The ZONE Podcast: Nerdy News and Reviews
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The ZONE Podcast: Nerdy News and Reviews
The Apothecary Diaries: Medicine, Concubines and Schemes in the Emperor's Palace
Herbs, poisons, palace intrigue, and a reluctant heroine who'd rather study medicine than fall in love—The Apothecary Diaries delivers a refreshing take on historical mystery anime that captivates from the first episode.
Meet Maomao, a young woman with extraordinary knowledge of medicine who finds herself kidnapped and sold as a servant to the Emperor's Palace. When imperial heirs fall mysteriously ill, her analytical mind and apothecary skills catch the attention of Jinshi, a breathtakingly beautiful palace official with secrets of his own. What follows is a delicious unraveling of medical mysteries, political schemes, and unexpected connections that will keep you guessing until the final reveal.
What truly sets this series apart is its protagonist. Unlike typical anime heroines, Maomao approaches life with scientific curiosity and practical detachment. Her deliberate freckles (applied to make herself less attractive), her fascination with poisons, and her complete disinterest in Jinshi's obvious attention create a character as refreshing as she is entertaining. The supporting cast shines equally bright—from the four high-ranking concubines with their complex motivations to Maomao's adoptive father Lucan with his tragic past. Each character adds depth to the richly detailed world of ancient Chinese imperial politics.
The mysteries themselves range from cleverly mundane to politically explosive, with season two raising the stakes through pregnancy plots, assassination attempts, and hints of grand conspiracies threatening the empire. Throughout it all, the gorgeous animation, historically-inspired settings, and perfect balance of humor and tension make The Apothecary Diaries a standout viewing experience that appeals to both anime veterans and newcomers alike.
Ready to be transported to a world where medicine, mystery, and court politics collide? Discover why viewers are calling The Apothecary Diaries one of the most intelligent and satisfying anime experiences available today. Subscribe to hear more reviews of sophisticated anime that breaks the mold and delivers unforgettable stories.
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DISCLAIMER: The thoughts and opinions shared within are those of the speaker. We encourage everyone to do their own research and to experience the content mentioned at your own volition. We try not to reveal spoilers to those who are not up to speed, but in case some slips out, please be sure to check out the source material before you continue listening!
Stay nerdy and stay faithful,
- J.B.
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I'm your mama, I'm your daddy, I'm that ninja in the alley. I'm your doctor when in need. Want some coke, have some weed? You know me. I'm your friend, your man. Girl, think and think I'm your apothecary. I'm your apothecary. What up gang?
Speaker 1:It is time for the Zone podcast to review the apothecary diaries and let me just say I love this show. I love it. Uh, let me explain. It's a historical mystery drama involving medicine and consummines. Perfect for an adult anime fans and beautifully elegant artwork. Lovable characters and a solid music selection. A wonderful blend of funny humor, intelligent interactions and entertaining character dynamics. You can also learn some things from the series.
Speaker 1:Now, to give you an idea of the plot, malmo, our main character, lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father until one day she's been kidnapped and sold as a lowly servant to the Emperor's Palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when Imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to help step in and find a cure. This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official, who promotes her. Now she's making a name for herself in solving medical mysteries. That's the main thing for season one, but when we get into season two, that's when a favorite concubine gets pregnant and Mama is put to the test as a food taster. She must keep her wits sharp and not only protect the concubine, but also against rising dangers in the palace A new concubine with powerful ties, an unsolved attempt at Jinxi's life and a foreign envoy with impossible demands, hence at a grand conspiracy poised to engulf the empire. With this anime, it has its slew of mysteries, the biggest one centering around Maomao herself, particularly who she's Related to and if her time At the rear palace was really Happenstance.
Speaker 1:I love Maomao's Mindset as a Detective and a potential business Woman. Also, I do adore the moments where he receives rare Medicine and ingredients for research Like a mad scientist concocting something. Lucan, her father, had an interesting backstory with Fengshan, who's Maomao's mother. I like how the series keeps up with Lucan not being able to see faces, but he imagined them as gold pieces. As is suspected, jinxi isn't actually a eunuch. In fact he's the emperor's younger son, kazugetsu, the moon prince, and of all the concubines. At first it was Gyokuyo Excuse me, I'm speaking a little too fast and she was my favorite for a moment because she's like me in the sense that she doesn't really create drama but loves watching it from a third-person view, but that changed when I got to know Lolan better. Now let me just stop there and ask Sebi Phantom how you feel about Apothecary Diaries.
