Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she’s sold as a lowly servant
to the emperor’s palace. But she wasn’t meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial
heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome
palace official who promotes her. Now, she’s making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!
(Source: Crunchyroll)
***
There's this YouTube video called “Audience Hate Bad Writing, Not Strong Women” by Master Samwise, which summarizes my thoughts on the recent trends of using characters in today's landscape, especially in anime. The video focused more on the American industry aspect and how they're representing women, and the same concept does apply in the Japanese aspect but not in the way you would expect, and it's not just an issue of the portrayal of women but also men. In the video, Master Samwise made a brief mention of how these American blockbusters tend to skip over character development as a trade-off between spectacle and half-baked representation. I believe this also applies in the anime industry, not just in terms of representation but also in terms of how much anime viewers crave spectacle-well-drawn top-of-the line animation while putting characters as a mere minor trait.
Most anime that came out today are pretty straightforward with their plotlines, and
they do ways to create wild and heart-wrenching moments where characters had to face intense crumbles
of downfall until inevitably getting back up from their knees through their sheer will and making the
impossible possible. These are your basic kinds of storytelling that's effective to make audiences
connect and care with your characters; however, recently, this formula has been used so much that
we're just blindly following the determined routes of these characters that, in their minds, ensure
us, the audience, that we'll connect with them, but forgetting the part where they'd actually have to
write a compelling three-dimensional character to fully sell us in. We've seen this a lot recently,
especially in the fantasy genre and shounen titles, where you struggle to connect with these
characters because of how much they're not just more than the predetermined formula they've plastered
upon, and seeing these tropes getting distributed and redistributed a couple of times without any
effort of giving personality, you'll end up with products that's basically the same just with a
different shade of paint.
***
Now with that in mind, how does “The Apothecary Diaries” stack up amidst the
abundance of similarly plotted characters being given secondary priority? Well, it surprisingly does
the opposite. We follow our main character Maomao, who's been kidnapped by the kingdom and works there
as a lower-class servant, but after a certain incident regarding noble women that's filled with
superstitions and beliefs about its cause, Maomao steps in and secretly treats these noble women
without the knowledge of everyone. Unbeknownst to her, the palace has been searching for someone who
treated these noble women and offered her a higher position as a poison tester for the palace. On
paper, the anime does sound like an intriguing series, and it's definitely a step above the “I
accidentally got myself into a certain situation I couldn't get out of” trope. It gives the story the
ability to make characters have room to make decisions and comments on their own instead of being
forced upon them; this helps us, the viewers, to connect and relate in a genuine manner. It does help
even more that the series doesn't have an overarching “quest” or an “ultimate goal” to hook the
audience. It's an exploration of where Maomao lives and her weekly encounters with weird and new
things relating to her field as an apothecary. It might not be for everyone to have episodes have an
episodic feel, but that complaint immediately disappears once you realize that the series is not about
being an apothecary, how this kingdom and world run, or how there may be a plot twist along its story;
however, it is just a series where our main character Maomao navigates through this world as well as
being an apothecary on the side.
***
Maomao carries this series on the back of her shoulder without tiring out. She exerts
a lot of personality from her enthusiasm for poisons, where she would do odd things to enjoy them,
witty dialogue, her unique problem-solving skills, her ways to not get involved too much with the
people around her without being nonchalant in a way, and how she lives through her own wave with
confidence that deviates from the generic anime character that you just can't stop looking straight to
your screen and be amazed at what and how she will act next when she's given a situation, whether for
mundane teases by Jinshi or being offered a highly intensive job of poison testing. Essentially
speaking, Maomao is not carried by the story, but the story is carried by Maomao. There are lots of
moments where you can see where it's going, especially when you can spot a specific formula where a
certain story flow is. You'd be fortunately dumbfounded by Maomao’s unique way of facing the issue,
and you'd just be applause for taking such logical steps according to her own values and what's best
in the situation. Other characters in the show have the same qualities as Maomao, where they carry the
scenes in their own unique way, from Jinshi’s silent obsession with Maomao to the minor characters,
such as Gaoshun, who is your confused yet relieved royal guard, and the background characters, such as
the maids, who excrete so much personality despite not giving much more screen time to shine. The
world of this series excretes so much life from its well-rounded characters, curious minor characters,
and loud background characters, a basic trait in storytelling that most anime series recently failed
to provide, which this series nailed hard while sprinkling more.
***
There are still a lot of great things about this series that will be pointed out by other people, such as that well-balanced silky vibrant look, how its mystery is structured and how, despite being structured as an episodic series, it leaves many clues and stories for future episodes to progress without overwhelming the viewer or getting too stuck in one single arc. As it stands right now, The Apothecary Diaries is one of the most entertaining and captivating series released recently because of its three-dimensional characters and how it trusts the audiences that they'll connect with these out-of-the-current written characters without the reliance of an adrenaline-kicked overdrawn animations, a testament that there's still more stories that can be told in this medium without the reliance of plot-driven tropes. ***
webm(https://v.animethemes.moe/KusuriyaNoHitorigoto-OP1-NCBD1080.webm) Having grown up in a household filled with family that loved Chinese period dramas, they were virtually inescapable for me. Someone in my family was always watching the hottest new period drama, and eventually, I also began to watch them with my family, and I got hooked on them quickly. At this point, the tropes in those shows were all too familiar to me, so count me surprised when I watched *The Apothecary Diaries*, and almost immediately thought of what a breath of fresh air this was. It has probably the best female character of 2023, and while it definitely was overshadowed by a certain other heavy hitter, *Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End*, this anime still had enough going for it to merit a lot of discourse in the anime community, and in my opinion stood up to its opponents in both the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 anime seasons very well. This series has very riveting mystery elements, while staying light-hearted and comedic at times, and all encapsulated in a fictional inner palace, modelled after a Chinese setting. As I have mentioned earlier, I am no stranger to Chinese period dramas, and I always find it interesting how gender is portrayed in these shows. In the older Chinese dynasties, the [Imperial Chinese harem system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Chinese_harem_system) was very prevalent and common, and the inner palace, babymaking and the objectifying of women, with them being handled and passed around as gifts, was what life was dedicated to. For that reason, I find it intriguing that in this portrayal of the inner palace, we see the perspectives of women with agency, solving problems, being involved in the politics of the palace, all in quite a thoughtful way. Also, the existence of a particular character in the show as a test of loyalty to the emperor struck me as a different twist to the whole system, a unique take on this fictional Chinese setting. The mystery elements were done well, as it was interesting to see how this series introduced a lot of mysteries, but didn’t outright provide the answer, or culprit to the viewer. We get the reasons why people were caught up in issues, or in some cases, how they ended up dying, but the viewer gets left questioning whether or not the intuition of the main character was actually accurate. Things are not answered right away, but eventually, the series calls back to those mysteries that the viewer might have forgotten, and weaves them together for a great pay-off. Some of the episodes, especially in the early parts of the second half, were not as interesting when I first watched it, but knowing how it set up for the pay-off, in hindsight, it did made a lot more sense, and that indeed, every moment, even the duller ones, had some effect on the bigger picture. The main protagonist, Maomao, makes the entire show for me, and was the main reason I enjoyed this anime as much as I did. She was such an endearing, captivating main character that had a really dynamic personality that could range from her not giving a bother about getting kidnapped at the start of the anime, yet throughout the series, really investing herself in the mysteries of the palace setting, and through her endless thirst for knowledge (and poison), we got to see her go to great lengths to achieve whatever goal she set out to achieve on any given day. Her voice actor, Aoi Yuuki, performed spectacularly to bring out the varied tones to match up with her multi-faceted personality, and she really made Maomao come to life in the best way possible. She reminds me of other protagonists I have seen in Chinese period dramas, but her character writing was more unique compared to any others, and I am glad she had her own ambitions she was able to achieve, rather than just being a tool for the emperor or her superiors. All the other characters also shined in their own ways, and even the ones that only show up briefly, end up being memorable. The art and animation in this show was not flashy, but still very highly detailed and intricate to really flesh out the setting. The character designs were varied and were unique while staying true to its Chinese identity. The more subtle movements were handled with care, such as the little mannerisms that befit the Chinese setting. The covering of the mouth with their sleeves as they enter a room, and how the characters eat their food are just some examples of that in action. Little details like that really impressed me, as it showed how much care the staff put in to making sure they stayed true to Chinese culture. The music further elevated the material to new heights. Sure, the overall visual quality isn’t at a level of the powerhouse shounen anime, but with the resources the staff had at their disposal, they did a phenomenal job. Overall, this was a fantastic series, along with one of the best main female characters I have seen in a while. While not every mystery or every episode hit as deeply, whenever they did, it was excellent, riveting, even bone-chilling. If you have any interest in Chinese dramas, or even if you don’t, there will likely be something you will find that intrigues you. With a Season 2 confirmed for next year, I couldn’t be more excited to see more of this wonderful series.
