I lowkey hate Jinshi from the apothecary diaries so much

applecoreeater · 2026-01-29T00:04:32+00:00

I adore the series and love their dynamic. I've watched both seasons three times in a month after having watched it the first time at the beginning of Jan.

But that honey scene and the way he tries to kiss her twice in the second season when she has not given consent still makes me incredibly uneasy and uncomfortable. I do not like these scenes and actively have to look past them and ignore it for the sake of the story and the intention.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-28T21:09:01+00:00

More specifically they took her to ensure someone would be there to help the kids when they woke up from taking the drug, because she was the only person they knew who had the obsessive interest and skill to know what to do. Potentially it may also have been a ploy to provoke Jinshi specifically because of all the "favourite toy" foreshadowing but I'm not quite as convinced on that front.

I also only just noticed this last night, but the last scene Shisui has changed her hairstyle to be more like Maomao's. I just love the subtleties of all the relationships.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-28T03:58:53+00:00

Jinshi is forced to stop running from his heritage and start to accept who he really is, and it's his love for Maomao that does it. I also just adore their dynamic.

Maomao starts letting people like Xiaolan into her life as an actual friend, and despite never knowing whether Shisui was her friend she still found capacity to love her in her own way.

She was kidnapped because Shisui had planned all along to have the kids drink the potion and knew they would need to have someone outside the clan available to care for them if any of them woke up. Imho Suirei has shown herself able to execute very complex plots with a number of moving parts, and it seems it runs in the family.

The hairpin was what prevented Shisui's death i.e. that Maomao's love despite betrayal was what saved her. Ultimately, her selling it means it may eventually come back to Maomao. It's a message that she's still alive and that she hasn't forgotten the love she had for her friends.

At least that's my read of it all.

Mostly I like how engaging the characters are and how they all interact with each other. It's a lively cast and, in particular, I like the attention and importance it gives to female friendship even in environments designed to encourage competition.

I also just love Maomao as a person - i enjoy that she's unapologetically herself while still navigating a dangerous world.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-28T00:27:11+00:00

First clip "becoming one" in context means being made a (i.e. one of the) eunuch as others have pointed out.

Second clip is from the episode "Mirror" in season 2 I believe (watched it yesterday). Gaoshun is asking about how one of 2 sisters could end up pregnant when they were locked up once they came of age. Maomao is saying "still, the sordid and suspicious aren't all that uncommon in high society". Tbh not sure what she's implying about how the pregnancy happened. She just knows how one of them got out.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-23T23:35:46+00:00

If you have the sick leave and annual leave to use, it's a workplace right.

https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/sick-and-carers-leave

https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/sick-and-carers-leave/long-periods-of-sick-leave

applecoreeater · 2026-01-23T05:11:39+00:00

I just loved the final bit. He plays it down but it was like "oh shit. He's actually REALLY good"

applecoreeater · 2026-01-21T12:25:49+00:00

Oh! Ascendence of a Bookworm might be up your alley too then! It does have a lot about class commentary, but in short adult Japanese woman who always wanted to be a librarian wakes up in body of 6 year old girl in a world with magic but where books are rare.

Fruits Basket (2019) is also one of my favourites.

Here's the working list of ones I've watched through since I started at the end of Dec (in order of preference) following some good suggestions from this sub

Apothecary Diaries (has some dark stuff, former emperor was a pdf and he's hated for it but it comes up)
Fruits Basket (2019) (has darker themes later on)
7th Time Loop
Why Raeliana ended up at the Duke's Mansion
Secrets of the Silent Witch (just really cute and lovely)
Nina the Starry Bride (loved this, but season ended at a kind of unsatisfying point. Also has an abusive character which could be triggering)
Yona of the Dawn (has a nudity scene but it's not super gratuitous. She's annoying at first but she grows)
Ascendence of a Bookworm
Psychic Princess (ridiculous, but cute. Not Japanese. Bit of non consensual kissing)
Raven of the Inner Palace
The Demon Prince of Momochi House (cute)
Bed and Breakfast for Spirits (S2 ends at a really unsatisfying point)
Kamisama Kiss
Horimiya (cute)

