‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Season 2 Episode 4 review: “Mirror”

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 4 cleverly showcases its ability to weave mystery of the week stories into greater, overarching narratives. Better still is how the mystery manages to tie both to the overarching storyline and the thematic undercurrents pulsating beneath the entirety of Season 2 thus far. Things are changing within the inner palace, and rapidly. “Mirror” further shines the light on this truth, evident in the intrigue and the fatigue of one of our key players. 

The opening scene of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 2 is integral. To the series credit, there are rarely wasted moments or interactions. Everything is building to something critical, even if it seems superfluous at the moment. Gyokuyou and her ladies-in-waiting are showing Maomao (Aoi Yūki) the mirror that they, along with the other three high concubines, have been gifted from the mysterious foreign envoy. Considering their size and scale, the opulence and wealth are unmissable. Whoever gifted them is making a point to earn favor. 

The mirrors are a key feature in the week’s mystery that Gaoshun brings to Maomao. He seeks her help regarding the story of a rich man’s overprotected twin daughters, one of whom gets pregnant. Considering the level of supervision the twins endured, they can’t make ends meet on how one could leave without anyone knowing. 

The Apothecary Diaries is never dull.

It’s a testament to the series’ writing that despite the dialogue-driven narrative, The Apothecary Diaries never lacks engagement. This is, in part, due to invigorated visuals that utilize different styles depending on the mode of storytelling. The story of the twins is told with a watercolor, hand-painted effect that offers an otherworldly yet timeless tone. The artistic choice helps differentiate itself from the usual proceedings while leaning into the historical references the series often draws from.

Maomao solves the case. She believes that a well-placed mirror made it so the pregnant twin could escape. However, as with many of the mysteries in Season 2, they all suggest greater intrigue. The case might be solved, but why was Gaoshun so cagey about it? Who are these girls, and what are their ties to the Imperial Court? Like Maomao, we leave the mystery realizing that despite the momentary closure, there’s more going on behind the scenes. 

We learn more about the foreign envoys in the back half of Episode 4 through a drained Jinshi (Takeo Ōtsuka)—a Jinshi who, self-admittedly, is at his wit’s end. The envoys request a performance from a woman their grandfather told them stories about. An  “otherworldly beauty who sheds pearls as tears.” On the surface, the request is ludicrous. But, despite the absurdity of the request, there are kernels of truth in the decades of retelling. 

Jinshi’s beauty comes back to bite him.

The woman in question is the madam of the Rokushoukan. While Maomao finds it initially hard to believe, the madam tells her of the performance and why she was chosen — her impressive height being a notable reason. She was so popular that the original envoy commissioned a painting of the performance. While there are details that don’t live up to the fantasy — such as jealous other women trying to sabotage her performance — it solidifies that the envoy’s request is based on a real instance. 

The political drama is a major component of The Apothecary Diaries, especially when it involves Jinshi and his place without the court. He tells Maomao how vital these two envoys are due to their control over trade routes. She, Jinshi, and Gaoshun work to try and figure out a solution, wondering if any woman of the correct height could play the part. 

However, it’s incredible, otherworldly beauty that’s necessary, so it makes sense that her eyes would fall on Jinshi. Jinshi, whose beauty is mentioned in every other episode. There’s a fantastic bit of character acting when he realizes what she, then Gaoshun, is inferring. For as often as Jinshi seems to be in control of situations he finds himself in, there’s plenty more where Maomao catches him off guard. 

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 4 continues to explore the general, overarching intrigue of the many changes infiltrating the Inner Courts. Superb editing and inventive artistry allow for a brisk pace that never bogs itself down with exposition. Instead, the mysteries continue to layer, each answer posing a new, more alluring question. 

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 4 is out now on Crunchyroll.

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Images courtesy of Crunchyroll / Togo Animation Studio and OLM.