REVIEW: ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Episode 26 — “Caravan”

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 26, “Caravan,” sees a caravan arrive at the Rear Palace bearing all manner of extravagance for the Palace denizens to partake in. But Maomao (Aoi Yûki) soon realizes there may be an insidious underpinning to the caravan’s purpose when she notices a pattern among many of the wares being offered.

The seasons are changing at the Rear Palace. With the new weather, work comes for Maomao and the other ladies-in-waiting as they change the wardrobes for Lady Gyokuyô, ensuring she is prepared for the change to come. As they work, Maomao learns a bit about the fate of old clothing no longer used by Lady Gyokuyô (Atsumi Tanezaki), as well as other bits of news about the other Pavillions around the palace. Lastly, she is informed that a large caravan will soon be arriving at the palace, bearing lots of new fashions and other luxuries for sale.

This opening sequence does a great job of delivering many little details about the show’s world without bogging down the story. The kernels of knowledge are small and quickly delivered, barely noticeable as they fly by. They are further disguised by the fun interpersonal interactions between Maomao and the other ladies, making the moment as filled with charm and humor as it is with background knowledge.

From here, we get a brief cutaway moment with Lady Linhua (Yui Ishikawa, Wuthering Waves) as she also prepares for the arrival of the coming caravan. While everything seems normal at first glance, the arrival of a mysterious letter leaves an ominous energy in the air. This sense of foreboding is further projected thanks to skillful visual elements that enhance the moment’s feel.

Subtle background tidbits are seamlessly done, making the best use of the episode’s short time

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 26 jumps ahead to the caravan’s arrival. We find Maomao and Xiaolan (Misaki Kuno) observing the commotion and excitement around the temporary attraction. Not wanting to get in the way of more important persons partaking in the caravan’s wares, the duo does not approach at the moment but agrees to return on the last day of the caravan’s stay to do some window shopping together.

During this sequence, we also get some observations from Maomao concerning the unique setup and structure of the Palace, specifically regarding potential disease, what an outbreak would do, and what elements help keep that from happening. The way the episode slides into the topic helps obfuscate the purpose of Maomao’s internal observations. It feels like just a random stop along the character’s train of thought. But look at it a little closer, and these thoughts are foreshadowing incoming events for the season.

The first substantial hint that something about the caravan is not as it seems comes when Maomao realizes something is wrong back at Lady Gyokuyô’s pavilion. She notices that every dress they find for her is styled for a pregnant woman. However, the lady’s pregnancy isn’t yet public knowledge. The same is true for Lady Linhua. If no one knows about the pregnancies, why would the caravan have so many outfits for such a situation?

Not wanting to start a commotion yet, Maomao passes her concerns on to Lady Gyokuyô covertly through a carefully worded observation. The ever-sharp lady picks up on Maomao’s meaning and tasks her chief Lady-in-waiting with looking into the matter.

This scene perfectly establishes the level of trust Maomao has earned with Lady Gyokuyô. Not only does Lady Gyokuyô pay enough attention to pick up on what Maomao hints at, but her dispatching someone to follow up on it without a second thought indicates a profound level of confidence in Maomao’s observations.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 26 then returns to the caravan as the last day of its visit has come. We see Maomao and Xiaolan checking out the stalls in search of last-day sales. Maomao picks some spices for tea, as well as a cute hair tie for Xiaolan, which delights her companion. They also run into Shisui (Asami Seto, Kaiju No.8), the young woman who caught the cat in the last episode. She and Xiaolan work together, giving the girl an easy entry into the scene. The trio ends up leaving the caravan to head over to the clinic to visit the cat Shisui helped catch.

Once at the clinic, the Doctor puts on snacks, and the girls settle in to try some tea Maomao purchased at the caravan. We learn some bits of information about Shisui, most noticeably that she enjoys drawing bugs. Unsurprisingly, the girl’s interest in bugs captures Maomao’s attention. While Maomao is drawn to the creatures for medicinal purposes, the two quickly bond over their shared objects of interest.

Amidst all the conversation, Shisui mentions that she has noticed a strange odor at the north end of the palace where most of her bug hunting happens. The doctor speculates that it could be from a clogged drainage path, as the north end is a bit of a mess. That the drainage system was one of the focus points for Maomao’s observations about disease prevention in the Rear Palace instantly springs back to mind. It seems the plot is already afoot, even if no one yet notices.

Maomao’s internalized pressure hits new, relatable heights in The Apothecary Diaries Episode 26 

This moment continues to build up the behind-the-scenes events with a light touch. It obfuscates the point of the scene just enough so that when viewers notice the detail they’ll feel smart while making it obvious enough that most will pick up on the point.

Days later, Maomao and some of the other servants are washing their ladies’ dresses and having a particularly hard time with them. It seems the caravan brought with it lots of new scents that many of the ladies have been indulging in. Individually, these smells are fragrant, but when lumped together in close proximity to each other, they become a cacophony of fragrances that is nigh unbearable.

As Maomao considers all the scents, she notices she makes a startling discovery. Without wasting a moment, she rushes to Lady Linhua’s pavilion and begins sniffing everyone there. This brings about the mixture of shock and outrage one would expect from so sudden and odd of an intrusion. The visuals make this bizarre moment pop with even more energy, with the ladies unleashing a comically presented wrath against the invasive Maomao.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 26 then sees Maomao standing before Jinshi (Takeo Otsuka) and Lady Gyokuyô to explain herself. She reveals that all of the scents and spices sold at the caravan have a common side effect. They can be harmful to pregnant women if they are exposed to large amounts of them. One is even used intentionally to perform abortions. Jinshi immediately sets wheels in motion to learn what he can about the matter.

Internally, Maomao admonishes herself at this moment, blaming the carnival-like atmosphere of the caravan’s visit for keeping her from making the observation sooner. Though it is not Maomao’s fault, it is easy to understand why she would view it as her responsibility. Throughout season one, personalities like Jinshi and Lady Gyokuyô came to rely on her expertise in such matters. That Maomao fostered those expectations makes her feelings of guilt understandable. Even though the responsibility isn’t hers officially, she has cultivated an environment where these self-imposed expectations make sense.

After Jinshi departs Lady Gyokuyô’s, he learns from his aid that a mid-level concubine has turned up dead, likely from poison. This timely news, combined with Maomao’s suspicions, seems to confirm that there is a deadly plot afoot. The closing images of the episode show Lady Gyokuyô as she prepares to end her day with a cup of tea being poured for her. Its timing feels intentional, leaving an ominous sense that no ordinary cup of tea is being poured.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 26 highlights the series’ incredible strength in doling out background information and observations without becoming dull. The great character writing shines throughout the episode, as each scene manages to be both interesting and engaging. Its final moments create a fantastic amount of tension, crafting a tonal contrast with the rest of the episode, making it all the more memorable. The decision to leave Lady Gyokuyô’s fate up in the air is a fabulous hook, as she is one of the series’ strongest secondary characters.

The Apothecary Diaries Episode 26 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.