Speaker 2:As a history buff for all history, the moment that this show came out I had to watch it. I was watching it telecast. I was hooked, from the intro to the outro. Just, it brought history, it brought drama, drama, it brought comedy and romance all into one little package and I couldn't have been happier with this anime. Um, I read the light novels that came out before then, but just to see it, like you imagine stuff in your head when you read a book. This is what this brought to me, like it matched up almost perfectly to me oh yeah, I feel that.
Speaker 1:Uh, how are you feeling about malmo, our main character?
Speaker 2:I think malmo is like so cute, I want to pinch her little cheeks. She she's so like dull and like nonchalant about things. Until it comes up with medicine, plants and poisons. She's like oh yes, give it to me. But when jinchy comes along, it's like who are you? What are you doing? Don't talk to me, don't touch me, don't do anything to me.
Speaker 1:I don't even like you the crazy part is is like, is it because she was, like, genuinely disinterested in jinchchi, or is it more like, uh, she assumed that he was a eunuch? Uh, because you know, no man without his package, uh, is allowed within the walls, unless it's the emperor, of course, like it has to be either the emperor or someone close to them. And it makes sense for Jinchi because, you know, he's the Emperor's younger brother. So is it? Is it? Did she have genuine disinterest? Or was it more like, oh, she just thought, oh well, he doesn't have his man bit, so he's not really a man, so why should I care?
Speaker 2:I think it's a little bit of both. I think it's mao, mao's personality of, because she was that way with a couple of other characters as well, but it also has to mix in with the fact that why is this, you know, this eunuch coming into the back like you're not supposed to be back here, but at the same time, yeah, I guess that makes more sense. And then no package, and of course, we'll get to my favorite scene in season two. But that's besides the point. I think it still has to do with a little bit of both gotcha, gotcha mira jane.
Speaker 1:First of all, welcome back to the podcast and second of all, how are you feeling about the apothecary diaries?
Speaker 3:I love the apothecary diaries so much on this planet right now. So first of all, I ain't really into all their romance, all that lovey-dovey stuff. Don't give me none of that.
Speaker 1:I'm a shaman girl sounding a little faint, mj oh, can you hear me better?
Speaker 3:yes, awesome, but yeah, no, like I ain't into all the lovey-dovey stuff. I like, uh, you know, I'm a shonen girl to the day I die like hey, you know what that's crazy, because, honestly, between mao mao and jinshi, I love their relationship as it is.
Speaker 1:You know like, yeah, jinshi her, but malmo is just not feeling him, like she's just not fucking with your dog. You need to stop it, girl. You're the dog and I just love it for what it is. Almost like it, the series makes you think, oh yeah, they're gonna be a thing, but I'm like, ah, like, if it happens, whatever, whatever. But even then I'm like I think this is good. I like how Mamo is like ugh, like I'm just not feeling you, though. Like, just stop this, like you're being weird, though, like why? And then the funny part is like, when Jin, she's like, oh, I just love the way she looks at me and he's like, as in a sort, love the way she looks at me, she's like filthy creature.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, oh my freaking.
Speaker 3:God Listen, I do too. But I'm not gonna lie to you, I'm rooting for this. I ain't gonna even lie Like I'm actually rooting for this freaking couple man, like it's so cute. But then, mama, she's so amazing, like, she's so amazing, like she's so cool, like why am I not her? Why do I not want to poison on a regular basis you know and see how that goes for myself like she's so freaking cool, like, and she's so different from like a lot of like female, uh, protagonists. So it's like I'm really feeling her, because she does have this vibe where she's so super smart, she doesn't really care about a lot of things, and then, when she does care about something, you still don't know if she really care about it or not until the end, and you be like, oh, she really cared about it.
Speaker 1:I'm your mama, I'm your daddy. I'm that ninja in the alley. I'm your doctor. When in need, when your doctor have some coke or some weed If you know me, your main girl, I'm your friend to get that, I'm your apothecary. I know I fucked it up because you know, said be heard the better version, but I was kind of mad that you missed that part.
Speaker 3:Oh, my God, my god you had to do it again. Yeah, I just had to do it. Oh my god, she. You know what. I would buy drugs from her. I can't even lie for her. I'd be a drug addict.
