Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 2nd Season Episode 24 Discussion

They would be cousins of some level/form since they both have the same grandfather (the late former emperor).

The series, regarding the theory behind the baby switching scenario Maomao outlines in season one (in the episode in which Ah-Duo is stepping down as one of the four high concubines and leaving the rear palace) and later hinted at and referenced in other ways at multiple points, has not stated outright, as in explicitly confirmed as definitively factually true, but strongly hinted that Maomao's season one theory is correct. Which is that the second son of the former emperor was switched at birth by Anshi and Ah-Duo. The baby that went to Ah-Duo is the one which later died at the hands of her head lady-in-waiting, Fengming, by the accidental honey poisoning. And Ah-Duo's son, Jinshi, was sent to be raised by Anshi.

If that is the case as implied, then he is Ah-Duo's and the current emperor's son, not the emperor's brother (it wouldn't be half-brother either way as the current emperor was conceived by the former emperor and Anshi, who then conceive a second time together, after Anshi rapes him, to create a second child, that was the boy thought to be swapped with Ah-Duo's son).

This is talked about a lot, albeit in mostly indirect ways, in this season, like during the two-parter involving the backstory of the Empress Dowager Anshi and the former emperor's tragic love story, when she comments about random people gossiping and looking down on Jinshi as an illegitimate child or a child switched at birth, but asserting that he was precious to her nonetheless.

It's also mentioned that at a younger childhood age Jinshi naturally/automatically always thought of the current emperor as his father but then he was later told the official story by others that it's his brother, but it's implied not to be true and that he doesn't know the full truth and is still to this day under a mistaken impression or being lied to (based on, again, comments by Maomao, Anshi, and others). It's also why Ah-Duo looks like a near-identical female version of him and even was able to utilize this to be able to stand him for him in public while in the masked garb (during the episode she and Basen had an informal meeting with Lakan and Shishou when she was impersonating Jinshi).

So if all this is the case then the former emperor would be his grandfather, just like he is to Suirei, which is why I said that. He basically looks extremely similar to his grandfather and his mother. I know that the way it's presented in the series is a little vague and opaque, and can be easily confusing. I think that it's deliberately left that way to add to the mystery element and complications of lineage and politics involving the imperial family in the show.

Not sure if I'm a fan of them undercutting the tragedies of the climax to such a degree.

The kids resurrecting was a clear chekhov's gun, but Shisui surviving both a gunshot and a fall from the ramparts feels a bit like a cheat to make everything a happy ending. Sure, it fits her sly fox nature to have an escape plan, but it feels like such a half measure to have her abandon everyone she cared for, letting them think she dead.

The (lack?) of romance between Maomao and jinshi is comical, especially now that maomao and her dad switched places, but feels a bit dissatisfying given they essentially made no progress the whole season, except for clearing the air on who Jinshi actually is.

Ayo, what the hell? Trying to do the deed in front of five "dead" children is wild. Does war make Jinshi horny or what?
And of course Shisui survived the fall + Jinshi's hairpin miraculously happened to be in the right position to stop Basen's bullet to her chest. Man, what a load of bullshit lmao.

2/5 finale mainly because of the Shisui surviving BS and Jinshi's creepy advances, which this show constantly tries to portray as romantic smh.
Ah-Duo becoming a mother to those Shi Clan children and Xiaolan's letter were nice details tho.

Overall, this season ended up being just as uninteresting as Season 1 in my book. Pacing felt slightly worse this time around, some episodes felt kinda "filler-ish" and most of the cases and mysteries continued to be poorly executed because of Xiaomao's MC powers. Not to mention this final arc surrounding Shisui and the Shi Clan was anything but engaging to me. Mainly because of the lame villain Shenmei ended up being and because of the very underwhelming note it concluded on.

5/10 - Sequel already announced but I'm not sure if I will continue on this ship when it arrives. Well, guess I will use the time it's in production to make a decision.

I think that she (Shisui) saw Maomao as a friend, as much as she could ever have one, but I also think that because of the circumstances of her upbringing and everything her family was involved in and was like, she learned from a young age to be ready and willing to detach herself emotionally from everyone and everything at a moment's notice as her best chance of survival, living on another day, and maybe finding her own form of happiness someday somewhere. She first started that with her own immediate family; especially regarding her mother.

And I think that if one can psychologically train and steel themselves to that at a young age, even concerning immediate family, then there's no one and nothing, no subsequent person or situation, which also can't be sacrificed or set aside whenever they deem it necessary to make a clean break for their own best interests. At least certain people who've adopted the mentality Shisui felt compelled to, I'm sure, would see things that way.

From her perspective she already made her peace with the death of her parents and abandonment of her home, name, and entire clan, so what's one new friend of however many months (or two, if you count Xiaolan)?



The sense of progression is all relative and dependent upon how long the series will end up being in the long run by its end, which none of us actually know. If the series ended at 60 episodes then in retrospect it would seem a little foolish and a bad decision not to have things on that front progressed further sooner. But if the series goes on to have 300 episodes, then 48 episodes is nothing.

We just don't have enough information to determine that from the perspective of where we're at currently. We don't know if the series is 10% of the way done, 90%, 50%, or anything else.

Not sure if I'm a fan of them undercutting the tragedies of the climax to such a degree.

The kids resurrecting was a clear chekhov's gun, but Shisui surviving both a gunshot and a fall from the ramparts feels a bit like a cheat to make everything a happy ending. Sure, it fits her sly fox nature to have an escape plan, but it feels like such a half measure to have her abandon everyone she cared for, letting them think she dead.

The (lack?) of romance between Maomao and jinshi is comical, especially now that maomao and her dad switched places, but feels a bit dissatisfying given they essentially made no progress the whole season, except for clearing the air on who Jinshi actually is.

@SouthRzVa why did you watch 50 episoes of a show you think is mediocre

That was a perfect finale to sort out all the emotions I've felt this season!!

Im really gonna miss this trio, it's so rare to see Maomao shed a tear, hopefully they able to reunite someday ; - ;


Jinshi was locked in! After revealing his identity, he can't hold back his urges anymore, this guy bit Maomao like an animal marking its property or something! They just keep teasing us with those kisses, just let it happen!!


And to Shisui.. Loulan.. Tamamo.. I hope to see you again someday, bye-bye!


There is a chinese legend about a fox-spirit that impersonates a consort named Daji with a connection to the japanese legend of Tamamo-no-mae, there's a story that Tamamo first appeared in China and then came to Japan.
Shisui really is a fox.


A sequel has already been announced! I'll be waiting!

so did shisui drink the elixir of life (or wtvr) too?

@tobifiy she would have died in the snow if she did that. She simply survived the bullet that could have taken her life because of Jinshi's hairpin that took the bullet for her (she was carrying it on her chest). she fell in the deep snow which saved her from lethal fall as well, and was found by the soldier that freed Maomao.

@Zefyris you're right. did they explain that last part in the anime?

@tobifiy yes, there is a short scene where we see that soldier spotting something shining in the bushes.