This article contains spoilers for yet unaired events of The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 and beyond. As of the time of writing, 30 episodes of the series have already aired – the latest episode is Season 2 Episode 6.
Summary
- Jinshi may not be a eunuch, hinted by his reaction to jasmine tea – a major revelation awaits.
- The “frog incident” reveals Jinshi’s true identity as a close relative of the Emperor.
- Jinshi pretends to be a eunuch to protect his true identity and avoid his designated role.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 has been subtly teasing upcoming events, and preparing the ground for major revelations. While the first cour still deals with many one-off situations, the second cour will be a bit more intense, while still maintaining the episodic feel of the series.
However, there is one specific event which fans are waiting for, and it will likely happen by the end of the first cour – the infamous “frog incident”, involving Maomao and Jinshi. The season has also strongly emphasized the fact that Jinshi is a eunuch and that he can’t have love relationships like men usually do.
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With most fans cheering for Maomao and Jinshi to eventually end up together, some of them want to know if there is a way for Jinshi not to be a eunuch. They wonder if the show hasn’t put so much emphasis on this fact just to surprise everyone with a big revelation later on. So, is Jinshi really a eunuch?
The Truth About Jinshi’s “Frog”
In a Season 2 episode, Maomao accidentally tells Jinshi that jasmine tea can help with impotence, and he seems offended (since he is supposedly a eunuch). While this part has already been adapted, the anime has yet to show that Jinshi actually starts drinking jasmine tea after learning this, which is an important sign that he may not be exactly who he claims to be. Just like another character, he also has his secrets.
The definitive turning point is the frog scene. After a turnaround, Maomao and Jinshi end up in a waterfall and try to reach a cave nearby. However, a frog unexpectedly jumps on her head, and both lose their balance. Maomao inadvertently lands with her hands between Jinshi’s legs – and then she is certain that he is not a eunuch. He, on the other hand, claims that she touched a frog, and from this point on, Jinshi’s intimate parts are referred to as “a frog”.
Why Does Jinshi Pretend to Be a Eunuch?
If Jinshi is not a eunuch, why is he pretending to be so? Well, in part, it is to protect his true identity. Jinshi is actually a close relative of the Emperor, and he has great influence over the court due to his bloodline.
However, he is also in this role because he wants it, as he doesn’t like the role that he should be playing, given his origins. His true identity will be revealed later on (it is one of the key events in the story), and most people in the Inner Court don’t really know about it.
The Apothecary Diaries is available to stream on Crunchyroll, subbed and dubbed in many languages. It is on Netflix in select Asian countries.
The Apothecary Diaries
- Release Date
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October 22, 2023
- Directors
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Norihiro Naganuma, Akinori Fudesaka
- Writers
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Norihiro Naganuma
- Franchise(s)
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The Apothecary Diaries
