REVIEW: ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Episode 10 — “Honey”

With talk growing in the Rear Palace concerning the servant who recently drowned, Jinshi (Takeo Otsuka) seems convinced that there is more to learn about the incident. To pursue this endeavor, he sends Maomao (Aoi Yûki) to serve Lady Ah-duo so she might observe those in her service and spot a potential accomplice in the poisoning in The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) Episode 10, “Honey.”

This week’s episode opens with Maomao once more taking a break with her friend Xiaolan (Misaki Kuno, Summer Time Rendering). As usual, Xiaolan is abuzz with the latest gossip swirling through the Rear Palace. That the series hasn’t let Xiaolan slip out of sight is a wonderful element that is easily overlooked. As the first person Maomao befriended after arriving, it makes sense that she would return to her for visits and simple chats. Also, while she has gotten to know far larger personalities around the Palace, last week’s episode reminded us of the limitations those friendships have if duty should come calling. As a mere servant, any such complications with Xiaolan seem unlikely.

After this brief introduction that serves to foreshadow what Maomao’s next mystery will be, The Apothecary Diaries Episode 10 sees her return to Lady Gyokuyô’s (Atsumi Tanezaki) in time to help prepare for a tea party that will see Lady Lihua (Yui Ishikawa) visiting Maomao’s mistress. Here, we see the beginning of the episode’s over-arching look at palace life for the many servants that keep the place running. Maomao’s running observations about how and why things happen create an intriguing underlayer of world-building beneath the growing narrative that unfolds.

When Lady Lihua arrives, Maomao’s previous concerns for the young courtesan, where her ladies-in-waiting are concerned, returns as she sees their habit of mistreating their young lady has not abated since the garden party. Lihua continues to be an extremely empathetic figure in this episode. Young and uncertain of herself, the girl is clearly in over her head with few people she could look to without fear of being used or manipulated. How her ladies treat her only serves to exacerbate the situation.

Once the brief party is concluded, Maomao finds herself approached by Master Jinshi (Takeo Otsuka) with a task only her sharp eyes and deductive reasoning can handle. He sends her to work for a time at Lady Ah-Duo’s, though the exact purpose of her temporary transfer is not spelled out for her, but it has something to do with the belief that the poisoner is from Lady Ah-duo household is related to the situation.

Jinshi’s personality has begun to show cracks as the series progresses. While he appreciates Maomao’s skills and sees her as more than a simple servant, the man’s arrogance and self-assurance give off an energy that makes him feel like an uncertain ally at best. While he has been happy to indulge Maomao’s rejections of him in the past, a moment in this episode seems to imply this might not always be the case. Whatever his shortcomings, though, Jinshi continues to lend an enigmatic energy to the show as he searches for the answers to the mysteries that swirl within the Rear Palace.

Upon arriving at Lady Ah-Duo’s home, Maomao finds an orderly and approachable atmosphere as the servants of the house are engaged in a spring-cleaning type procedure. Everyone seems hard working and determined, a clear by-product of the personal attitude of the head Lady-in-waiting Fengming (Noriko Hidaka, Komi Can’t Communicate). Her kind nature and strong work ethic have spread throughout the household, creating a positive and determined atmosphere.

This sequence works to build the viewer’s understanding of not only Ah-Duo’s household but also continues to look at the connections and interplay between the courtesans throughout the Rear Palace. The dynamics that Maomoa’s musing and observations explore help the viewer understand the intricacies of the setting.

Once her work is accomplished, the episode sees her return to Jinshi to report what she has seen. How precisely Jinshi feels about her report is unclear, as his character seems preoccupied with Maomao herself. Deciding that he is going to feed her honey from his fingers, Jinshi approaches an unwilling Maomao until he has her backed against a wall with nowhere to run.

Maomoa’s panic at the moment is palpable thanks to the skillful animation’s presentation of her feelings. She has no interest in what Jinshi is offering her but has no true recourse to stop him without risking serious danger for herself. Under any circumstance, Jinshi’s actions would be misguided at best. However, given what he knows of Maomao and her past, like the reason why she paints her freckles on herself, this action takes an even worse energy to it. Happily, Lady Gyokuyô arrives to admonish Jinshi before he can make Maomao accept the unwanted offering.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 10 ends with Maomao visiting Lady Lihua to learn a few additional details about her that have connections to the ongoing look into the poisoning. A few details are learned concerning the lady, as well as a further expansion on just how cruelly the lady’s servants treat her. With how much the show has gone out of its way to emphasize this situation, it will be a big miss if there isn’t an eventual reckoning for these cruel handmaids.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 10 brings plenty of world-building and some character exploration in its plot. While not much is accomplished within this episode, it feels like meaningful clues and plot elements are taking shape, providing a purpose within the narrative.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.