Speaker 1:I'll be like, yeah, give me your drugs, whatever you get all right, I got a question for the both of y'all, but I'm going to start with Sebi, phantom. Out of the four great concubines, or contours, however you want to put them, you know, prostitution is like the oldest profession. So I'm like, at this point it is what it is. But out of the four great concubines, sebi, which one's your favorite?
Speaker 2:Li Shu. She's my favorite. She's the youngest of the emperors for high-ranking concubines, but she's also like the mother-in-law of the oldest, pure consort. Just something about her like I kind of vibe with her like she came from the other um, the other emperor, you know all that weird stuff. But because because of that, she came in as the high-ranking concubine for the emperor currently, but he doesn't do anything with her. She's kind of just there, um, but she's got food allergies, kind of like I do. She's just always been my favorite. She's also really cute and I love her colors oh, oh, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 1:She definitely got like an elegant style to her and MJ. Same question to you Out of the four concubines, who's your favorite? Oh, come on, you can guess. Still a little faint.
Speaker 3:You can guess, come on now. Ah, ah, damn, you can guess come on now.
Speaker 1:Damn, I don't want to assume, but I'm just going to shot in the dark, is it Gyo Gyo?
Speaker 3:what did she do?
Speaker 1:I mean, to be fair, she was my favorite until I got to know Lolon better. Like, see, here's the thing. Like I told Sebi, like I like Gyokyo Because she's like me In a sense, to where, oh yeah, she's not gonna create drama. Whenever she sees some shit like Between the interaction between Maomao and Jinchi and other shit, she's like Ooh, y'all messy. It's almost like She'somao and Jinchi and other shit. She's like ooh, y'all messy for this. It's almost like she's like the tea, jinchi and whatnot. It's like almost like she's kind of stirring the pot, like stirring the tea. She's not making the tea, but she's stirring it. You know what I mean. Like, I just like her in that sense.
Speaker 1:But, uh, lolon, she took me by surprise when we find out who Lolan really is, like with the whole she-sweet things, where they this series set it up to where you wouldn't think that she-sweet was Lolan until the reveal. And I think that was brilliant because like the whole setup, the way they set the things up, but you wouldn't think that Lolan was doing the whole. Oh, have some other girl take my place with the whole makeup and everything to it. Okay, let's make everyone look just like me, to a point to where, like whenever I want to like fuck around with mama as she's sweet, then I just get away with that because you know most people probably not gonna tell the difference except jinshi, to where he made his duty, to where I'm like I'm gonna notice every single one of you. And then when he realized, as soon as mama was kidnapped by uh shisui and her adoptive sister, it was like, oh man, like see the mysteries.
Speaker 1:I love the way the mysteries were carried out, but I love it even more how there was like overarching mysteries like who malmo's parents were, who gene she is related to. Uh, how is the four concubines related to each other? How is all of this related to each other? And when I got to the season two finale I was like, oh, thank god she's still alive. But man like, all right, sebi, uh, is there a certain mystery that you like, like a certain art in the two seasons that you like?
Speaker 2:that's a hard question, um, I guess, I guess can't really be. I guess it's an arc, but when um jinchy and mao mao go to the um, uh, it's blanking on me. When they go to the other I didn't want to say ruler, but the other man and they go to his house and of course Jinxie has his face all covered up and they get stuck in the cave.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:That's gonna be my favorite, because If you've been reading the manga and you knew ahead of time, you're like, oh it's coming, let's go. And when that episode finally came out, it was like there it is, everybody Ribbit there it is Because I had been waiting for that scene since the novel, since the manga, and when it finally, like I said, when it finally released, I'm like, yep, there it is.
Speaker 1:I like how she made it. She tried to play it off like oh well, you know, it's I. And then Jinxie was like what do you mean? I Like, what do you think I'm saying? And see, it was actually more impressive. It's just more like she had to play it off like oh well, I can't gas him up too much, otherwise he'd think I'm going to like him. And I'm like like gc kind of gives me that whole steve urkel type vibes where, oh, I'm wearing you down, baby, I'm wearing you down.
Speaker 2:and then my mom's like because, yeah, when in the in the novel she goes is that a toad? Because she's like, because toads are bigger than frogs, that's the first thing she says is that a toad? And then she goes no, no, that was a frog. And he goes what do you mean? That's a frog like toads are bigger? Hello, that's just funny to me.
Speaker 1:Oh hell yeah, uh, mj, do you have a favorite moment or art, like mystery that happened in the show, oh, okay.
