Apothecary Diaries 1x20 Reaction Extended (YT link below)
Added 2025-10-02 01:00:08 +0000 UTCIn Apothecary Diaries 1x20, Thornapple, Jinshi might die but that's a risk Maomao is willing to take for the recipe to the Romeo and Juliet poison.
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Just conjecture but there's been a SUSPICIOUS lack of rhododendron lately...
Alex G
2025-10-02 03:51:20 +0000 UTCSo now we've had it confirmed that Basen is Gaoshun's son. The tip off about this early could've been that Maomao mentioned that he(Basen) reminded him of someone and then she remarked that he resembled Gaoshun in her head. But yes, Gaoshun isn't just a married man with children, he's also a grandfather! I love that for him! I also love the closeness that Gaoshun and Jinshi have in these private moments. Really reinforces their closeness with one another. I loved these last two episodes together because there's so much happening that it was almost bewildering or overwhelming with all that occurred. Even though the assassination attempt was uncovered, we still don't know who Suirei is or who her accomplice is. I do like the idea of back to back incidents being seemingly random and unconnected only for them to fit together so effortlessly when given time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Gyokuyo must have put Maomao's teachings to good use if she's pregnant again. And now we have a confirmed age for both Jinshi and "Jinshi" being that his true age is 19 at this point and his presented age is 24. Because the way that the passage is time works in this series is weird, keep in mind that Maomao at episode 1 was 17 when princess Lingli was only 3 months old, iirc. She hasn't spoken yet, but it's possible that the baby is one year old or approaching that age. So it's possible that Maomao is 18 at this point, depending on when her birthday is. Meaning that both Jinshi and Maomao are very close in age. But we're approaching the end of season 1! 4 more episodes left! There's things I want to talk about more regarding certain characters, but that's going into spoilers. Regarding Suirei though, I think you're not inaccurate in referring to her as a Maomao that went down a different path. I love how Maomao picked up on what she said and did without missing a beat. So now we have somebody who's at least as knowledgeable as Maomao about herbs and medicine on the loose who knows how to weaponize that information and she's unaccounted for by faking her own death! To give you a reference point for how far in the manga we would be, this is starting Volume 7. I must say, the pacing hasn't been sluggish and no episode has felt like it's dragged on and delayed on giving us progress or plot development. It really can't be stated enough that this, along with Frieren, was a great contender for the season it was announced. I'm so glad that people decided to give this show a genuine and fair chance. I've been loving and living for your reaction to these episodes and seeing your thought process for how the story may unfold and predicting plot points and maybe even twists, as well as paying close attention to almost everything somebody says or does in the show. But never forget that it always comes back to that GOD DAMN RHODODHENDRON!
TrueAuraGuardian
2025-10-02 03:46:38 +0000 UTCThis is very helpful, thank you 😊 A lot to think about
Alex G
2025-10-02 03:38:02 +0000 UTCJust to note: Lakan sent a couple of the cases that led to this conspiracy Jinshi's way, asking or prodding him to look into them (aside from the warehouse fire, which Maomao stumbled across on her own, but he knew about it) - the seaweed incident, the metalworker's will. And if you go back to those episodes, a mysterious person (Suirei in a male outfit) made an appearance (and was the one slipping rock salt into the alcohol of Sir Kounen). Does that mean he was working with Suirei or pushing Jinhsi (and, by extension, Maomao) into figuring out what Lakan had already concluded? Either way, I don't think Lakan expected Maomao to get hurt in the process, or for Jinshi to demonstrate just how much he treasures her. All Lakan knew was that Jinshi paid off her debt/bought her out of Verdigris House, maybe to be his private concubine or pet or slave. I'm guessing Lakan was shocked to see that his clever daughter almost died instead of only solving the mystery and saving a life, raising her status in a very public way. It seems clear that Jinshi doesn't know or suspect that he is really the Emperor's son (IF he is). "If only that child hadn't died..." He would be worried in a different way if he were about to be replaced as heir to the throne and he wanted that position (he'd want to help make sure all the babies died, not save them). As the Emperor's brother, he is the current heir, but that will all change if Jinshi manages to stop all the babies from dying in infancy. And to do that, Jinshi needs to be close and on top of all the intrigue going on in the Rear Palace. The eunuch disguise makes him able to wander around and poke his nose into everything. Whatever he's taking to suppress or block his testosterone levels (he was 14 when he started this role), it didn't hinder his development too much, since he's clearly adult and pretty masculine in size and voice. Eunuchs made before reaching full adulthood would look younger and more androgenous in build. Jinshi is beautiful, but obviously a man. Luckily, no one has really seen the Crown Prince's face. But someone must have made the correct connection, or they wouldn't be trying to kill "Jinshi the Eunuch".
Serralinda
2025-10-02 03:26:11 +0000 UTCSo Jinshi started taking a ye olde testosterone blocker at 14? No wonder Maomao remarked about his particularly pronounced lack of facial hair. He basically went on pseudo-puberty blockers
tk
2025-10-02 01:57:14 +0000 UTCMakes sense that Jinshi needs to find the Emperor a wife as part of getting out of this Eunuch role, it'll move him out of the succession and basically let him do what he wants with all the perks of an Imperial Prince and much less of the responsibility 🤣
KrimzonHawka
2025-10-02 01:20:45 +0000 UTC