The Apothecary Diaries is a likeable enough historical drama that is more parts the atmosphere of intrigue than a proper mystery. To be fair to the show, it does not really bill itself as something in the vein of Agatha Christie, where the focus would be on the construction of its mystery as a puzzle the audience might be able to solve before the characters. They are more so storytelling or aesthetic devices, but even then, still leave something to be desired. Much of the show then ends up relying heavily on its character appeal and aesthetics to charm and engage the audience. No doubt this is the source of its digestibility and broad popularity, but it also seems to necessitate a rather feel-good atmosphere that dispels much of the danger and more off-putting elements of its historical setting. Sanding down many of the rougher edges of the period has left the series hard pressed to really drive home any of its themes it occasionally brings up like the cruel nature of the palace and the status of women during this era. All this leaves Apothecary Diaries in a strange position of being an entertaining drama but without much else in the way of thematic substance. While this is certainly still adequate for most people, or possibly more desirable than something tense and incisive, it cannot help but feel like even the show wants more for its characters than just being entertaining for the sake of it. The mysteries in the initial episodes are broadly effective at establishing the tone and expectation of the series as one built around a core of rather serious palace intrigue and scheming. Yet it also immediately presents the issue that most of them are solved using information kept from the audience, or by inferences that feel too much like leaps in logic with how much they rely on the character’s prior knowledge. This does not start as much of a problem since the viewer is able to see all the intrigue and speculation as part of the plot or atmosphere rather than a puzzle being presented to them. However, as the series goes on, more and more time is dedicated to going over Maomao’s thought process on these mysteries which leads steadily to the impression that they are meant to be solvable by the audience as well. This creates a distinct frustration as there is never much satisfaction in thinking about the problem along with Maomao despite the show gradually encouraging it. It is still possible to infer, or more frankly guess, the answer to the mysteries, but these conclusions lack any textual evidence to support it and often rely on the intuition or genre-savviness of the viewer. Even someone who happens to have knowledge of the technical or scientific elements involved in the mysteries cannot use that to solve them since much of specifics are kept from the viewer until Maomao presents it in her final conclusions. Some degree of this is acceptable as a sort of narrative sleight of hand to highlight the intelligence of the character. However, this eventually presents a disjoint in the series being framed heavily as a mystery or puzzle while having the narrative construction of a drama which has much lower demands in how tight its plot elements need to be. The mysteries themselves also tend to lack staying power in the memory of the audience since they are mostly one-off occurrences. While they do have the function of revealing things about the characters, it is mostly limited to information about their personal history or showing off some new entertaining quirk to endear them to the audience. Since the vast majority of the mysteries are not particularly long running or complex, they never give a deeper insight into Maomao’s or Jinshi’s ideals or biases, nor do they test them or force compromises which in turn hinders either of them having any real growth. It is not until the latter half of the season, where the second light novel is adapted, that there is any throughline that connects all the mysteries into one larger conspiracy of sorts. Even then, the lead up to the climax is impossibly obtuse, with genre expectations being the only way a viewer can predict how any of these instances could be convincingly related to each other. This connect-the-dots moment does make for a dramatic revelation, but it failed to impress the viewer with the brilliance of a character putting together clues that were also fair game for the audience, nor does it create any tension or emotional connection through a viewer putting things together before the characters and then worrying for them. All this gives a distinct impression that the mysteries which frequently form the centre piece of episodes seem to have very little utility beyond being intriguing for the sake of it. While this is not necessarily a problem, and par for the course in most straight up dramas, it feels distinctly lacking given the framing and potential of the Apothecary Diaries. With how obtuse and obfuscating the show can be, it is then somewhat remarkable how little subtlety there is when it comes to the more ‘organic’ mysteries about the personal histories of the characters. These are not mysteries in the genre sense of the term but rather the general character unknowns that can be found in any show. Much of the season builds up the implicit questions around Jinshi’s actual role in the palace hierarchy as well as how Maomao came to have such a unique upbringing and intelligence. While there has been some degree of subtly as to Jinshi’s true nature, it is still disappointing that the suspicions around it are mostly delivered through exposition. It feels like a distinct wasted opportunity not to have Maomao engaging in more direct investigation since that would have been a more organic method to reveal this information. Leaving Maomao’s suspicions to be the punchline of jokes feels lacking when this is a prime opportunity to create a real point of tension between them that would reveal more of their characters. On the other hand, in the case of Maomao’s past, the show eventually becomes fairly blatant in pointing the viewer to the answers and conclusions it wants them to draw. It is never as ham-fisted as having to spell things out to the audience directly, at least outside of a few rare scenes, but it still feels lacking given how good the show is at creating the aesthetic and framing of a mystery. The backstories of our characters end up being used mainly in a metanarrative manner to appeal to the audience’s need to satisfy their curiosity, rather than being used to create compelling scenes or develop the characters through means within the text. Perhaps this is not a major issue for most viewers, or even noticeable since it scratches that itch of wanting answers, but it still something that is hard to praise either. This leaves Apothecary Diaries relying on the charm of its characters and aesthetics to appeal to the audience, and to its credit, it does succeed at this. In fact, much of the narration and mysteries are carried by Yuuki Aoi’s outstanding performance as Maomao. Though much of Maomao’s mannerisms and internal dialogue are humourous and endearing, it also feels like it ends up clashing with the tone of other areas of the show. The initial impression is that the series will have some relatively serious stakes involving the deaths of characters and the machinations of the inner palace. Both the chibi exaggerations and general facetious attitude Maomao has towards what is quite a distressing and even horrific situation significantly undercut any tension to do with the dangers in the court. In fact, much of the court is made out to be a strangely pleasant environment with the potentially lethal plotting and scheming as the exception instead of the rule. There is little danger and only petty antagonism for much of the season, leaving most of the tension and intrigue feeling fangless. While this has certainly made it comfortable for a wide audience to watch, making it a somewhat ironic strength of the show, it creates a significant amount of tonal whiplash. The first time this occurs when Maomao loses her temper, it could be seen as a dramatic reversal of sorts that snaps the viewer out of their false sense of security as well. However, as the show goes on, this kind of whiplash becomes a more common occurrence, making it less dramatic tension and more so the Apothecary Daires seeming to operate on two parallel tracks. One of these is a serious and brooding look into morally dubious court politics while the other is a feel-good idealization of palace life with only minor conflicts. While both of these worlds can and possibly should exist in the same show, they have not been integrated particularly well thus far, feeling more like a jarring transition between two different realities than a flip between two sides of the same coin. The tonal whiplash leaves the show feeling particularly hard pressed to sell its more dramatic moments or find any convincing depth in its heavy themes. Every so often there will be a narrative tangent going over the extreme nature of court politics or the status of women in a historical setting. These happen as early as episode 3 and do not serve much additional purpose, often revealing little about Maomao’s character despite much of the narration coming from her. Part of the issue is that Maomao does not have a noticeable character arc that can demonstrate any change or response to these happenings. It does tell us about how she became the person she is at the moment, but it does not draw out any further change or really highlight any particular beliefs that form the core of her world view. There is this initial idea that she has developed a sense of justice around these issues that she eventually cannot ignore, but it is never taken much further than that and really used to put Maomao into situations where it can be tested and confirmed as one of her ideals beyond the opening episodes. As a result, it also says little about the setting beyond raising some interesting and dour questions while pointing out the general injustice of historical society. There is certainly merit in bringing up these ideas and they are natural to explore given the premise of the series, however there is little done to tie them to some kind of central plot or to the beliefs of the characters, leaving it feeling more like window dressing. It is hard to tell if this is by design. All the chibi exaggerations along with much of Maomao’s facetious and flippant mannerisms might be the means it uses to alleviate some of the tension from bringing up all these ideas. It is certainly understandable that the show would want to sidestep some of the more heavily loaded issues like child concubines by giving them only a passing acknowledgement since it would be well outside any reasonable remit to attempt to cover such a topic. Yet it cannot help but feel like the show bit of more than it can chew with its ideas given how many of its parts seem to exist in isolation from each other. At worst it can feel like wanting to have it both ways and bring up these issues while still retaining that comforting atmosphere needed for mass appeal. While not impossible, it would require much better integration of its various threads to make work. Overall, the Apothecary Diaries is still certainly a charming show despite all the flaws that have been brought up. It makes for a comfortable and entertaining watch with characters that are easy to find endearing thanks to some fantastic voice acting. Yet it is precisely because of these elements that there feels like there is not much concrete thematic substance behind its feel-good and occasionally dramatic veneer. There is little else to interest the viewer with most of the cast lacking notable character arcs, the mysteries being rather arbitrary, and the themes being more statements of fact than explorations. Of course, there is evidence that the source material is improving as the books go on and that it will translate to the show well enough. The second half of the season finally introduces some semblance of an opposing force within the court, creating an actual sense of tension and giving some structure to all of Maomao’s and Jinshi’s actions that has been sorely lacking. Yet it has taken far too long to reach what feels like should have been part of the initial premise. There is still ample opportunity to rectify all the flaws moving forward since they are largely a lack of something rather than a problem with the premise or structure of the show. But it is still hard to give the show extensive leeway in taking 24 episodes to find its footing while having yet to set up things as essential as clear character arcs or integrating its themes into a core narrative. While the show is likeable enough and certainly competent as a drama, it’s hard to rate it more than a 7 out of 10 at this juncture. It is perfectly reasonable to watch this just for entertaining character antics, and perhaps on that grounds it can be an 8, albeit a weaker one. But the show itself seems to want to be so much more and has the potential to do so, making it hard to overlook that. Personally, it has shown enough promise to keep me around for a second season where its full potential is realized, and because the character mannerism of Maomao strikes a personal chord with me, but it is understandable if others choose to bow out since the status quo of the show is more or less established.
