The Apothecary Diaries has Maomao listen to stories of asbestos and then schemes about it in Ep. 50 “The Fire-Rat Cloak”. Students of history will even be able to anticipate that plot just from looking at the title. However, you don’t need to be a student of history to know that asbestos is highly toxic. It makes for a great series of themes here. A seemingly helpful thing that is actually dangerous? It’s a great metaphor for the implied opium trading going on in the background of Maomao’s and Jinshi’s scheming.
The Apothecary Diaries Ep. 50 “The Fire-Rat Cloak”: Details in Brief
The Apothecary Diaries Ep. 50 “The Fire-Rat Cloak” is the second episode (you can read my review of Ep. 1 here) of the third season of this historical mystery drama and political thriller anime series. Said anime is the anime adaptation of the light novel series of the same name by Hyūganatsu.
OLM (Berserk, Odd Taxi, Komi Can’t Communicate) is the animation studio behind this anime. Akinori Fudesaka is the director behind this anime, with Wataru Nakagawa as assistant director, Norihiro Naganuma as the writer, and Satoru Kosaki, Kevin Penkin, and Arisa Okehazama as the composers.
Speaking of the music, the opening theme song for this third season of The Apothecary Diaries is “Kumo o Nukekazashimo e Watashidake” (雲を抜け風下へ私だけ; lit. ’Beyond the Clouds, Only Me Downwind’) by Yorushika. Meanwhile, “AIYOU” by Eve is the ending theme song for the same.
You can watch The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 exclusively on Crunchyroll.
The Apothecary Diaries Ep. 50 “The Fire-Rat Cloak”: The Good
Students of history will be able to guess the plot of Ep. 50 “The Fire-Rat Cloak” just from the title. In Chinese mythology, the “fire rat” or “huoshu” is a mythical creature that is said to live in trees that won’t burn, giving it a hide that when woven into cloth, will be turned clean when it’s burned. This is the origin behind clothes made from asbestos in Chinese history, which has those exact sorts of properties. Maomao makes this even more clear by mentioning that the clothes she handled was made from a type of stone that’s woven into cloth, and asbestos is in fact a stone that is found as white, fibrous crystals.
However, no one in this setting seems to know yet that asbestos is toxic. Not even Maomao (voiced by Aoi Yūki (JP) and Emi Lo (EN)), despite her love of poisons, knows that the unburnable cloth she handles in front of that crowd and the merchant selling it is highly toxic and carcinogenic. To be fair though, it was only recently in history when countries started large-scale mining and processing of asbestos that people found out that it causes lung cancer, among other horrible effects. It could very well be that asbestos mining is too small-scale for people in this alternate China to notice, but it does create a nice bit of cognitive dissonance for our modern audience. That is the beauty of this story that takes place before people learned about asbestos’ toxicity, which by the way, it still not known entirely in some parts of the world.
History and Politics Too
However, it’s not just history we’re paying attention to. The political thriller aspect of the anime plays a huge part of the plot too. Especially when Maomao finally meets back up with Jinshi (voiced by Takeo Ōtsuka (JP) and Kaiji Tang (EN)) in order to discuss the research Maomao discovered about the impending locust plague. It’s an interesting back and forth between them as they discuss the merits of that information and what to do with them, all while the sexual tension plays out at the same time. Again, it’s all entirely one-sided sexual tension on Jinshi’s side, but that’s what makes their interactions so interesting given that he’s fallen in love with a woman who is asexual.
Interestingly though, this episode seems to imply that Maomao, while not feeling any romantic or sexual desire towards Jinshi whatsoever, still thinks of Jinshi as an important person in her life, but isn’t willing to admit that to anyone. Not even herself. It’s an interesting evolution in their relationship. Maybe it might even turn into a queer-platonic relationship similar to the one Maomao had with Loulan? We shall have to see in future episodes of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3.
The Apothecary Diaries Ep. 50 “The Fire-Rat Cloak”: The Bad
Honestly, if you’re looking for an action-packed anime to get your action junkie fix, then Ep. 50 “The Fire-Rat Cloak” isn’t for you. This entire episode is both a history lesson mixed with folklore and a political thriller story. There’s not a hint of action in it anywhere. If you want that, then you will have to look elsewhere.
Anime Recommendations
If you miss seeing blood, violence, and stylish action though, then you might want to check out Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Kaiju No. 8, DDDD, DAN DA DAN, Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II, Zenshu, Blue Box, Solo Leveling, Black Butler, Nyaight of the Living Cat, May I Ask for One Final Thing?, TRIGUN STARGAZE, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and / or Kagurabachi for that. However, if you also like more story-focused anime, then you might also like Spy x Family, Senpai is an Otokonoko, Apocalypse Hotel, Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, My Dress-Up Darling, This Monster Wants to Eat Me, Hana-Kimi, Journal with Witch, Witch Hat Atelier, Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia, Sasaki and Peeps, and / or the 2026 reboot of Magic Knight Rayearth.
What did you think of this week’s episode of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3? Were you a fellow Chinese history nerd who also guessed what this episode featured before even watching it? Tell us your historical thoughts in the comments section below.
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