Get your own anime inspired tea at Ochanime and use code ANITEA for 15% off your next purchase! www.ochanime.com/theanimetea What are your thoughts on this season's most hyped anime and character? Note: I mixed up the terms Concubine and Courtesan in this video so I apologize for any confusion.
Great video! Maomao is a great character. She is relatable, funny, brilliant, and flawed. Maomao, you go girl! Seriously, that blogger's "you go girl" comment was funny and sad. Love Amazon listing the light novel under female sleuths; it's more than a slice-of-life historical anime. Each episode gives you something to think about. I'm really enjoying the show. I'm all in on the Maomao x Jinshi romance. Oblivious Maomao and the mysterious in denial, Jinshi are funny together. The slow burn is hilarious. But I do agree and hope that it becoming canon doesn't take away from Maomao. It should produce the best medicine instead.
It was a great video , sorry for having to mention it ...i only did because Emperors were very possessive so the idea of him having courtesans and share them with the entire town felt off lol @@TheAnimeTea
What I love about the series is that, despite what some people may say, doesn't fall in the "not like other girls" pitfall. Neither Maomao thinks she is better than other women nor the story treats her as if she is. Instead, the series goes deep into the unique struggles women from every walk on life go through. Serving girls are treated as disposable tools, courtesans deal with awful men, STDs, and ageism; consorts are trapped in the inner palace and their futures depend on the emperor's whims. There's also the gender and class intersection that Maomao spells out for Jinshi is ep 9. Lower class people can lose everything including their lifes at the drop of a hat because they angered the wrong person. Maomao acknowledges she is lucky her bosses treat her well, but she knows her life is in their hands.
I like how MaoMao is so understanding of other women and explains their circumstances/ thought process. Whether it's her washing maid friend, women in the pleasure district, concubines fighting for the king's affection, lady who pretended to be a ghost, or even bullies. There isn't any slut shaming or flaunting of her education. She understands that this is just how people survive and tries to use her education to help others. She didn't want to stand out but she couldn't help but want to help the two moms who were suffering. I stan this educated queen.
Yeah. It talks about the pros and cons of sexuality and beauty without feeling sexist. Regardless of the person's occupation- Whether it was force upon them for They chose it. The show never looks down on their characters and the choices they make. Using other characters to make us understand where they are coming from. It feels respectfully grounded.
I've been reading the manga for years, so it's very gratifying to see that the adaptation was beautifully animated without cutting any corners. So many great stories don't get the budget they deserve.
@@taytayrileyIsekai Pharmacy. Albeit an isekai and fantasy, it's a lot more scientifically detailed than Apothecary Diaries. The main protagonist is a pharmacologist and the show is basically Isekai Dr.Stone when it comes to scientific accuracy.
@@taytayriley try "Sengoku Komachi Kuroutan: Noukou Giga' the MC a girl time slipped into the Sengoku Era it's about agriculture and using modern knowledge.
An aspect if Maomao I really like is the solidarity she has with others, but especially the other servants. She stood up to the handmaidens when their actions unknowingly endangered their courtesans but she also showed understanding as to why they did so, and didn't rat out the poison taster because she still recognised the uneven power dynamics that she acted under. And even though she doesn't think much of the palace doctor's abilities, she treats his space with respect and genuinely befriends him. That's something I don't see much in these kind of 'Protag with a Unique Ability' stories.
Mao Mao's dynamic personality of being smarter and more aware than everyone else but being humble about it really makes this series refreshing. Though it is sad to realize that part of the reason for her humbleness is because she is aware of her place and knows she is dispensable.
@@TheAnimeTea maybe but also was her education e.g if the father allows her to do everything she wanted to fullfill her curiosity she could be like a tomb raider or something worse, sadly her position doesnt allow her to do the things sometimes she need to save someone....no spoiler intented....also this behavior makes her more likeable to many public more than the disney characters today
@@TheAnimeTea while it's an injustice, I think what grabbed me about the show was that neither she nor the framing implies that this is just an injustice against her specifically. I suppose I wouldn't use the word humility as neither she nor the show seems to think that she SHOULD be above these other lower class people due to her abilities, but rather that the hierarchy and the power imbalance shouldn't be there at all. There was something really gratifying about Maomao admitting to have not ratted out a fellow poison taster, not because she didn't see it as her place, but because she saw that they where in the same position and recognised the power structure that was bigger than both of them. She refused to compete in the game and try and suck up to power. So far the show hasn't made Maomao feel like some unique 'not like other girls' figure, as her knowledge and insight feels born from the happenstance of her childhood, and recognises why the women of the palace have internalised the oppressive dogmas as very real survival strategies.