Have you ever seen the amount of anime that are power fantasies for men for the audience to self-insert into? Well, you don’t have to worry about that in this show, because this decided to do the “innovative” idea of making a power fantasy but for women, with Maomao serving very clearly as a Mary Sue to do this. I mean, when you look at the conversation around this show, you see people being fine with the protagonist, which honestly confuses me, because this is the kind of show that, if it had a male protagonist, it would be rightfully called a self-insert power fantasy. The exact moment that I got to this conclusion was when Maomao put on makeup, because this moment showed that Maomao isn’t some plain girl and that her freckles are actually fake but she puts them on for safety reasons, which means that she makes herself uglier on purpose while she is actually so pretty that she surprises people with her beauty, a blatant example of the “looks ugly but is actually beautiful” trope being used to make the protagonist look better. I’m fine with Maomao being good at testing poisons and having deep knowledge about the subject, she worked as an apothecary after all, and has even tested poison on herself. Maomao being a detective might be fine, her scientific interest aligns with critical thinking, but the fact that she actually guesses correctly every single thing thrown at her can make her look too perfect at a job she doesn’t actually have. She also teaches concubines about how to have sex, despite being a virgin, and this is a problem, as she is better than other people in their areas of expertise when she is supposed to just be an apothecary, and that extends to things beyond this point. It’s fine if she is smarter than a quack doctor, but it almost seems that without her, the palace won’t be able to continue running because she solves almost everything. You can just look at her qualities and see that her flaws aren’t actually flaws. Being ugly is a completely self-imposed thing, as she’s apparently the most beautiful around. She is very quirky and shows no interest in men, but that’s what gets her Jinshi being interested in her, since unlike the other girls who are lusting over Jinshi everywhere he goes, she is not interested in him as she is not like the other girls and her quirkiness makes her “interesting”, so she ends up getting attention from the perfect guy despite the fact that he doesn’t receive any reciprocation from her. I thought that we made fun of this when a romcom is about a 10/10 girl talking to the completely average guy just because he is nice, why is this suddenly okay when the exact thing is being done here? Also, there are other girls who don’t like her and they are always proven wrong by saying they were just jealous of how amazing she is, I swear that I could barely look at the screen on episode 4 where she scolds that lady-in-waiting and slaps her in the face, I mean, Maomao was in the right (she always is) but it made me cringe at the scene, it almost felt like when in revenge fantasies the MC puts a popular guy “in their place”. I don’t even want to go about who her real father is, is there any other hidden talent or important connection that she has that I do not know? Honestly, I’m very confused at the very positive reaction this series got, maybe it’s just that I can’t see this series and think in the MC as anything other than a massive case of a Mary Sue MC, because to me she is just blatantly written as one. Thank you for reading.
~~~img100%(https://files.catbox.moe/2qly31.avif)~~~ Kusuriya no Hitorigoto has a story with very good development of both the plot and the characters. It shares moments of concern, mystery and at the same time moments of comedy that make this anime very enjoyable and easy to love. It tells the story of a girl with knowledge of medicinal plants. One day she is kidnapped and sold to the emperor's palace to serve him, how she wants a life without many responsibilities, she hides secrets that could take her to a greater degree. However, a certain affair with the emperor's concubines brings her abilities to light, which leads her to what she did not want, having greater responsibilities and a higher position. The story hides secrets that come to light as the chapters go by, making it increasingly interesting. Characters: Maomao: A girl with a very varied personality. The things that others don't like, she does and vice versa and how she reacts on each occasion is what makes her peculiar and at the same time so kawaii. (Thanks to her you laugh a lot) Jinshi: the most handsome eunuch in the entire palace and the person in charge of the inner palace. In the eyes of others he is someone kind and approachable. When he has work he is serious, focused and calculating. His obsession with making Maomao fall under his charm is hilarious. All of the other supporting characters have a variety of different personalities, making this play exquisite, as well as entertaining and fun. Music: Being a long season with 24 episodes, we find two openings and two endings. 1st Opening (from 1 to 12): has strength, rhythm and perfectly expresses the scene of the story and its characters 2n Opening (from 13 to 24): With a very catchy rhythm and some very beautiful lyrics, you show us small glimpses of what is to come throughout all the remaining chapters. 1st Final (from 1 to 12): both in the music and in the rhythm and in the lyrics you can see a progression from less to more, it is gaining strength little by little. 2n Final (from 13 to 24): with soft music, it lets us see a part of Master Jinshi that we did not know, tender and sensitive For me I think that both the Opening and Ending have been a great success, they have captured the essence of each part of the story very well. Drawing: Personally I loved all the great variety of colors they have used, I think that by using so many bright colors they have managed to highlight the importance of each character, each scene and each important moment that happened. Both the great details that can be seen in each scene and the small details give life and enrich the different scenarios that are presented. And last, but not least, the design of each of its characters, with all their peculiarities, I think is another point in its favor, since it shows that each one is unique and special. Conclusion: Kusuriya no Hitorigoto is an anime that has a good story, good characters, good music and good drawing; and everything together makes enjoying the experience of watching this anime pleasant and simple. Let's hope that next season we continue at the same level or even surprise us even more.
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>#~~~ __FICHA:__~~~
__Gêneros:__ Drama, Slice of Life, Mistério, Comédia, Histórico
__Estúdio:__ OLM (Komi-san wa Comyushou desu, Summer Time Render, ODDTAXI)
__Diretor:__ Norihiro Naganuma (Mahoutsukai no Yome)
__Material fonte:__ Light Novel
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#~~~ __Crítica:__~~~
A temporada de outono de 2023 foi marcada por grandes estreias. É notório que o anime que mais roubou
a cena foi Frieren que, de fato, é uma obra excelente. Porém, uma estreia tímida com uma performance
de temporada contida e velada simplesmente conquistou minha curiosidade e ao assistir os primeiros
episódios, simplesmente senti-me hipnotizado com o enredo e, principalmente, com o ritmo da narrativa.
É claro que estou falando de Diários de uma Apotecária, uma obra singela que entrega uma experiência
prazerosa e traga qualquer espectador à trama histórica. Nesse sentido, não posso deixar de dar meus
dois centavos sobre uma obra que mescla romances palacianos, tramas políticas, investigações à la
Agatha Christie e um bom humor que destila toda a tensão ocasionada pelos elementos citados
anteriormente, em especial, por causa de nossa protagonista. Desse modo, vamos ao texto.
Adaptada da light novel homônima de Natsu Hyuga e Touko Shino, a trama se passa na China Imperial e
acompanhamos Maomao, a apotecária do título, que viva tranquilamente com seu pai e suas irmãs do
bordel "Casa Verdete" testando suas habilidades com fármacos e especiaria, isso até ser sequestrada e
vendida como servente do Palácio Imperial aonde, no novo ambiente, usa a própria inteligência e
astúcia para sobreviver, em meio às tensões de um local altamente hierárquico e político. O maior
mérito da obra é, definitivamente, manter-se interessante ante a constância do ambiente e ao ritmo
episódico. Não há trâmites que explicitem toda a situação e mente de Maomao de imediato, afinal, num
drama histórico slice of life, aonde acompanharemos a passagem do tempo de uma maneira lenta e
progressiva, é necessário que certos mistérios sejam postos logo de início para nos manter
interessados sobre suas resoluções enquanto a obra segue com sua própria história. A obra é um
character driven, ou seja, coloca o foco principal nos confrontos internos, nas motivações e
crescimento pessoal do personagem, com o enredo muitas vezes sendo secundário em relação ao
desenvolvimento dos personagens. As ações e motivações são moldadas por suas personalidades, valores e
desejos únicos. Desse modo, seguimos o dia a dia de Maomao servindo às funções que lhe foram
incumbidas e despertando o interesse de nobres, concubinas e funcionários do palácio devido sua
diligência nas atividades e seu entendimento do lugar a qual ela pertence.
