In a medium so often dominated by a certain type of shonen, seeing Seinen adaptations get so much of the spotlight over the past few years has been refreshing. From Delicious in Dungeon to the recent second cour of the Netflix series Orb: On the Movements of Earth, there’s a wealth of seinen series hitting their peak, with The Apothecary Diaries leading the charge. In The Apothecary Season 2 Episode 9, the series continues to double down on why it’s such a formidable presence. Through its utilization of color and form with unusual visual presentation and a gorgeous musical composition from composers Satoru Kōsaki, Kevin Penkin, and Alisa Okehazama, “The Last Emperor” is breathtaking.
That it’s so visually rich while detailing a story of depravity and abuse makes it all the more potent. The series doesn’t pull its punches regarding the horrors that women face, especially in this era, when their beauty so often commodifies their lives. One of the first significant things we learn about Maomao (Aoi Yūki) is that the freckles that adorn her face are fake. She draws them to make herself less appealing (which, ouch) so as not to be kidnapped. Women, especially in the past before the current Emperor, had little chance to defend themselves from lecherous men and insidious intent.
This is the case of Anshi, the Empress Dowager. Initially a lady-in-waiting to her older sister, she drew the late Emperor’s favor instead. She was very young, too young to bear a child safely, which is why she carried a scar from her cesarian to remind her of all she endured as Maomao investigates Anshi’s request to determine whether or not she cursed the late Emperor, her trauma and unresolved hatred boil.
Maomao uncovers the truth.
It’s through a night spent in Suiren’s quarters that Maomao begins to put the pieces together regarding what might’ve both caused the late Emperor’s death and his mummified state. She discovers a box of Jinshi’s (Takeo Ōtsuka) old toys, and Suiren informs her that she was instructed to hide them. Jinshi’s mother worried about him becoming too fixated on any one toy, which wouldn’t do for someone of his status. The flashback of kid Jinshi helps paint a greater picture of the character, especially as it ties to what Maomao knows of him. While we understand her reluctance to poke too much at a story that could cause her grievous headaches, we also want her to hurry up and realize the truth of Jinshi’s heritage.
Instead, Maomao moves on and discovers a poisonous pebble, which is the clue to the Emperor’s death. The walls bend in the Emperor’s previous room, clearly painted over numerous times. Beneath the first layer, they find a painting that reveals the truth. The Emperor painted with a color made from the pebble, orpiment, a mineral with arsenic-like components. By the time the Emperor died, his body would have been overrun with this mineral, explaining why his body was preserved.
The entire reveal of the Emperor’s paintings is beautiful and haunting in how it affects those in the room—most notably, Anshi. She recalls how, once she grew older and he lost interest in her, she went to his room one night to torment him, driving him to isolation. She can rest easy knowing that she didn’t curse him to die, but the direction by Akira Koremoto makes it plain that she still must weather her past.
Anshi and Jinshi have an important conversation.
However, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 9 ends with a moment of contemplative healing. Anshi and Jinshi’s conversation is a series highlight due to strong, emotive editing, lush compositions, and a score that aches with melancholy and change. The writing is superb, as Anshi takes in Jinshi’s face, thinking, “Child of immorality. Child of a mistake. No matter what they say, a precious child, nonetheless.” It further hints at Jinshi’s status while allowing Anshi to claim agency over one major component of her life.
There’s a gentle sweetness to the moment, with overwhelming warmth as the golden hues swallow the characters. Using royal purples and gold, rich colors against more vibrant backdrops, gives the sequence its weight. But the music, which utilizes a strong, string-dominated composition with an emphasis on the ehru, makes it unforgettable. It’s the magic of The Apothecary Diaries. For all of its humor and fun interactions between Maomao and Jinshi, it’s the quieter, character-driven moments that make it soar.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 9 is a stunner. It continues to open up this ever-expanding world while allowing its main characters moments of intensive contemplation and internal growth. With its gorgeous animation and coloring, the series continues to prove why it’s an absolute must-watch.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 9 is out now on Crunchyroll.
REVIEW RATING
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The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 9 - 9/10
9/10
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.