I don't really see Mao Mao as a "not like other girls", she has reasons to dress the way she is and try to look less "cute", and she never makes fun of other women who enjoy dressing up and using their looks and charm as power
Yeah, Maomao is definitely not the condescending type, the only people she looks down on are people who genuinely deserve it like Lishu's ladies-in-waiting
ikr, i don't get this argument at all. if we are defining by internet lingo, then maomao is definetly a ”girls' girl” like how is it pick me behaviour to not want to attract rapists - knowing full well that not only she was almost a victim multiple times, but that she is specially vulnerable as a poor young girl who isn't in sex work. she knows what man are capable of, she is not downplaying other girls, she is literally trying to live in a rough world that can be specially ruthless to women. she is also extremely pragmatic, which is part of her excentric personality, and it made her view sexuality as an asset that a woman can use, not as something inherently tied to a woman's value.
Yeah, she compleatly Lacks the Part of asigning value and feel pride about being different. She IS Not different cause she Sees anything wrong with Other women and how they handle their affairs, she plain has another Goal and different assets to use in her attempts to stay safe
Something I appreciate is that while she is protecting herself from unwanted sexual attention by changing her looks, the show doesn't frown on sex as a whole and recognizes that for some people, it gives them power. I like that it really hits all sides of the argument on how a woman's sexuality can be used and how sacred that is. A great example is Courtesan Fuyo protecting her virginity by making herself seem less appealing until she is able to be with who she truly loves. Meanwhile, you have the 3 princesses of the brothel who aren't "pure" anymore but they love their work. In the manga, there is talk of selling the older of the 3 princesses, but she outright refuses because she loves her job and plans to do it until her prince charming comes and sweeps her off her feet. They are sex workers but they hold so much power and sway over the community because they own their sexuality and their feminine skills (i.e. dancing, tea ceremony, music). It's empowring.
Back in the time of acenstral Japan or even Ancient China, courtesans or geisha are considered as artist and entertainers of their specialties but today people considered them as sex workers and prostitutes.
It's a rare sight indeed. There are so many female anime characters who dress scantily but blush at the drop of a hat when near men. I thought the whole point was to show how comfortable these characters are with their sexuality, wielding it as a weapon. No wonder Miyazaki once said the current industry is filled with anime otakus who never interacted with actual human beings.
While I agree, I don't think it shows "power" in the simplest sense. I think it shows that sex doesn't tie your heart to people. It's their job but that doesn't mean they love you. (A good lesson for those scary Onlyfans people that go too far.) I guess you can call that power but I think it shows that sex workers are more than their jobs.
@BOWBSManga I say power because in the manga, at least it is shown how much sway and influence the 3 princesses have even among the soldiers and people who are closest to the emperor. The amount of wealth those 3 women alone draw on through there sexuality is a type of empowerment.
I love how MaoMao can just accept when things go wrong as well. She might think people are being shady or making a mistake. But if it ain't her business grown adults can chose what to do with their own life. The world ain't fair and sometimes there is no good answer. At the end you can only do so much and you can't save everyone, especially people who don't want to be saved. Just because you can help doesn't always mean you have to help everytime, you can't help everyone.
11:22 (Spoiler to episode 1-4) it also relates to the white face makeup and how although one of the Concubine; Lihue was bed ridden, her ladies in waiting were still putting the face powder on her, even though they were told that uses it was off limits. They still used it because they thought her beauty was more important and couldn’t understand that it was the thing that killed her child was killing her.
Maomao is complex character which is only gradually revealed. The world she lives in is dreadful for lower class women. The story also shows the constant danger Maomao is exposed to, even with Jinsi as her protector. This is NOT a typical Cinderella story where poor girl marries a prince!
I have been loving this series. Maomao is a rare character based on how pragmatic she can be; she sees things how they are and really does a great job of navigating her complicated world. Yet, she's not completely rational 100% of the time. It gives her that reliability that you often speak of in your videos. Which I absolutely love; having a relatable character in something always makes it much more fun for me.