Afinal, Maomao é altamente inteligente, determinada e possui conhecimentos diversos para além da área
de medicina, já que demonstra expertise em investigação também, mas o interessante disso tudo é que
ela, mesmo sendo tão boa em tanta coisa, nunca está na vantagem. Como uma espécie de limitador, ela
nunca finda as investigações ou suposições que levanta, pois, como uma mulher plebeia ela precisa
lutar em seus limites e, mesmo que possua boa relação com várias figuras influentes do palácio, como o
eunuco Jinshi e a Dama Gyokuyou, ela só vai até onde eles permitem ir. Isso é narrativamente
brilhante, pois, além de colocar uma fraqueza fulcral em nossa personagem tão hábil e calculista,
corrobora com o subtexto crítico sobre os papeis de gênero na China Imperial. Visto que, nas dinastias
chinesas mais antigas, o sistema de harém imperial chinês era muito prevalente na configuração
sociopolítica do país, e o palácio interior era a síntese do que uma mulher era naquela época, um
objeto de decoração para ornar a figura do imperador e responsável pela prole que garanta a
perpetuidade dele, com elas sendo manuseadas e distribuídas como presentes, afinal, era ao que a vida
delas era dedicada. À vista, acho verdadeiramente intrigante que neste retrato fictício, salvaguardado
pela licença poética do autor, do palácio interior vejamos as perspectivas das mulheres com
frequência, seja resolvendo problemas, estando envolvidas na política do palácio, ou até mesmo
cumprindo suas funções, mas sem perder sua personalidade, tudo de uma forma bastante ponderada.
Portanto, o trabalho de Maomao torna-se cativante na medida em que conhecemos os diferentes tipos de
perspectiva feminina sobre àquela situação, pois, ela mesmo tenta negar vários traços de sua
personalidade para adequar-se ao local, enquanto nota o quanto as outras personagens lidam com esses
entraves e reflete sobre suas próprias ações. Porém, toda a tensão do local é, como citei
anteriormente, dissipada pelo cotidiano leve e casual que a garota leva suas atividades. Sejam em
missões mais elaboradas e difíceis, como a prova de comida, ou simplesmente ajudando o médico do
palácio, Maomao encontra no cotidiano e nas pequenas liberdades cedidas por Jinshi uma vida bem
atarefada, mas recompensadora, e isso cativa-nos à medida que os episódios passam. No mais, diria que
minha única reclamação seria o desenrolar romance da obra. Eu sei que ele existe e que, possivelmente,
Jinshi e Maomao serão um casal, mas creio que a indiferença da garota, fruto de sua personalidade
comedida, torna todo o relacionamento um retrato da unidimensionalidade da paixão de Jinshi e, mesmo
que haja momentos em que ela demonstre um certo apreço por ele, na maioria das vezes parece que ela só
sente-se grata pela gentileza e liberdades que ele proporciona e nada mais que isso. Porém, não quero
ser precoce e dá um ultimato à isso, pois sei que é a primeira temporada e ainda há muito a acontecer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~
~~~
#~~~ __Conclusão:__~~~
Enfim, Diários de uma Apotecária é uma boa pedida para aqueles que curtem um romance de época ou um
bom suspense investigativo. É uma aula de como criar personagens carismáticos e de como entreter e,
principalmente, cativar àquele que dedica tempo à sua obra. Fazia tempo que não adorava uma anime
assim!
__“The Apothecary Diaries”__ je špičkově provedené anime zasazeno do motivu Imperialistické Číny za vlády Dynastie Ming. Ač jsem viděl anime převážně s Japonským motivem, tak tohle mě naprosto ohromilo. Tvůrcům se podařilo vytvořit klenot, který září na všech frontách! Ať už se jedná o excelentní grafické zpracování plné detailů, poutavou animaci plnou hladkých přechodů, úchvatný hudební doprovod dodávajíc tu nejlepší atmosféru, nebo dechberoucí příběh plný zvratů, dramatických chvil a napětí. Tohle dílo má úplně vše a i když jsem hledal sebevíc, nedokázal jsem mu vytknout vůbec nic. V této sérii se děj zaměřuje na Maomao, mladou dívku z chudší rodiny, která společně se svým otcem vyrábí léčivé produkty, aby lidem na okraji města dokázala pomoci. Její zvědavost nezná mezí, a proto na sobě zkoušela všemožné bylinky, masti a jedy, čímž si osvojila speciální vlastnost, jež se jí bude hodit. Netrvá to však dlouho a po únosu je prodána jako služebná do Imperiálního paláce, kde musí plnit povinnosti pro císařskou rodinu. Chytrá, lstivá a domýšlivá Maomao se snaží za účelem ulehčení práce svou gramotnost a inteligenci skrývat, avšak jednoho dne se svou nepozorností prozradí. Co se s ní stane dál? Kde skončí a co jí čeká za branou Imperiálního paláce? Na to vše se můžete těšit v tomto úžasném díle, plném záhad. webm(https://i.imgur.com/2HckEIy.mp4) # ~~~__Vizuální stránka__~~~ __Animace__ _[10/10]_ Animace je stejně jako zbytek aspektů tohoto mistrovského díla něco famózního. Vše působí plynule, svižně a věruhodně. Obzvlášť mě uchvátil smysl pro detail v mnoha scénách, kde jsem viděl padat jednotlivé lístky ze stromů, třpytit se hvězdy nebo jiné drobné detaily v pozadí. Krom detailů jsou zde také skvěle zpracovány přechodové animace nebo různé záběry, které vypadají jako z filmu a dodávají tomuto dílu příjemnou změnu scén v průběhu děje. Čím se však toto dílo může pyšnit nejvíce, je jeho úchvatná animace postav, které ožily už od samého začátku této série. Jejich pohyby jsou vystiženy s maximální precizností a věruhodností. Mimo animaci postav se mi líbil také důraz na detail v hloubce vidění a ostrosti popředí vůči pozadí, kdy se třeba detailně provedené větve stromů v popředí postupně rozostřovali, jakmile se scéna zaměřila na děj v pozadí. Tvůrci si tady dali záležet opravdu na všem a tento nepatrný detail to jen dokazuje. webm(https://i.imgur.com/kKddgIj.mp4) Krom tohoto cinematického detailu jsou velice pěkně provedeny filmové záběry a přechody, o kterých jsem se již v rychlosti zmínil. I zde jde vidět neskutečný smysl pro detail a ohromná práce animátorů, kteří si s každou scénou vyhráli až dokud ji nedovedli k samotné dokonalosti. Celkově působí animace velice kvalitně a hlavně profesionálně. Jde vidět, že bylo vynaloženo velké množství úsilí při tvoření každičkého jednotlivého snímku tohoto úchvatného díla. __Grafické zpracování__ _[10/10]_ Z pohledu grafického zpracování zde nemám ani jedinou výtku. Vše je detailní, působí realisticky a jde vidět, že si autoři vyhráli pečlivě s každou scénou. Ať už se jedná o ztvárnění krajiny s detailním propracováním každičkého kvítku sakury, precizně ztvárněny budovy z dob Imperialistické Číny, nebo celkové krajiny tvoříc výplň scény, toto anime zvládlo graficky vše perfektně bez jakékoliv chybičky. webm(https://i.imgur.com/BAjBXwt.mp4) Mimo to je anime ztvárněno a vykresleno v příjemných barvách, které nejsou nějak moc křiklavé, ale ani ponuré, či vybledlé. Celkově je barevná paleta použita při tvorbě tohoto díla vyvážená a dokázala toto anime barevně oživit dostatečně na to aby zaujalo a působilo co nejvíce realisticky. Na druhou stranu ne natolik, aby dílo vypadalo nepřirozeně a zároveň rušivě. Kdybych to měl shrnout, tak zde grafici našli ideální výběr barev, který působí co nejvíce přirozeně vzhledem k motivu a žánru anime. Dalším nepřehlédnutelným aspektem tohoto anime je časté zakomponování a prolínání chibi stylu s vcelku realistickým stylem vykreslení postav, které ještě více zvýrazňuje rozmanitou škálu emocí a dokáže tak perfektně zdůraznit jejich komické, trapné či dokonce dramatické okamžiky. Za mě je tato harmonie stylů naprosto geniálním způsobem, jak udržet divákovu pozornost po celou dobu trvání série, případně jej tímto provedením dokonce zabavit. webm(https://i.imgur.com/leiIggw.mp4) > Chibi je styl karikatury původem z Japonska. Běžně se používá v anime a manze, kde jsou postavy kresleny přehnaným způsobem, typicky malé a buclaté, se zakrnělými končetinami, přerostlou hlavou a minimem detailů. Za sebe mohu říct, že touto kombinací stylů si divák anime ještě více užije a autorům se toto provedení ve spojení více stylů neskutečně povedlo. # ~~~__Zvuková stránka__~~~ __Hudební doprovod__ _[10/10]_ Hudební doprovod je v této sérii něco fenomenálního a bezpochyby se jedná o další klíčovou část, která se podepsala k úspěchu tohoto anime. Jelikož má tato série 24 epizod, tak se zde setkáme s dvojící OP a ED. A za sebe mohu s jistotou říci, že se všechna nesmírně povedla. První polovinou této úžasné série bude diváka uvádět OP [Hana ni Natte](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9JZB08qy44) od [Ryokoushokou Shakai](https://www.youtube.com/@ryokuoushokushakai), která překypuje energií, vášní talentované zpěvačky a v podání celé skupiny se tak jedna o neskutečně povedené OP, které jen potvrzuje nesmírnou kvalitu série. Celý děj jednotlivých epizod první poloviny je zakončen závěrečnou písní [Aikotoba](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PojnddmnjNs) od [AiNA THE END](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFPb0Vc0Cjd3MpDOlHPQoPQ), která působí na rozdíl od OP a děje samotného anime dosti klidně, avšak zachovává si v sobě energické zakončení díky neskutečnému hlasu zpěvačky. Za mě se jedná o překrásný závěr, který postupně graduje stejně, jako děj tohoto díla. V druhé polovině bude divák doprovázen skladbou [Ambivalent](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29pmd1QiK-4) od zpěvačky [Uru](https://www.youtube.com/@Uru_official). Tohle