Kusuriya no Hitogoto Season 3 Ep.02 - Jinshi just can't decide. Maomao, push him!

Episode 2 of Kusuriya no Hitogoto Season 3 continues from where we left off last week, but it doesn't really progress the main plot much. Instead, it focuses on fleshing out the many side characters and reminding us just how in love with Maomao Jinshi really is.

The episode was divided mostly into two parts. The first has Maomao picking out some clothes for Kyou-u and encountering a typical local legend. I still don't really like Kyou-u, but it seems like we're stuck with him for the long haul, considering Maomao is basically acting as his mother at the moment.

I'll be honest, the selection is not bad at all and they don't look bad next to Maomao either.

The face of judgment from Maomao, she doesn't approve of your actions so you should silently repent!

The second part focused on Jinshi and his first interaction with Maomao regarding the famine crisis developing across the country. Honestly, though, that was barely touched upon; the focus was mostly on Maomao trying to steer a few courtesans his way, completely oblivious to the fact that the only one Jinshi wants is Maomao herself.

It's hilarious that, despite how sharp Maomao is, she still can't figure out why Jinshi is so interested in her. Either she genuinely hasn't realized it or she is deliberately trying to ignore it, but the anime doesn't explicitly clarify either way, so we can only assume it's the former.

In the next episode, we'll finally see the start of Maomao's investigation into the famine and the discovery of the food that those suspicious hooded figures were distributing among the populace. How does that connect to the crisis at hand, and who are they, exactly? Are they major antagonists, or just pawns in a minor introductory arc for the season?

Maomao is still the character we all know and love, but judging from these first few episodes, I have to say that I preferred the dynamic back in the inner palace when she was just an unknown, clever girl. Her unpredictable nature was part of the fun, and now that her reputation precedes her, it somewhat diminishes the element of surprise. I felt that toward the end of last season, but it's even more noticeable here...

It's incredible to think Maomao believes that putting a few freckles makes her less attractive all of a sudden. The face doesn't lie!

The final scene with her singing was nice, but still think it doesn't fit her personality much. I prefer gremlin Maomao.

The preview also shows a brief comedic segment with Lihaku being teased by the courtesans. Are they going to drain him dry (of money, mostly), or does the guy actually have a chance of redeeming his beloved Pairin? It's one of the subplots that I'm quite interested in following.