I originally skipped the Apothecary diaries until I saw a little snippet of our Cat-eared protagonist that transitioned into a stunningly drawn shot. So I came for the catgirl and the art, and now I'm staying for the story, catgirl and art. "Not like other girls" my foot, Maomao's a treasure.
right? shes actually so considerate of the other female characters in the show, even when it wont benefit her in any way to help them she does it anyway
The anime is very validating as someone that has a lot of history with sa. I grew up in a family where my dad was my abuser. I didn't have the capacity for escape or knowledge until I was a teenager. I also grew up to love media, writing, characterization and especially through that anime. However, when it comes to sa, anime is especially notorious for sexualizing it. It's difficult to reintegrate and heal from trauma when the world around you stigmatizes and continues to showcase the same harm you went through in real life. So when I saw that scene of Jinshi just listening to Maomao's story in episode five. It was so cathartic for the two characters talk so plainly and respectfully about the subject matter. Especially for the male lead to obviously feel so strongly as he did when a lot of times they can be the main perpetrators of the 'jokes' about sa in anime. It might not be that important to most people, but I just have such a clear memory of my dad pointing at twelve year old Hianta and the original Naruto laughing at her body when at the same age was being horrifically abused by him. To grow up to have more anime call this behavior out is nice.
I'm sorry you had to go through what you went through, and hope that time can help heal you. I am glad you have found something you can enjoy with Anime and Manga (and Light novels, I would guess!) and wish you only the best. Take care.
I was SA’d too, and anime is the only thing I watch most of the time, haha- I agree. I find it so validating and respectable to have an anime respect what people who are sa’d go through. The Apothecary Diaries and Bocchi the Rock are both anime’s I relate deeply to. As a woman with mental health issues (mainly PTSD + anxiety) Bocchi and Mao Mao are very relatable and validating. I wish you the best on your healing journey, and always advocate for yourself. Stay safe, and healthy. ^^
That scene held personal meaning for me, too. And yes, it was cathartic, as this was not the response I can ever recall getting from anyone before when I talked about it. Not that others were necessarily mean, but ... This really hits differently, softly yet surely to the core.
It's implied, and later stated in the novels, that Consort Gyokuyou is from the area west of China (likely someplace like Tajikistan.) Her homeland is a "western trade hub" and she is absolutely called out as being a foreign princess and not a local like the other consorts. It's a nice touch to include other ethnicities besides the dominant Han Chinese.
Maomao isn't actually perfect though. She has her niche set of skills relating to her specific interests (poison and apothecary) and background (being raised in a brothel and by an highly skilled doctor). It's not she excels at everything she tries that she is unfamiliar with. She actually has a difficult time with learning things she has no interest in. We just haven't seen that side of her yet since people are only giving her tasks relating to her skills.
We do see this during the garden party episodes, Maomao has no interest in learning about the hidden social aspect of gifted hairpins even though Yinghua is trying to explain it to her
we also see it later when she tries to take lady-in-waiting exam, even though she's very smart she fails because her knowledge is all scientific and medicinal. She only has basic knowledge in poetry and arts coming from the brothel
Yeah, she IS kinda the perfect characters cause she IS written with so much Nuance . . . No Matter how pragmatic ans stoic she tries to BE with rationalising, she IS impulsiv AS hell, she often does know better but gets involved anyways. She IS highly inteligent and how she was raised offered her very useful education, but she got No clue of what did Not Fall into that and that Lack of Other knowlage has consequences. She does Not instalearn stuff she could Not do before, she often has little Patience, she IS shown to BE wrong, even with her field of knowlage(her vs her father treating the poisones prostitute and her Client). No Matter how convinient her Looks are to stay Out of focus, she does have some envy towords women WHO are beautiful and well endowed, which IS irrational. She IS perfectly flawed and despite of being very much Not Like Other heroins, there IS plain No condecension or condemnation of the typical feminin traits she does Not share. She and how she IS written respects Other women and treats them with a Lot of sympathy! The reason she can teach jinshi so much IS Not that she IS some Superior being, but that her lifeexperiences IS so drastically different from His and therefore she IS very good at giving him another perspective He otherwise would have No way of obtaining.
