The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 3: Corpse Fungus
Manga volume 44-45
Canon/MED
OSHIMETER
9.7
74 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 3: Corpse Fungus
Manga volume 44-45
Canon/MED
OSHIMETER
9.7
74 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
QUICK TAKES
miki_2322
VerifiedThere were so many unexpected twists! It wasn’t too heavy, but not light either, it was perfectly balanced. Good thing Maomao is so knowledgeable in medicine. I wanted to keep watching nonstop, but of course it ended on a cliffhanger..
agape2401
VerifiedWe were talking about twists in the earlier episode, and this delivered it in quite an engaging manner. It's almost haunting to say the least, not helped by our heroine's nonchalant reaction to these events. It's going places, for me, that is reason enough to stay tuned again.
fedel89
VerifiedEven if this anime isn't really my type, the plot caught my attention! How? They had this detective conan vibes in this episode and was kind of thrilling! Maomao bringing up the comedy is peak though.
bulldozer36
VerifiedA more character-focused episode. Maomao’s interactions feel sharper, and the subtle humor is still there. The mystery is lighter, but the writing carries it.
southeaststillness
VerifiedOkay this ep is darker than usual 😬 Maomao and Jinshi really shine here. The mystery feels more serious and tense. I like how everything slowly connects together!
peanuts
VerifiedClassic "detective" episode! I like how Maomao uses her skills to tackle the new mystery happened in the palace. The atmosphere gets darker and more engaging as Maomao unfolds the interesting fact! The character dynamics between her and Jinshi are peak!!
amonkeydluffy
VerifiedMaomao just wanting to experiment on new mushroom ends up solving a case. Atleast, after a year finally the corpse was found and the real people involved are identified. Poor Maomao the mushrooms she gathered with all her might was confiscated by Jinshi.
kenpachi_killer_104
Seeing that eunuch Rihua fall apart once he realized Maomao already told Jinshi everything was so cold. You can really tell the palace does not play around when someone hides a pregnancy like that
asuka_langley_181
It cracked me up how Maomao got more excited about a poisonous mushroom than any of the palace drama. Her face when she explained that winter worm summer grass fungus to Jinshi was the best part
alexj1995
Maomao being more interested in that gross parasitic fungus than the literal life or death conspiracy is why I keep watching this show
isekaibro
Rihua trying to bribe her with money only for her to tell him her life is worth more was such a cold moment and he really deserved that execution
alain_351
That cordyceps reveal was super unsettling and the way they tied it back to Lady Lihua's health made the whole mystery feel much more personal and seeing Tao'teh trapped between her duty and her secret pregnancy was heartbreaking, and Jinshi showing a bit of a softer side at the end made the palace seem slightly less cruel for once
vanessa_valkyrie_142
Finding Tao'teh drugged and unconscious in that secluded spot really stressed me out because I actually thought she was a goner
nunnally_lamperouge_174
Maomao calling herself just a pharmacist while solving high level imperial crimes cracks me up and it makes me smile that she has no idea how smart she really is
vy_vampire
You really start to see the dark side of the court when a simple court lady has to fake her own disappearance just to survive, and the winter worm summer grass explanation was genuinely creepy
brock
The inner palace really is a scary place once you see how easily people get poisoned and how many secrets are buried under those pretty walls
makoto_kino
I just love how Maomao gets so intensely excited about something like parasitic fungus, it's such a clear reminder that her true passion will always be medicine, way more than any of the scary palace dramas. Though, the whole missing lady mystery felt really dark, making me think Maomao's medical focus might also be her way of dealing with how grim things can get in the inner court.
corkus_the_cynic_192
When Maomao coolly explained the whole winter worm summer grass fungus thing and how it totally wrecks the liver, I wasn't even surprised anymore; it just cemented my feeling that she's hands down the sharpest mind in that entire palace.
ancient_robot_295
I know Rihua's execution was meant to be justice for what he did to Tao and Lady Lihua, but honestly, it just leaves me with this really complicated, bittersweet feeling. Seeing how much Tao suffered in silence, I just can't shake the thought that no punishment will ever truly make up for all that trauma she quietly endured.
hop_355
It's always a treat to watch Maomao and Jinshi work a case, and this time, their synergy finding Tao was just mesmerizing, making me wonder if they have some unspoken telepathy going on. I almost cheered when Jinshi finally cornered Rihua; his calculated smoothness was a masterclass in manipulation, making me completely forget about his usual bumbling antics.
