Five episodes in, a slow burn mystery is taking shape.
If you’re a fan of The Apothecary Diaries anime, you’ll need a bit of patience. Five episodes in, Season 2 feels like it’s moving at a snail’s pace. Compared to the louder and action-packed anime airing at this time of year, it might seem like it’s falling behind—especially if you’re impatient.
The story's pacing might feel a little sleepy, particularly with how uneventful Episode 28: Mirrors seemed to be. However, it’s just setting the stage for much bigger events coming in the next few weeks.
Warning: Major plot points ahead.
One thing I really appreciate about this series is how closely it sticks to the source material. Some of the events in Episode 28 could have been skipped for the sake of pacing—especially the part about the two daughters—but I’m glad they weren’t. In this series, even the smallest details are connected.
Just like in Season 1, which felt like a series of “mystery of the week” cases, all these little moments eventually lead to a big payoff. Whether that happens in smaller arcs or builds up to a major reveal at the end of the season remains to be seen.
Do we want more action? Yes. Do we want more Jinshi and Maomao fluff? Of course, but it looks like the writers don’t want to add or detract from the original plot, keeping things almost exactly as they are. If anything, the way these events were arranged could be a bit confusing for some viewers.
Mirrors
This episode masterfully plays with a single word that carries multiple meanings, both literally and symbolically. It starts with the most straightforward meaning—full-length mirrors being gifted to the Emperor’s four highest-ranking consorts. As Maomao explains, mirrors with the same clarity as modern ones were rare at the time, and transporting them was a hassle. But this also mirrors the giver’s intent—an important request is hidden behind these extravagant gifts.
The “Filler”: Two Daughters
Then there’s the other implication of mirrors—to create illusions. This is where the scene that initially felt like filler content comes in. A brief discussion occurs, dismissed almost immediately, about two daughters who were heavily guarded—yet one of them still ended up pregnant. Maomao suggests that Gaoshun’s inquiry might actually be about an entirely different secret.
For one, even if the girls in question came from a wealthy family, it’s highly unlikely they would have had access to mirrors as clear as the ones gifted to the consorts. Secondly, Maomao recalls that her adoptive father once travelled to a Western country where embroidery was a privilege reserved for high-class women. Piecing things together, she concludes that Gaoshun is referring to something else entirely. She also notes that someone welcomed as a guest could, in fact, be a spy—which might or might not be referring to the envoys.
Honestly, the first time I saw this scene, the implications went right over my head, and I still wonder if it was truly relevant. But looking back, everything that’s happened since the Caravan arrived suggests a pattern—one with potentially far-reaching consequences. We already know someone is moving in incredibly subtle ways. Loose clothing is being introduced to the women in the rear palace. Perfumes and other seemingly harmless items are being placed where they could affect pregnant women.
Now, the Caravan has gifted four full-length mirrors—extravagantly expensive. We know that there’s a catch. The envoys clearly want something from the Emperor. Mirrors also symbolise illusions—just like the illusion the “daughters” in Gaoshun’s story pulled off. And there’s no shortage of suspicious figures in the rear palace, one of them being the newest consort, Loulan. There’s always a mysterious shot of her in every episode—whether she’s lounging in the shadows or, in this case, speaking to the Emperor.
Is Loulan hiding something? And if so, what secret is she keeping?
Looking forward to the Moon Goddess
Then there’s the legendary Moon Goddess that the envoys are asking for—an impossible request, because they must know the original dancing woman would be incredibly old by now. As it turns out, she was actually the madam of the House of Verdigris.
Now, Jinshi and Maomao must mirror an event from 50 years ago and captivate the female envoys just like their grandfather once did. At first, it might seem like another random plot point, but if you’ve read the manga, you know something exciting is about to happen. Who is this tall beauty that can captivate just about anyone?
So if you’re getting a little impatient, don’t worry—there’s plenty more to come.
Want an in-depth analysis of last week's Solo Leveling season 2 episode? You can find out here. If you want an explanation of Sakamoto Days’ latest episode, you can find out here. And if you want to explore just what went down in My Happy Marriage season 2's episode last week, you can read here.
