REVIEW: ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Episode 16 — “Lead”

While chatting with Jinshi (Takeo Otsuka) in Episode 15, Lakan (Takuya Kirimoto) left information concerning a recently deceased metalworker. The metalworker in question failed to pass his trade secrets to his three sons which is causing some concerns about who can take over his work. Having left behind a mysterious will no has been able to decipher, Maomao (Aoi Yûki) must try to solve the strange puzzle in The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no hitorigoto) Episode 16, “Lead.”

This installment almost solely focuses on the mystery surrounding the will. As Maomao once more heads out, we see Basen (Tatsumaru Tachibana, God of High School)  is once again keeping an eye on her. The reluctant handler hasn’t warmed up to our protagonist’s presence since their last trip either. As they pass the carriage ride in silence, it surprising that Maomao’s inquisitive nature doesn’t compel her to seek out why Basen seems so bothered by her. But as long as he keeps his reluctance to himself, she remains unconcerned.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 16 gets to the heart of its tale once Maomao and Basen arrive at the home of the deceased metalwork. The puzzle that’s laid before Maomao is probably the most complex one to date. For a dying metalworker employed by the court, the guy must have had a ton of free time on his hands to set this up. The complex design of the puzzle feels like something one usually only finds in a video game. With elements that must be placed in certain spots at certain times of the day, you’d think Maomao was trying to access a dragon’s hoard with all the hoops she jumps through.

Despite the complex nature of the problem, The Apothecary Diaries Episode 16 manages to craft a sequence of events that makes it feel plausible that its protagonist can bring all the pieces together. The way the story fluidly allows Maomao to untangle each element is a credit to its strong writing. Even viewers will feel like they can see the solution. It’s so close to being obvious with answers sitting just barely out of reach.

The visuals in this episode help to further highlight the clues as Maomao brings them together. Solid camera choices allow the viewer to feel hints about elements within the room that are important. How the light shines on certain pieces of furniture, or the arrangement of elements in a shot all help to call attention to what is important in a frame. As Maomao slowly brings it all together, the animation delivers the clever mechanisms of the puzzle’s solution to life with a simple, but effective visual delivery. There is a subtle sense of wonder to the solution as the puzzle finally clicks into place thanks to how the visuals bring it all to life.

The other area where the visuals shine is in the gorgeous craftsmanship of the setting. Taking place in the home of someone who does metalwork for the Imperial Court, one expects every piece of material that fits into the architectural design to be of the highest quality. This comes through brilliantly in The Apothecary Diaries Episode 16. Every hinge, drawr ornamentation, and decorative design looks beautifully crafted. We never doubt that these elements are the work of a master.

Throughout Maomao’s investigation, we also get glimpses of the three brothers and their feelings toward one another. This trio has some struggles when it comes to dealing with each other. These troubles aren’t helped by how they believe their father values each of them. While it never gets too deep, there is enough setup to allow for a nice resolution to the minor conflict between them as the episode draws to a close. It lets the sequence end on a warm, heartfelt note.

With the puzzle finally solved and the brothers once more working together, the episode closes with a brief return to Jinshi and Lakan as they discuss the outcome of the mystery. While not much of direct significance comes of this moment, it reaffirms that there was more to Lakan’s purposes than simply needing to have a mystery solved. His interest in Maomao’s skills continues to bring an unsettling air to the series.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 16 delivers an intriguing, well-crafted mystery. Its skillful presentation and fluid resolution make for an enjoyable watch.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.