OP se aspoň dle mého názoru nevyrovná původní skladbě Hana ni Natte, ale jedná se o příjemnou změnu, která určitě neurazí a za mě se i v tomto případě jedná o velice povedené OP, které perfektně ladí se samotným motivem anime. Jako hudební závěr druhé poloviny tvůrci zvolili [Ai wa Kusuri](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYNlZ0KkPuo), kterou vytvořila skupina [wacci](https://www.youtube.com/@wacciSMEJ). Zde platí úplně to stejné jako u Aikotoba avšak to, že se jedná o klidnější píseň s průběžným nárustem energie a důrazu. Nicméně na rozdíl od předchozího ED na mě tato píseň působila v pozadí lehce pochmurně a vyvolávala ve mě pocit, jako by měl být každý díl tím úplně posledním. Mimo OP/ED tohoto mistrovského díla se divák může těšit na nespočet scén se skvěle vybraným tematickým doprovodem s melodií v čínském stylu. Celá hudební scenérie působí velice příjemně, nic není přehnané a melodie je v každé scéně vybraná s naprostou precizností a pečlivostí. Dramatické scény jsou podpořeny rázným doprovodem bubnů, činelů a nebo třeba klavíru, kdežto mysteriózní scény zase doprovází příjemný zvuk [Pipy](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pchi-pcha), [Erhy](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Er-chu), nebo [Dizi](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ti-c’). Díky tomuto dokázali autoři vytvořit neskutečnou a až stěží popsatelnou atmosféru, která dělá podstatnou roli v samotném hodnocení. webm(https://i.imgur.com/TY5pgiM.mp4) __Zvukové efekty__ _[10/10]_ Zvukové efekty jsou taktéž velice povedené a i když jsou neskutečně detailní a propracované, tak přesto nic nepůsobí přeplácaně. Tvůrci díla zkrátka dokázali promítnout všechny zvuky ve vzájemné harmonii tak, aby se navzájem nerušily. Ať už se jedná o šum pramenů řeky, šepot klidného větru, zpěv ptáků, nebo třeba dobové obřadní nástroje z dob Imperialistické Číny, vše je uděláno naprosto bezchybně. webm(https://i.imgur.com/q1exsIb.mp4) __Dabing postav__ _[10/10]_ Dabing postav je úžasný a vlastně se není ani čemu divit. Obsazení dabéru je vcelku známe a zkušené už z dřívějších úspěšných anime sérii. Za zmínku bezpochyby stojí hlavní postava [Maomao](https://anilist.co/character/126824/Maomao) v podání [Aoi Yuuki](https://anilist.co/staff/101686/Aoi-Yuuki), která dokázala perfektně vystihnout vše, co jí zkřížilo cestu. Ať už se jedná o pocit zamyšlení, povýšení, hádky, hněvu a nebo třeba zmatení, tak vše zvládla s přehledem a naprostým vcítěním s postavou. Z hlavních postav exceloval také [Jinshi](https://anilist.co/character/127278/Jinshi) ztvárněný [Takeem Ootsukou](https://anilist.co/staff/128426/Takeo-Ootsuka), který mimochodem krom tohoto anime podával vynikající výsledky také v [Oshi No Ko](https://anilist.co/anime/150672/Oshi-No-Ko/), kde ztvárnil hlavní postavu [Aquamarine Hoshino](https://anilist.co/character/183885/Aquamarine-Hoshino) a o jeho kvalitách v dabingové sféře není třeba pochybovat. Mimo hlavní postavy předvedly vynikající výkon také dabérky konkubín [Rifa](https://anilist.co/character/156766/Rifa), [Riishu](https://anilist.co/character/156764/Riishu), [Gyokuyou](https://anilist.co/character/156767/Gyokuyou), [Aaduo](https://anilist.co/character/156765/Aaduo), [Rouran](https://anilist.co/character/244995/Rouran), jejíž dabérky dokázaly perfektně vystihnout výjimečnou a specifickou osobnost každé z již zmíněných konkubín. Za menší zmínku stojí také perfektní vystižení arogantních, povýšených ale občas i hodných služebných, které dostaly svůj prostor hned v několika epizodách. V neposlední řadě musím zmínit příjemný hlas vypravěčky [Sumi Shimamoto](https://anilist.co/staff/95425/Sumi-Shimamoto), která podkresluje příběh svým příjemným doprovodem. Celkově bych dabing shrnul jako špičkový na opravdu vysoké úrovni, který dokáže nabídnou naprosto vše. Zabarvení hlasu, emoce, vášeň a vžití do rolí. Za mě se jedná o perfektní volbu dabéru a ještě lepší zpracování, které určitě nezklame! webm(https://i.imgur.com/SuB486d.mp4) # ~~~__Příběhová stránka__~~~ __Příběh__ _[10/10]_ Jak jsem již psal, příběh se zaměřuje na Maomao. Zvědavou dívku a "dceru" chudého, avšak známého lékárníka, která byla jednoho dne po únosu prodána do Imperiálního paláce. Tam začala sloužit konkubínám a poddaným císaře. Maomao se snažila svou gramotnost utajovat nejen kvůli sobě, ale také aby únosci nedostali vyšší odměnu. To se jednoho dne dostalo na povrch poté, co byla Maomao nucena v důsledku vážných okolností jednat všemi schopnostmi, které má k dispozici. Po zjištění její gramotnosti, znalosti v oblasti lékárenství a neskutečné vychytralosti si jí na starost vezme mistr Jinshi, který s její pomocí začne řešit různé záhady a okolnosti, které se odehrávaly v Imperiálním paláci. webm(https://i.imgur.com/BNKOr1E.mp4) Když to shrneme trochu obecněji a zaměříme se spíše na pocity z příběhu, tak ty jsou nepopsatelné! Člověka až mrazí z toho, jak perfektně a dramaticky může působit něčí příběh na diváka. Celé dílo je plné dramatu, zvratů, bádání a objevování, které nás díky Maomao uvedou do kontextu postavení většiny charakterů. V tomto díle můžeme najít nespočet vysvětlovacích scén, což by za normálních okolností diváka spíše otravovalo a rušilo. Avšak tady to bylo zakomponované dokonale tak, aby divák pochopil co daná postava dělá, nebo proč se co stalo, ale zároveň si z toho něco odnesl. Osobně si troufnu říct, že jsem si zapamatoval při nejmenším 10 vlastností různých léčivých bylin. (Věděli jste, že mandarinková kůra zlepšuje krevní oběh? Pokud ne, tak já to doteď taky nevěděl.) Co tím však chci říci je to, že toto dílo je sice přeplněno vysvětlováním, ale je to podáno zábavným a zároveň poutavým způsobem, který diváka zaujme i kdyby nechtěl. A to se netýká nejen těchto scén. Co se týče celé série, tak nemohu říct, že bych se v některém díle nudil. Od první až do poslední epizody je nějaký prvek, který udrží diváka připoutaného k tomuto anime hltajíc jeho děj. Ať už se jedná o dramatickou scénu, něco z historie postavy, nebo také bádání nad řešením problémů, vše je perfektně vyváženo tak, aby se divák neměl šanci nudit a rychle se ponořil do děje. webm(https://i.imgur.com/Q06igta.mp4) # ~~~__Shrnutí a hlavní myšlenka__~~~ Toto anime bezpochyby patří mezi jedno z nejkvalitnějších ať už co se týče příběhu, zpracování, nebo vizuálu a aspoň ode mě si tímto odnáší plný počet bodů bez jediné výhrady. Celkově se dá říct, že jsem si sledování celé série neskutečně užil a nebyla chvíle, kdy bych se přistihl znuděný, nebo neponořen do děje. Ještě větší váhu tomuto anime dodává celková atmosféra v podání prostředí a hudby ze starověké Číny. Autoři vystihli perfektně úplně vše, aby nabudili tu správnou atmosféru, která je sice netradiční, ale o to větší má své osobité kouzlo. Osobně anime doporučuji úplně každému, kdo si potrpí na kvalitně zpracované prostředí a vizuály, skvělé a osobité charaktery postav a nebo také mysteriózní příběh plný zápletek. Tuto recenzi jsem začal psát od prvních dílů této série a už tehdy jsem toto dílo považoval za úchvatné. Avšak ke konci jsem si uvědomil, že jsem si našel na hodně dlouhou dobu (ne-li navždy) mé TOP anime, které exceluje ve všem. O to více mě nadchla zpráva o potvrzené 2. sérii, která je naplánovaná na rok 2025 a na kterou se těším ze všech očekávaných anime snad úplně nejvíce! webm(https://i.imgur.com/IGasbQR.mp4) >Pokud láska dokáže ženu takto proměnit, jak úžasný lék to vlastně je? (Maomao)
Adapting light novels to other forms of media, such as anime, has always been a challenge due to the descriptive nature of the storytelling. This is evident in the fact that there are very few examples of successful light novel adaptations. Animes like Studio Shaft's Monogatari, Ufotable's Garden of Sinners, A.C.G.T's Kino's Journey, and the recently trending Jobless Reincarnation are among the few successful adaptations. My today's subject of review is Apothecary Diaries, which may show the same qualities as Monogatari or Garden of Sinners, but is definitely a shining example of a successful light novel adaptation. The tale starts with a particularly unique and refreshing concept and in a very minimalist manner. Maomao, an ordinary, impulsive, yet curious and incredibly brilliant girl, is our story's central character. As she grew up with her apothecary father, she developed an immense fascination for poisons, herbs and other drugs and, as a result, attained great mastery in that field. One day, Parenthetically, on her way home, she got kidnapped and lodged at that period's Chinese inner palace. Eventually, by slowly getting entangled with a myriad of political and encircling mysteries, her story come the story of the Apothecary Diaries begins. Among the ensemble of all characters throughout the entire screenplay, her character serves as the pivotal driving force of the story. The excellent amalgamation of exceptional character design with sincerely done characterization renders her an easily likeable character; her eccentric personality and interactions with surroundings and other characters ensure the screenplay with an engaging viewing experience in the span of 24 episodes. Notable among other characters was Jinsi, the overseer of all the decisions that take place in the palace. His and Maomao's playful relationship provided me with some great entertainment this anime had to offer. As