I have a simple rule when it comes to starting an anime. I will watch a minimum of five episodes before I judge the anime. From there, I decide whether I shall continue watching the anime, drop it, or if I am in the mood to watch it at that time. Here are my impressions of the newly released anime, The Apothecary Diaries. It is also known as Kusuriya no Hitorigoto.
- Airs on Saturdays
- Planned to have 24 episodes in total
- Genre: Drama, Mystery, Drama, Romance, Seinen, Slice of Life
The Apothecary Diaries streams on:
What is The Apothecary Diaries about?
Maomao, is a young apothecary, a medical professional who prepares medicines. She works as a servant in the imperial palace. She uses her knowledge and skills to solve various medical mysteries and intrigues in the royal court while unintentionally attracting the attention of Jinshi, a powerful eunuch.
Episode-by-episode
For the first five episodes, I will share my brief thoughts while trying to be as spoiler-free as I can. I did not watch a trailer, read a synopsis, or check the genre tags before watching the first five episodes of the anime. I wanted to avoid spoilers, form any bias, and experience it with a fresh mind.
Episode 1 of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto
The flowers in the intro video are so pretty and vibrant; I love them. I like the use of colour in the opening song. Oh, this is going to be a stunning visual anime; I can get on board with that. I am revelling in the colour. Ooh, I see nicely placed foreshadowing, and did Maomao just admit to experimenting on herself? I can’t help but revel in the colour as I watch the first episode of The Apothecary Diaries. The anime draws me in with its clever foreshadowing and intriguing characters. I am especially drawn to Maomao, the main heroine; she has a sharp and curious mind. The backgrounds are so pretty! If it continues like this, I will be adding a lot of screenshots to my scenery folder. I laughed at the scene where Maomao ignores her father’s warning about the danger of kidnapping, thinking that it won’t happen to her. That is how she finds herself working as a servant at the palace. I assume that the emperor was “busy” as we are shown a three-month-old and the birth of a prince. I liked how Maomao explained the palace dynamics and the roles of the different people there. I also like her friendship with Xiaolan, a fellow servant who has a gossipy nature. Maomao tries to lay low and avoid trouble, but her curiosity gets the better of her when she hears about a mysterious sickness that is affecting the imperial family. I love her curiosity, and she needs it to be a decent apothecary, but I worry for her. Palace politics are starting; these dynamics are part of why I enjoy historical stories with concubines. If Jinshi really is an eunuch, I am going to be sad. I am already kind of pairing him up with our main girl romantically. Yes, I know, they haven’t even met, but what does that matter to a mental and fictional ship? I am saddened by what happened to the prince. I can tell Jinshi is cunning, and I cannot wait to see how he will catch her out. I was surprised by how easily he caught her, but I also found it amusing. Maomao’s first impression of Jinshi makes me laugh out loud. Her first impression of Jinshi made me laugh. This is going to be fun. I love that Jinshi thinks he can “seduce her a little”, I am sure he is in for a surprise.
Episode 2
The second episode of The Apothecary Diaries starts off with some soldiers being poisoned. It piques my interest, and I wonder how Maomao will solve it. I love that Jinshi thinks he can “seduce her a little” with his charm and authority, but he is in for a surprise and a challenge. Maomao is not impressed by him at all and freaks out when she sees his fake smiles and advances aimed at her. He is clueless regarding her and arrogant. I still can’t help but ship them, even though they have had this rocky and questionable start. The anime continues to impress me with its stunning scenery and rich details; my scenery screenshot folder is definitely growing. I am reminded of a book series I really enjoy, Poison Study, when Maomao becomes a poison taster for Concubine Gyokuyo. I understand her apprehension towards “promotions”. She went from being a simple labourer to putting her life on the line as a “reward”. She accepts and is surprisingly happy about the opportunity to learn more. As long as she is happy, I guess this means it is a reward for her. “Mad” is not a bad word to describe how willing she is to experiment on herself. The way that they manage to stop pay—or at least a part of it—from going to kidnappers is wonderful. Yet the “it is what it is” attitude of everyone is worrisome. The anime also has a lot of humour and drama, which makes it entertaining and engaging to watch. I love the scenes where Jinshi tries to “seduce” Maomao but only succeeds in making her think he is a creep and a weirdo. I laugh at his confusion and frustration, as he genuinely does not understand why she does not fall for him. He is used to getting what he wants, usually due to his handsome face, but he meets his match in Maomao. Jinshi protecting himself from a potential ‘night’ visitor is wise and so funny to watch. I can’t believe they snuck in the ‘no body has ever’ trope. I like the assistant. I enjoy watching the discussions around the chocolate that Maomao made. Jinshi is curious about the chocolate, as are the others, but I really want to know what is going to happen with it. I hope that we get to find out.
