The wait is finally over.
After over a year-long hiatus, fans of the popular anime series “The Apothecary Diaries” can rejoice as the tales of the poison-obsessed apothecary resume this fall.
Spoilers ahead for the events of the season two finale.
After becoming intertwined with the Shi Clan following her kidnapping, Maomao’s life is turned on its head.
She is no longer under the service of Jinshi. Maomao is once more at the Verdigris House working as an apothecary. Though her story did begin with such an arrangement, this time things are different.
She is no longer inside the courts and is away from the many allies she made during her time there. Her close friend, Xiaolan, has finished her term and departed for a new venture without being able to properly say goodbye. Her previous employer, Lady Gyokuyo, was able to successfully deliver a baby boy—thanks to Maomao’s adopted father, Luomen—and has been named Empress. Whereas Luomen has officially returned as a doctor inside the court.
While overall happy developments for many whom Maomao has connections to, she now finds herself apart from those she has grown close to—especially Jinshi. Or perhaps as he should be called, the moon prince Ka Zuigetsu.
Following the end of the conflict around the now-fallen Shi Clan, the two are no longer together as they had been.
At least until, once more, Maomao finds her curiosity leading her—much like the cat she shares a name with—into a new mystery.
Before, the stakes were around targeting the royal lineage. Now, it’s the entire country as a famine is taking shape. But things inside the world of “The Apothecary Diaries” aren’t as simple as the crops being bad that year. Oh no, that would be too easy. And if there is one thing Maomao’s life hasn’t been, it’s simplistic.
Sure, Maomao says—repeatedly—it’s none of her business, but we all know well enough that once something crosses her path, it chooses to become her problem.
In this new trailer, we see how life has changed post-incident for our main cast, leading into this new problem that leaves everyone in danger of famine. With new and old allies appearing, it looks like Maomao and Jinshi are once more facing a feat together. With Maomao no longer tied directly to the palace as she was, and Jinshi being publicly known as the prince, the two will have to venture to solve this mystery under new pretenses.
While the situation has changed, we can be sure their classic dynamics will remain, though Jinshi’s feelings—and true identity—are now known. As Maomao said before, Jinshi will always be Jinshi to her.
And with a new enemy and quest ahead, they are going to need each other as this new arc begins on October 2nd.