Special Program for the Climax of The Apothecary Diaries Anime Streams! Cast Looks Back on Season 2 with Selected Keywords (Spoilers Included)

The ABEMA special program, titled “Pre-Climax Special Program,” featured Aoi Yūki (voice of Maomao), Takeo Ōtsuka (voice of Jinshi), Asami Seto (voice of Shisui / Loulan), and Kaori Nazuka (voice of Suirei). As they looked back on season 2, the cast delved deeper into the appeal of the anime through their talk.

This special was the first time for Seto and Nazuka to appear on a The Apothecary Diaries special. Seto commented, “It makes me really nervous to introduce myself as the voice of Shisui / Loulan. I have been involved since the first season, but I was never credited as Loulan, so I finally get to say it! I’m really happy.” Nazuka also expressed her joy, saying, “I never had a chance to talk about The Apothecary Diaries with everyone, so getting to look back on it together like this makes me happy.”

The program started with a segment that compared the relationship charts as of episode 42 (which had been discussed in the previous special) and episode 46, reviewing the relationships between the characters. Yūki commented, “The connection from the previous Emperor’s era, as well as everything about Shisui / Loulan, is coming together, and it feels like the final piece has finally fallen into place.”

The segment then shifted to “Carefully Selected by the Apothecary Staff! 8 Keywords to Enjoy the Climax,” a review of the story through keywords selected by the anime staff. The cast discussed their thoughts while watching scenes related to each chosen keyword.

When the theme “Malice Lurking in the Inner Palace” brought up the ghost story scene from episode 40, Yūki said, “The illustrations become more elaborate as the ghost stories get better, which adds an animation effect too.” Nazuka added, “There are so many close-ups of mouths, which is very striking. There are times when emotions are portrayed through the eyes, but seeing so many varied expressions just with the mouth is amazing,” commenting on the creative direction.

Next, for the keyword “Loulan and Suirei,” the scene of Consort Ouran just after her entrance into the inner palace was selected. The cast reacted with admiration, noting, “Even the way she tosses her hair ornament captures her personality,” and “If you look at her thinking she’s Shisui, she looks like Shisui!” They were impressed by how hints visible now in episode 46 had already been scattered throughout earlier episodes.

Reflecting on season 1, Seto revealed, “I felt like the process of creating Shisui’s character to eventually become Loulan really began then.” Nazuka also shared, “She’s there in such a way as not to stand out, present before you know it. Even during recording, I was careful not to leave too strong an impression,” giving insight into the distinct experiences formed by each character’s position.