SHE IS AMAZING!! | The Apothecary Diaries Ep 1 Reaction 

I’m 10 episodes ahead on my patreon :) ❤ check it out for early access!!

The protagonist, Maomao (猫猫) literally means "Cat Cat." She will unironically exhibit cat-like behavior from time to time to remind you of her name.

"Oh, eunuchs! That means that they can sing high, though." That only applies to _castrati_ when it's done before puberty in order to retain a high singing voice.

9:48 "But if you give me make-up questions" this, dear viewer, is what we call fore-shadowing

"I'm an apothecary, so naturally I know a bit about poison." Understatement of the freaking year.

No Spoilers - Just to clarify some stuff. 1) the "Three Princesses" people talked about at 1st were the 3 top courtesans of the brothel. 2) Maomao was sold to the palace "legally" by her "family", that is why they get sent the working wages that Maomao makes. Its a profitable business in this time period, to send the "useless" girl children to work in the imperial palace so their families get paid . Hence the reason that lots of kidnappings are happening, bad people are selling girls in bulk to the palace, so they make a lot of money over time. (Since the "fathers" get sent their childrens wages). As a servant could get killed for messing up, most of them wouldn't screw up on purpose, or even complain - since again, they are girls, and are low value & replaceable unless super sexy/beautiful. 3) This is also why Maomao tries not to do anything to get promoted or noticed, since it is the only way to "screw over" her kidnappers, since she will just be making them more money since all her wages get sent to her.

Interesting VOICE ACTOR casting facts: Maomao: voiced by VA of Tatsumaki (OPM), Tanya (Tanya the Evil), Tsuyu Asui (MHA) The Blue haired consort: Mikasa Ackermann VA Consort Gyokuyo (Pink haired consort): Anya (Spy X Fam), Frieren (Frieren) Jinshi: Teenager voice of Aquamarine (Oshi no Ko)

Ah yes, the one anime of the season I find myself being on edge due to waiting every week!

Her overall indifference and bluntness just adds to the charm of her character. Been a great show so far.

Yeah! Didn't expect you to watch this one, thanks Alicia!

It's 16th century China. Maomao means cat in Chinese, hence her growing cat ears. Maomao views the courtesans she was talking to as her sisters. And vice versa. They love each other. And fun fact, the VA for Lady Gyokuyou, AtsumiTanezaki, also voices Frieren, Anya from _Spy x Family,_ and Chisato from _The Ancient Magus' Bride_ and did them all in the same season.

The reason he reacted to Maomao was because he heard her whisper that she needed something to write with.

Yay! Apothecary Diaries! Seriously didn't expect to love this series!

He was surprised about Maomao not fanning on him and whispering she wanted to write - not typical for a laundry servant/maid of very low status.

Alicia reacts to Apothecary Diaries: Me: YES!! YES!! YES!!

When there is a word "Xiao-" for their first name, Xiao means little. Later on, there will be some people refer her to Xiaomao, which means " Little Mao" or "Little Cat" . 🥰😽

This show is truly amazing! You will absolutely love it

Woooo! The Apothecary Diaries is SO good!

Oh my gosh I’ve been wanting to see your reaction to this for a while! Super excited to binge these!

OH HECK YEAH this is one of my favorite animes that launched last year, I look forward to it literally every week! So glad you're watching 🥰 Maomao is AMAZING, you're going to just fall in love with her more and more

I’m not really far into the series currently I’m only on episode like four, but I’m already really enjoying this show. I really love historical era shows back from experiences with my mom and my sister, and this is really interesting. Plus I really like the main character in this one. Mao’s whole demeanor is very enjoyable, like the fact that she’s both very snarky, but also very respectful, Very smart and stoic but it doesn’t mean that she’s immune to emotion, and she’s very honest with both herself and the people around her, well, at least at the end. And she’s very enjoyable as a protagonist, and they love that. Progressively watching through dub, which I’m enjoying wholeheartedly, and I can’t wait to see where the show goes!

"Who is this arrogant looking woman?" Alicia- VINDICATION!!!!!

"Oh no poor girl who did that to your arm" HA

Honestly, this anime is way easier for me to watch than most romance anime.

2:04 just wait till you realize

basically she was kidnapped then sold by them as a serving girl to the palace. the money she earns as a serving girl goes to her kidnappers, people could also willingly do this to there children so they could support the parents.

