Apothecary Diaries: The Sin of Ignorance

[@LocklanStareyes]

Just want to say thank you everyone who’s watched the video and left/interacted with the comments! I’m listening to all the feedback and will do my best to improve on videos in the future!

[@hatingonwilliam]

So slight Change!

[@joelisvysniauskas4653]

I love the fact that maomao gets kidnapped and sold off, but instead of using her qualifications for better living conditions she tries to have the worst paying job just so the kidnapers dont get paid

[@LocklanStareyes]

I’d say she’s the best kind of petty but I don’t think it’s fair to call hating your kidnappers petty

[@zomfgroflmao1337]

Slight, but important correction Lihua never gets to read Maomaos anonymous letter, because her lady in waiting swipes it away, so she never had the choice to follow the instructions or discard them.

[@gprovidakes]

Lihua was told by Gyokuyou and chose to ignore it. The quack and Jinshi were near when Gyokuyou warned Lihua. The “guilt” or better shame included many.

[@animehuntress9018]

Never watch the English dub it ruins this part of the story. (Totally sucked the VA's were right on the money!) I was super pissed when they ADDED what wasn't in the Japanese version as if we are idiots! There's a reason we only see her head lady in waiting a few frames of the whole series but it doesn't come out as to why for a rather long time. It also has a lot to do with her ignoring Gyokuyou's warning as well. The thing about this series is never take things for granted because they are often hints for what will come much later down the line.

[@gprovidakes]

The series is awash with foreshadowing and hunts. You almost have to watch closely scenes, background characters, and dialog and then watch again. @@animehuntress9018

[@farhanishraqifti1489]

​@@animehuntress9018 Why? Did they add extra scenes or something?

[@animehuntress9018]

@@farhanishraqifti1489Not extra scenes. Extra sentences where there were pauses. The pauses are heavy and are to show how important the moments are but we westerners don't like pauses so they fill them. In some cases they ADD way too much. Instead of letting pause happen they'll say "I See" or "your right" or most egregiously add complete sentences of which are not in the original translation. Really its RARE but it is there in few spots and one place in particular sent my temper through the roof. Essentially its episode, my personal favorite, where she's healing the concubine, during the confrontation and after they really show they don't know the source material in the Dub.

[@13Okuni1]

I honestly like JinShi’s harassment as a character trait, because it feels like it gives depth into how he doesn’t fully understand that it is something that could be harmful. Those around him mention he was a spoiled child, GaoShun even saying that JinShi thought of people as toys, which was why he was so confused about why JinShi was so dejected when she had to leave. And even though he’s seen as a eunuch who is considered worthless as a man in society, he’s still an object of desire who can get what he wants at a glance from pretty much anyone. He was shocked when MaoMao told him he could have her executed at any time for no reason, and couldn’t fathom that happening cuz he thinks “he wouldn’t do it”, ignoring that just having the power to do so was a threat enough to her. It also doesn’t help that he genuinely likes it when MaoMao looks like him like a worm in a rotting apple. It makes sense that someone like him would think that his harassment was just a teasing joke, something funny and harmless, but even the narrative, while comically played, still immediately punished him for it by Gyokuyou and framed him as being in the wrong, MaoMao even telling GaoShun to be the victim next time when he tried to excuse JinShi, and GaoShun immediately feeling disgusted at the thought. It also notable that JinShi doesn’t do anything like that one scene again, future scenes of him still intruding on MaoMao’s boundaries often only done when he’s in emotional distress or completely without touching or looming over her threateningly, or, most importantly, only when she gave explicit permission to touch her, which I personally really like as subtle character development. It’s a breath of fresh air that an anime character isn’t harassing another out of fanservice or purely weird comic relief, instead playing more into the roles they have and the type of people they are.

[@Some_guy_passing_by]

Small manga spoiler The way Jinshi doesn't understand what he is doing can be harassment, stems from her upbringing , and , he himself isn't an adult 😂😂, not now at least.

[@GabeSweetMan]

Well said! Though please do your best to break up run-on sentences and format your paragraphs with indents. It was actually physically difficult for my eyes to properly track the next line while reading your otherwise excellently written comment.

[@AviciPerry]

Yeah it's obvious the show didn't play that scene for any other reason but to make you uncomfortable alongside maomao

[@gracequeeney3399]

You have fair point but the way the story doesn't make him realise how wrong it is and how we never seen how he regrets and feel guilty about it is the most frustrating part, let alone the fact that he doesn't make amend regarding that and just brushing it away like a no big deal. It's weird cuz the story paints him as compassionate and caring type of sovereign yet this action make him looks like he abusing his authority because he knows full well maomao couldn't refuse it despite how much discomfort she felt at that moment. I mean he owe maomao an apology or explanation if he is caring or compassionate enough to feel guilty like he supposed to be moreover if he wants their relationship to go further.

[@Phoenixdragon288]

❤ 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Thank you for break down for this anime. Excellent job.

[@Thesilentvoice...]

What I like about the show is maomao seems very realistic as a character. She’s not a person looking for things to happen to her, but is rather reacting to the situation she’s in. She grew up in the brothel home but used what she learned and applied it to the situations in the palace. She’s fair to the other ladies in waiting even though they are mean at times. She understands the reality of life but still is curious on the world around her. It works well with Jinshi who isn’t so aware of the realities of the common world since he’s a man with high status. That’s why Jinshi is interested in her as he sees she’s knowledgeable and he learns from her. Plus he’s getting to know her background which makes him care for her more. Also the theme of beauty and how it’s showcased in this series is incredible. The courtesan women are beautiful and have to use that to survive in the world, but there’s a dark side as there’s a risk of disease, being brought out by a terrible man, or ending up in a far worse situation. But then there’s the fact that the attempts to stay beautiful lead to the death of the courtesan and the babies.

