The 48th episode, "The Beginning", which was the final episode of the second season of the TV anime " The Apothecary Diaries ", based on the light novel by Natsu Hyuga , which was born from the novel posting site " Shosetsuka ni Naro a Novelist", was broadcast on Nippon TV's anime slot "FRIDAY ANIME NIGHT (Fura-ani)" on July 4th. The second season produced many memorable scenes and performances. We asked Aoi Yuki, who played the main character Aoi Yuki , Maomao Asami Seto, who played Shisui and Loulan, and Tamamo in the final episode, to look back on the second season.
*Contains spoilers up to the final episode aired on July 4th.
◇ Jinshi and Maomao's reunion was "business as usual"
--What scene in season 2 left a particularly strong impression on you?
There's too much Yuki-san (laughs). The episode about Hyouka in episode 39 is also good. It's the last memory of the happiest time for Shisui, Xiaolan, and Maomao, and we can see Jinshi's kindness. Maomao is loved by everyone. In the first place, it was ice to be delivered to Loulan...
Seto Sanko Midori suddenly appears and steals some ice cream.
Yuuki-san, this is just wishful thinking on my part, but I think that Loulan may have received information that Maomao and Xiaolan had gotten themselves involved in some serious trouble, and so she came to check on them as Zicui.
Seto-san, that's right!
I also like how Yuuki-san's Ramon returns to the palace. Jinshi's decision to favor Ramon, who had been banished from the palace as a criminal, in order to save his life is also good, and we can see her resolve as the mother of Princess Tamaha, so it's a really good episode.
All the scenes in Shisui where we get a glimpse of Seto-san's Loulan side are memorable. The episode in episode 34 where the ladies-in-waiting tell ghost stories was also memorable. I thought it was a kind of breather, but there were a lot of hints scattered throughout it. Shisui's ghost story is actually about himself. Personally, the reunion of Maomao and Jinshi in episode 46 was also great! Jinshi's concern for Nekoneko during the time they couldn't meet was also great, but the part where they reunite and take each other's hands and push forward was like, "Thank you!" (laughs). I was also happy to see the two of them on screen together again.
--The reunion between Jinshi and Maomao in episode 46 was a touching scene, but it was also interesting to see them quickly return to their usual selves.
Yuki-san: Normally, it would be a romance, but that doesn't happen at the pharmacy. I think the reason they can go back to their normal selves even after overcoming such a harsh situation is because they trust each other. I felt the love that exists between these two.
-- Maomao's line, "Jinshi, you've gotten old," was also very memorable.
There was also a direction to do as usual for Yuki-san . It's touching, but it also makes you laugh.
I really like how Seto-san and Ao-san liken the two of them to "an owner and a cat"! It's like the owner is desperately searching for the cat, and finally finds it, but the cat looks downcast, asking "What's wrong?"
◇The thoughts behind "I'll leave the rest to you"
--Roulan's line in episode 46, "I'm leaving the rest to you," was an important line that leads into the final episode of season 2.
Seto-san didn't tell the whole truth there. She gave the children the medicine, but there was a possibility that they could be revived, so it was okay... Her feelings were embodied in it. The child's family, the whole family, might be killed. She gave the medicine to protect the children, but Maomao might misunderstand. It's not a medicine that can revive them with a 100% probability, so I think it took courage to give it to her precious children. But she chose it because there was a possibility that they would suffer even more terrible things, and she was prepared, and I put my feelings of entrusting my wishes to Maomao.
--In episode 47, Loulan reveals everything.
Seto: Episode 47 is the episode where all the secrets are revealed to the viewers, and the truth is revealed. To be honest, I felt like it was the final episode. It was the culmination of everything Rouran had been trying to do, and I went into the recording with the feeling that I was going to do it. When telling the truth, I thought it was very important who was listening. When I finally confronted Kamimi, Jinshi was there too. I thought Kamimi would point a gun at her daughter and pull the trigger, but Rouran was shocked that she actually did pull it. However, by hurting Jinshi, Rouran also fulfilled Kamimi's wish. After that, in the climax scene, I felt a sense of accomplishment that I had done it. I felt like if I could complete this scene, my turn was over! I felt that way. I was nervous when I headed to the set of episode 47, but the final episode as Tamamo felt very relaxed, and it was completely different. I felt like I was in sync with Rouran and running with the same feelings.
Yuki-san, the ending of episode 47 was really good! The scene right before that with Zichang was also good. He laughs while spitting blood, but Cho-san's acting is really wonderful, and I felt that Loulan's loud laughter at the end was a continuation of that.
Seto: Kosho dies smiling, and from the moment I read the script, I thought it was a scene that should be linked. I approached the last scene with Kosho's death in mind.
Yuki-san, they are like a mother and daughter after all. They see things the same way, and it is for Kamimi's sake. We called Loulan's movements in the second season "Loulan RTA (Real Time Attack)" (laughs), and if Loulan RTA goes wrong in even one place, it will fail, but there is a sadness in that it turns out exactly as planned. However, at the end, there is a miscalculation in which the hairpin that Maomao gave her as a wish keeps her alive. I was so moved by how beautifully her careful plan goes wrong with one hairpin and works in a positive way.
The second season of "The Apothecary Diaries" produced many memorable scenes and performances. Please watch it over and over again. You will discover something new every time you watch it.
