The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 8: The Empress Dowager
Manga volume 55-56
Canon/HIGH
OSHIMETER
9.4
77 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 8: The Empress Dowager
Manga volume 55-56
Canon/HIGH
OSHIMETER
9.4
77 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
QUICK TAKES
bulldozer36
VerifiedA strong balance between tension and light humor. The detail of Maomao noticing residue on a dish is handled subtly, rewarding viewers who pay attention, while the pacing stays consistent and easy to follow.
miki_2322
VerifiedThe first few scenes were a bit slow for me, but later on it completely hooked me! Just when things were getting exciting and about to uncover the mystery, it suddenly cut off with a cliffhanger!
agape2401
VerifiedThis episode is setting up for a revelation that may considerably affect the royal court once the truth comes out. Although it seemed to drag on, cautious attention to detail may expose some uncomfortable facts about this situation. In any case, looking forward to what's next.
fedel89
VerifiedSlow paced. Seriously. Not a big fan of this episode. Even if there is another mystery that Maomao needs to solve. I felt like this season went to a path instead of focusing on being Apothecary, it went to mystery solving which is a down grade from the title and focus. Boring
southeaststillness
VerifiedOkay things get serious here 😳 Maomao and The Empress Dowager Anshi scenes are intense. The tone feels heavier than before. I like how it builds mystery slowly.
amonkeydluffy
VerifiedThe Empress Dowager is indeed so very young. But it's a good thing she's not like those other Empress Dowager who is villainous trying to control his son for the sake of power. I like how her daughter-in-laws trust and respects her. She is a kind person.
eren_yeager_106
Hearing Maomao explain how that slow poisoning worked was such a trip for me and it made my head spin thinking about how smart you have to be to pull that off
nanami_nexus
Shisui is definitely up to something, and the way she hangs around those dangerous plants makes me think she is way more involved in the palace schemes than she lets on for now
fireblight_ganon
Watching Maomao keep her cool while everyone else is panicking about ghosts or curses is so cool and she just treats it like a science project and moves into a closet
maryrie
Maomao getting that storage room and immediately planning her herb lab was hilarious to me because her face lighting up at the mess was just too funny
kanarazu_kami_72
Jinshi going straight to Maomao for a bandage after his training was funny and he really relies on her for every little thing now
mimete_383
It is wild how this show goes from Maomao cackling over a storage room, but the way it switches to the horrific crimes of the late emperor shows how dark this palace really is
poppy_365
Honnyan trying to punish Maomao with a dusty room backfired so hard and watching her immediately start planning where to hang herbs was the funniest thing
nanana_gamer
I couldn't help but laugh at Maomao celebrating being sent to a dusty shed and it is so funny because everyone else thinks she is miserable but she just wants to dry her herbs in peace
n
Jinshi and the emperor talking about the succession and the crown prince change was a lot to take in and it feels like the power balance is totally shifting after this episode
iida_ingenium
The fake poisoning from that minor concubine made me realize how desperate those women are for attention in the rear palace and my heart actually sank a bit seeing her break down like that
isa
The hints about Jinshi being related to the emperor are getting so loud now and watching Maomao piece together the family history without even realizing it was such a trip
levifangirl
I am still thinking about those heavy red colors when the empress dowager was talking because it made everything feel so heavy and sad and learning about what the previous emperor did to her as a kid is just sickening but it explains so much to me about her character and I thought the part where Maomao figured out the slow poisoning was actually incredible to watch and it made me realize how much danger is everywhere
windblight_ganon
Seeing Jinshi spar with a stick was cool but then he immediately runs to Maomao for a tiny scratch and the way she just handles it without any fuss was the most Maomao thing ever
hitotsume_kozo_31
The reveal about the late emperor was so dark and you really get why the empress dowager felt like she cursed him when he was actually just a disgusting person to begin with
EPISODE CONTEXT
Coming off 'The Shrine of Choosing,' which tested Maomao within the rigid framework of palace rituals, episode 8 pivots toward the imperial family's private burdens and unresolved history. Positioned at the season's one-third mark, this installment plants critical seeds about the palace's past that feed directly into the next episode, 'The Late Emperor,' signaling a stretch of episodes focused on uncovering long-buried secrets within the court's inner circle.