Speaker 3:So my favorite um, oh, my god, the show is so good. Um, so, my favorite, uh, mystery, I'd say was the double suicide, like the one that happened at the at the brothel oh, okay, yeah, yeah that. Oh my god. I was so deep into that case. I was trying to solve the mystery at that point like little girl being involved.
Speaker 1:I'm like, okay, that was kind of a swerve, because I like, oh man, like they set it up to where you wouldn't have known ahead of time, to where it was almost like wait a minute. And it just felt like a loose thread at the end, like are we going to revisit this whole thing or not? Because that's how the show kind of works, where sometimes they revisit some things that happened in a previous case like that is.
Speaker 3:That's why I think I liked it so much, because it was, it was so intense and so like. In comparison to like the mysteries we kind of had before, like the poisoning at the garden, all of those felt kind of simple. This one grasped my attention and I was like yo, what is happening?
Speaker 3:And of course you're kind of assuming that, like this is a love story gone wrong, right, right, and then you find out all of this stuff was an accident oh, they made it look like an accident yeah, they made it look like an accident, and I love watching a mao mao kind of like this was a mystery for her, like usually she's kind of really she's on the nose with it, like she knows, but this one she was like, wait a minute, hold up, I'm gonna have to dig a little deeper. So, watching her kind of go through this and also we kind of start finding out a little bit about her dad, like her biological dad, so I thought that that was interesting and that that was definitely one of my favorite, uh, mysteries, I'd say, and my favorite moment, my favorite moment happened, I'd say, and my favorite moment, my favorite moment, happened at I think this was at the end of season one.
Speaker 3:At this point, both seasons are running together in my head, but I think this was at the end of season one, where Mao Mao is dancing like on top of the wall, Uh-huh, and she's like she just looks so freaking graceful and beautiful and I'm like I can see why, jen, she is in love.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I get it. I was like, yeah, this makes so much sense. Now, she was so beautiful and I think that happened after the uh, like that was a sleepwalking spirit one where they were trying to figure out. I think that's when that happened towards the end, and I was like, oh my god, they're so cute and her outfit was fire bro true, true. I need to go buy that that's what I love about.
Speaker 1:It is where, when they get dolled up, they get dolled up.
Speaker 3:I love how she constantly runs away from herself. Get dolled up, they get dolled up, mm-hmm. I love how she constantly runs away from herself.
Speaker 1:Oh, like when she could have been a courtesan at a verdigris house and the old lady keep trying to sell her off. But I'm like, no, I don't want to.
Speaker 3:I love it. She's like nah, nah, I'm good, nah. And then when they had to basically trick her to get all dressed up, Right. And all the girls just jumped on her and then made her over and she was like why, why am I here? She thought she was going to go taste some poison and they was like nah, you should get dressed up.
Speaker 1:You know what? I guess that's why I also like Mal Mal, because for some reason I just like tomboys. She's like a tomboys kind of girl, yeah, like I mean, granted she can't dress like a man per se, but she got that tomboy vibe, like she's just not into girly shit, at least not completely like she can be girly, but it's more like, yeah, I'm just not into old dress up and whatnot, you know, just more practical, so to speak remove those freckles and you got a whole another girl behind those eyes and that's the crazy part.
Speaker 1:I didn't even notice the freckles until they mentioned the freckles and then, ever since then, I've had the nose of like, okay, I see them now.
Speaker 3:I like them though.
Speaker 2:I was like, aww, I like the reason behind them. Because she was like why did somebody take me in the beginning? Because I put those freckles on, wants to kidnap, you know, an ugly girl. So I put those blemishes on and she gets kidnapped and she goes. What was the point of them in the first place?
Speaker 1:she's so freaking unique man like I, just like she feels like an actual character rather than just a vessel for the plot to move forward she really-hmm, mm-hmm, she really plays a significant role.
Speaker 3:Even at times and I think that's also the best part about it she tries to seem like she's not significant, but she is so significant to everything that is happening.
Speaker 1:It's like she's trying to downplay herself so that way she can live a more a life on her own terms. You know, like some folks, where, if you uh, how can I put this? If you damn, like I kind of hate to say this, because I kind of do this sometimes but like sometimes you gotta downplay how good you are because otherwise people might use you for whatever reason. So it's almost like, unless you can trust this person, like I'm just not gonna give myself away too much because I don't want the wrong people thinking that, oh, they can convince me to do whatever the hell they want. So I guess I can kind of understand how you gotta like lay low so you don't end up getting into some bullshit. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, I mean she. I think because of her intelligence just how highly intelligent she is she could get in a lot of trouble, like she would. She seems like the type to start a revolution for no reason.