described, I found Maomao's character to be enjoyable for the majority of the time, but her dominating the entire screen time and overshadowing other characters was a lingering issue, which at times caused me frustration because there were some characters with good prospects but they remained underutilized. As a content that focuses on mystery, the atmosphere is the most vital element to me for immersing in its world. Luckily, Apothecary Diaries excels in this aspect, providing a captivating and immersive experience. One of the most appealing aspects of its ambience was its detailed and natural depiction of that Era, which adds a layer of realism and authenticity to the story. The show illustrates the brothels of that period without shying away from the sensitive topics. Moreover, it vividly showcases the lifestyle of womens of that time and boldly incorporates many sensitive cultural and customary practices of the inner palace. With these, the mysterious events that unfold throughout the series are presented with a combination of soft colour palettes and slightly eerie music. All these things created a very memorable and captivating ambience, which was the primary element that kept me engaged with the show. The purpose of a well-constructed atmosphere and a compelling main character with a lovable personality is only truly fulfilled when the core story is good. Apothecary Diaries succeeds in this regard for the most part. As the anime narrates its story primarily through short tales due to its episodic nature, it's natural for me to not enjoy every one of those tales. There were a few episodes that didn't meet my standards. However, the way the author connected the plotlines and characters introduced previously to construct a well-organized storyline in the grand scheme of things is applaudable. I am really looking forward to seeing its future for what it unfolds. It's frank to assume that the future seasons are going to appear with bigger surprises to uncover and thicker conspiracies to unfold. Throughout my review, I predominantly praised the show for its noteworthy qualities, which it undoubtedly possesses. However, when it comes to my personal feelings, my expectation from the anime was to show a bit more ambitious nature. But anyway, It has an immense potential to deliver an unforgettable narrative in the upcoming seasons.
I first found this anime through a Youtube channel that was dedicated for anime, in which the creator would often discuss about different kinds of anime. While the creator uploads videos of his reviews and analysis of the animes that he has watched, he was more well-known for his shorts where he quickly recommends and summarizes different anime titles. I don't remember his name, but I thank him for this recommendation because this was a big fresh of air for me. I've been watching anime and reading manga since I was little, though it only truly became an interest when the pandemic hit. I used to watch a few episodes of niche, popular animes like Naruto, Dragon Maid, Inuyasha, and so on so forth. During my early stages of liking anime during the pandemic, I had watched a variety of anime, and Apothecary Diaries was like no other. Having an anime set on Japan or a fictional country is very common. But having an anime set in China, more precisely during its imperial days, was not often heard of. I'm no history nerd, but I do know that Japan and China didn't have good relations with each other because of their history, I was firstly quite shocked that there was an anime with the setting as China in the good ol' days. One thing that had drawn me into the series was the main character, Maomao. She is charming in her own ways, with her witty and pragmatic yet humble demeanor as well as her uncharacteristic excitement when it comes to poison. Due to her growing up in the red light district, she was well-acquainted with the world of sex workers, though she never became one due to her physique not fulfilling the standards. She is a very practical and flexible, easily adjusting to new environments and routine. When Maomao was kidnapped, she seemed quite nonchalant about it, adjusting with her life as a mere worker at the palace, despite not being too fond of it. She approaches her daily tasks and problems with straightforwardness and logic, believing that it is the best way to get through life. Despite so, she seemed to have a strong sense of justice and compassion and mixed with her neverending curiosity, leading her into solving many mysteries within the palace and getting into the problems of other people. The story sets a great balance in things, from characters (design and personality), dynamics, visuals and music. Of course, the animation can't be considered as high tier, but it's pleasing enough to the eye, balancing out the mystery and critical problems that often becomes the main theme of the episodes. The story changes every few episodes, introducing new problems and characters, exploring the crevices of their personality. The traditional Chinese music, often mixed with modern music does a great job on setting the mood. The mystery, drama, with sprinkles of comedy here and there makes the perfect mix of an anime, at least for my taste. Overall, The Apothecary Diaries is a great anime. By the start of watching this anime, most of the series that I liked had ended or the next season was still on progress. It affected greatly on my excitement for anime, causing me to not watch it for quite sometime, or I was unable to focus on watching other animes. But Apothecary Diaries brought my excitement back to life, making my weekends feel less bland with a new hyperfixation.
I honestly don't even know how I found The Apothecary Diaries, I just stumbled upon it in my planning list, I don't remember when I added it to the list. I wasn't even going to watch it, but one day back in the start of 2023, I saw an image of it on Twitter (X), it was her all dressed up and Jinshi being smitten by the looks of her, I saw that, and immediately knew I needed to start this anime, after all, cour 2 just begun airing after it's break! So it was a perfect time to start it. I started the first episode, immediately got hooked to the opening, the visuals, the music, THE LYRICS, it was all just amazing, I had to replay it before even starting the actual episode. Once I saw Maomao's character design, I immediately knew I'd like this anime, the first episode made me love the anime more than Demon Slayer, and that's saying something! The Apothecary Diaries is just so different from what animes I'm used to watching. I zoomed through the episodes that day, after catching up to the anime, left me wanting so much more. So after finding out it had a manga, I immediately started reading that! The manga illustrations are so pretty omg?I easily caught up with the manga as well, made me really excited, knowing the panels I read will soon be animated, like the purification chapter, I was just so excited to see that be animated, I was ECSTATIC when it came out, THE OST FOR THE EPISODE SO GOOD OMFG YES. Made me look really forward to the frog scene. That will probably be the closest to seeing them do it.? Like I mentioned before, I caught up with the manga super quickly, so I started the LN, but it's kinda tricky finding them without having the buy the actual novels lol. I've honestly only really caught up to LN 5, it's not that I'm not interested in the LN, I love it. But I just have trouble following along with the LN, I like the pictures of the manga, and the words are more seperated so I can easily see where I'm at, but I still really love the LN! Jinshi, Jinshi...man the things I'd do for this fictional character, is concerning. At first I wasn't sure if I'd like him, but the more I saw him, the more I was liking him, seeing how gorgeous and handsome he looks, it's just so unfair to have a man look like that, and then find out he's not even real! I am a JinMao shipper till the day I die. Opposites attract, I love their dynamic, it's so adorable and fun, Jinshi being a masochist is just too funny to not love, and Maomao being so unattracted to his looks is just so <33 I know the author intended to make everyone not like Jinshi, but I'm honestly really happy that Jinshi is a beloved character, who will be staying for the remainder of the LN. If this review makes no sense, I apologize, I wrote this at 12 AM, no brain juice left. But I just wanted to express my love for this anime, I know it isn't quite as popular as some animes, like Frieren, but this anime is still loved by so many people! Looking so forward to season 2 in 2025, we'll be getting so many panels animated I can't wait.
**This review contains major spoilers.**
At the height of the Chinese Empire, the inner court of the Forbidden City housed hundreds of concubines serving the emperor. These young women were recruited from across the country by local officials and underwent rigorous 'inspections' and training before the top candidates were selected for service. Organised into a complex hierarchy, they were constantly monitored by the seventy thousand eunuchs employed in the Forbidden City and assisted by maids chosen as early as thirteen years of age. Such was the size of the imperial palace and its population, that entire farms and factories were dedicated solely to its supply.
