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The Apothecary Diaries: Episode One: Maomao

8.4/10

The Apothecary Diaries

Production Credits: Norihiro Naganuma

Season Number: 1

Producer(s): Norihiro Naganuma

Studio: Toho Animation Studio, OLM

Genre: Animation, anime, Drama, Mystery, Romance

Airdate: 10/22/2023

Current Schedule: ONGOING

Status: ONGOING

Sub Version Available: Yes

Dub Version Available: Yes

Recap

We dive in Imperial China, and follow a girl who is following in her fathers footsteps in becoming an apothecary. But things take a twist when one day she is kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace. And that is when the story of Maomao, and Jinshi and their enjoyment as we dive into the first episode.

Review

Maomao world is filled with a sense of mystery, and beauty as she enters into a world filled with concubines and lady in waiting. The animation style is very clean, and filled with gorgeous outfits, and hairstyles that fill the screen with wonderment. The humor while subtle at times, and other times it is filled with belly laughs.  The relationship that starts to develop between Maomao and Gyokuy? as they become close due to an incident that almost cost the life of the concubine.

Maomao pulls the interest of Jinshi, a eunuch, that oversees the concubines, and while his attention has turned to Maomao. But not because of her beauty, but because of her intelligent mind, and the way that she is able to view things in a different perspective. Their world is different, their views are filled with a mind that is trying to understand why someone is sick. The mystery of what is happening in the Imperial Palace and what is becoming of those around them. Things take a turn, and a twist here and there, but it always leads back to one person that will always seek the answer.

Maomao life has always been filled with excitement, but the slow pace of the Imperial Palace gives Maomao a moment to analyze the contacts of what is going on with those around her. The life of a lady in waiting, is highly different for Maomao, as she has never been one before. But things are slowly going to develop, especially with Jinshi stepping in to “help” her view things in a different way, and guide her to see if she could find the correct answer.

Final Thoughts

The Apothecary Diaries is filled with mystery in every corner that you walk to. The way Maomao dives into her own world when she tries to unfold that mystery of the Imperial Palace. To try and understand the way a person thinks and what lengths they will go to. This anime is making its way to the top five recommended list for us at AnimeWatch. Join us later for more of The Apothecary Diaries. 

The Apothecary Diaries: Episode One: Maomao
  • Writing - 9/10
    9/10
  • Plot - 9/10
    9/10
  • Character Development - 8/10
    8/10
  • Production - 9/10
    9/10
  • Music - 7/10
    7/10
8.4/10
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