Speaker 1:Whoa she kind of low-key did. Well, hold on the funny way. It's funny that you're saying that because Jinxi, if he had on like makeup and all that shit, if he started cross-dressing as a girl, they said in the show that he would definitely start a revolution.
Speaker 3:Wait a minute, you ain't have to bring that part up. Alright, don't do Jinxi like that.
Speaker 2:I was about to say no the whole one episode of him dressing up, as what was it? The moon fairy. That could be a concert right there.
Speaker 3:Oh, oh baby, he was a concert that night, but that's not the point. Okay, that is. That is not the point, that that he is a very gorgeous man. I love how all the women too are just like that. Damn he fine, they'd be waiting for him, just to walk by oh yeah, like man he would talk to malamon, whatnot.
Speaker 1:then he knows all the ladies in waiting just looking at him and whatnot, and I'm like, alright, let me just do it for the one time, for the ladies. Just smile at them.
Speaker 3:And they all just be like oh my.
Speaker 1:God, Bang-girling and shit. I'm like man To live one day at Jinxing.
Speaker 3:To have Jinxing. Look at me just once.
Speaker 2:He doesn't even have to look at me, he just has to turn his head and then turn back, and that's enough for me. Just give me that side eye.
Speaker 3:Listen, listen, baby, no, no.
Speaker 1:Give him the side eye, just looking down on one good time, just like as you walk by.
Speaker 3:Nah see, that's me fainting. That's too much. That's too much contact. I'm going to pass out. No, no, if he breathing near me, I'm just oof Rip.
Speaker 2:RIP. There she lies.
Speaker 1:Doing some scouting, some prospecting you know what I'm saying Like, hmm, you might have potential.
Speaker 3:See, at that point I would be, I would start see, that's the problem. I might start stalking him like he can't look at me. If he look at me, I'm gonna stalk him. Like that's it. I just be outside his window every night like, hey, bruh, you cold, you want a blanket, you want me to cuddle you, oh my gosh like no, no, no, the way he put it on mao mao.
Speaker 1:Imagine him doing that to any other girl. Like the way he'd be like trying to seduce mao mao. Just imagine him no no too much.
Speaker 2:If that was the case, there would be a lot of more ladies in waiting, that is, waiting on a pregnancy oh, oh, you know what, I'm sorry I gotta do this.
Speaker 1:Speaking of pregnancy, you don't have we gotta talk about the luke kahn backstory because, bro, that was fucking crazy to where, like, he fell for that woman and function uh thanks y'all. My bad, I'm kind of mispronouncing names. Um, she was like a brilliant and beautiful woman and he was like, oh man, I gotta have her, I gotta have her. And then, you know, got her pregnant and then that devalued her to a point to where, like, she got sickly and whatnot, died off and Mau, mau knew from jump like hey, yo, like if that happened, then you know what to be fair and you know that's what happens, because you know concubines can't be mothers yeah and then, but, bro, like luke khan, like as the old lady was beating the shit out of him with that broom, he was like crying his eyes out.
Speaker 1:I was like, no, I didn't mean for all this to happen though. Oh my god. Yeah, I kind of go for him I did too.
Speaker 3:Like honestly, I was like he's not a bad like I. You kind of feel like he is a bad guy at first, but then you realize he's really not a bad guy. It just was a horrible situation. And to find out later I love. I do love that when he found out the truth that he was like, oh, I'm gonna go be with her regardless it's giving doting father.
Speaker 2:So for those that don't know, that type of man is my type through and through long hair, tired eyes, the whole thing. Oh okay, everyone knows that. That's kind of like my whole thing anyway oh, another thing, speaking of pregnancy.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry but I gotta do this. How y'all feeling about that late emperor, though, because that was the one thing that got Mal? Mal might be more of age, but it's almost like you get kind of echoes of him going for a younger woman rather than one of the other ladies in waiting, and I don't know how y'all feeling did I lose? Y'all feeling, did I lose?
Speaker 2:y'all. There we go In regards to that late emperor. I kind of okay. So I kind of go into Sebi personal life here. That's where that whole thing where I'm infatuated with Lishu. I did not like the former emperor because that was something that happened, kind of something in my life. You know people wanting younger traditionally. So again, I kind of felt for it, you know. But I did not like the late emperor.
