REVIEW: ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Season 2 Episode 11 — “The Hunt”

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11, “The Hunt,” sees Jinshi (Takeo Otsuka, The Gene of AI), Gaoshun (Katsuyuki Konishi, Blue Lock), Basen (Tatsumaru Tachibana, God of High School), and Maomao (Aoi Yûki, Sasaki and Peeps) head to a northern province to participate in a hunt. But from the earliest moments, it seems clear there is more going on than a relaxing trip to the forest. And, as always, Maomao is caught in the middle of it all.

The driving element of this episode is tension. From its earliest moments, it starts to build the atmosphere of the narrative, layering weight to it as it proceeds. The central focus of this increasing tension in the early portion of the episode comes from Jinshi revealing to Gaoshun that he intends to tell Maomao his secret soon, most likely on the titular hunt.

Before he can, though, Jinshi must get Maomao cleared to leave her duties at the Jade Pavillion for a few days. This means getting the okay from Lady Gyokuyô (Atsumi Tanezaki, Demon Slayer Sweep the Board). And he’ll have to endure a bit to receive the lady’s blessing in the matter, too.

Tension is the driving force behind this episode, and no one is prepared.

Jinshi’s struggle to obtain Gyokuyô’s permission to take Maomao is The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11‘s sole moment of levity. The mischievous joy Gyokuyô exudes as she makes Jinshi squirm is priceless. Seeing someone have such fun at Jinshi’s expense is infrequent in the series. But, when you are the mother of one royal child, and another is in your belly, I suppose you can get away with a bit of impropriety.

Once the band strikes out for the northern province where the hunt takes place, the discomfort of the episode soon settles back in. Jinshi’s frayed nerves at being in this place are blatantly clear. He refuses to eat anything they didn’t bring and never leaves his room without a mask on. He even goes so far as to have his companions call him by a different name when out and about.

There is an obvious, unspoken connection between whatever has Jinshi on edge and what he wants to tell Maomao. The worrisome state that Jinshi has been reduced to also emphasizes the clout of their host. After all, if he is this worried about being here, there must have been no possible way to excuse himself from the trip, or he surely would’ve dodged the invitation.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 buildup comes to a head when Jinshi flees from a party, apparently not feeling well. When Maomao pursues him in the hopes of restoring his vitality, the pair come under attack by assassins. The sudden ambush forces Jinshi, who doesn’t seem too surprised by the event, to scoop up Maomao and leap over a nearby waterfall, getting them both to safety in a hidden cave. Though he nearly drowns Maomao in the process.

A romantic moment doesn’t quite land in The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11.

What remains of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 sees the duo recover from their fall and attempt to find a way out of their hidden sanctuary that won’t reveal them to any prying eyes. This closing scene creates some awkward moments between its two leads. There is tension and discomfort as issues like the soaked state of their clothes are addressed, leaving them both wearing less-than-proper attire while they remedy the situation.

This final sequence culminates in a failed attempt to escape the cave via a hole in the roof. When Maomao perches atop Jinshi’s shoulders to reach the potential exit, she loses her balance and falls, leaving her sprawled across her companion. With their faces uncomfortably close, Maomao starts to move away until Jinshi pulls her back to him, ending The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11.

The romantic energy in the final shot is executed well but feels hollow. The problem with it is Maomao’s lack of feelings. She has repeatedly made it clear she doesn’t get why everyone else falls over themselves for him. Even his pulling Maomao back to him feels bad, like a callback to other moments when he didn’t respect her personal space.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 builds tension and danger as it sets up a potentially impactful mid-season moment. How the current situation plays out, and the large danger are both things that promise shifts in the show’s narrative and the chemistry of its characters.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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