REVIEW: ‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Season 3 Episode 6 – “The Paper Village”

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 6 is a striking reminder that the story is evolving. It’s not just that the settings have changed (and are changing once again). It’s the subtle shifts in character dynamics as Maomao (Aoi Yūki) and Jinshi (Takeo Ōtsuka) continue to orbit one another. 

“The Paper Village” wastes no time in setting the story in motion with the arrival of a letter. Jinshi, getting right to the point, asks Maomao to accompany him on a trip. He doesn’t say what the trip is, what it’s for, when it will take place or begin, or how long it will take. It’s simply the request for accompaniment and little more. Maomao agrees and, in the first half of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 6, readies for her absence. 

The ever-expanding cast of characters is one of the series greatest strengths. No one is ever introduced and never seen or referred to again. It’s just one way the series creates such immersive world-building where any given character passing by adds to the vast ensemble. Sazen (Maeno Tomoaki) is one of these characters. Once a guard for the Shi Clan, his transformation since arriving at the Royal Capital has been a subtle note, expanded upon when Maomao realizes he knows the basics of medicine.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 6 reminds us that each character serves a purpose. 

She puts him to work immediately, knowing her connection to Jinshi means she could be whisked away at any moment. This is her insurance. And while Sazen worries over his inadequacy, she tells him the harsh truth that there are plenty of hack doctors who will continue to work with a patient despite not knowing enough to save them. As long as Sazen is compassionate and understands his own limitations and when to turn a patient away, he’ll already be leagues ahead of others who would be happy enough to profit on ignorance. 

The writing in this exchange is another example of the show emphasizing the hardships of this world. For all of the beautiful settings and beautiful people, the world remains harsh. It’s a thread the entirety of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 6 pulls at once Jinshi arrives, ready for their trip. 

Jinshi, for reasons not yet divulged, is playing the role of servant to Basen. Basen, meanwhile, is disguised as a court official in Jinshi’s stead, the two essentially swapping roles. Jinshi also wears fake burn makeup over his scar, as another means to keep his true identity a secret. 

The truth behind Jinshi’s trip is kept under wraps. 

Jinshi, Basen, and Maomao travel with Guen, the Inner Court physician, on his trip to his family home. It isn’t clear just why they’re accompanying him or whether they have a destination beyond his village, but Maomao notes in the ride just how much work Jinshi handles. In classic fashion, however, she derails once she gets too close to the reason why, still desperately trying to remain uninvolved with the inner palace workings. 

The animation and character acting do a good job of conveying Jinshi’s fatigue, even if he doesn’t actually speak, letting Basen commit to the role as a higher-up. And his workload does beg the question of whether or not he’s being set up to take on more responsibilities by his older brother, the Emperor. But Jinshi has been something of a closed book in Season 3, even if his feelings for Maomao have never been clearer. 

Once at Guen’s family home, the group runs into another potential problem that touches on personal hardship along with issues that have arisen over the course of the series. Guen’s family is facing hostility from their former landlord’s son, who is demanding five annual payments at once due to a land dispute. Guen’s sister and her husband believe he has more power than he does due to his station, asking him for help. Basen offers to help mediate the conversation. 

Everything is connected in “The Paper Village.”

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 6 ties itself to the greater, overarching story through the reasons behind the increase in taxes. Once again, the locust plague brings hardship and potential ruin to the characters of the world who live outside the palace. The grain taxes are higher because of it, meaning the family can’t pay as much as they might’ve in the past.

The series does such fine work with bringing together stories from past episodes – seasons, even – that it’s easy to look past because they make it appear so effortless. “The Paper Village” drives home just how much we should be noting, from Jinshi’s line to the throne to how the increase in literacy, introduced in past seasons, comes to play a role in taxes on paper. Just like the characters themselves, each storyline and narrative beat serves a purpose. Yes, Maomao and Jinshi are playing the longest slow-burn will they won’t they in ages, but that’s just one part of the joys of the series. 

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 6 stands out for the story’s relocation and the intrigue surrounding this mysterious trip. With a new problem to solve and notable role reversals, “The Paper Village” is narratively and visually rich. 

The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 6 is streaming now on Crunchyroll. 

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