Speaker 2:He could go jump off a bridge for a little bit I'm glad he's dead and I'm glad that the new emperor is like yeah, I'm going to fix all of this. Let's not have this problem. We're going to look for women that is a lot older.
Speaker 3:An age-appropriate woman.
Speaker 2:Yes, but I will still keep her. I will still keep her, but she's not going to get touched by anybody. She's mine, but don't touch her because she's not mine. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:I mean protecting her chastity in a weird sense yeah so what's funny isn't that in the light novels she this is the weird part in the light novels it actually explains that she was one of the regulars to the late emperor. That's what I think I like more about the light novels than the actual manga is, because it goes into more detail, but they're actual books, so I mean it's crazy.
Speaker 1:Like the connections to everybody definitely go crazy, and I'm trying to think there was something, oh yeah, like I think it kind of makes sense that jinshi was kind of laying low from being the prince, like the new emperor, because the way jinshi and the late emperor look alike except, you know, hair color and length of hair well, um, the late emperor had his hair up because he could have more hair, but like it's more obvious that jinshi had a lot of hair to work with.
Speaker 1:But, uh, aside from hair color and whatnot, it's like he had a striking resemblance to the late emperor. So it'll be kind of crazy to where uh jinshi would grow up with, uh, this reputation that oh's just like his daddy. But no, no, no, it didn't actually play out like that. In fact, people didn't even know that he was the emperor's younger brother until he found him. It's a good thing that Jin Shi was spared that reputation, but I just thought that whole part right there was just kind of crazy, the way it's like not only do they have these mysteries set up, but it's like it would make more sense after the fact. And it just makes more sense when the story lets it be a thing you know what I'm saying?
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, I agree. I agree with Sebi Screw, that late emperor man. Something was really off with him, like for real.
Speaker 2:The game is not Sorry, go ahead. The game is not sorry, go ahead. The game is not to catch them all under the age of 10.
Speaker 3:okay wait, like what is wrong with you? What do you want? To say hi, to go seek with them all day long, like that's what, that's your hobby. Oh wait, I totally forgot about this.
Speaker 1:I totally forgot, uh, the moment where they were telling ghost stories oh, bro, like okay, I kind of, I kind of had it coming to where, like okay, they went to see the ghost stories and they were like, okay, they're gonna tell 13 ghost stories. But then, as soon as mao mao um pointed out that, wait a man, there's only 12 people here, but there's 13 stories, what's going on? And I'm like, oh no y'all, I loved.
Speaker 3:I loved it because it was also kind of like a spin on, like our uh, the 13 ghosts horror movie, that's like it has, like pinhead and all those other creepy people in it, um, but I love that. But it made it even better, like I don't know why, but I was also under a blanket and scared okay.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I was not the only one who was like what is happening with this whole? Like, okay, nope, nope, going under my blanket, going under my pillow. I don't like horror already. So that one episode was like left wing to me and I'm just like why am I even subjecting myself to this nonsense?
Speaker 3:Yeah, that episode Definitely threw me off.
Speaker 1:It definitely scared me the fact that it Made it yeah that episode definitely threw me off it definitely scared me the fact that it made it a possibility that ghosts exist in this world. I mean, it's bad enough that it's like they're developing an immortality pill or whatnot, where, like, okay, you can have immortality or you can have eternal youth. Hell, that one I don't think it's the late emperor, what's it like, emperor, I don't know, but like when this one guy was being buried, it was like he, his, it was like he was as good as he was when he first got buried, and that was like a year ago. But all the other bodies just decompose as normal. So it's like what the hell is going on here? So like it's just crazy how it has a little bit of supernatural factor into it.
Speaker 1:And the craziest part about all of it was the build-up to it's, where they were blowing out all those candles and by the time they got to the lady, he, she was telling a story that was actually true. It was. It wasn't really a ghost story, it was something that actually happened, like actually happened to her. And then by the time that story was gonna be finished, um, malmo was like hold on, I'm feeling kind of sleepy. Like wait a minute, something not right. Something not right. Open the window, open the window, like get everybody out of here. Like everybody was like falling asleep, dropping light flies, and then made sure that everybody got out and then the lady came back. I was like, oh man, you just had to ruin my fun, and like all spooky and shit. I was like what the fuck? Uh, okay, now I see how it would have been 13 ghost stories if Mal Mal wasn't smart enough to realize what was going on mmhmm, mmhmm, that was a really good episode.