This is the setting of _Kusuriya no Hitorigoto_, though *Natsu Hyuga’s* novel and its adaptations avoid committing to a specific time period and instead draw equal inspiration from the Tang and Ming eras, despite the two being separated by five hundred years. After all, this is not Imperial China, but Li—a wise decision that allows for a host of anachronisms that would otherwise be met with sneer from the more pedantic viewers. ~~~img600(https://cdn.bulbapp.io/frontend/images/595f2ea5-8b0c-4984-bab9-dfe21800fb32/1) ~~~
The driving force of the story are the mysteries that Maomao, a poison-loving apothecary turned servant, encounters as she tries to navigate the politics of the imperial court while keeping her head attached to the the rest of her body. To the show’s credit, the plot offers all the tools needed to solve each mystery, and eschews the common trap of withholding crucial information via offscreen shenanigans. Instead, it is more concerned with crafting puzzles that have logical solutions to them. This does have the effect of making the occasional answer predictable, but when the series does subvert the viewer’s expectations, it feels all the more gratifying due to its insistence on always playing by the rules.
That being said, it’s hard to avoid the feeling that Maomao’s extensive knowledge and impeccable powers of deduction are sometimes an obstacle to the narrative. A crucial element in detective stories involves the protagonist falling for the red herrings and being forced to reassess their initial premises, challenging them to seek more information by investigating further and redrawing their conclusions. It’s the struggle to reach the truth that makes these stories satisfying when they are well-written.
However, too often Maomao sweeps in and solves the puzzle on her first attempt, with step-by-step explanation of the solution arriving soon after for the audience's benefit. The most significant exception to this pattern is the double suicide case in the red light district during the eighth episode. It is here that Maomao draws incorrect conclusions and has to reevaluate the facts to solve the case, resulting in a more engaging mystery than most in the series. Though the moment is undermined by the nagging suspicion that this exception occurs only to set up her adopted father as a wiser, more experienced character, rather than to serve the story itself.
*Norihiro Naganuma’s* direction is often able to distract from these issues. His philosophy of “stimulating the subconscious” of the audience is in full display here, with his careful and obsessive attention to space, colour, lighting, shadows and the placement of the ‘camera’ palpable in every scene. >
[I personally believe that there are no accidents in filming an original work. In order to express emotions, I am conscious of everything, from colour to density to sound. ](https://mantan-web.jp/article/20240101dog00m200032000c.html) > #####
Naganuma, from a January 2024 interview with MANTANWEB
When it comes to colour in particular, *Nagamuna's* commitment to this approach extended to the point where he had his team working on creating five different types of sunsets, so as to best capture the emotions of the characters. [There are more detailed analysis that delve into the minutiae of how *Naganuma* and his staff]((https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2023/10/26/the-eyecatch-kusuriya-no-hitorigotos-creative-team-production-circumstances-overtakes-elegant-control-of-the-information-and-more/) methodically [chose specific colours and lighting sources in scenes to evoke emotions and communicate the relationship between characters](https://blog.sakugabooru.com/2024/05/10/the-methodical-production-of-kusuriya-no-hitorigoto-how-to-create-a-system-of-holistic-excellence-in-anime/).
Naganuma's manipulation of weather as a storytelling device can make for scene. In the clip below, the all too familiar use of rain to convey sorrow would risk feeling rather bland and predictable if not for the additional detail that the raindrops have been coloured black instead of white. It is a seemingly small choice that adds a layer of emotional weight that would have otherwise been absent if not for the director's fanatical devotion to imbuing all elements within a shot with meaning. webm(https://i.imgur.com/7EGAjjJ.mp4)
For all the wonders in direction, _Kusuriya no Hitorigoto_ is vulnerable to the typical ups and downs in production quality that are endemic to seasonal anime and overstretched studios. Inevitably, there are a few noticeable drops in animation quality, where it reverts to still frames for some sequences. webm(https://i.imgur.com/igR0CaK.mp4)
On a similar note, sound seems to be the only element that doesn’t fit in harmony with the rest of the painstakingly configured composition. *Naganuma* made the choice to have three different composers for the soundtrack, and while the contributions of Penkin, Kosaki and Okehazama are on their own impressive pieces of music, they don’t seem to quite add up into a cohesive whole. As such, the anime acquires a constantly fluctuating musical identity, rather than a defined character.
All these observations seem like petty objections when *Naganuma’s* work is viewed holistically. As the director has stated in [several](https://febri.jp/topics/kusuriyanohitorigoto_01/) [interviews](https://febri.jp/topics/kusuriyanohitorigoto_02/), the aim was to explore the themes of ‘life and death’, as well as ‘parents and children’. In that regard, the reoccuring use of flowers as a major symbolic element throughout the series perfectly complements these ideas and makes for visually striking images that [‘imprint themselves on the subconscious’—as *Naganuma* himself would put it.](https://mantan-web.jp/article/20240101dog00m200032000c.html) ~~~img500(https://64.media.tumblr.com/b88b988079cf32bf806e3aed1f83aa4e/3327787736d78998-ed/s2048x3072/25811ff0786a6a6ed980ee32d9ee7d34a397a9a5.jpg)~~~
Despite their achievements, there’s a sense that the director and his team are shackled by the source material and its inherent contradictions.
_Kusuriya no Hitorigoto_ is eager to confront the viewer with the grim realities of disease in the times of pre-modern medicine, the iniquity of social hierarchies that renders the lives of servants expendable, and the poverty that drives young women into prostitution. And then, just as it readies to deliver a real punch to the gut and snap the viewer back into reality, it pulls back at the last minute, escaping into comedy to avoid addressing the implications of the events that have transpired.
A particularly grievous example involves the death of Lihua’s child and her subsequent illness and recovery. The series portrays it as a horrifying tragedy in its most impactful episode. One would think the ramifications of such an event would be ripe for critically examining the inner court system as a whole—the fact that hundreds of women were subjugated into child-bearing machines in Imperial China, and how the humanity of both women and children was erased in the process. However, in Lihua's later appearances, any exploration of these tragic events and their consequences are completely disregarded. Instead, the focus shifts to the comedic aspect of Maomao offering sexual tips to the concubine.
Likewise, scenes in the red light district often revolve around the amusing interactions between the protagonist and the brothel owner. The underlying threat that Maomao could be forced to work as a courtesan becomes merely a punchline, rather than examined as a a real and inhumane prospect. Many workers at the Verdigris House would supposedly be facing these exact circumstances, but the viewer would never be able to infer this based on the lighthearted atmosphere permeating these scenes. ~~~img500(https://i.imgur.com/jedFV1d.png)~~~
When the series does venture into a more mature direction in the subplot between Maomao’s mother and Lakan, it unfortunately does so at the price of reducing what could have been a compelling antagonist into yet another well-meaning member of the cast, trapped by circumstance into a terrible situation. Before this twist, Lakan had been successful as a blood-curdling villain because his evilness was grounded in reality—it’s not hard to imagine a man leaving a courtesan pregnant and refusing to take responsibility. This act, all too common for the time yet profoundly evil, gave the narrative a sobering emotional dimension. By reframing Lakan's actions to garner sympathy from the viewers, the show removes the only thread truly grounded in the reality of the period.
Part of the reason for the anime’s emphasis on the comedic elements is undoubtedly *Naganuma’s* adherence to *Itsuki Nanao* and *Erika Ikeda’s* manga adaptation, from which he took most of Maomao’s chibi-like expressions. Yet the director has shown he’s willing to change the source material when he believes it’s essential to the story, as evidenced by his addition of original scenes in the first episode. More likely, the darker implications of the story's setting have been neglected to prevent the tone from becoming too depressing and alienating the audience.
Surely, there must be a middle ground. While _Kusuriya no Hitorigoto_ certainly does not find it, one must acknowledge that achieving such a tonal balance is an incredibly difficult task. Perhaps, unlike in Maomao’s adventures, the answer to this conundrum is not within reach.