I’ve been reading the light novel for a while now and I’m just floored by how much character development/ arcs each characters get. Characters in these settings are usually in the transmigrator/reincarnator revenge stories where every woman except for the main female lead are either villains or staunchly loyal to the lead. It’s so refreshing to read something that feels like we’re peering into someone’s life not just a main characters like if we were to peer into someone else in the setting it would be just as interesting
I have a feeling you'll love Ascendance of a Bookworm. I'd highly recommend the Light Novels if you can. If you can't then start with the anime and afterwards you can check out the LN deep dives by Trash-tier waifu here on RU-vid. Both it and Apothecary Diaries are my top favorites LNs at the moment and probably will be for a considerable time in the future.
I really like this series' unique approach to power. Most shows that touch on it, show either characters fighting and dismantling the system, or raising thru the ranks of it in some way. Maomao doesn't attempt either, but more realistically tries to carve her own place in an unjust system, trying to do good, while not bringing too much attention to herself, being fully aware that a small mistake towards a wrong person can end her life.
just a little clarification, 2:08 Lady Li Hua and Gyokuyou aren't prominent courtesans (prostitutes for wealthy clients), they are imperial concubines (wives of the emperor). Big difference in the status of those 2 words lol😅 And them being royal concubines of the emperor was the thing that led Maomao to getting where she is in the series. Cos she saved 2 of the highest ranking royal women in China and a princess (Lady Gyokuyou's daughter). If they were just prominent courtesans, Maomao would just be stuck at where she started at the start before she was kidnapped into the palace. There wouldn't be much change in the storyline. But yeah~ Like your breakdown of Maomao's character description. She is really 1 of the most well rounded female protagonists in the recent anime 😄like the chemistry between her and Jinshi haha
My favorite part of The Apothecary Diaries is definitely episode 4. (spoilers) Mao Mao is someone who knows what boundaries she can't cross as when she tries again and again to bring food to the Concubine, Lihua, only to be rejected by Lihua's ladies in waiting. This makes it all the more satisfying when Mao Mao is now the one in control as she found the cause to Lihua's sickness.
I very much disagree with Maomao being Western woman, while she is so much accepting the oppressive society she lives in. Western woman trope is individualist who defies the status quo, often to the point of absurdity and toxicity, enforcing her point of view on other characters. Maomao is very used to her (and other's) position in society and she is perfectly moving within her constraints, doing exactly as much as she is allowed, not trying to defy the status quo.
Maomao confines herself so much to the status quo that it is brought up as a flaw by Suiren too. It is also one of the biggest issues in communication between Jinshi and Maomao, since he's the one who does try to shake some of the societal conventions they find themselves in
Series also focus on education and how not being able to read can get you in trouble I love how she constantly spend time with her friends the little young girl and brings her treats and have tea with her I think that relationship is going to grow in season 2
I know the series by reading the manga and the reason I got sucked into was because the manga did not shy away from ugly truths. I always frustrated me in some historical dramas is the protagonist suddenly is able to do things or say things (especially female protagonists) would get shunned for or even worse. MaoMao understand exactly the world she lives in and knows the world can easily bite back especially due to her gender and social standing. It is why she left a note wrapped around a flower to warn the courtesans. Doing so in person or speaking up might actually get her in more trouble or accused her of killing the children. Standing out would hugely backfire. Maomao is trying to survive this complicated world and acknowledges the struggle of all the women around her. The manga continues to impress me because it does not shy by revealing very terrible practices that were done which was revealed by the age of emperor's mother and why one of the courtesans is there....Guys, this series is not afraid to get dark and it will.
This is based on a series of Light Novels. Maomao by the way grew up in the red light district (it's not a village, but a part of the capitol), and is potentially asexual... So as someone who has read the LN's I find it funny that people are sexualizing her... In fact on the forums for the company translating the LN's their is a thread for the anime and many of us didn't even get that Maomao was the one dancing as it's out of character for her (though she does say her 'older sisters' taught her seductive dances we don't really see her do any of that).
Moreover, she is heavily coded neurodivergent. Her entire biological family openly shows neurodivergent traits, too, so it was only natural for Maomao to inherit those. The way her attention and socialization work indicate autism, and her way of perceiving her own emotions, as well as her ability to care, yells primary alexithymia. I'm on LN 6 currently, and it's a tragedy to me that Jinshi sees her lack of interest and emotional response as a challenge she purposely gives him. He's playing a game that she has no idea exists, and her reaction to his violence is understandable, but terrific in no small way because of that...