[@VirtuesOfSin]

"She has made the biggest mistake she will ever make in her life, and it will haunt her forever." - stealing that quote.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Go right ahead

[@Sarx-vw5oq]

Lihua's lady in waiting threw away the flower with the note. Paranoia is also a symptom of lead poisoning explaining some of her behavior. On the subject of ignorance. It's lakans greatest sin too.

[@KarolOfGutovo]

I'm only watching the anime, but Lakan seems to give more of a "I know I hurt her. Noone will punish me, so I don't care." vibe

[@Sarx-vw5oq]

@KarolOfGutovo he's very well aware of his mistakes now. That's why when talking with jinshi about maomao, he says he won't make the same mistake again.

[@dayan5454]

@@Sarx-vw5oq yet he does it again right after , leaving maomao in bad shape for his own inactivity. Lakan does not learn, because he thinks he knows/controls everything.

[@Ares99999]

@@dayan5454 When does he leave Maomao in bad shape?

[@dayan5454]

@@Ares99999 when he doesn’t do anything to save jinshi at the ceremony, and wait for her to do all the work. which causes Maomao to get severely injured

[@aceeweed8658]

Everyone seems to misunderstand why Lihua didn't get to read the note Edit: One thing I’ve learned and want to share, when someone is in distress, they tend to have less control of everything from their situation to their own self. Lihua is just trying to grasp her situation but she doesn’t how. She isn’t arrogant, as Mao Mao said. Lihua has “A personality befitting a concubine”. Later on, we get a glimps why that the quote stated is true. She accepts her error, she thanks Mao Mao, she’s kind and caring as we saw with her caressing Mao Mao’s face, she is not a bad person. This doesn’t justify striking Gyokuyo of course, it could’ve been handled better, I just don’t like her being mischaracterized as an awful spoiled person. MANGA SPOILER The lady who saw the flower with the note wasn't Lihua, it was her head lady in waiting and cousin. Her cousin, envious of Lihua, tried to remove Lihua from the harem in the hopes that she becomes a concubine in her place. Her first attempt was ignoring the note and the second was trying to get Lihua to miscarry by buying tons of perfume that's dangerous to a mother carrying an unborn child.

[@kuroharudere2735]

I just noticed that when I saw that spoiler..

[@Some_guy_passing_by]

It doesn't justify striking Gyokuyo of course... But Lead poisoning causes psychosis , delusion etc . Lihua was thinking weird stuff about Gyokuyo harming her child by supernatural means, and people are out there trying to kill her and her kid ... Her nasty temper and lashing out.. all these are neurological symptoms of a really bad lead poisoning. The moment the lead got out of her system, she was like " wtf was I doing again ?" .

[@itsgonnabeanaurfromme]

​@@Some_guy_passing_by can people stop excusing this behavior? Lead poisining causes psychosis this IS NOT Psychosis. I get we all feel sorry for her but striking someone who is trying to warn you is not acceptable. So are you saying you suspect some black magic and it's okay to harm another?

[@gprovidakes]

I think her lady in waiting cares for deeply for her mistress, but her pride and desire to make Lihua more beautiful than Gyokuyou blinded her. It Maomao punishing her for her errors and the greatness of Lihua was in forgiving her (partly because she failed to oversee her ladies in waiting) understanding how deeply they loved and cherished.

[@Bermeslivre]

I think her cousin wasn't involved in this directly, it was Gyokuyo who told her and she didn't trust her as she's a direct "competitor".

[@ericraululyeetusdelyeetus5028]

Ignorance is bliss, until the thing you've been ignoring hits you in the back of the head, that is.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Exactly

[@raymondgonzales5877]

I like how you reviewed this series. I never knew it was all about ignorance even though Maomao did state that many of the servants in the palace only had basic education. You explained very well how ignorance is a sin yet don't blame the characters for being ignorant. Not all can afford the kind of education, let alone experience, Maomao had. Perhaps it was fortunate that she got kidnapped and sent to work in the palace. There, she is really making a difference and meeting new people, making connections. Would her life had been much different if she never got sent to the Rear Palace? She was already doing a good job in the pleasure district. Being sent to the palace opened up new possibilities she never thought could be possible (tasting poisons regularly, experimenting on new drugs, having access to all the ingredients she needs for her experiments, learning about her step dad's past, etc). The way you talked about how being ignorant of the things we don't know is not something to be ashamed of. What is a sin , of course, is continuing to insist on doing things the same way even though you're being told it's the wrong way. Good review and thanks to your explanation, I have a better understanding of this anime. 🙂

[@NakuruKouChannel]

one crucial mistake: Maomao doesnt live in China. the worldbuilding is based on China, yes, but the author confirmed that this is a fictional country and Chinese people were outraged at this. Maomao is not Chinese

[@Edramon53]

Binged the whole series so far over the weekend and I'd wondered about that - I noticed they never actually named any places but wasn't sure the reason.

[@itsgonnabeanaurfromme]

Changing the name but it is still chinese coded.