QUICK TAKES
bulldozer36
VerifiedA strong balance between tension and light humor. The detail of Maomao noticing residue on a dish is handled subtly, rewarding viewers who pay attention, while the pacing stays consistent and easy to follow.
miki_2322
VerifiedThe first few scenes were a bit slow for me, but later on it completely hooked me! Just when things were getting exciting and about to uncover the mystery, it suddenly cut off with a cliffhanger!
agape2401
VerifiedThis episode is setting up for a revelation that may considerably affect the royal court once the truth comes out. Although it seemed to drag on, cautious attention to detail may expose some uncomfortable facts about this situation. In any case, looking forward to what's next.
fedel89
VerifiedSlow paced. Seriously. Not a big fan of this episode. Even if there is another mystery that Maomao needs to solve. I felt like this season went to a path instead of focusing on being Apothecary, it went to mystery solving which is a down grade from the title and focus. Boring
southeaststillness
VerifiedOkay things get serious here 😳 Maomao and The Empress Dowager Anshi scenes are intense. The tone feels heavier than before. I like how it builds mystery slowly.
amonkeydluffy
VerifiedThe Empress Dowager is indeed so very young. But it's a good thing she's not like those other Empress Dowager who is villainous trying to control his son for the sake of power. I like how her daughter-in-laws trust and respects her. She is a kind person.
eren_yeager_106
Hearing Maomao explain how that slow poisoning worked was such a trip for me and it made my head spin thinking about how smart you have to be to pull that off
nanami_nexus
Shisui is definitely up to something, and the way she hangs around those dangerous plants makes me think she is way more involved in the palace schemes than she lets on for now
fireblight_ganon
Watching Maomao keep her cool while everyone else is panicking about ghosts or curses is so cool and she just treats it like a science project and moves into a closet
maryrie
Maomao getting that storage room and immediately planning her herb lab was hilarious to me because her face lighting up at the mess was just too funny
kanarazu_kami_72
Jinshi going straight to Maomao for a bandage after his training was funny and he really relies on her for every little thing now
mimete_383
It is wild how this show goes from Maomao cackling over a storage room, but the way it switches to the horrific crimes of the late emperor shows how dark this palace really is
poppy_365
Honnyan trying to punish Maomao with a dusty room backfired so hard and watching her immediately start planning where to hang herbs was the funniest thing
nanana_gamer
I couldn't help but laugh at Maomao celebrating being sent to a dusty shed and it is so funny because everyone else thinks she is miserable but she just wants to dry her herbs in peace
n
Jinshi and the emperor talking about the succession and the crown prince change was a lot to take in and it feels like the power balance is totally shifting after this episode
iida_ingenium
The fake poisoning from that minor concubine made me realize how desperate those women are for attention in the rear palace and my heart actually sank a bit seeing her break down like that
isa
The hints about Jinshi being related to the emperor are getting so loud now and watching Maomao piece together the family history without even realizing it was such a trip
levifangirl
I am still thinking about those heavy red colors when the empress dowager was talking because it made everything feel so heavy and sad and learning about what the previous emperor did to her as a kid is just sickening but it explains so much to me about her character and I thought the part where Maomao figured out the slow poisoning was actually incredible to watch and it made me realize how much danger is everywhere
windblight_ganon
Seeing Jinshi spar with a stick was cool but then he immediately runs to Maomao for a tiny scratch and the way she just handles it without any fuss was the most Maomao thing ever
hitotsume_kozo_31
The reveal about the late emperor was so dark and you really get why the empress dowager felt like she cursed him when he was actually just a disgusting person to begin with
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