Speaker 3:Yes, it was way out of nowhere, but it was also still really good oh, hell, yeah, hell yeah.
Speaker 1:But I want to say my favorite art on the apothecary diaries would, but it was also still really good. Oh, hell, yeah, hell yeah. But I want to say my favorite arc on the Apothecary Diaries would. I mean, it's not to be lazy about it or anything, but I'm going to be honest with you. I got handed to the whole Lolan arc to where she goes back to her mother on Shinmei, and it was a matter of her adopted sister. I'm trying to remember her mother, aung San Suu Kyi, and it was a matter of her adopted sister. I'm trying to remember her name, but it was actually. Her real name was Xi Sui, but well, you know, I'll just put it like that Xi Sui, xi Lolan and Mao Mao went to their mother and essentially just to show them the truth and whatnot of what's going on, like trying to expose a conspiracy with Lolan's father, who's been accused of making a rebellion against Jinxi and the emperor and all that stuff. Um, the whole she rebellion, so to speak, and the way lolon carried the shit out, that was the craziest part, because it was like she planned all of this, where she put ma Mau in this tie bond because she knew Mau. Mau would love different bugs and the snakes to, you know, use medicine or, in her case, to eat, and essentially she set it up to where her father needs to take responsibility for what he's done. So his father sacrificed himself. Um died laughing, whatnot? Uh, little um pursued what, confronted her mother and said that, oh well, you're not gonna treat us anymore, we're gonna end this whole family curse and whatnot. And shin may grab the gun, the. They call it, uh, a vapor, but I don't know like. Uh, I would say a vapor in their territory, but it's more like a flintlock, uh, what we know them as. So shin may grab the flintlock from low lawn and keep in mind it was like the new model from the west. So she didn't know that it could backfire on her and just kind of like, just sprayed her and, um, it got her good. So, yeah, that killed her. And um, low lawn was like alright, here's the deal. I need two favors to ask. Uh, one, make sure that my sister remains safe. The deal, jinxie, I need two favors to ask. One, make sure that my sister remains safe, and whatnot. And two, I'm going to need you on this wholesale because this is going to hurt a little bit.
Speaker 1:So she scratches Jinxie as her way of saying she's going to sacrifice herself, to make it look like play it off, like she's gonna sacrifice herself too, and the way she was dancing around and shit, and it was like a slow build up to where, okay, the men noticed that Gigi got scratched. So she was like, did she do this? Kill her? And then just started shooting at her. I honestly thought she was gonna die. I was like dang, I kind of wish she would survive. Like damn no. I started to like her too, damn no. But then you get to the end and I'm like, oh, thank God she's alive. She's still alive, like Lolan, like as she's sweet, I kind of like her energy, like she was kind of like a weird girl.
Speaker 1:That like I kind of like her energy. She was kind of like a weird girl, I don't know. I like her energy. She was like a weirdo. That I like. But the way she was so calculated up until the end, I mean, granted, she even poisoned her brother and all those kids and I'm like, damn, she just started a kill streak right there, but she just surprised the hell out of me at the end I'm like, god damn like 10 out of 10 absolute cinema yep, yep, agreed.
Speaker 3:You know what I can see, that you know what that makes sense. That actually kind of fits you, man. What's in my head? That that fits you like. That. That's about accurate, yeah, so what you're saying is is that you, you like all that you know, conniving, speculating. That's what you're saying, that's what you're telling me.
Speaker 1:I mean, what can I say? I like a girl that's clever. I'm like you, cheeky, I see you. Okay, I see you. Hilarious bro, okay, I see you. Okay, I see you.
Speaker 3:Hilarious bro.
Speaker 1:Okay, I see you, you devious bitch, not devious.
Speaker 3:Oh my God, I'm not going to lie to you. That sounds like something in a telenovela.
Speaker 2:You devious bitch Will you?
Speaker 1:marry me is the next thing to come out of that man's mouth. I mean I might pop the ring on her. I don't know. That depends on how long I've known her. It's almost like if I've been chilling with her for a while and then meanwhile I'm chilling with my grand ambition and everything. Next thing, you know, a year into our relationship, she's telling me oh yeah, I've been plotting to help you this whole time while you've been telling me your grand ambition geeking out and shit. So I've been working the sidelines.
