fear-no-weevil

[fear-no-weevil]

Apothecary Diaries is such a good narrative because just like today’s episode it doesn’t shy away from showing that both genders can be equally disturbing in their behavior. Because, and I’ve mentioned this before, it’s not about whether someone is male or female in this world it’s about their individual actions. We’ve all been shown by this story how the former Emperor was a pervert but on the flip side we know his mother was power hungry and filled the rear palace with young women. It’s that resentment that’s led to the very destruction unfolding in the plot at the end of season 2, yet at the same time Lady Shinmei is almost equally a pervert and an abusive creep in her own right. She corrupts the men and women around her out of spite, murdered Suirei’s mother, makes gross remarks at Kyou-u about spanking his rear with her nails and is just vile to Loulan and Suirei since they were young girls. The uncomfortable nature of her behavior goes to show that the narrative is willing to cast blame equally at the feet of men and women for the destruction of a clan and nation because people can’t take accountability for their own individual wrongs and behavior, if they had then things might be different. It’s not easy topics to watch always and deal with but I like that one side is not always saddled with the blame, it makes the stories all that more realistic and scarily humanizing.

[fear-no-weevil]

Thinking about the Japanese tendency towards nuance and understatement and Luomen's reaction to Maomao going missing. She's his daughter, she means the world to him, he's taught her his pharmaceutical and differential diagnosis skills even though it leans towards the taboo for a woman to do so. It hits like a brick for him to dismiss her short disappearance so casually in front of a freaking-out Jinshi.

One year, with Luomen not knowing whether Maomao was alive or dead; a year of worrying and waiting, and nothing he can do about it even if he hadn't been exiled from the rear palace. Jinshi is pitching a fit about ten or so days, and meanwhile the machinery of the emperor's rear palace is responsible for the disappearances of so many young women who get picked off the streets to serve, with their own parents left to wait and worry and watch.

"One time, Maomao went missing for a year" is a deserved slap in the face for the men responsible - hey, Jinshi and fam, this time you and your retainers are concerned because Maomao is your pet House MD, and how do you think Luomen felt? Suck it up, buttercup, and maybe it's about time to rethink how things are done around here.

[fear-no-weevil]

Huh, Lakan, where have we heard that one before?

Ah, yes.

[fear-no-weevil]

Ah, toxic lead face powder, my old friend. You can even see some of the same gauntness that Lihua started to have towards the end, though that could just be age, I suppose.

It sure is fitting for Maomao's true antagonist to be a highborn lady wearing poison facepowder who abuses servants and daughters. And then to top it off she wants a miracle drug and makes apothecaries kill themselves developing it. Lady Shenmei is here to harmfully bother the cat

[fear-no-weevil]

The things about Apothecary Diaries that I don’t think people talk about nearly enough:

Jinshi’s own trauma in regard to sexual violence and/or harassment. The thing in early season 1 with the aphrodisiac did not seem unexpected or new. He knew not to eat it simply because of who it came from and wasn’t surprised when it was an aphrodisiac instead of poison. He may be partially protected by his status, but his awareness and vigilance belies his perceived ignorance and naïveté. It adds a whole new layer to his reaction to the truth of Maomao’s freckles that I really like.

And on a much lighter note, Maomao’s relationship with the Emperor! It’s so hilarious to me and they interact quite a bit off screen. Like, they talk about sex, she gave him his favorite book about it and they discussed it. He trusts her with the health and safety of his child and his two greatest loves, not to mention with Jinshi. Maomao may be uncomfortable with him because of his status but I think they genuinely get along really well and the Emperor sees Maomao as something almost like a friend and uses her as an adviser.

[fear-no-weevil]

I don't know if anyone caught this or posted this but I was rewatching the first episode of The Apothecary Diaries. I got to the scene where Maomao gives the warning about the white face powered. We see one of the lady's in waiting toss the flower out. I paused cuz I was like wait a minute is that Shin from season 2?!

IT TOTALLY WAS.

God I love this show. Every small detail is important. Like no wonder why Lady Lihua's head lady was missing in action in the first season. Why didn't I think that was strange! Plus she is responsible for training and hand picking all the clueless lady's at the crystal pavilion. Also if any other lady in waiting had found that note first they would have told Lady Lihua and the prince would most likely be alive!

I believe everyone at the crystal pavilion all truly care for there Lady Lihua too but were set up the fail. Like in episode 4. The white face powder lady was doing what she thought was right for Lady Lihua but was super misguided. Leading me to think back to the theme; Ignorance is a sin. But if you think about it more who planted that ignorance in the first place?