EPISODE CONTEXT
Episode 3 pivots from the broader world-building of 'Caravan' back to the claustrophobic intrigue of the rear palace, re-establishing the show's core tension between Maomao's analytical mind and the dangerous politics surrounding her. Arriving early in a 24-episode season, this installment deepens the internal palace conflicts that will likely fuel the arcs ahead. It directly sets up Episode 4, 'Mirror,' by layering in new mysteries and sharpening the season's focus on hidden motives within the court.
QUICK TAKES
miki_2322
VerifiedThere were so many unexpected twists! It wasn’t too heavy, but not light either, it was perfectly balanced. Good thing Maomao is so knowledgeable in medicine. I wanted to keep watching nonstop, but of course it ended on a cliffhanger..
agape2401
VerifiedWe were talking about twists in the earlier episode, and this delivered it in quite an engaging manner. It's almost haunting to say the least, not helped by our heroine's nonchalant reaction to these events. It's going places, for me, that is reason enough to stay tuned again.
fedel89
VerifiedEven if this anime isn't really my type, the plot caught my attention! How? They had this detective conan vibes in this episode and was kind of thrilling! Maomao bringing up the comedy is peak though.
bulldozer36
VerifiedA more character-focused episode. Maomao’s interactions feel sharper, and the subtle humor is still there. The mystery is lighter, but the writing carries it.
southeaststillness
VerifiedOkay this ep is darker than usual 😬 Maomao and Jinshi really shine here. The mystery feels more serious and tense. I like how everything slowly connects together!
peanuts
VerifiedClassic "detective" episode! I like how Maomao uses her skills to tackle the new mystery happened in the palace. The atmosphere gets darker and more engaging as Maomao unfolds the interesting fact! The character dynamics between her and Jinshi are peak!!
amonkeydluffy
VerifiedMaomao just wanting to experiment on new mushroom ends up solving a case. Atleast, after a year finally the corpse was found and the real people involved are identified. Poor Maomao the mushrooms she gathered with all her might was confiscated by Jinshi.
kenpachi_killer_104
Seeing that eunuch Rihua fall apart once he realized Maomao already told Jinshi everything was so cold. You can really tell the palace does not play around when someone hides a pregnancy like that
asuka_langley_181
It cracked me up how Maomao got more excited about a poisonous mushroom than any of the palace drama. Her face when she explained that winter worm summer grass fungus to Jinshi was the best part
alexj1995
Maomao being more interested in that gross parasitic fungus than the literal life or death conspiracy is why I keep watching this show
isekaibro
Rihua trying to bribe her with money only for her to tell him her life is worth more was such a cold moment and he really deserved that execution
alain_351
That cordyceps reveal was super unsettling and the way they tied it back to Lady Lihua's health made the whole mystery feel much more personal and seeing Tao'teh trapped between her duty and her secret pregnancy was heartbreaking, and Jinshi showing a bit of a softer side at the end made the palace seem slightly less cruel for once
vanessa_valkyrie_142
Finding Tao'teh drugged and unconscious in that secluded spot really stressed me out because I actually thought she was a goner
nunnally_lamperouge_174
Maomao calling herself just a pharmacist while solving high level imperial crimes cracks me up and it makes me smile that she has no idea how smart she really is
vy_vampire
You really start to see the dark side of the court when a simple court lady has to fake her own disappearance just to survive, and the winter worm summer grass explanation was genuinely creepy
brock
The inner palace really is a scary place once you see how easily people get poisoned and how many secrets are buried under those pretty walls
makoto_kino
I just love how Maomao gets so intensely excited about something like parasitic fungus, it's such a clear reminder that her true passion will always be medicine, way more than any of the scary palace dramas. Though, the whole missing lady mystery felt really dark, making me think Maomao's medical focus might also be her way of dealing with how grim things can get in the inner court.
corkus_the_cynic_192
When Maomao coolly explained the whole winter worm summer grass fungus thing and how it totally wrecks the liver, I wasn't even surprised anymore; it just cemented my feeling that she's hands down the sharpest mind in that entire palace.
ancient_robot_295
I know Rihua's execution was meant to be justice for what he did to Tao and Lady Lihua, but honestly, it just leaves me with this really complicated, bittersweet feeling. Seeing how much Tao suffered in silence, I just can't shake the thought that no punishment will ever truly make up for all that trauma she quietly endured.
hop_355
It's always a treat to watch Maomao and Jinshi work a case, and this time, their synergy finding Tao was just mesmerizing, making me wonder if they have some unspoken telepathy going on. I almost cheered when Jinshi finally cornered Rihua; his calculated smoothness was a masterclass in manipulation, making me completely forget about his usual bumbling antics.
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