[@undefined4277]

@@itsgonnabeanaurfrommewtf is chinese coded

[@pieperson444]

the setting is chinese in everything but name@@undefined4277

[@gprovidakes]

Welll I think that is overstating it. The characters carry a lot of Japanese attributes, but this is about a fictional I,perial China with Chinese people. When not Chinese I suspect we will be informed, perhaps from far west or east.

[@karsten69]

9:48 Thank you for bringing that up. All people I talk to swear that it's romantic when he forces himself upon her... She who grew up in a red-light district, who use makeup as camouflage to avoid male predators, who was attempted dragged into a dark alley more than once, who shivers and backs away whenever he touches her... How is that romantic?

[@emiliereal1520]

Honestly, I love it when in later episodes he learns boundaries :)

[@Llylandrill]

Amazing video and analysis of the show, I never picked up this theme before! Just a slight correction regarding Lihua, I will keep as spoiler free as possible for anime only fans : Lihua did not *choose* to ignore the note, she simply never got it, her ladies in waiting found the note and discarded it. It is highlighted in the show and manga how closed off they are to outside input so naturally they didn't trust info coming from "outside". It is possible Lihua wouldn't have trusted the note either, but well sadly never know as she never got to make that choice.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thanks for the correction!

[@LenyaGreen]

Also i don't know if it's been pointed out anywhere else, but because of the makeup thing, it's highly likely that was was poisoning them was heavy metal. One of the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning is a radical change in personality and irrational emotional outbursts. So like, Lihua slapping Gyokuyo and being irrationally suspicious and stuff can be seen as symptoms of her poisoning. Making the whole thing even sadder.

[@blueplague5911]

I was so surprised. Because before this anime dropped, I never heard of Apothecary Diaries at all. This past year I was most looking forward to other releases including one I waited multiple years for and found myself binge watching this instead. Crazy good. You just can't beat good writing.

[@dustboots]

When Lihua's ladies in waiting continued to use the face powder, it felt less like ignorance (after the whole palace banned the lead powder) but rather a choice that they'd prefer their lady to look nice for the emperor, even if it killed her. They might not have known *how* dangerous it was, but the calculus of 'but it is more important to please the emperor' is horrifying, yet completely logical for the time. The choices that characters make within the limited power they have seems deeply important to the series - whether to look pretty or chance loosing the emperors favor while healing, or to intentionally wear freckles to discourage kidnapping (or worse), and so on. MaoMao fights ignorance, but she often displays deep sympathy to characters stuck between equally poor options, what with their roles being so constrained that death or disfigurement can seem like the preferable option. You only need to look at her adopted father to see how knowledge can be just as much of a curse as a blessing.

[@JHMProject]

If anyone wants a good comparison of maomao and Jinchi's relationship....Bones. Maomao is Dr. "Bones" Brennan and Jinchi is Sealy Booth. Not literally but figuratively. Brennan didn’t like Booth at the start of their series as well.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Haven’t watched bones but that sounds like a way more accurate comparison than mine

[@starfire1916]

I love Bones! I’m happy someone is watching that show

[@valevm2770]

13:43 If this is harassment, just wait till you meet the frog

[@LocklanStareyes]

The WHAT

[@cel4709]

Tbh, the frog was hilarious part in later parts of the Manga.

[@L0Nii210]

Light Novel/Manga Readers scream in fear when they hear "Decent sized frog"

[@anonymousgerbil8336]

​@@LocklanStareyesJust you wait

[@Gamerfalcon]

Took me a moment to remember that. Thanks lmao

[@ininusi]

Slight manga spoiler! I can't believe it took me watching this video to understand just why maomao repeating, "ignorance is bliss" was so incredibly unsettling, but yeah, this seems to be an important aspect of the series and it can seem it's going to be explored from both sides as well, so yay can't wait ^^

[@violettegami4582]

Okay, this is very funny for me 😂😂 Like, despite everything Maomao _is_ the epitome of willful ignorance. Or purposeful obliviousness if you will Especially if you read the manga, you'll realize just how many times Maomao turned blind eye to things that she thought troublesome. Moreso in the latest chapters, where she just deflect anything "Jingshi-related" cause she rather be ignorance of his secrets. So yeah, what Maomao hated is not ignorance, but negligence born of rich mindset. She just dislike the spoiled servants who'd rather think of Concubine Lihua's beauty rather than her health, and she also willfully ignore the signs of the child concubine bullied by her maids cause she does not want the servants to be punished harshly. Instead she warns the poison tester that whatever happened to the concubine will be considered _her_ fault.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Interesting, I didn’t consider her ignoring the signs of the bullying maids ignorance but I guess it could be seen like that. I just assumed she didn’t say anything because she neither wants to get killed or be the cause of others deaths, so more of an informed decision. However I’m interested to see what comes later and I’ll keep your comments in mind!

[@Makjaoiuewhxkjs]

I also disagree that she is ignorant in the mentioned situations. She pretends to be and chooses to turn a blind eye to some things to avoid trouble. But it's a conscious choice on her part, not an actual ignorance. She just observes without getting involved until someone asks her to look into it.

[@myrtlealley]

She knows nothing good can come from knowing jinshis true identity and the power he actually has over everyone in the court. He is someone very very very special to the emperor and if anyone finds out they will both be in more danger than they already are.

