Lakan is one of the most intriguing characters in the series as there are still a lot of mysteries surrounding him. Thus, many are wondering if Lakan is evil in The Apothecary Diaries.
Based on his actions, coupled with Maomao’s reactions when he’s around, many fans think that he may be a major antagonist.
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for The Apothecary Diaries, so proceed with caution.
Why Does Maomao Avoid Lakan in The Apothecary Diaries?
A reason Lakan may seem evil to some is Maomao, specifically her avoidance of him. While Lakan has tried to get near Maomao, the talented apothecary continues to evade him.
Moreover, Maomao’s scary reaction when Jinshi mentions Lakan is a big reminder of Maomao’s feelings regarding Lakan.
As someone who doesn’t exactly open up regarding her past, Maomao hasn’t exactly explained to others why she avoids Lakan so strongly. Based on the anime’s story though, there’s a good reason for this.
Maomao was revealed to be the daughter of Lakan and Fengxian of the Verdigris House. As a courtesan, Fengxian becoming pregnant with Maomao caused her to lose her status and livelihood.
Lakan’s Relationship with Maomao Explained
The Apothecary Diaries' latest episode had an interesting reveal regarding Lakan and Maomao. While Maomao continues to avoid him, it turns out that she is one of the few people whom Lakan truly sees.
Lakan seems to have prosopagnosia or face blindness, meaning he can only see other people as Go pieces. Maomao is one of the few exceptions, as he sees and recognizes her face.
Thus, Lakan seems to truly care about Maomao, even though he can’t get close to her. As for Maomao’s avoidance of Lakan, it makes sense given that she thinks he’s fully to blame for what happened to her mother.
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So, Is Lakan Good or Evil in The Apothecary Diaries?
Lakan is indeed a schemer, but as revealed in the light novel, he’s not exactly what you’d call evil.
Based on the light novel’s events, Lakan did not know of Fengxian’s pregnancy as he was sent off to war. Thus, he did not intend to ruin Fengxian and burden her.
In fact, he redeems Fengxian at a later point in the light novel and marries her. This is to at least make up for what happened in the past.
It’ll be interesting if the anime will also work with this story from the light novel. It’ll be a while before that happens though, as The Apothecary Diaries season 1 is ending in just two episodes.
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