REVIEW: ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Episode 15 — “Raw Fish”

With the mystery surrounding the warehouse fire solved, Maomao’s (Aoi Yûki) reputation within the Outer Court is rising. Many are whispering about her penchant for problem-solving. There’s one person in particular expressing interest in her. What is his true motive and why is he testing our young protagonist are the key questions in The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no hitorigoto) Episode 15, “Raw Fish.”

The bulk of this episode revolves around a pair of deaths concerning pufferfish poison that Gaoshun (Katsuyuki Konishi, The Tale of Outcasts) brings to Maomao. With plenty of small wrinkles in the mystery, this core focus provides an intriguing challenge for the protagonist. Along with interesting clues, several personalities also play parts in the mystery, each bringing their own energy to the proceedings.

An element that helps this mystery shine is the nuanced look it takes at poisons. Maomao dives into the nature of poisonous foods to a greater depth than previously seen. These observations about poison and how people make food bearing them safe to consume are interesting. The acknowledgment of the intricacies involved helps explain how these poisonings can continue to occur without having everyone around her look like idiots.

While most of the characters that pass through The Apothecary Diaries Episode 15 leave something of value in their wake, the one who fails to is Jinshi (Takeo Otsuka). Not directly involved in the investigation, Jinshi nevertheless repeatedly butts into the case, to the annoyance of Maomao and the viewer. In each appearance he makes, Jinshi feels like a needy child. His desperate bids for attention are not humorous and add nothing to the episode’s main narrative. It feels like the show is simply afraid to omit the character, despite lacking a reason for his involvement.

The element of this week’s mystery that I appreciated the most is how cleverly it shifts gears. Initially, it seemed that this episode would serve as a mystery of the week-style entry. And it plays that way for a while. However, it is revealed that the situation was brought to Gaoshun’s attention by General Lakan, who is interested in Maomao. Hinted at in prior entries, we see him taking his first active role in the plot.

Bringing a presence to The Apothecary Diaries Episode 15 that speaks of a cunning and cruel personality, Lakan’s presence feels like the heralding of a new, darker threat for the show. And one that is aimed squarely at Maomao. During the episode’s final scene where he talks with Jinshi, Lakan presents some chilling outlooks and goals that grant him a sinister quality.

As he matter-of-factly describes his veiled interest in Maomao, the character leaves a disconcerting impression on the viewer. What the result of this interest will mean for our protagonist is left unclear, but it seems unlikely that it will be an enjoyable experience. It seems she would’ve been wiser holding to her original desire to keep a low profile around the palace after all.

How the series presents the character is perplexing. While trying to establish Lakan as a threat, the visuals also make light of him, which feels contradictory. This is due to how the episode repeatedly shifts between who the man is and how Jinshi perceives him. One moment, he is a shadowed figure, telling a story in measured tones with purposeful execution. The next, he is a comical silhouette flapping his mouth like a muppet.

While it makes sense why Jinshi would view Lakan this way it still clashes with what it feels like the series is trying to do with the character. The fact that Lakan’s monologue involves insinuations that he had planned to physically harm Maomao when she was at the brothel so others would find her less desirable is too dark a moment to make light of in this fashion.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 15 tells an interesting tale. It crafts an intricate puzzle for its protagonist to solve while introducing a new threat to the series that promises a more focused danger for the star. While it mishandles some elements, it still provides a solid amount of entertainment with what it gets right.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.