[@ezrabod_md_ds]

FINALLY SOMEONE THAT AGREES THAT JINSHI IS SOMETIME CREPPY SKIP THE HONEY PART I COULDN'T HADLE IT😭

[@LocklanStareyes]

Yeah if it was just a quick gag I could have let it slide but the insistence was uncomfortable even if he likely wasn’t going to do anything

[@ezrabod_md_ds]

Yes whenever i saw those scenes i felt so uncomfortable that i had to skip them😭

[@pappanalab]

@@LocklanStareyes I’ll just say the honey part is significantly less questionable than a certain scene from the light novel so uh yeah. Best be warned.

[@Aleikaru]

​​@@LocklanStareyes I legit thought I was held at a gun point on that scene.

[@lau0104]

I think I know which one you mean, it's certainly questionable lol​@@pappanalab

[@GAshoneybear]

I think another interesting thing of note is Lady Lihua is known as the Wise Consort. So it adds another level as to her guilt, since she is clearly the most educated of the concubines we have seen, that she might feel she should have known the issue.

[@Ares99999]

How could she? Maomao only knows this because she was raised by a man with VERY high education in fields like medecine. So Maomao has a wealth of medical and herbal knowledge that Lihua could never have hoped to have.

[@GAshoneybear]

@Ares99999 Oh, I'm not saying she should have. But guilt has a way of making people feel they should have known things they really wouldn't have.

[@fhengal]

I hate that I can't remember which episode where this happened, but your video on "The Sin of Ignorance" reminds me of the time when Maomao says to Jinshi (paraphrasing): "It's not a matter of ______ ; it's a matter of 'can' or 'cannot''," and she's indirectly rebuking Jinshi for being unaware of the consequences of actions he might take, thereby highlighting the enormous differences between nobles and commoners, namely because of the power that Jinshi is accorded by his status and authority. That power has consequences and trickle-down effects on all those around him, whether he realizes it or not. Even Jinshi is guilty of this sin of ignorance sometimes.

[@ImFrelled]

That's the scene where Maomao asks Jinshi for a favor... If he is ever tasked with executing her, to please use poison. He says he wouldn't do that, and she replies it's not a case of wouldn't but of can or cannot. Even Jinshi wouldn't have a choice if the Emperor commands it.

[@akamai8097]

Maomao is best girl, heck the doubters

[@glyptodongaming5629]

The way Maomao was written was probably one of my favorite characters in a show. You described her well snd they wrote her well

[@danielle-xt7if]

this is an amazing video essay, thank u so much for giving this anime the thoughtful analysis it deserves!! i really like what u said maomao being written perfectly for this show's worldbuilding. she's someone that inspires others to learn more about the world around them, which is so important for a setting in which most people have been sheltered their entire lives. it's really special to watch her interact with the women of the palace and how she is able to navigate and challenge the class/social power dynamics that these women have lived under their whole lives. in conversations my friends and i keep describing her as the hero to the inner palace the same way batman is to gotham.... in defense of jinshi, and as someone who reads a lot of romance manga, his flirting is fairly standard for the shoujo genre. i'm sure a lot of the scenes were written not to be interpreted as harassment but more so for girls like me to swoon over them, lol 😭

[@poetmaggie1]

The ignorance has not gone away, it was never banished, it continues today.

[@Wesen24]

Nice rhyme.

[@lovebirddraws8475]

I loved this nuanced and in-depth interpretation of the show!! I’ve loved it from the first episode and am super happy to see that people like it too

[@choonxie]

Love this review! I appreciate the most the spotlight on Lihua; I feel for her so much even though she’s not my favorite of the 4 consorts. Thank you for this!

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thanks for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@mokonaq.4494]

I really enjoyed your video about Apothecary Diaries. You showed the highlight of what the show is about and how it ties into our protagonist and the cast. This has got to be one of my favorites analyze to hear so far. I also like that you used Liyue's OSTs from Genshin. Both fit the vibe of being inspired from Ancient China. :) I hope that your channel becomes more popular because so many people are missing out. XD

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thanks for the kind words! I’m glad someone else recognized theLiyue ost’s

[@Stelllar02]

First of all i really adore the way you've addressed the characters because you pick up on the important humanity that most people overlook. "Oh its just good writing" but you go into depth on how they effect the story and what makes them human and its just a really nice watch

[@TheDustyPeaches]

I want to clarify concubine Lishu the Virtuous Consort has never been subject to the sexual duties of her position as a concubine. Lishu exists only as a concubine because the previous emperor only liked young girls due to a phobia of adult women they are careful to subtlety say that the previous emperor was a horrible person who permitted the mutilation of men and taking women far too young, however they explain that the current Emperor "only likes ripe fruit" meaning women who are already adults and has abolished the creation of eunuchs because he finds it barbaric. The Emperor only kept concubine Lishu around because her dismissal would be seen as a great shame on her. The show needed the horrible parts of this time period but the story also requires the modern audience to accept that the Emperor is in no way a villain but a genuinely good man who was handed a deeply flawed nation by a perverse and twisted father. BELOW WILL BE A WARNING FOR A SPOILER REVEALED IN SEASON 1..... The story requires the Emperor to be seen favorably because as revealed in season one Jinshi is in fact the son of Ah-Duo and the Emperor making him the first prince. To conceal his identity he is allowed to masquerade as a eunuch in the rear palace despite never losing that particular part of his anatomy Jinshi is supposed to be presented as 23-24 years old to maintain this secret but is actually only 18-19 making his potential future relationship with Maomao who is 17-18 more reasonable for a modern story.

[@deadman7026]

Genshin liyue music fits so well with the video. Great video

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thank you!