Episode 3 of The Apothecary Diaries
The third episode brings back Xiaolan, Maomao’s gossipy friend, who fills her in on the latest palace rumours. I am delighted to see her and see that their friendship is still going strong. Jinshi gets too much joy from teasing Maomao. I am curious about Jinshi and wonder about where he stands in the palace hierarchy. Maomao tries to figure it out as well, and she comes up with a hilarious conclusion: he is the ‘Emperor’s personal favourite’. This is one of my favourite moments in the episode, as it shows Maomao’s wit and humour. I also feel sorry for the doctor, who is constantly dismissed by Jinshi, who prefers to rely on Maomao’s skills. The episode also introduces a new mystery: a sleepwalking concubine who is about to be given away as a reward to a general. It is sad that women were treated as items to be given away or sold. Hearing why she is being given away as a reward leaves me with mixed feelings. I like Maomao’s speculation, and if it is all true, I am glad it worked out for concubine Fuyou. It then makes the reward aspect romantic. Though her being a “reward” is still twisted. The episode continues with beautiful scenery and backdrops.
Episode 4
The fourth episode finally reveals the emperor, who is the most powerful and mysterious figure in the palace. He makes a request of Maomao; he wants her to look after one of his concubines, Lihua. Her ladies in waiting were brave for disregarding the emperor’s order by not allowing Maomao to get near their Lady. Jinshi intervenes and unseemingly threatens/warns the ladies (with a smile) so that Maomao can do her job. I genuinely feel pity for Concubine Lihua. Maomao is usually calm and composed, but she loses her temper when she finally sees Lihua’s full condition. Seeing Maomao get angry and instantly take action was a surprising twist. I had not anticipated her anger or her actions. It was so satisfying to watch her get angry on someone else’s behalf. I love that she feels that Gao Shun, the assistant, will be a good husband while being doubtful of Jinshi. Her relentless care of Lihua is admirable. I am glad Lihua realised she had the will to live. I wonder what advice Maomao gave that made Lihua blush so much and allowed Concubine Gyokuyo to be released from “sleep deprivation”. The script in this has an elegant way of phrasing things so that you know what is happening without it being explicitly said.
Episode 5 of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto
The fifth episode of The Apothecary Diaries starts with a rainbow flame, shirtless guys, wooden swords, and sweating. I like the way this episode started. Jinshi was also surprised at the angry side of Maomao. I am glad to see that he cares for her and is worried about how much weight she has lost. I am so glad the friendship with Xiaolan is still going strong. Our rumour queen still keeps us in the loop with her gossip, and I am still here for it. I still want to know what Jinshi did with those chocolates. The patient’s hands look terribly painful. I am glad that he sought medical attention. A rash was obviously not my first guess. The rainbow flame was beautiful, but I can understand why he would jump to the conclusion of a curse. Jinshi seems to enjoy provoking Maomao and making her glare at him. I like how the other women (the ladies in waiting and the concubine) are friendly and curious about Maomao, and how they accidentally discover one of her secrets. Gao Shun acknowledging Maomao as Jinshi’s ‘favourite toy’ is a tad disheartening. Jinshi was not prepared for a dressed up and done up Maomao. She looks pretty. I like the eyeshadow. Jinshi’s eyes change when Maomao explains why she adds freckles to her face every day. Her reason is heartbreaking. The way he so carefully asks if she was ever “dragged away” pulls at my heartstrings. I do feel that the location is not the place where this conversation should be happening, but it is. His heart softened for her here. I do wonder what his actions mean. What significance does taking his hair pin and placing it in her hair have? The ‘audience’s’ reaction tells me there is more meaning there than simple sympathy. I adore his blush. I love that she questions it too. I need answers.
Will I continue to watch The Apothecary Diaries and do I have any expectations?
After watching the first five episodes of The Apothecary Diaries, I know that I will definitely be continuing this anime. The visual appeal, especially the vibrant colours and clever foreshadowing, has drawn me in from the start. The attention to detail in the backgrounds and the overall aesthetic contribute to the immersive experience. What stands out the most is the strong and smart heroine, Maomao. Her sharp and curious mind, coupled with her interactions with other characters like Jinshi, adds depth to the story. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her witty observations and her tendency to let curiosity override her desire to stay out of trouble. The evolving relationship between Maomao and Jinshi, have piqued my interest. I have a feeling our eunuch is so much more, like possibly related to the emperor in some way or form. The Apothecary Diaries is proving to be a captivating story that offers a refreshing and realistic perspective on the historical genre.
What are your current impressions of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto?
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