‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Season 2 Episode 7 review: “The Shrine of Choosing”

While Jinshi (Takeo Ōtsuka) has always been an integral part of the series, second only to Maomao (Aoi Yūki), his significance shines brighter in The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 7. By revealing major, hidden truths plainly through an inner monologue, “The Shrine of Choosing” offers greater depth for the character. And, with the major puzzle at the center of the episode, it makes for a compelling addition to the series’ lore as Maomao slowly but surely grows increasingly aware of the moving pieces behind the scenes.

Despite the significant centerpiece at the heart of “The Shrine of Choosing,” it’s the opening moments that truly excel. The Apothecary Diaries doesn’t always get to flex their considerable artistry based on the style of the series. Still, Jinshi’s “awful dream” allows for a deft hand, playing with shadows and how the perils of youth — imprints of disquieting memories — morph themselves into leeching, sinister nightmares. This nightmare sets the state for the entire episode, which plays with thematic and visual claustrophobia as the walls of Jinshi’s secrecy close in on him.

In his nightmare, child Jinshi is quickly stopped by his mother as a shadowy, monstrous figure looms over him. The man is abruptly removed as Jinshi and his mother bow. While young Jinshi understands that something is off, his adolescence makes it difficult to parse out what. As he says in voice-over, he will later be “taught” the truth. That older man is his father, and the woman who shooed him away was his grandmother. And, the man he believed to be his father, the current emperor in the present day, is his older brother.

The execution of the opening is beautiful. By utilizing haunting visuals it helps sell the unease young Jinshi feels, so much so that it would follow him into adulthood. With how dense The Apothecary Diaries can be, it’s easy to wonder if this truth of Jinshi’s parentage is 100% accurate, if only due to how the show has danced around his lineage in the past. Regardless, he’s much more important than Maomao would like to believe as she steadfastly refuses to acknowledge that there might be more to him than simply being the emperor’s favorite eunuch.

The series explores Jinshi’s backstory.

The bulk of the episode takes place in the titular “Shrine of Choosing” as the Emperor invites Maomao and Jinshi along to explore it. Created during the nation’s foundation and tethered to the Mother Royal, a foreigner who birthed the country’s first emperor, it maintains a notable significance. The Shine of Choosing, was once where emperors were selected through a specific test. However, it has long lost relevance ever since all of the previous candidates died from an epidemic.

So, while it no longer holds recognized political power or influence, it remains a signifier that tethers current emperors to their past. The current emperor wishes to try it again but fails, the test taking them through the winding hallways by selecting the correct colored doors. This suggests that the emperor doesn’t descend from the Mother Royal.

This is, in part, potentially true, though Maomao mentions the potential dilution of bloodlines to not weaken the family line as being a potential factor. But mainly, the truth is that the puzzle finds the true Mother Royal descendent by seeking out those afflicted with color blindness. It’s a neat, visual trick that the series pulls off. It allows Maomao to show off her intellect once more while opening up greater questions as to what is currently happening in the rear palace and the many potential threats.

Through the story of the Mother Royal, we learn that the emperor’s lineage stems from foreigners. It makes the arrival of the two recent foreign envoys all the more suspect and the attempts on those who could potentially ascend the throne (including Jinshi in Season 1) all the more striking. It’s easy to forget how heavy and plot-driven the series can be with its fondness for chibi-style animation and Maomao’s general apathy, but the pieces are starting to fall into place.

“The Shrine of Choosing” is a season highlight.

Directed by Wazuka Komamiya, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 7 is stunning. The art direction highlights some interesting, isolated framing while also playing with expressionism. That opening nightmare is the key feature, obviously. From the way the emperor’s eyes and mouth droop and contort to the barely maintained look of disgust on Jinshi’s mother’s face, it strikes an immediate ominous tone.

But the innovative artistry reaches beyond dreams and into reality. The Apothecary Diaries understands how to stage an effective one-shot. With Komamiya, the episode finds a way to suggest depth and perspective through quick, establishing shots. From Maomao looking down at the meal she just tested for the emperor to a flashback of the Mother Royal’s arrival to the palace and the low-positioned perspective of Jinshi, backlit by the risen moon, each frame buzzes with intent. There’s no wasted frame.

Beyond the superb visuals, the music is also a key feature. The score from composers Kevin Penkin (Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf), Satoru Kōsaki (Beastars), and Alisa Okehazama (Jujutsu Kaisen) is divine in the moment when Maomao and Jinshi make it to the top of the shrine. Utilizing traditional Chinese instrumentation, the more traditional compositions make for an all-encompassing score that perfectly fits the scope of this world.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 7 is the strongest of the season to date. By further developing the lore and revealing more about Jinshi’s lineage, the series plants greater intrigue. That, along with the heightened visuals, sweeping score, and commitment to bouts of levity, make for a wonderfully crafted and memorable installment.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 7 is out now on Crunchyroll.

Allyson Johnson

Based in New England, Allyson is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of InBetweenDrafts. Former Editor-in-Chief at TheYoungFolks, she is a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics and the Boston Online Film Critics Association. Her writing has also appeared at CambridgeDay, ThePlaylist, Pajiba, VagueVisages, RogerEbert, TheBostonGlobe, Inverse, Bustle, her Substack, and every scrap of paper within her reach.