[@mikagesama1990]

As someone who's read up to vol. 11 of the manga, it delights me wholeheartedly to see "The Apothecary Diaries" anime receive so much love. Thank you for this video, you took the words right out of my brain and put them in video format! 😍

[@helgawhiteblue]

Thank you for your work! The editing is really good, love the script, the video on itself is absolutely amazing. GG, Locklan!

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thanks a ton Hel!

[@MaxMustermann-bm7qt]

that was an amazing video essay. i believe you found the bare essence that makes the show interesting.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thank you!

[@jackal_extraordinaire]

I'm really impressed by the quality of many of the comments left here. That speaks volumes to the quality of the video's content as well!

[@echohibiki2798]

I really appreciate your editing style and soundtrack choices

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thank you! It takes a lot of time to edit so I appreciate the compliment

[@The_Funky_Lime]

Excellent video!!! I just want to add my thoughts about why Lihua ignores Gyokuyo advice to stop using the powder. Why should she trust Gyokuyo? How can she be sure that what she and Gyokuyo have is the same sickness? It could all be a plot that Gyokuyo has crafted to eliminate her and her son. With Lihua's baby's dead Gyokuyo has all she needs to become the most powerful woman in the palace. In a place where they are constantly in fear of being poisoned and after losing her male-born son she has nothing. So her beauty is the only weapon she still has, and we see a bit later that she wrongly assumed that Gyokuyo is much more beautiful than her. So in her mind, to still have a chance of being an important person she has to be perfect. That white powder is what makes her skin perfect, so Gyokuyo is basically asking her to stop being pretty. When afterward she realizes the truth... she feels so guilty she wants to die. Her character is so dear to me, and she evolves so much more in the manga afterward! I actually like her more than Gyokuyo in the point in the manga I'm in. We see less of her but she has totally learned her lesson.

[@blackangel390]

I really enjoyed this video and most of all the Genshin background music. I felt the transitions and use of it fit the video and it’s tones so well

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thank you very much!

[@scottkelly1685]

Late to the party here, but I started watching and reading Apothecary Diaries about a month ago and I can't get enough. I've seen many overviews of this series since then and I think yours is the best. And... Maomao is my best girl.

[@ericanight8359]

Hearing Lihua’s sobbing the night her son died…i genuinely can’t hate her. She was paranoid and scared when she and her son were dying and had no idea what to do. She likely felt she couldn’t trust Gyokuyo and she’s honestly not wrong in that way of thinking. Of course WE know that Gyokuyo would never hurt Lihua’s child but out of the four high ranking consorts they’re the only two that have any reason to mess with one another. Lishu is too young for the emperor to want to touch. It’s said in the show that the emperor has a distaste for his fathers like of younger girls and prefers “ripened fruit”. And Ah-Duo lost her womb giving birth when the emperor was still a prince not to mention it’s likely that they already knew she would not be a concubine for much longer. Neither of them were major threats to Lihua or Gyokuyo so them being suspicious of each other would make a lot of sense. They both likely want the title of Empress Consort so why would Lihua trust Gyokuyo’s word? I think she was later still thankful to Maomao for trying despite still having lost her son. She was unable to protect her child from her own ignorance and she will carry that for the rest of her life. I hope that the poison did not prevent the possibility of her ever getting pregnant again tho i do believe that at the very least she will have risky pregnancies for both her and the baby. I do find it ironic that she’s the “Wise Consort” tho.

[@lancer1881]

Love the vid, everything about how ignorance can be detrimental was put in such an eloquent and captivating manner

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thank you! Glad you liked the vid

[@LocklanStareyes]

New Video Out! Hope you all enjoy it! Let me know what you think and what I should cover next! (Also feel free to comment something dumb to help with the algorithm!)

[@hunterofcomedy]

A very poignant analysis. I have loved this show since it first started airing and its for all the reasons you specified. Maomao is a healer, be it physical or spiritual. Mostly physical, yes, but when she gives advice to Lihua about using her "assets" to win favor with the Emperor, that was a type of spiritual healing that Lihua needed. Maomao didn't need to do that, but she did. Because she knew it would help Lihua recover. I also love your line about how she hates the disease of ignorance but not the person. Very apropos. And the fact that she isn't immune from other kinds of ignorance makes her a well-rounded character. She's smart and has common sense, but lacks information on social traditions in the palace, which she even recognizes from time to time. Great work with this video! You got yourself a new subscriber!

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thanks very much! I like you analysis as well

[@xXEnoehtXx]

Mao Mao is not an orphan. She know who her parents are and she has an adoptive father.

[@Ares99999]

Yup, some of the things he says sometimes makes me think he didn't actually watch the series. He missed some crucial parts if he did.

[@kathymorkassel3236]

Job well done,,, i love anime that hides knowledge in plain sight and teaches you something or makes you curious about it enough to look it up . Aka bookworm, darn forgot full names ,stone ?, parallel pharmacy, the 1 with 7 students who plane crash in alternate world, to name a few hehe😊 thanks for sharing and your opinion matters it gave me a deeper perspective. 😊

[@klee6459]

I definitely missed the theme of ignorance of this show and the way you articulate it makes so much sense :) while I do see people saying lihua wasnt able to make a choice, what I understood from the series of event was that even if she missed the note because her lady in waiting threw the note out, gyokyuyou attempted to give her the knowledge but in the end chose to be ignorant was revealed abit later, so in a way it was an inevitable because she remained ignorant. (following the themes of the dangers of ignorance) Other than that this series definitely has the most refreshing set of characters I have seen in anime, the show I feel like is similar is akatsuki no yona though the biggest difference is the sense of reality looming over the series as a whole that anyone could die, have shit happen to them and all these characters are just doing their best to live their life in their complicated web of society

[@alexmorgan518]

" The palace doctor bless his heart, is an idiot" LOL

[@katelynnarn8743]

That scene with the flower being knocked off the windowsill plays a huge role in Lihua's story in the upcoming season 2. Spoiler ahead: The woman who knocked off the flower was both Lihua's cousin and her head Lady-In-Waiting. She knows the powder is toxic and hopes, with Lihua's loss, the emperor will eventually shift his attention from Lihua to herself.

