The Apothecary Diaries has all the makings of a masterpiece and by no means is it a bog-standard shojo series. The mystery, comedy, and the drama are fused together brilliantly by the author. And to top it off, Toho’s animation takes it to a whole new level especially with the series’ recent episode.
![Jinshi catches Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries. [Credit: Toho]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/21071842/jinshi-catching-maomao-on-the-rooftop-the-apothecary-diaries-1024x512.png "‘The Apothecary Diaries’ Casually Gave Us the Biggest Spoiler About Jinshi’s Identity 1")
In Episode 8, Toho teased one of the key details associated with Jinshi’s identity. Fans couldn’t help but marvel at the studio’s excellence and finesse regarding that one moment. But it all ties in well with the slow-burn approach of the series.
Toho teased Jinshi’s true identity
From an imperial prince to a eunuch, Jinshi has many hues beneath his facade. Other than maids, concubines and consorts, he has fangirls swooning after him. And why shouldn’t they considering his appeal and charm? But there is more to the Moon Fairy other than his appearance.
By now we’re aware of his true identity as an Imperial Prince and his connection to the current Emperor. It was teased way back in the first season with the anime dropping crumbs for viewers. However, Toho may have outdone themselves with this key detail in the recent episode.
On X @keizuki shared the screencap of Toho’s visual that recreated Jinshi’s look from Light Novel’s fifth volume. This is how users responded.
The animation team is doing such an incredible job, because they casually gave Jinshi the LN 5 look as a foreshadowing of who he is 😭
Light novel readers know that Volume 5 is when Jinshi officially takes over his actual position & the banquet to select his future wife happens. https://t.co/QETkujSKw3 pic.twitter.com/BvAUMfEDhR
— tamina 🦋 (@keiuzuki) March 1, 2025
and the great thing is that this image is because we, the viewers, already know the “truth”, but maomao doesn’t, so they offer us the perfect, clear silhouette with his face hidden to remind us that >maomao< still doesn’t know ☝🏼 they are fantastic at these track games
— vane (@zuigetsuka) March 1, 2025
A thing I like about apothecary diaries is that, it doesn’t matter what happens, if a character appears and has a name it doesn’t go to the waist. The plot exists and secondary posts are almost always connected.
— Cat (@Catfee02) March 1, 2025
I kind of took this as another way, that this is the anime’s way of showing that maomao subconsciously knows it’s Jinshi.
— Sara (@chidoridiscords) March 1, 2025
The TERROR I feel everytime I think that the faster the anime goes on, the faster we’ll get to… LN5 epilogue….
— Lynette is love Lynette is life (@lynettepillled) March 2, 2025
This is also a foreshadowing of Jinshi’s banquet in the novel that Toho teased through the visual. But what this also does is play on the lines of the slow-burn approach. And as tiresome as it may be, for readers, the anime is worth all the wait.
The Apothecary Diaries‘ slow-burn approach
The Apothecary Diaries is doing something incredibly interesting with its plot that some of us overlooked, and that is pacing. It isn’t incoherent as one would expect it to be, especially given the details of the events. But what makes it more engaging is the slow-burn method and here’s why.
You may have heard of slow-burn romance and that is the case with both protagonists. Here, it extends to mystery and surprise within the plot. No one likes breadcrumbs and prolonging mystery, but a little sprinkle here and there wouldn’t hurt and besides fans don’t seem to complain either.
Be it flashbacks or silhouettes, Toho is doing a fantastic job to sustain the mystery and surprise in the series. This also has fans hooked on to it for the most part. As for the visual, we cannot wait for it, it sure seems exciting.
The Apothecary Diaries is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
