The Apothecary Diaries 1x3 | Full Length Reaction

So what clued in Maomao to dig more into this concubine, and how she “solved” this mystery is because of what the quack doctor said about the concubine “going back”, which he probably meant by going back to her homeland and that would only happen if she is being given away to someone from her homeland. I only noticed or paid attention to those words on rewatch, but they do put very teeny tiny clues for us too, but not enough to always get a full picture.

Tremendísimooo!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Out of both seasons, this episode remains one of my favorites. Such a cute side story within the broader narrative.

Doing a re-watch of this series with you. I watched the first time when I still had my crunchyroll subscription and enjoyed the show. (I am a casual anime watcher at best 😂) Just an observation, I'm watching along on netflix since it's a subscription I have right now and the subtitles are a little different than your copy. Nothing drastic, but I think the netflix ones have are little better in the conversational flow. But its interesting to see them side by side when watching with you. Thanks for the reaction! Glad you are enjoying the series so far.

Consort - The legally married wife of a noble. Her kids are first in line to claim the legal right to rule. She basically has a very high social status in a court. She is also considered important for official ceremonies and can, e..g Shogun, claim temporary rulership roles. Lastly, she also has the right to order around concubines. Concubine - A non-martial, but legally recognized, companion of a noble who is below the consort in status. She does have some moderate social status as a concubine. However she is usually subservient to the orders of a consort. Generally speaking, her kids are often second in line to claim the right to rule if the consort doesn't, or is unable to, produce heirs. Courtesan - A high class professional entertainer and companion of nobles. Often times they can become the mistress of a noble as well. A courtesan is viewed as a independent professional meaning she doesn't usually answer to a consort at all. However if she bares children with a noble they usually don't have any legal claim to rule.

love this show because there is a lot of things you don't catch the first time through

I haven't done one of my "big lore/context posts" since AoT days, but I'm back, back again! This anime’s intro song is such a banger. That moment when the buildup hits and the vocals finally drop always gets me swaying left and right like an idiot lol. Can’t wait for the next drop. And yeah, you’re starting to see some of the "layers" hidden in this show: that a lot of the “decisions” people make in this world are heavily shaped by survival, emotions, opportunity, status, or simply the fear of being killed, discarded, or sold off. For example, take the concubine Fuyou. Fun fact: her name in japanese is associated with the cotton rose (hibiscus) in Japanese — the same flower MaoMao used earlier as an example of a flower’s “day and night” duality. That parallel wasn’t accidental. If Fuyou’s scheme had been exposed — meaning if MaoMao or Lady Gyokuyou had reported her — the consequences could have been catastrophic. Not just for Fuyou herself, but likely for the soldier she was secretly devoted to, parts of her immediate family, and even some of her serving girls. They all could have been executed as punishment and as a warning to deter future scheming within the rear palace. That's why MaoMao was VERY careful with her wordings and on edge, because her "speculation" could literally have gotten many people killed, and it would have been a "The Rains of Castamere" game-of-thrones scene at the end instead of the romantic and happy-ending wrap-up. That’s not necessarily commentary on a specific ruler being uniquely cruel, either. A lot of this reflects the political and cultural doctrine of that era. Whether people agreed with it or not, that was simply the system they lived under. Some women genuinely enjoy being concubines because of the luxury, influence, and “sugar daddy” lifestyle attached to the position. Others are aiming even higher, hoping to become the next Empress Consort if they’re high-ranking enough and manage to bear a male heir. Some are sold off by their families for status, alliances, or trade. Others are effectively used as political collateral — daughters, wives, or sisters kept within the palace to ensure loyalty. Some are even exchanged as part of agreements between states. And then there are the darker realities: girls kidnapped or trafficked into palace work, treated almost like slaves. Maybe technically paid, but under brutal conditions or entirely against their will. That’s why this series isn’t just a romance or mystery anime. A huge part of it is the intricate day-to-day politics and social maneuvering. You’ve got people like MaoMao trying to stay invisible because standing out attracts scrutiny, enemies, and danger. Meanwhile, other girls actively chase attention because visibility can translate into wealth, power, and long-term security. It’s not just a corporate-style hierarchy — it’s a deeply traditional cultural and political ecosystem. The setting clearly reflects an era where men openly held most institutional power, but at the same time you can see how much the women are actually holding the rear palace together behind the scenes: maintaining relationships, managing tensions, influencing outcomes, and quietly stabilizing the entire social structure. So the fact that the emperor himself personally showed up to Lady Gyokuyou and specifically asked about MaoMao? Yeah… that means MaoMao accidentally made waves and caught the emperor’s attention for some reason. Stay tuned lol.