[@Rapha_blinds]

Nice video! I'm really in love with this series, such a good surprise to me in this season

[@faithcastillo9597]

Thank-you! This is the detailed primer I've been looking for.

[@Mr.to_late]

Thank you very much you opened my eyes but learning and doing is not easy often someone only learns when bad things happen 😢

[@aureliylove4989]

Snow white with red hair it almost like this not fully and the other one that I think it also a good one is The Story of Saiunkoku

[@LittleHobbit13]

Omg Saiunkokuuuuuuuuu. I love that series and I feel like it's basically been forgotten by everyone. 😭

[@aureliylove4989]

@LittleHobbit13 I know, right, but it is still a wonderful anime

[@felinah2559]

@@LittleHobbit13 I wish I had found a full translation of the novels since the series isnt finished... Id really like to know how the story continues after the anime...

[@LittleHobbit13]

@@felinah2559 Oof, I feel ya. I feel that way about Twelve Kingdoms. They were officially translating the books for a bit, but they stopped before they did them all and it made me so maaaa~ad. I gotta know how the story goes on!!!

[@lovelylittlegirl3332]

Apothecary diaries is arguably on of the best anime of it’s season. It’s just so good and harmonious and mentally stimulating. They really hit the nail with the word building and character design with this one.

[@rockito94]

I love that you put "Dearly Beloved" into this video. It fits very well and caught me off guard. Also very nice take on this masterpiece of an anime season. Hope they will keep the level next year.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Yeah, I was trying to find some good emotional music and stumbled on the kingdom hearts soundtrack and it just fit. I do hope season 2 ends up as good as the first!

[@Byrdstar6423-un3me]

I'm so glad I got into this series its so wonderfully written and animated!

[@nicho.7400]

Man I’m just so happy it got an anime and even got covered by you because I do love these

[@Phoenixdragon288]

I want to thank you for your review. It's the best I have seen in a long time. Keep up the good work.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thank you very much! I’m glad you liked it

[@wadejohnston4305]

I'm almost POSITIVE they use rotoscoping at certain points in the animation. Just the way the art subtly changes and the flow of animation screams it to me though it's pretty spaced out

[@LocklanStareyes]

Huh, i think it’s possible for maybe episode 4 and here and there but if that’s the case it’s really well implemented in my opinion

[@bread395]

You did a wonderful job in giving such a nuanced take on a popular piece of media.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thanks!

[@AphyWaph]

Seeing a lot of people mad about the romcom aspect of this. (SPOILERS IF U HAVENT READ 1-5 OF THE LIGHT NOVELS) I agree that it is not romantic when Jinshi forces himself upon Maomao. Clearly, he doesn’t understand what he’s doing. It’s not romantic for Maomao, but for Jinshi, he’s just trying to show his affection. He’s used to being able to seduce almost anyone with a quick grin, and the honey scene would make anyone who wasn’t maomao go feral. He really loves Maomao, and just doesn’t know how to show it. Maomao is a girl who cannot take a hint. After Jinshi tried “showing her he wasn’t an eunuch and hasn’t lost his…”, Maomao brushed it off because she got her Ox Bezoar. She didn’t think about it. Clearly, she’s clueless as to what Jinshi feels for her. I’ve heard that later on in the LNs, she does start considering Jinshi and showing affection. That being said, even in the anime, I wouldn’t completely take Jinmao off of the table. I think it’s quite cute and adds another layer to an already addicting story, and it’s honestly really hard to not ship them because they’re so cute… I’m told later on, it gets confirmed as well. All this to say, I don’t agree with people just saying “JinMao isn’t canon” and leaving it at that. I would love to see people read the LNs more, because they include some JinMao never seen before. 😊

[@animehuntress9018]

Oh dear.... you haven't read the LN. Errr, well the message is right there and it is a good one, but just a heads up. If they continue the series past this first arc, you WILL learn a few things that unfortunately impact your message. You are making good points with what you do know though! I'm buying up the LN as soon as it releases as I've been following the fan release of it for YEARS!! I do this whenever something I'm following gets an official release since I want them to realize there is a market for them. I also want to support the original artists and writers.

[@LocklanStareyes]

I appreciate the feedback!

[@BmoreBrass]

Great video! It's awesome to start seeing more videos about apothecary, especially as the series develops its themes and starts to reveal its mysteries. Glad I found your channel!

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thanks dude!

[@steshka1015]

I agree 💯 It's very unique. And your narration is a nice pov that the show mostly discusses the sin of ignorance and solving it.

[@fxreigner5009]

SPOILERS!! jinshi is a really complex character. Hes the emperor's younger brother (though there are questions on whether he was switched at birth with the current emperor's son) pretending to be a 22 y/o eunuch as an 18 y/o boy just trying to be useful to his brother keeping the inner palace in check. hes been told his worth lies solely in his looks and, when that does not work on mao mao, he starts reevaluating himself.

