate, donning fox masks . Shisui shares local folklore and explains the meaning behind the masks as they head to the shrine . Maomao notices that some villagers, particularly the men, use green paint on their masks instead of the traditional red . Shisui also sports a green mask . She explains that many in the village have trouble differentiating colors, meaning that a significant portion are red-green colorblind .
This detail is a crucial clue. The colorblindness suggests a close genetic relationship to the Mother Royal’s family line . Within the village, a faction seeks to “restore the royal bloodline,” and it’s implied that the current emperor and his brother don’t belong to this colorblind lineage .
All the masks are burned on a bonfire set on a raft that’s pushed into a body of water . Wishes are often written inside the masks, and a successful burning signifies that the wish will reach the heavens .
Shedding Light on Secrets
With Shisui and Suirei away, Maomao explores, her curiosity piqued by a suspicious shed . Despite Suirei leaving armed guards, Kyou-u knows a secret passage . Together, they sneak into the shed, where Kyou-u picks the lock . Inside, they discover that Suirei uses the space as a lab, testing medicines on rats . However, the shed contains more than just a lab. Behind a curtain, they find a workspace for building guns with metal tubes and other components scattered around .
Just then, Lady Shenmei arrives . Kyou-u is terrified of her, and Maomao also appears frightened .
The Delay and What’s to Come
Episode 43 was initially delayed due to changes in programming by the Japanese broadcaster . In its place, a special program called “Palace Boys’ Night In SP” was streamed, featuring the male voice actors .
Looking ahead, The Apothecary Diaries season 2 is scheduled to conclude near the end of June .
Intrigue and Conspiracies
Season 2 sees escalating tensions within the imperial palace, particularly with Empress Gyokuyou’s pregnancy . The arrival of Consort Rouran, the daughter of a minister from the previous emperor’s era, further complicates matters . An unprecedented assassination attempt on Jinshi’s life and the disappearance of Sui Reiyuu add more layers to the intrigue . Foreign delegations and special envoys are making unreasonable demands, leading to a crisis that could threaten the entire nation .
Maomao’s Role and Relationships
Maomao’s journey from a kidnapped servant to a trusted apothecary has placed her in the middle of palace conspiracies, dangerous rumors, and assassination attempts . She continues to solve medical mysteries with the help of Jinshi .
Episode 43 Review
Reviewers are noting the menace bubbling beneath the surface . Some found the episode to be slower-paced, and are missing the Jinshi-Maomao interactions .
Key points from reviews:
- Maomao’s naturally excited about the “new drug” thing, but knows that this isn’t the kind of research perfectly normal, harmless people carry out in their spare time…and they certainly don’t do it in the same place where they’re also assembling guns .
- There’s a definite risk to that; Suirei mentions that she got off easily with her symptoms, others have suffered total memory loss from the drug, and some people never wake up .
- The hidden forest village has a vaguely creepy mask-burning ceremony .
- It’s clear that something is going on there that’s dangerous to at least the emperor, if not everyone under his rule .
Theories and Predictions
- Some speculate that Suirei is the daughter of the former emperor and that her family is trying to eliminate the current imperial brother .
- Given Maomao’s abduction and the escape of a concubine, the next episode is likely to reveal a hidden identity and further connections between the village’s activities and the political intrigue within the imperial court .
Where to Watch
The Apothecary Diaries streams on Crunchyroll . New episodes are released on Fridays .
Final Thoughts
Episode 43 ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers to wonder what Lady Shenmei will do with Maomao and Kyou-u. The episode weaves together cultural elements with a growing sense of danger, setting the stage for major revelations.
