The Apothecary Diaries set the bar too high with its male characters, especially with our beloved eunuch Jinshi. He is every fangirl’s dream. His beauty, charm, and persona have consorts and maids gravitate towards him, but there is an important aspect yet to be explored.
To be specific, it has to do with his past. There are bits and pieces in the series where we get glimpses of his backstory. However, viewers love crumpets and not crumbs per se. This only makes sense for creators to expand and map it from the character’s perspective.
Less crumpets, more crumbs: Jinshi’s unexplored past in the series
Jinshi has the beauty of a celestial maiden and quite honestly, he uses it to its utmost advantage. It isn’t merely a handsome face that makes him so special but his overall character. He is both childish as well as coy as seen when Maomao interacts with other men.
Quite honestly, it is a running gag in the series but we aren’t complaining. The series is a true gender bender in terms of its well-written characters and their path. Both he and Ah-Duo are brilliant examples of this, especially with the roles. The series, however, might be overlooking certain aspects of his story.
The first season establishes his identity as an esteemed eunuch. He is at a favorable position where he commands authority. This leads Maomao to speculate about his possible rank in court. She somewhat figured out his status, however, the anime did a breadcrumb treatment with his past.
Yes, glimpses and flashbacks are important but the wait can be agonizing for fans. This is evident in the scenes that highlight his childhood that are yet to be explored in depth. An X user @keiuzuki shared the screencap of childhood scenes.
“Master Jinshi had gotten to where he would play with only this toy. So we quietly hid it from him, but that only sent him into a storm of tears. When he gets fixated on something, it becomes the only thing he sees. But he was not born to a position where that could be allowed.” pic.twitter.com/zYU7dT8ydo
— tamina 🦋 (@keiuzuki) March 1, 2025
Although glimpses, these moments are somewhat of a highlight that helps the fan understand and pave the way for theories. For a change, the spotlight is focused on the Imperial Prince, which is a step away from Maomao’s unreliable position as a narrator.
The Apothecary Diaries through the Imperial Prince’s eyes
The Apothecary Diaries, as the name suggests, is a journey through Maomao’s eyes. Her life in the consort realm, as well as the brothel, is a peek into the dark and disturbing aspects. The trafficking, slavery, and p***philia is something that is shown brilliantly and sensibly.
A large part of the gender bender element is also the roles of eunuchs in the series. It is historically accurate in its representation of the community, especially their role in the concubine culture. As both an Imperial Prince and a eunuch, Jinshi is a secondary narrator in the series and here’s how.
Of course he isn’t in the forefront, yet his scenes unfold his vulnerability and inner thoughts. Him curling up after the nightmare is one such scene where he opens up to the viewers. In some way, he wishes for Maomao to learn the truth. But that isn’t the only moment where he shows his sensitive side.
The backhug scene where he holds her and cries is possibly one of the most beautiful moments in the series. The bits and pieces only suggest that his character deserves a more detailed approach to his backstory.
The Apothecary Diaries is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