[@ChocolatierRob]

If you're gonna put spoilers in a comment simply Starting with "SPOILERS!!" is not enough, put the actual spoilers on the fifth line so they cannot be seen unless someone browsing chooses the 'Read more' option. It is far too easy to inadvertently read something incriminating on a block of text like this when scanning down a page.

[@fxreigner5009]

@@ChocolatierRob 👍

[@kamakaze2007]

i really love this series, just as much as frieren.. its like this sherlock holmes/house type of stoic observer type of story telling which i really appreciate

[@aniiaaaa]

Love your Video! It’s really well made and its definitely one of the best takes I’ve seen on Maomao. Ill be eagerly looking forward to see more of your videos :)

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thank you so much!

[@gprovidakes]

This is pseudo-Imperial China so social context is basis but not really historical Imperial Ming China.

[@LocklanStareyes]

Good point, sorry I wasn’t more clear about that in the video

[@lloydlego6088]

Yeah that always makes me cringe. Have they ever shown a map? The empire seems pretty dominant and cohesive and there is trade with other countries. Also Gokyu has different color hair and skin because she comes from a different country. Not sure if it is a vassal state or just a political alliance.

[@katarh]

@@lloydlego6088 Vassal state-ish; more like a previously conquered and now fully incorporated territory. Her family situation gets explored in depth in some of the later novels.

[@lloydlego6088]

@@katarh I kicked myself because j-novel club had all the light novel volumes on catchup the month before the anime aired. If I knew I was going to love it so much I could have read them the entire month. I can’t wait to read them.

[@helgawhiteblue]

..Maybe one day I will hear Locklan talking about Sarazanmai. But mayhaps that's gonna happen in different dimension. ˢⁿᶦᶠᶠ

[@LocklanStareyes]

Oh I saw so many adds for that on Crunchyroll a few years ago! I’ll see if I can give it at least an episode

[@helgawhiteblue]

​@@LocklanStareyes good luck with this one, until the very middle of the season it's VERY trippy. And then very realistic. And sad. But than you breathe out and everything is okay. Long story short, it's very fun, def check it out!

[@nera124]

Loved the video! Very interesting to listen to. Also, can I just say that I love your music taste? Your use of genshin osts is just *chef's kiss* perfect! It surprisingly fits with The Apothecary Diaries too

[@LocklanStareyes]

Thanks! Yeah I felt Genshin Liyue music fit the vibe considering the region is based on Chinese culture

[@benjamingoldstein9156]

In a harem being #1 can be a matter of life or death. Whether or not Lihua's maid was jealous, Lihua felt she had to whiten her skin with lead based paint. (presumably lead) A letter from an anonymous source is more likely a trick to get ahead rather than a sincere warning.

I really like how the series doesn't shy away from the more tragic and disturbing parts without getting morbid or turning gore (which would be easy as there was as much brutality as there was finesse and culture).

[@nara-yana]

What do I see?! An *Apothecary Diaries'* analysis with *Genshin Impact's* OST?! Sign me in!!

[@LocklanStareyes]

You bet!

[@minarose8723]

i love the genshin ost in your vids sm. makes me so warm

[@ThrowawaytheRatman]

I started reading the manga a bit before the anime came out and Im so glad this series is getting the attention it deserves. Its a wonderful story and even caught my squirrel brained self

[@arphendess5937]

I enjoyed your walk thru this wonderful little show. I adore it.

[@mahaofhyrule]

Loved your commentary on this series. I also smiled when I heard Kingdom Hearts music during the video 😊

[@LocklanStareyes]

It just fit

[@czarinamascarinas3579]

Observing Maomao's behavior and "reaction" towards others make he think that Maomao is someone "in the spectrum"- perhaps a form of mild autism which is possible given that her father is a genius and awkward and even her mother has some peculiarities too. Of course, the environment that definitely grew up with definitely impacted her upbrining but innately her Bahaviour could also be from genetics.

[@tsulucylle9189]

This was an interesting take! thanks for sharing som love on this anime and Maomao

[@darth_yoda]

I love Mewmao shes such a damn good character and the perfect exsample of what I have always said a female character should be.. Shes is strong ( in her own way) She have a charming personality you can just feel in every frame. Shes intelligent with out the men being stupid to get her to shine. Heck the males of the series almost all way above average in intelligence in they own right and yet she simple outclass them.. I have always said you do not make a good female protagonist by making the men stupid. She bets them at they own games in a society were woman are clearly looked down on and yet she shines in all aspects.

[@Aerowind]

Adding on to this as it's not talked about in the anime, but the reason the doctor is suck a quack is because of two reasons. The first: the doctor has to be a eunuch. Successful doctors have no reason to get their balls chopped off because they're successful already. The second reason is that women aren't allowed to become doctors. Maomao's father actually was the rear palace doctor, but it's later revealed it's only because the previous empress dowager forcefully had him castrated and put into the rear palace. Meanwhile the current Emperor has banned the involuntary creation of new Eunuchs.

[@MiraculousMarin]

21:08 I mean there’s a few things that can be read into with the Sherlock and holmes dynamic

[@BlackReshiram]

maomao my beloved easily one of my favorite female anime protagonists of all time

[@jayevlachos939]

yes, in the manga it is mentioned several times that the emporer shows no (current) issue in li shu and did not have the taste for youth his father did

[@6Hell6oopz6]

Maomao is the best girl and best female character in fiction. Not a contest even.