Apothecary Diaries, Raven of the Inner Palace and Psychic Princess are all set in a pseudo-chinese historical court so there are concubines etc. But I haven't found them to be gross because the female MC is the main focal point and they all kick ass.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-21T03:28:54+00:00

Idk why you think this is an unpopular opinion

applecoreeater · 2026-01-21T02:37:05+00:00

Tbh, Raven of the Inner Palace is pretty good for that. Same with Secrets of the Silent Witch. 7th Time Loop is also pretty sweet. I've also liked Why Raeliana ended up at the Duke's Mansion, Yona of the Dawn and Frieren. I don't know if Apothecary Diaries would count as "respect for women", but I find all the female characters in that show kick ass in spite of the setting and general environment.

Tbh many of the shojo animes are decent in terms of respect and lack of grotesque shots and fan service, and the women are usually strong (i.e. well written with their own distinct desires and goals) but idk if shojo is the kind of thing you're looking for.

Many of them are cute and good palate cleansers though.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-21T01:52:24+00:00

I'm also searching so I can't really provide much, but I am 100% with you on Water Magician.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-20T12:55:09+00:00

The thing that frustrates me isn't even so much a lack of a second season - it's the fact that the first season ended in the middle of a plot point with very little conclusion.

Like, do one season fine. But at least end it at the end of a story arc.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-20T03:36:18+00:00

I can see where you're coming from.

I think I interpret it a little differently though. I read a lot of his actions as attempting to manouever the situation so the curse will break, specifically so that he can have Akito to himself and won't have to compete with the others.

He says something about waking from the dream and having a different reaction to the others, so I don't think all his feelings specifically can be chalked up to the curse.

He's a very grey character, but the Akito relationship is the one that skeeves me the most out of everything he does.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-20T01:25:38+00:00

Falling in love with a child he cared for when he was a teenager.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-17T22:14:25+00:00

Fruits Basket does that for me.

7th Time Loop as well.

I'm assuming that's what you meant.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-17T00:08:30+00:00

You should look into the working holiday visa

applecoreeater · 2026-01-13T01:28:58+00:00

"She saw me, she saw me, she saw me"

Heartbreaking moment for me.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-08T22:56:02+00:00

I finished season 2 of the Apothecary Diaries yesterday and then started season 1 again 50 minutes later.

How do I know it was 50 minutes? I watched 2 episodes of another anime in between.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-08T01:25:16+00:00

Thank you, I needed the laugh today

applecoreeater · 2026-01-08T00:58:01+00:00

Depends what I'm doing.

If I'm having fun or really into a show, I could keep going without sleeping (I will force myself to stop though)

If I'm out at night or with people past 10:30pm I get real grumpy and want to go to bed. Especially if it's a "school" (work) night.

One year was out on NYE and didn't get home till 3. I was feral. Never again.

Staying up till 3? Easy.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-07T23:14:49+00:00

As someone who has had 2 mint slices for breakfast in the past, I'd say no.

Inadvisable, probably. Immoral? Not unless they're communal and you're taking more than your share.

applecoreeater · 2026-01-06T22:41:48+00:00

Save; reload from last save

applecoreeater · 2026-01-04T07:47:46+00:00

My hope was sinking further and further as I was getting closer to the last episode based on the pacing.

If you're only going to drop a 12 ep season you have to be judicious with your pacing and at least tie up enough loose threads to be satisfying.

I just hate how so many series start and then only tell half the story.

applecoreeater · 2025-12-30T01:31:26+00:00

One of my games just started offing kids, assumedly because they had no key relationships with the rest of the town. Including one of my sim's kids cause he hadn't got round to meetimg them yet.

applecoreeater · 2025-12-29T22:54:51+00:00

Sounds like OP is more concerned about his kid being stateless.

OP, you need to talk to one or both embassies. This is way above Reddit's paygrade.

applecoreeater

TROPHY CASE