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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe Apothecary Diaries Season 2, Episode 20 is overall episode 44, titled The Stronghold in English and 「砦」 (Toride) in Japanese. It shifts Maomao’s investigation into a dangerous confinement: a discovery at a weapons workshop leads to her imprisonment in a snowbound fortress. Spoilers follow.
Episode 44 recap: Maomao is taken to the stronghold
Maomao and Hyōu enter a warehouse and discover that it is Fei Fa’s workshop—the same place where Jinshi was attacked during the hunt. The find connects their investigation to a serious threat rather than an isolated mystery. The official Japanese anime site’s synopsis identifies the workshop and its connection to the attack.
They are discovered by Shinbi, described as cold and cruel, who is accompanied by the envoy Aira. Maomao avoids immediate punishment, but that reprieve does not mean she is free: she is taken prisoner at a stronghold surrounded by snow and sturdy walls.
Inside, Maomao sees a large quantity of Fei Fa weapons. She realizes that the events have drawn her into a crisis with the potential to shake the country. The episode’s established synopsis ends with that realization; it does not establish the stronghold plot’s resolution.
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Review: an investigation turns into confinement
The episode’s central turn is from pursuit to captivity. Maomao’s practical discovery at the workshop gives her a clearer sense of the danger, but it also places her in the hands of people controlling a fortified site. The shift makes the setting part of the threat: the snow and walls emphasize how far she is from the freedom to investigate on her own terms.
The stakes widen from the attack on Jinshi to the weapons stockpile and a possible national crisis. That makes the episode a transition point in the story’s immediate situation rather than a self-contained resolution. This framing follows the events in the official synopsis; it is not a claim about critical consensus. Rotten Tomatoes’ episode page displayed zero critic reviews when accessed, so there is no critic score or consensus to report.
Rank #2
Episode details, dates, and content advisory
Season 2, Episode 20 is also the series’ overall episode 44. Rotten Tomatoes lists the English title as “The Stronghold” and gives an air date of May 13, 2025. Crunchyroll’s English-dub listing says it was released June 13, 2025. Those are dates attached to different listings; neither establishes a single universal release date, and the Japanese original broadcast date is not confirmed here.
Crunchyroll gives the episode a 14+ advisory for suggestive dialogue, sexualized imagery, drug and alcohol use, violence, suicide, and smoking. Ratings and catalog availability may differ by region or service. Rotten Tomatoes lists Prime Video and Apple TV as viewing or purchase options, but that listing does not guarantee current availability in a particular location.
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- All 12 Mini Anime Episodes
- Textless Opening & Ending Songs
Is the episode adapted from the light novel or manga?
A fan-maintained episode guide reports that the episode adapts portions of light novel Volume 4—chapters 14–17 and its prologue—and manga chapters 77–79. This is secondary-source mapping, not an independently verified chapter-by-chapter correspondence. Volume 4 is a possible next place to explore the source material, but the episode should not be taken to adapt the entire book.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch
Streaming and purchase listings are not proof that a title is currently available in every country. Check your local service catalog for the episode, audio version, subtitles, and whether access is by subscription or purchase. Crunchyroll’s cited June 13, 2025 date specifically refers to its English-dub listing.
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- Apothecary Diaries - Anime TV Show Poster (Season 2 - Key Art Design - Regular Style) (Size: 24" x 36") - Unframed
- LARGE 24" x 36" WALL SIZE UNFRAMED POSTER: Eye-catching design fills your wall with inspiration and color. Perfect for creating a bold visual centerpiece on any wall
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- READY TO HANG OR FRAME: Fits standard 24" x 36" frames, making display quick and easy.
- Poster Size: 24" x 36"
Rank #4
- Textless Opening & Ending Songs
- Trailers
- 12 Mini Anime Episodes
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