‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Season 2 Episode 18 review: “Lantern Plant”

With beautiful animation and graceful, introspective storytelling, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 18 becomes an immediate series highlight. As Maomao only briefly appears, Jinshi (Takeo Ōtsuka) drives the narrative as the tension accelerates. Tragedy of old haunts the screen as Jinshi grapples with a poisoned lineage while maintaining an assured, outwardly calm demeanor as he tries to figure out who stole Maomao away from the Rear Palace and why. But what makes “Lantern Plant” such a standout is its ability to make Jinshi question the validity of those trying to escape. Because due to a harsh reality check, he learns that the late Emperor, who used to terrorize and then cage young girls, maintains his insipid, monstrous clutch on those prior ladies in waiting who remain.

Trauma doesn’t disappear with the death of the abuser. And “Lantern Plant” drives this point home in a powerful sequence when Jinshi confronts Shenlü. Their meeting, backdropped by a graveyard of the bodies of women whom the late Emperor stole from, casts an ominous, melancholy glow. The series has often played with striking colors, utilizing strong contrasts that oppose other modern-day aesthetics. They’re particularly notable here, the bleeding sunset, which highlights both Shenlü’s grief and abject horror in encountering Jinshi. Jinshi is good. But Jinshi also wears the late Emperor’s face and speaks with the same honeyed vocals that she once associated with her abuser.

“Child of immorality. Child of a mistake. No matter what they say, a precious child, nonetheless.”

Suddenly, Jinshi’s entire narrative is given greater depth. He’s not just some young would-be prince skirting responsibilities. Here’s a young man who seeks to escape a lineage where a monster bore atrocity after atrocity with the aid of unspeakable power. His shock is palpable when Shenlü asks him why someone of his status is pretending to be a eunuch. While she’s being arrested for her role in Maomao’s disappearance, she attempts to poison herself but is interrupted. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 18 reminds us of all that women suffer in this world with a sharp potency. Yes, she knows Jinshi isn’t the late Emperor. But why would she trust she’d be safe after all she and those around her have dealt with?

Ōtsuka delivers a tremendously elastic performance as Jinshi struggles to maintain his curated appearance. He’s no longer the sweet and sly eunuch but a commanding and domineering lord. The linework in his facial expressions demonstrates his heightened stress. But it’s Ōtsuka’s performance that truly captures the duality of his role and the mounting pressure. His youthfulness is felt as he begs Gaoshun to assure him he doesn’t resemble “that man.” He’s imposing when he brings his anger down on one of Loulan’s ladies in waiting whose masquerading as the concubine. He’s sickly sweet when trying to gain information and fatigued by the time Lakan’s adopted son, Lahan, appears with an offer to help track the embezzled funds and the iron linked to the gun used as an attempt on Jinshi’s life.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 18 is a series highlight.

With Lakan finally learning the truth about his missing daughter and Jinshi beginning to piece together the mystery around Suirei and Loulan, the story is about to hit a narrative crescendo. Jinshi is no longer simply able to play a part. And that is evident in his struggle to exercise control. In Episode 17, we see Gaoshun stilling his restlessness. In Episode 18, it’s his fear, confusion, and agitation spooling over and manifesting in something ugly and nearly violent. It makes his story all the greater because as he runs from a monster in his legacy, he’s also dealing with emotions at odds with his perceived serenity. And with that, a feared darkness.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 18 starts with a relentless pace. As we track Jinshi throughout the Rear Palace, pieces of the overarching story begin to slot into place. And it’s a narrative that’s been building since the back half of Season 1 and Suirei’s first appearance. But now, it’s not just a possible plot of another concubine’s father wanting power or external forces seeking control. No, it all stems from the rot planted and harvested for decades in the Rear Palace, where women abused in their cages were left to die there, not even set free in death. Instead, they’re only remembered by the tombstones planted within the gilded walls of their prison.

The floriography of the series has always been integral, both in the narrative and in overt visuals. But it’s fitting that “Lantern Plant” is the name of Episode 18. The flower is often tied to spirituality, believed to guide souls to the spirit world. The berries in the husks remain vibrant, even after the husk encircling them withers away. It represents ‘life within death.’ It might be a reach to think the series suggests that the Emperor’s victims found life after his death. Or even after their own. But there’s certainly truth that, even after death, their memories are preserved by those who stood and suffered with them, not forgotten.

It’s a melancholy ending to tragedy, and yet the series doesn’t slow down to contemplate or hand-feed us meanings. The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 18 is gorgeously produced and haunting in its effect. Between the vivid animation, the sweeping orchestral score that builds throughout, and the intense and ever-unraveling narrative, “Lantern Plant” is a significant, pivotal achievement.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 18 is out now on Crunchyroll. 

Images courtesy of Toho Animation/OLM

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.