I´m sure MaoMao wasn´t worried much about being kidnapped because it´s a common thing and she already knew where she was going anyway

I cried the same way for days after I lost my child and couldn't get myself out of bed/room for a month I still cry just as heartbroken as the day it happened people keep telling me it gets better but I don't think it will. It feels like I lost everything that day I understand the pain the concubine is feeling the pain lessens but never truly gose away

I just started watching this series myself, so I'm going back to watch the reactions. Yeah the first episode hooked me too, I gotta catch up.

Oh thank God, you're watching this. This is such a good show, and I adore how well the Chinese setting is written, even if the Japanese is super jarring to hear in contrast. But you're going to fall in love with Maomao so fast, if you haven't already.

WOOOOOOOO I’m so happy!!! I suggested this a few times and I’m really happy you watched it

Maomao really is living life on Asian difficulty. 😂

LETT gooo i waited for a long time and finally you are watchingg it eeeeeee

Maomao is such a vibe and good protagonist, while I can't relate to her slaying so hard in the opening and am not nearly as smart as her, her just being a normal person aware of her limits and trying to keep a low profile is very relatable.

omg omg, your gonna love this series~ ohh just wanna mention, ya have to pay close attention to details on each episode cuz it will all connected in the far future episodes~

FINALLY. So glad you're doing this!

LETS GOOOOO. i wasnt expecting so many of my favorite reactors to jump onto the apothecary diaries train but god im loving every second of it.

im so excited to see you watch this series!! it's protagonist , maomao, is so smart, funny and badass while the male lead is hilarious aswell! definitely a surprise and treat when i finished work today lol Edit: jinshi (the purple male lead) is canonically SO pretty. Not handsome. Straight up pretty boy. Maomao mentions later on that if Jinshi ever disguised himself as a women, the entire empire would go to war haha

Fun fact: MaoMao’s voice actress also voices Froppy from My Hero Academia

I'm so glad you started this anime, it's so good

11:04 not a spoiler but something everyone seems to miss when reacting to this show paraphrasing the show: "the only men allowed in the rear palace are the emperor, his immediate family, and eunuchs"

Omg let's gooooo. This anime is being soooo good!! It only gets better. And the first opening is amazing!!!

Fun fact : Mao means cat . Maomao is cat-cat . (Slight spoiler) The cat that shows up latter is also named Maomao (Spelled differently )

20:25 would people really?! 😮 who wouldn’t have a mental breakdown after their child’s death. Spending endless nights sitting by your child as they slowly die, not knowing how to help them. It’s just sad that she didn’t listen, she was a scared mother and a loving one at that. R.I.P little bean

I love how Alicia be schooling us on LGBTQ+ terminology but had to look up what apothecary means 😂

Let's go!!!

So happy to see this pop up on your channel. Such a great series. And one that i think will be fun to re-experience with your insights. X3

Maomao is one of those few gem protagonists with absolute gremlin energy AND the smarts to back it up. 😺 We'll be eating good with this one!

YES! I'm so happy to see you react to Apothecary Diaries! The characters are really well written and the mysteries really leave us anticipating. I honestly laughed when you mentioned "make-up" in this episode XD

you're in for a treat, top tier drama/romance/mystery show

I love how this show portrays historical poverty and class tension! I'm not super well versed in the period and locale, but I can tell at least SOME effort was put into it by the writer, which is kinda refreshing from the usual fantasy tropes.

"Oh, eunuchs! That means they can sing high tho!" that's... a unique reaction to that info lol, i never thought about this for some reason

20:50 also, she literaly in physical pain as well for months.

I have learned something new, thanks Alicia ^^

Oh you're in for a ride with this one Alicia.

I'm so happy you picked this up. This show is such a fun watch.

CATCAT time. let's GOOOOO

Yes. Recently, we romanticists have been eating GOOD lately! Apothecary Dairies, Frieren, Dangers in my Heart, Sign of Affection and all the other shows have been amazing with their romance this anime year. Can't wait to see your reactions to this one and hopefully some of those others!

I love this show, I'm so glad you're reacting to it! Mao Mao is an awesome protagonist! She's also giving me autistic vibes which I am absolutely here for!

when my dog passed I wailed, I loved her so much, I was sleeping on the couch to be close by, people can howl with grief 😢

Yes! Finally!

