Fans React to The Apothecary Diaries Episode 52 Preview: "Must-See for Jinshi Being Made to Eat Locusts," "Can't Wait for the Locust Feeding Scene" as Jinshi Grimaces

The preview video for Episode 52, "The Last Book," airing in stages from October 23, has been released on the official X account of the anime The Apothecary Diaries, and one scene in particular is generating a lot of buzz among fans. It is the moment Jinshi (voiced by Takeo Otsuka) has a locust thrust in front of his face.

The Apothecary Diaries anime is based on the light novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu, and it is a major hit that has also been adapted into manga in two monthly magazines. It became a huge topic thanks to the deductive mysteries of Maomao (voiced by Aoi Yuki), who ends up working as a "poison taster" in the rear palace, and the comical exchanges between Maomao and Jinshi. The TV anime has aired through Season 2, and Season 3 started in October 2026, with the broadcast split into two cours together with a second part starting in April 2027. In addition, the series' first film, The Apothecary Diaries: The Late Lady's Treasure, is scheduled for release on December 11, 2026.

The newly released video is the preview for Episode 52, "The Last Book." Jinshi is troubled by the "omens of a disaster about to strike the nation." One morning, Maomao and Kyou-u (voiced by Natsumi Fujiwara) are served simmered locusts for breakfast by Grams of Verdigris House (voiced by Kimiko Saito), and after taking a bite, Zhao Yu starts to say something that gives them pause... The preview includes scenes of Maomao reasoning things out and looking as if an idea has just struck, as well as a scene in which a locust is thrust out right in front of Jinshi, who recoils with a grimace.

In response to the preview, fans have posted comments such as "Must-see for Jinshi being made to eat locusts," "I can't wait for the locust 'say ahh' in the next episode," "Will Jinshi accept Maomao's 'ahh' or refuse to eat a bug? It's an ultimate choice," "I can't wait for Maomao's 'ahh,'" "I really want to see Maomao give Jinshi the locust 'ahh' already. Season 3 of The Apothecary Diaries is just the best," and "I love that most viewers seem delighted to see Jinshi's beautiful face contorted that much." Many of the comments express anticipation for the scene mentioned above.

(C)Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos/"The Apothecary Diaries"Project