The Apothecary Diaries is the anime you didn’t know you needed—a delightful mix of palace intrigue, historical drama, and sharp-witted detective work, all seen through the eyes of a snarky, unassuming heroine with a penchant for poisons and potions. Imagine Sherlock Holmes if he were a sarcastic, highly intelligent apothecary girl navigating the treacherous politics of a royal harem. It's a show that’s as much about solving mysteries as it is about surviving the tangled web of imperial life, and trust me, you’re going to get hooked faster than any drug from your neighborhood back alley apothecary. __Plot Summary:__ Our protagonist, Maomao, is an eccentric young apothecary who’s content with her simple life concocting herbal medicines and experimenting with poisons in a rural village—until she’s kidnapped and sold into servitude at the imperial palace. Now stuck as a lowly servant in the emperor’s harem, Maomao’s sharp mind and curiosity soon pull her into a world of political schemes, mysterious illnesses, and fatal poisonings. But instead of quietly staying in her lane, Maomao can’t help but solve the palace’s bizarre medical mysteries, whether it’s figuring out why the emperor’s concubines can’t conceive or unraveling the truth behind a string of suspicious deaths. Despite being a servant, Maomao’s talents don’t go unnoticed—especially by Jinshi, a mysterious, annoyingly beautiful eunuch with his own secret agenda. As Maomao navigates the cutthroat world of palace life, she quickly learns that knowledge of medicine is power, but it might also make her some dangerous enemies. The blend of historical court drama, medical detective work, and Maomao’s biting wit makes The Apothecary Diaries a unique gem that keeps you guessing with every episode. __Characters:__ __Maomao__ (The Snarky Apothecary): Maomao is a breath of fresh air among anime protagonists. She’s highly intelligent, blunt, and zero percent interested in court politics or romantic entanglements—she just wants to experiment with weird poisons and solve mysteries. Her disinterest in power and status makes her the perfect protagonist to cut through the nonsense of court life. She’s not afraid to speak her mind, which leads to some of the most hilarious and savage moments in the show, especially when she’s dealing with clueless nobles. __Jinshi__ (The Mysterious Pretty Boy Eunuch): Jinshi is the show’s beautiful enigma—charming, elegant, and far more dangerous than he lets on. He takes a particular interest in Maomao’s skills, constantly pulling her into palace intrigues. The tension between Maomao’s disinterest in his beauty and Jinshi’s intrigue with her talent creates some deliciously sharp banter. Every time he shows up, you’re left wondering, “Is he helping, manipulating, or just having fun watching Maomao solve mysteries?” __The Emperor’s Concubines__: The harem members each have their own personalities, and part of the fun is watching how Maomao navigates their schemes and secrets. Whether they’re vying for power, trying to produce heirs, or simply surviving in the ruthless environment of the imperial court, Maomao becomes their unexpected savior with her medical knowledge and quick thinking. __Gaoshun__ (The Stoic Right-Hand Man): Gaoshun is Jinshi’s right-hand man and one of the few characters who seems to fully understand what’s going on behind the scenes. He’s a straight man to Jinshi’s occasional chaos, and while he’s mostly reserved, his interactions with Maomao and Jinshi provide subtle humor and depth. __Animation:__ The animation in The Apothecary Diaries is a feast for the eyes—lush palace environments, intricate period costumes, and subtle character expressions bring the historical setting to life. The visuals are clean and vibrant, perfectly capturing the elegance of the imperial court while also hinting at the darker, more dangerous undercurrents flowing just beneath the surface. The show balances the beauty of its setting with the tension of Maomao’s investigations, using clever visual cues to highlight the important details in her deductions. Whether it’s a suspicious herbal ingredient or the telling look on a concubine’s face, the animation supports the detective work in a way that makes you feel like you’re solving the mystery alongside Maomao. __Soundtrack:__ The soundtrack is a perfect match for the show’s mix of intrigue and wit. Traditional instruments blend with soft, suspenseful tunes to create a soundscape that feels both historical and fresh. The music rises and falls with the tension of Maomao’s investigations, adding to the atmosphere without overpowering the story. The opening and ending themes are catchy and elegant, fitting the tone of a series that mixes the beauty of imperial life with the danger lurking behind every courtly smile. The soundtrack, like the show itself, knows when to be quiet and subtle, and when to crank up the drama. __Funny Moments:__ __Maomao’s Total Disinterest in Romance__: One of the best running gags is how utterly unimpressed Maomao is by Jinshi’s good looks. While everyone else swoons over him, Maomao’s more interested in dissecting a suspicious flower petal or figuring out why someone’s skin is turning blue. Her deadpan responses to his charm are gold. __Maomao’s Poison Experiments__: Maomao’s casual interest in poisons leads to some hilarious scenes where she’s far too enthusiastic about dangerous substances. Her complete lack of fear when it comes to testing poisons—sometimes on herself—is both funny and alarming. __Jinshi’s Subtle Manipulations:__ Watching Jinshi try to maneuver Maomao into solving his problems is a constant source of amusement. Their banter, where Jinshi tries to act all cool and composed while Maomao just wants to get back to her herbs, never gets old. __Life Lessons:__ __Knowledge Is Power:__ Maomao’s deep knowledge of medicine and her sharp mind allow her to navigate the treacherous world of palace life. The show reminds us that intellect and curiosity can be just as powerful as political connections or status. __Appearances Can Be Deceiving:__ The imperial court is full of secrets and deception, and Maomao’s ability to see past appearances allows her to uncover the truth. Whether it’s seeing through a concubine’s lies or understanding the true nature of a “sickness,” The Apothecary Diaries shows that nothing is as simple as it seems. __Curiosity Can Be a Lifesaver:__ Maomao’s unrelenting curiosity and desire to understand the world around her might get her into trouble, but it’s also what saves lives. Her willingness to question everything, from strange symptoms to suspicious behavior, is what makes her an invaluable asset in the dangerous world of the palace. __Final Thoughts:__ The Apothecary Diaries is a delightful blend of historical drama, medical mystery, and sharp-witted character interactions. With its intriguing setting, clever writing, and a heroine who’s equal parts brilliant and snarky, the show stands out as a refreshing take on palace intrigue and detective work. Maomao’s journey from an eccentric apothecary to a key player in the imperial court is a joy to watch, and the mysteries she uncovers will keep you hooked from start to finish. Forget Sherlock, Conan and L—Maomao is the detective you didn’t know you needed, and she’s here to solve the mysteries of the imperial court one poisoned flower at a time.
So you scrolled through the reviews and are suspicious that the only (spoiler-free) reviews are either extremely positive or the one guy that calls it a Mary Sue Power fantasy? Because that's what I was. It turns out, like usual, the truth lies somewhere in between. So here is a short, (mostly) spoiler-free review, not of my opinion of the show but of how I think certain types of people will view this show, so I can hopefully give YOU the READER an idea if you will like it or not. As the summary alludes to, this is, at its core, an episodic mystery show. Every episode (or two), we get shown a problem. Our feline Sherlock gets wind of it, collects some clues, gives us some time to think, and then ultimately gives us the solution. Unlike most contemporary mystery anime that often fall into the trap of thinking that "convoluted = complex = good", they tend to stay relatively small and straightforward, which is a rare charm for this type of show. However, it also means that they come without major plot twists or drama attached to them. Just a fun, somber mystery for the evening. People looking for something complex and involved will be disappointed, but they work wonderfully as light entertainment - and as something fun and slightly involved for our character to do. Our main character Maomao has a bit of an eccentric personality with a strong love for her craft, which brings a nice contrast to the formal personalities you expect in an imperial palace. She is a bit reclusive but generally good-hearted and is initially driven to solve mysteries by her interest in all things medicine and desire to help, and it's easy to take a liking to her at this time. Judging by her insane popularity, I suppose many people did. I think there is also a bit of a cathartic effect here. Watching someone eccentric from the outside get increasingly accepted for her deeds has worked for many shows before. I think it just strikes a nerve in people. Everybody wants to be acknowledged, and seeing people's lives improve because of it is all the better. Over time, the stories shift away from medicine and increasingly become murder mysteries, intrigues, or doctor-stone situations. The basic structure of the story never gets changed, however, and I think this is where the negative views come from. The story generally has good explanations for her ability to solve these cases, but she still does solve them. Because the mysteries themselves are very straight forward, there is also next to no drama or difficulty in any of them, and she also never has an "opponent" to out-mystery. And when the main character solves things from all sorts of areas of expertise, alone and without problems, time and time again, that can certainly begin to feel a lot like a Mary Sue. I don't want to get into spoilers, but the people around her also generally reinforce this stereotype. I don't think the guy that called it a Mary Sue Power fantasy is entirely wrong. People who are sensitive to this type of thing will find many red flags here, and you can certainly interpret them like that. The B-Plot is a typical fairy tale romance. It's a bit clumsy at the start but gets notably improved at the halfway point. I'd say its one of the better ones out there. It doesn't get too much time though, so even if you generally don't like this sort of thing, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. If you are the sensitive-to-mary-sue type, having a wish fulfillment romance in the story certainly won't help, though. One of the positive reviews here reads, "The story does not carry Maomao; Maomao carries the story." I think this is an accurate assessment. Anime are carried by their characters, even more so in this show, as the mysteries themselves are intentionally small and straight forward. Because Maomao is the only truly involved personality here, she IS the entire show. Every Plot point goes and moves through her lips. As such, I do believe that whether you like the show or not will entirely come down to whether you like Maomao or not. If you like her, you can enjoy the mysteries with her. If you don't like her, she will ruin the entire show. So, in short, my advice would be this: do you like the Shepards, the Tanjiros, the Rudeuses? Then I think you will have a blast with this show. But if you think that mass effect is good, DESPITE Shepard, if you think the typical Shounen protagonist is the weakest point of the show, if you... didn't watch Mushoku tensei at all i guess, then you might want to stay away.