The Apothecary Diaries – Season 2 Episode 1 Recap & Review

Maomao and Maomao

Episode 1 of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 begins with Joka and Meimei visiting Madam. Meimei picks up a booklet. Madam tells Meimei that Maomao wanted several books. Madam asks a male worker to take the books to Maomao. 

Meanwhile, Jinshi and Gaoshun greet the concubines from Lady Lihua to Lady Gyokuyou. Then, Jinshi visits Maomao at the Imperial Palace’s clinic. Maomao tells Jinshi she’s making perfume oil. She says some oils can terminate pregnancies. 

Jinshi wonders if they should regulate the Imperial Palace’s oils. Maomao says it shouldn’t be an issue. After Maomao has Jinshi try some distilled alcohol, several men arrive with Maomao’s books. They deliver Maomao’s books and Jinshi and Gaoshun check them out. 

Maomao explains what the books entail and why she had them delivered here. Jinshi says he’ll keep the books a secret if Maomao tells him what store sells these books. Gaoshun takes the books regardless. After Maomao discusses a novel with Xiaolan, she stumbles upon Gyokuyou’s ladies-in-waiting.

They’re reading a book Jinshi had Gaoshun distribute to the consorts. Maomao ponders the Jinshi’s intentions. Maomao confronts Gyokuyou’s ladies-in-waiting in another room. Ailan, one of the ladies-in-waiting, wants to distribute the book to others.

Maomao suggests that Ailan make hand-written copies of it. Ailan makes copies and several girls distribute those copies to other women. Maomao thinks this is what Jinshi desires. She argues this will improve the inner palace’s service women’s literacy rate. Later, Maomao teaches Xiaolan how to write and read.

Xiaolan argues learning how to write will be useful for job hunting. Maomao visits Gyokuyou and plays with Lingli, the latter’s daughter. Gyokuyou tells Maomao that Lingli can explore the outdoors. She asks Maomao to accompany Lingli, Hongniang, and two eunuchs on a walk.

Gyokuyou wants Maomao to teach Lingli things during this walk too. During the walk, Lingli hears a cat and heads to a dark alley. One of Gyokuyou’s workers grabs Lingli and Maomao tries to capture the cat. The cat flees to a forest and Maomao’s group follows it there.

Maomao attempts to capture the cat, but a girl captures it instead. The girl hands it to Maomao and departs. Maomao takes the cat to Guen, the Quack Doctor. Guen prepares a bed for it and leaves. Later, Maomao visits the Jade Pavillion and chats with the emperor, Gyokuyou, and Lingli. 

The emperor tells Maomao that he’s keeping the cat and wants Maomao to care for it. Jinshi and Gaoshun visit Maomao while she’s caring for the cat. Maomao and Jinshi discuss Gaoshun and Guen’s fondness for cats. The narrator tells the audience that no one knows where the cat originated. 

She says the palace’s personnel speculate the cat sneaked into an Imperial Palace cart. The narrator confirms the emperor gave the cat a rat extermination job and named it after Maomao. Later, Gyokuyou’s ladies-in-waiting tell Maomao that a caravan will arrive soon. 

The episode ends with a shot of two women in the caravan. 

The Episode Review

The Apothecary Diaries kicks Season 2 off with a wholesome and funny episode. It features light moments of contemplation, but nothing too intense. Most of the series’s cast receive the spotlight in this chapter. From Xiaolan to Gyokuyou’s ladies-in-waiting, many fans will be surprised by the screen time they receive. 

Some may question if these characters will play a major role in the plot. The episode lightly sets up some new faces too. From the cat’s female rescuer to the two ladies in the caravan, it’s exciting to know this anime’s world has more to offer fans. 

While the investigations were light this week, some fans will enjoy seeing Maomao utilize her wits and charms this week. From pondering Jinshi’s book intentions to her casual interactions with others, fans will be pleased knowing her likable characteristics remain intact.

Coupled with nice visuals and soothing music, this was a pleasant way to start a new season of this anime. Hopefully, fans won’t have to wait long for the captivating mysteries to begin though. 

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Full Story Recap:

If you want to remember what happened in The Apothecary Diaries Season 1, click here.