REVIEW: ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Episode 17 — “A Jaunt Around Town”

With Maomao (Aoi Yûki) willing to fulfill Jinshi’s (Takeo Otsuka) request at the end of the last episode, she sets out to disguise him as a regular-looking individual. Masking such a striking face is no easy feat, but The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no hitorigoto) Episode 17, “A Jaunt Around Town,” sees her take on the challenge.

The opening half of this episode sees Maomao craft a disguise for Jinshi. This sequence is nothing but fun. As Maomao’s ingenuous tricks play out, we see Jinshi transformed into a far less dashing version of himself. Plenty of playful moments and observations litter this sequence. Maomao is at her funniest here as she transforms her boss.

The animation fully embraces the pleasant joy and humorous tone of the scene. Toho Animation Studio and OLM deliver all the chuckles and lively energy with skillful ease. The playfulness of Maomao’s character as she crafts a new version of her boss is delivered wonderfully. The opening of Apothecary Diaries Episode 17 draws the viewer into its comfortable embrace thanks to the wonderful animation.

Perhaps the most striking element of Jinshi’s transformation is how much needs to be changed that Jinshi doesn’t realize. As Maomao starts tearing into things that must go, The Apothecary Diaries Episode 17 emphasizes how much difference there is between the rich and the poor. Jinshi’s smell, his posture, and even the texture of his hair all come under the scrutiny of Maomao’s perceptive eye. Even when she mentions something the viewer wouldn’t have thought important, the episode immediately highlights why the element would be telling of who Jinshi really is.

Once her task is complete, Maomao prepares to depart from the palace, as she has been granted a leave to visit her father. But as luck would have it, Jinshi’s destination is on the way to Maomao’s. As it should be no inconvenience for her, she is tasked with accompanying her employer to his meeting. When Maomao protests, claiming that she would be recognizable as Jinshi’s servant, hence spoiling the disguise, a solution is found. Maomao also dons a disguise. While Jinshi’s disguise makes him more ordinary in appearance, Maomao’s makes her out to be a proper lady. This also means that while the two travel together, Maomao is the master, while Jinshi must play the attendant.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 17 plays this role reversal up for all the charm it can. Each character takes turns pointing out what the other is doing wrong in their new role. The jabs and corrections are delivered with a wonderful hint of playfulness. Voice actors Aoi Yûki and Takeo Otsuka each bring a heartfelt sense of joy to the sequence through their expressive voice work. Neither’s corrections ever cross the line from playful ribbing to snide. It always dances just short of that point, allowing the duo to live a fun moment as they wander through the streets.

As the pair approaches the place where Jinshi has his meeting planned, he asks Maomao a question that has been stewing in him all episode. Prompted by a comment made by Lakan previously, he inquires about how one may reduce the value of a courtesan. This question instantly upsets Maomao. Despite her clear unease, she explains some of the steps women go through to become high-class courtesans, followed by how the prestigious position can be stripped away.

The exposition on how women train to become courtesans may initially feel unnecessary. However, its placement is important to drive home a secondary element. There are years of preparation that go into becoming a famous courtesan. It is not something that beauty alone can bring. This is in striking contrast to how quickly it can be taken away by a few acts. While this wasn’t part of Jinshi’s question, it is clear that the context is important to Maomao. The heavy nature of the moment is delivered wonderfully again through Yûki’s voice work. Following the genuine warmth that resides in the rest of the episode, this somber moment stands out strikingly.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 17 brings all of its elements out in a wonderfully skillful fashion. From the voice work to the animation, this episode manages to string two noticeably different tones together, fusing them both into a compelling and enjoyable entry in the series.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.