The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 offers up one of the most highly anticipated sequences by way of attempted murder. “The Hunt” brings one of the major narrative driving forces to the forefront, teasing the truth about Jinshi with great urgency. By moving Jinshi (Takeo Ōtsuka)and Maomao (Aoi Yūki)outside of the rear palace and its sense of familiarity and comfort, the series adds a layer of fraught tension — a sense of danger. It’s a glorious, pivotal moment in the series, forcing the characters into intimate proximity as they deal with real, mysterious threats.
While Maomao is undoubtedly the series’s main protagonist, there’s no doubt that the truth about Jinshi’s status and his connections to the emperor drive a lot of the background narrative. It is, in part, what makes them such a wonderful pairing. Maomao is rife with contradiction in this regard. A natural-born puzzle solver, she is steadfast in her refusal to engage in anything ‘troublesome.’ Or, rather, anything that would cause her grief. Jinshi and his relation to potential power is one such thing. It’s why Jinshi’s line about her being obtuse in a previous episode works so well. Because how can someone of such intellect willfully ignore the truth of someone standing before her? Or, instead, is that forced ignorance a sign of her intellect?
Regardless, Jinshi seems to be at the point of forcing the issue. He decides to tell Maomao the truth on the hunting trip Master Shishou invites him to. However, the path to such disclosure is warped by numerous hurdles and further intrigue. While participating in the hunt, Jinshi hides his face and spends any free time inside their accommodations, the blinds drawn. He doesn’t eat their food, no matter how decadent. It would seem then that either Shishou is untrustworthy or that Jinshi is of such potential importance that any threat to him must be actively acknowledged.
Jinshi is going through it.
The intrigue of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 further expands when Maomao learns that Gaoshun and Basen are members of the Ma Clan. This group has served Jinshi’s family for decades. It’s yet another clue that there’s much more to Jinshi than Maomao first assumed. While the animation doesn’t get to flourish in some of these secluded moments, there’s a great deal of detail in the food and the historical accuracy. In particular, the excess of Shishou’s tastes, from the turtle served for dinner to the ice used as a natural coolant for the room they stay in.
While it lacks animated verve in the in-between moments, it makes up for it in some of the establishing shots. The northern province they travel to is notable in its difference from the rear palace. There’s less of a setting sun glow and more reflection of the greenery surrounding them. It’s a slight shift but noteworthy nonetheless, highlighting how removed they are from their daily lives.
But The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 hits its high point in the back half. First, when Maomao notices Jinshi isn’t feeling well, affected by the heat and likely dehydration. It’s a small moment, but the care is evident, even if it goes unnoticed. They don’t get room to breathe as they’re assailed with shots from a feifa, and Jinshi is forced into making a drastic choice. He jumps from a waterfall, Maomao, post CPR, is displeased.
“The Hunt” is another killer episode.
The back and forth between Jinshi and Maomao is just one of the many pleasures of The Apothecary Diaries. And yet, the scene between the two in the cave behind the waterfall soars with the potential the two of them possess. While Jinshi clearly has feelings for Maomao, the latter hasn’t entertained the thought. She is determined to keep him safe and well, but there’s a clinical detachment to her care where he is flustered by her. The scene offers nothing explicit, yet his yearning is undeniable.
The green and blues of the sequence are overwhelming as the two share uninterrupted time together, even as they’re trying to plot their escape. This potent sense of fantasy engulfs us despite the humor used to diffuse the moment. We’re invested, even if, so far, any romantic tension is unrequited. The characters are engaging and layered enough to carry their series. But together, Maomao and Jinshi make for a captivating pair who beautifully act as foils to the other.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 ends on a soft cliffhanger as Jinshi catches Maomao in his embrace. “The Hunt” is yet another wonderful installment in a series that has a tremendous understanding of its characters, how they tick, and the motivation moving them forward. As part one of a greater story, it delivers strong visuals and an effective atmospheric shift.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 is out now on Crunchyroll.
Images courtesy of Crunchyroll, Toho Animation, OLM
- The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 11 - 8/10
8/10