Speaker 1:I'm just setting all this up, you know, like Vegeta and Bulma, from Dragon Ball GT to where Bulma was setting him up, to where he's going to achieve Super Saiyan 4 and what not, and I was like oh, maybe you might be even stronger Than Goku. And then Vegeta's like Damn woman, I fall in love with you all over again. It's kind of like that. I'm like you did this for me. You know, I like you. I really fuck with you. Oh yeah, I really fuck with you. Oh yeah, Like I don't know, I like shit. That's like built different than mine.
Speaker 3:Very obvious.
Speaker 1:No comment, but uh, Anyway, you know what? Not to I mean, I want to. We could have said a lot more, but honestly I feel Apothecary Diaries is something that's worth experiencing. So, without spoiling too much for anybody that's listening to this episode, go watch it. Go watch it. Go watch it 10 out of 10. Absolute cinema. Watch it. Go watch it. Go watch it 10 out of 10. Absolute cinema. Uh, sebi, you got anything you want to add on to all this before we move on?
Speaker 2:nope, 10 out of 10. For me this is, I have to say it's one of the best anime, books, everything, 10 out of 10, the whole release of the doll. I think this is one of the best animes that I've watched in quite a while yes, uh, I absolutely, totally agree.
Speaker 3:Definitely a 10 out of 10. If I could give it a hundred stars at this point, I would. It is captivating into, it is house on in in china, like in ancient china, like it is.
Speaker 1:It is beautiful oh, that's funny because in my first anime, lightning, I did a quick review on ameku md, that is, house or japanese I agree absolutely.
Speaker 3:And then we have the Chinese version.
Speaker 2:It's just perfect.
Speaker 3:It is absolutely perfect. Yeah, there's no better anime out right now in my personal opinion, even solo leveling and I am a solo leveling laser.
Speaker 2:Okay, I ain't gonna lie. If y'all really like this Apothecary Diaries, recommend checking out Raven of the Inner Palace. Same thing, just a little bit more Like fantasy arc, but it has like the same plot.
Speaker 3:Hmm, okay, so we ain't gonna talk about my addiction To those horrible Chinese short dramas that you can find on like TikTok we not gonna talk about Cause I love revenge plots. Like anything that has a revenge plot in it, I am down.
Speaker 1:Oh, oh, oh, Mira Jane, then you're gonna love I'm an Evil Lord in a Galactic Empire, because Bro's villain arc is so justified to where, essentially, he was a good family guy up until, oh, his uh ungrateful ex-wife was cheating on him this whole time, with his boss who was uh framing him for embezzlement, and, by the way, his daughter, uh, he was the boss's daughter and the daughter didn't even like um main dude that much anyway. So all of them betrayed him. His co-workers betrayed him, his family betrayed him. He was dying, he was like in squalor, like he was losing his job and all that, and then, at near death, this mystical being called the guide shows up to give him a second life and becomes an evil lord in a different world, but, you know, by episode two, because he died and the boss may end up getting found out.
Speaker 1:Anyway, the boss goes to jail, the ex-wife is in shambles and he um as the main character, as liam, he just goes off and he just takes out his whole um villain arc on everybody. I mean, granted, that was the beginning of it, but he just keeps getting fucked over by people, coming his way to a point to where his villain or his athlete justified. To be fair, everybody keeps trying to fuck with him. I'm like you know, I don't blame him for wanting to be the bad guy I'm kind of like, oh well, if everybody's going to fuck with me, then I'm just going to fuck with them back.
Speaker 3:You know what I'm going to have to check that out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm gonna have to check that out. I'll send you. I'll slide it to you later, but outside from that, I got some nerdy news for y'all, because from now on we're gonna do nerdy news after these review, if applicable. I just got one piece of nerdy news. Japan's manga industry is facing a serious challenge. There's not enough young artists to meet their growing global demand. So they decided that publishing giant Kadokawa had started to look beyond Japan's border to fill the gap, holding international contests and scouting talent from over 100 countries. That means that, with Japan's declining birth rate, that means anybody from America or anywhere else. Hey yo, here's your chance go to japan and make some manga, but what's?
Speaker 1:that pay like and also you know the way they be overworking some manga art, so I'm like the pay better be good just a question, just a go ahead nah, I feel that, with that being said, we'll just go ahead and close this out. Go ahead and have yourself a good morning, good afternoon and good evening, but always we do take it easy, stay nerdy and remember that great things are coming. Let's go ahead and zone the hell up out of here.
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