NOTE: She got kidnapped AND SOLD to the imperial palace (not by the imperial palace) The kidnappers did this because part or all of her pay would be going to them. They claimed to be her family and sold her to the palace as a way to earn money. This was common Poor families would send their daughter to the palace as low tier staff to make ends meet as it paid better than any job the child could normally get and MAY end up with them becoming a cortisone. The rear palace is just were the concubines of the emperor live these people either being sent there from their own nation as a form of peace treaty witch is its own bag of worms. Some are there to earn the title of Empress some are there because their nation was at war with the empire and they have to be. There are also clear ranks to everything. Also the out in 2 years line is probably closer to we got as much out of you as we paid for you kinda thing not like a prison sentence it would be reduced if she made more money or got a better role but it is not mentioned again after this Further note: The only one allowed to smash in the rear palace is the emperor hence why it is staffed with eunuchs' and women only

"Is he the love interest?" I hope not.😂

20:22 to be fair, if anyone says anything to her breakdown after loosing her loved baby then I envy them, because that means they can't even begin to understand that level of pain, so they must have a pretty easy and sheltered life.

I WAS SECRETLY HOPING THAT YOU WOULD WATCH THIS SERIES SO MUCH 😭😭😭 YOU'LL LOVE IT!!

Thank you for watching this one Alicia. I think you will like it.

Another gold mine? Let’s goooo!!

I love how she goes oh you poor thing and in my head I'm like give it a minute

Not just lead. Mercury was a common enough ingredient for the time and region, too.

"Medecine? No. But you give me make-up question..." The irony... if only she knew... 😅😂

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone criticizing Lady Lihua for sobbing like that right after the death of her son.

i am so happy this is happening

7:05 aint that always the way though? you'll be going through some suuper traumatic shit and be like "damn this is bad timing, I got a deadline next week"

Oh that’s a nice surprise

Your friends got taste, love this anime.

Letss go...

That is some background XD Oh evil queen empress, how many misbehaving subjects had to be taught "permanent lessons." Also I am excited to see the reactions to this show.

Yay I'm so happy! I was hoping you would watch this!

MaoMao is a rare character who has a deliberate Glow Down

Mao Mao is 1000% hardcore, yes! She is a badass!

maomao is basically medical detective conan.

This has been on my, to watch soon list :) . Thanks for this.

For those curious... after watching the vid. Maomao is an apothecary (someone who works to make medicines from herbs and other materials, the precursor to modern pharmacists) who works in the red-light district of an old/ancient Chinese era analogue country. (The Verdigris house being an upper end brothel, the "3 princesses" being the top courtesans and charging upwards of a years wages for a upper middle class citizen, per visit) Where women are effectively second class citizens. She was kidnapped and sold into the rear palace, a place where women are kept to serve as mothers for the Emperor's children. In this show there's only 2,000 including servants which is a LOW number for an emperor. This is done as the men performing the transaction receive a portion of the girls wages, no matter her position. (This is permitted as a sort of back channel for bribes, as there are girls legitimately sold to the palace by their fathers/families) In this episode Maomao dealt with white face powder, containing white lead (as Alicia said) which can be absorbed through the skin, and digested. Lead binds with various enzymes in the body and halt normal function resulting in the described symptoms and death. If you want more info I would recommend checking out "A Pharmacist reacts" videos on the subject.

oh dang, missed you starting this series! I got into the manga a few months ago, it's fire.

Yes!!!! This is one of the tops of the year.

honestly i'd like to see how mao would react to interracting with Luffy and the straw hat pirates, especially Luffy and Chopper

Yeessssssss Maomaooooo

Ya it is a pretty good one, one of my favourite recent anime

This show amazing u love it there 20 episodes

Yes i asked for this a few weeks ago im so happy shes watching apothecary diaries

The biggest hint is that, he heard maomao talking to herself on where she could write.... Majority of the workers there are illiterate, so it will be a surprise if someone can read and write.

Day 27 of saying you should react to call of the night

Love this series recommended my friend one day the Next day she demanding to know when it releases lol. Also takes place around 1800 China? there no real conformation. Also in the english version the Handsome Eunich is Gojo voice actor lol.

There courtesan, like the princesses e.g., Pairin who hugged Maomao and there are Concubine’s in Rear Palace who are intended to bear the Emperor’s children. They have Ladies in Waiting and can have maids as well.

Hey Alicia I will continue to recommend that you check out a series called “Welcome to demon school Iruma kun” it currently has 3 seasons and it’s a underrated series outside of Japan. A perfect feel good series full of what you would call “babies”

It's a little weird to me that you keep talking about this potentially being a romance anime when Maomao has some of the strongest Aroace energy I've seen since Luffy

Best Protagonist & best anime of the season for me.. Can't wait for the next episode 💯

It's funny how they cut out a line Maomao says in the manga when she meets Jinshi

Please keep going with this series. ❤

I can't wait to see your reaction to the other episodes 😁