Pigeon Post

mother swan and her baby duckling

Consort Lishu portrait 💮

Ah duo and Lishu

Lihua and Maomao

Pairin and Maomao

I love how this scene parallels and contrast Maomao's being furious for the first time when she slapped Lady Lihua's maid ?

It is an introduction to a new side of both of them in the exact same way. The big similarity is that both them are righteously angry at a maid doing something to someone else that is bad for theirs well-beingn physical or mental whether due to ignorance and/or denial (Maomao with Lihua's maid) or just straight up maliciousness (Jinshi with Lishu's maid).

The big difference is that Maomao just straight up go for the slap and is so much more physical than him, she drags her by her hair aand is physically intimadating while also being a teeny tiny 17/18 years old, while Jinshi who is physically tall and intimidating just his height isn't physically agressive in his anger at all and doesn't really drops the mask at all. It's an anger that is bit more...cold I guess ? He doesn't even raise his voice.

I know that it was a bit of a convoluted start but it might just be one of my favorite things about this story.

I gave this series a chance when I tend to instinctively avoid historical settings, especially ones with women being subjected to being something like concubines. I do not regret it at all.

The apothecary diaries is able to show us the flaws in patriarchy and the suffering caused by it without turning into trauma porn.

It also manages to show us male characters who are part of this system and aren't evil and are working to change it or at the very least ignore some of the ridiculous rules placed on women.

Every single tad character has their own background, personality, and a way of dealing what life throws at them. From non confrontational Lishu who needs to learn to disobey more, to cunning Lady Gyokuyou who becomes the favored concubine through her own efforts and with her own reasons (while not being evil hallelujah).

The apothecary diaries just feels real to me. Like yes, that's how the world and life is. None or nearly none of the characters in tad make you think "I'd rather die than be in their place" because it's not about that. It's not meant to make you think "women had it so bad I wonder why they didn't all k!ll themselves" like I think many historical shows want.

This story shows a perfect combination of societal influences and peoples own decisions. How they work together, how people can find joy in the most hopeless situations and how they can always fight and get a bit control over their own lifes.