The Apothecary Diaries (2023)
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The Apothecary Diaries Review
The Apothecary Diaries is a mystery drama anime series that premiered in 2023. It’s a very charming slice-of-life show.
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“If I should die,
I’d want to die of poison“
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Set in a country based on Imperial China during the Tang Dynasty, the series follows Maomao, a young girl working as an apothecary in the red-light district, who is kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace as a servant. After hearing rumors that the emperor’s children are critically ill, she begins to investigate the cause, using her experience as an apothecary, and successfully solves the mystery of their illness. This is the basic plot behind this otherwise slight in story series that is more concerned with atmosphere and characterization than plot.
Yes, this anime is certainly not for everybody. The seinen demographic is best suited for this show that favors attention to detail and character work in favor of epic fights, expansive storytelling and/or spectacular world building. While I did wish for a deeper work in terms of themes and dialogue, the slice-of-life approach worked wonders to make the show appealing and charming throughout.
Maomao is an instantly memorable anime heroine. Some of her behavior and lines of dialogue can be quite cringey, but there is no denying that she is a lovable goofball. Most of the show’s humor stems from her crazy, offbeat personality and her over-the-top penchant for poisons. She’s so much fun, in fact, that the series struggled whenever it focused on anyone other than her.
Jinshi fared best of the supporting characters. This eunuch is obsessed with beauty and his narcissistic personality also led to many amusing moments. The two shared such a playful, almost romantic relationship that was very interesting to follow. Other characters are all forgettable as not one of them received enough attention from the writers.
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The Apothecary Diaries is gorgeously animated and featuring great eye for detail – the palace is stunning, the costumes are dazzling and some of the interiors are quite beautiful. The score is somewhat forgettable, but the voice acting was superb across the board. The show struggled to be fully engaging throughout as some episodes were more filler-like than others, but those that favored humor and characterization were a delight.
Overall, The Apothecary Diaries is a strong slice-of-life anime series that is uneven, but mostly very engaging, appealing and charming. It is thematically lacking, but wonderfully animated and featuring superb voice acting throughout. The highlight is its focus on characterization and humor, both working in tandem to make most of the episodes delightful to watch.
Worst Episodes: The Threat and Wheat Stalks.
Best Episodes: The Eunuch and the Courtesan and Serving in the Outer Court.