[@peaceout8230]

I mean yes I love JInshi, but his actions can get bit troublesome, probably because he is aware that he can kinda do things because of his hidden status, although he is not fully aware that his actions do not impress Maomao. In a way he is childish-cuz he is a kid, and that honey scene was for me more kind of weird controling he does (like his needs for toys), although It should be funny, in a different way it can be sometimes pressing and hard, especially for Maomao. In a way im gratefull that Maomao shows that she does not like that because in typicall anime girl mc they would probably blush and be shy, she is pretty much always avoiding those interactions that he gives to her, so it is refreshing to see that Maomao was not interested in him when those kind od situations were happening, she was much more interested when he was stable, and controlling of the situation. He is comedy relief character much more than she is, and they do work nicely togheter. I also can not wait for that random frog chapter to pop up. It is good mixture of what the hell is goin on

[@Ares99999]

I feel like we're letting that one scene define Jinshi. Yes, he went too far, but he clearly didn't think it was nearly as bad as it was. And he never does anything like this anywhere else in the series. Maomao also has her moments of being insensitive without meaning to, but we're not letting those moments define her character. It's like using Lihua slapping Gyokuyo as what defines her character, which would be totally unfair.

[@Arima_kana234]

@@Ares99999 Doesn't he do anything like that anymore?? And the strangles scene... have you forgotten? Jinshi is really unbearable, in the manga and especially in the LN, when I saw the anime I loved Jinshi, but when I read the manga and the light novel he is really hateful, even the ''frog'' scene that everyone talks about and they laugh about it, in truth there is nothing funny about it at all, although at the beginning Jinshi might have seemed funny due to his childish ways, later on he really crossed the line it was no longer a joke or a simple flirtation but rather real harassment.

[@straw-b6f]

Spoiler Warning I like how they explain that Jinshi’s childness is because he had to grow up quick. I’ve seen this happen in fiction and reality. It is very realistic. I still don’t like that one scene with the hunny, that was very strange.

[@MiraculousMarin]

It’s rare to find a show so respectful of eunuchs.

[@userofyoutube2477]

The series is so much fun as is it the closest an anime can come towarss historical cdramas! Love it :3

[@2Js95]

HE’S BAAAAAAACK!!!!!

[@LocklanStareyes]

I’m back

[@GeneralNanachi]

ah yes Liyue music when disscusing Apothecary Diaries

[@madisonmcarthur2422]

It could be that she didn’t hate the other herm member it just could be she can’t trust them. what I read it’s a very competitive in the emperors Herm usually . it’s very common for there to be plots, poison and other things set up between members, and she could’ve been easily killed at any time from anyone just because she may be his favourite. so for her, she would probably think that the other harem member was lying to making her less beautiful (unfortunately, in those days their life happiness, and everything, could depended on their beauty),. worse the rose could’ve been from anyone some sort of trap,. It’s hard to trust anyone outside your own circle in that kind of environment. She didn’t know if it was safe, so I can understand her instantly, throwing it out.

[@yurironoue5888]

Lihua did not know that the powder was toxic. She did not get Maomao's message.

[@Tolinar]

Not knowing isn't the same as choosing not to know. Lack of knowledge is not a sin. Willful ignorance is a sin. To refuse the truth simply because you don't like it, is dark in the human heart.

[@Tolinar]

In this way, Lihua commits a slight sin in refusing the truth from her rival, and her attendants commit a heavy sin in continuing to use makeup - but Gyokuyou never sins in this way.

[@GarouLady]

I so thought this was taking place in Japan. either way I absolutely love this manga and now I am going to watch the anime.

[@SyaoranLiClow]

Took ne fay qnd a half to see the whole 20 episodes so far. Truly a beautiful tale

[@evewhoo]

Lihua's mental state at that time might not have been the best. Unlike Gyokuyo, she didn't read the letter herself because her lady in waiting knocked it outside. Lihua looked much worse off physically than Gyokuyo and while I can't diagnose her or anything, she might not have gotten a lot of sleep, wasn't eating properly, and, after losing her child, went into a steep physical decline. Now that I think about it, Lihua was actually given the powder by her ladies in waiting while she was sick. Hence that episode where MaoMao slapped the heck out of one of them. If Lihua had that powder applied to her AND was losing her child to the powder, it makes sense that she was an absolute mess. We don't know if she was given the powder pre-illness though, so I could just be spouting nonsense.

[@Ares99999]

Also, this scene is before either of them had received Maomao's warning.

[@gremlin_anna]

12:47 Genshin theme. Nice👌

[@lidu6363]

Loool I appreciate that Liyue soundtrack in this video about this totally-not-China country 😆

[@OverthinkingStories]

I understood from the show that Lihua probably ignored both the flower with the note and her rival's warnings for the same reason. She wanted to keep the attention and affection of the emperor. After she gets well, she makes Maomao understand she doesn't feel like she can compete with the emperor's favorite. If the flower with the piece of cloth had been left by someone else hoping to gain her love, which is honestly how I'd interpret a flower left in my path, her accepting it might be construed as her affections turning from the emperor to another. This in turn might get back to the emperor and lead him to reject her. So, flicking it away might have seemed the safest course of action. Then, her rival tells her to stop using a famously affective beauty product (if you see lighter skin as more beautiful, which I don't, but it seems like many in the show do.) She probably (wrongly) thought her rival was attempting to get her to abandon a weapon in their warfare to attract the emperor to themselves and away from the other. To me, her continued ignorance is tragic, but understandable.