Over 6 months in the making (mostly bc procrastination) but I finally compiled my Kanto Gym Leader Magazine series. I love the idea of an in-universe style fashion publication where they all do interviews about their hobbies and stuff
Want something like this for your own OC? My commissions are open!!
Some Apothecary diaries characters as phroggies!
Phroggies are humanoid amphibious creatures (they are an open species I created, and you can find more information here: )
A community for collaborative character creation and trading, worldbuilding and roleplay.
The Apothecary Diaries Episode 48 Review - After The Storm, Dawn Breaks [Season Finale]
I finally finished season 2! I’m so sorry to the people waiting for this review. I was debating on whether if I should have a separate final thought, but I decided to merge both my review of the finale and have my final thoughts in one.
Anyways, this was a good way to end. It does feel like the aftermath of a storm and a dawn of a new beginning. I’m glad to see that Jinshi and Maomao are finally reunited and that the kids are alive! The heart-to-heart moment with Maomao and Jinshi was nice as they finally have some downtime, but I do think that the sudden inclusion of Jinshi almost getting hard and trying to kiss Maomao felt unnecessary and out of place. Like, it’s obvious they weren’t going to kiss, so why tease and cockblock Jinshi?
Still, it was good to see what happened after the Shi clan debacle. Jinshi got even busier trying to mitigate everything. Maomao was no longer needed in the palace now that the new crown prince was born, making Gyokuyou the new Empress. She now works at the pleasure district as an apothecary and Chou-u, formerly Kyou-u, works as her assistant. Luomen remains at the castle, seeing how valuable he is as a doctor. Suirei and the other four kids are taken under Ah Duo’s care. Xiaolan left the palace as her tenure was up and now works as a servant for one of the lower consort’s family. I honestly liked the many changes that happened because it does feel as if time moves in this world and that sometimes, change can bring good things.
I think that this overall season helped Maomao become more caring of others. She was initially aloof in the beginning, but meeting all sorts of people helped develop the empathy she denied. Maomao is a person full of contradictions—what she says and how she acts do not correlate. She might say that she didn’t think too much of Shisui, but reminiscing her time with her and Xiaolan definitely showed that she did care about them deep down.
I remember one commenter saying that this was supposed to be the overall ending of The Apothecary Diaries. I assume it kept on going due to popularity. Still, it does feel like it opened doors to a lot more story as Jinshi and Maomao haven’t gotten together yet and there’s still stuff with Lishu that hasn’t been resolved. In all honesty, I do feel like if the story had just ended right here without a continuation, I’d be wanting more too.
Also, I knew Shisui was alive. I’m glad she’s alive! While she probably won’t ever see Maomao again, it’s nice to know that she’s finally free from the shackles of her family! While Tamamo means Jade and seaweed, it can also come from the name “Tamamo-no-mae” who is a Japanese mythological figure associated with the kitsune, which is why she’s associated with foxes. Still, I know that there will be a day when Maomao will find that hairpin.
Overall, season 2 was great! If I were to be honest, I think I enjoyed the second season more than the first! I just like the mysteries in this season a lot better and how everything that transpired from both seasons cumulated into the Shi Clan arc. Also, this season definitely made me like Jinshi a lot more since he gets more introspective here than he did before. This is one of those animes where there is little action, but it’s still entertaining! The voice acting, animation and music are always good! I don’t remember if season three was announced, but if it did, I can’t wait! Let me know your thoughts on the season finale and of the season as a whole!