I‘m fairly certain there‘s one, maybe even two scenes of her dancing in the first two (maybe even just the first) volume of the LN alone. Not going to get into details for spoiler reasons but I do think it‘s not out of character entirely since the things she learned from her big sisters at the brothel do form a large part of her world view
Actually a fairly popular headcanon among fans is that the WN maomao is asexual/aroace, while LN version maomao’s demisexual. I think it’s safe to say that her environment/people she grew up with (and her parents’ story) made her think of love being nothing more than a transaction, something that doesn’t last, and can make your life miserable. She kinda has a “skewed” relationship with love (like Jinshi), has difficulties with being openly emotional etc. because of it.
@@onebyonebby She thinks just like me fr. Also the fact that I believe that in most romantic relationships the woman is the one most likely giving more (s*x, a physical baby being literally pushed out, time, youth, and even freedom in some cases). Most guys don’t understand because most aren’t even a gentlemen or taught how to be one genuinely.
@@Lonely_MothWhile I agree she is coded as neurodivergent, her emotional intelligence is because she was often left completely alone as a baby. She herself is shown to be aware of this. It is a well-known fact by now that babies who doesn't receive proper attention grow to be emotionally stunted.
I really love it! And talking about Maomao as a girl’s girl, there’s a scene this most recent episode or the one before where she’s chilling with her sisters in the bath and just has this blissful smile on her face and I thought it was really sweet and cool how she’s so different from them but the four of them find this unique peace and comfort together ❤️
Maomao may not see herself as much but she helps inspire and impress a lot of female characters in the series itself-and also some of the male cast. However, I think Kusuriya no Hitorigoto/The Apothecary Diaries might increase in popularity soon; volume 10 of the manga debuted in the states last week and the actual novels are going to appear here physically in 2024.
(Though there are a small portion of us that believe she’s ND along with her experiences. She’s very driven and insanely hungry for medical knowledge. She also doesn’t know significant meanings to certain things ie the hairpins and their own meaning) (That and Jinshi got “rizzed by by the tism”-that man is WHIPPED)
I've burnt through 18 episodes in two days, and craved more. Then, I consumed all of the manga pages, and wept when there was none more left. But then, I discovered the light novel. 10 tomes, 250+ pages each. Do yourself a favor and read it. It's a lot of fun.
One more that is amazing in this anime is that Maomao is genuinely genius. I mean she is an apothecary but also kind of detective and that is not just because she is the main character so she has to be strong/super genius aka plot armour. There is a reason why she is genius ( it is in her blood) and there are other characters in the show (her family members) who are equally genius in their respective fields (and alive) and acknowleged. Also that Jinshi being insecure, having inferiority complex, having average intelligence and peak beauty is like the cherry on top. Usually in other anime, females are the one's who share similar qualities as jinshi and males have Maomao's quality, even in stories which have female protagonists. The switch here is amazing. It doesn't make Maomao less of a girl or jinshi less of a guy. Both are perfect and relatable characters.
Even if fanboys were only posting "Maomao drinking poison faces" it still feels unfair to say The Apothecary Diaries "might have seemed like another horny show" even if your purpose is to refute it. That certainly not how the show's official promotional material is selling it. Both the trailer and description sold me for what it has turned out to be, "a Ancient China inspired court drama with a hint of romance." The source material also had a solid word-of-mouth preceding it. Maybe there was a different circle that was only hornyposting but it's giving those randos on the internet a lot more control of the narrative than I think they deserve.
The official Crunchyroll trailer here on YT really plays up the “horny from tasting poison” angle so it’s not really just fanboys online, I’d say that’s pretty official for the Western market. But yes, the series is definitely mostly just ancient Chinese court drama but from a commoner’s perspective & some mysteries, which I appreciate. I like all kinds of historical stories but I tend to prefer a more commoner led series POV.
I've seen a couple of characters similar to MaoMao in a couple of Chinese dramas. SuCi from "Maiden Holmes" and ShiYi from "Sword and Brocade," but they both take a pragmatic approach to their situations, but, unlike MaoMao, they're thrust into positions of power while MaoMao was forced into servitude. SuCi disguised herself as a man to infiltrate a government detective agency and ShiYi became the legal wife of a well regarded if not socially distant aristocrat. Interestingly, I've seen some criticisms about how those girls don't seem to take advantage of their positions of power, in spite of the fact that neither are motivated by the power dynamics of their society, rather to right a wrong that destroyed their family.
the thing that I love about Mao Mao is that even though she isn't like the other female characters, she doesn't think she's better than them. One scene that is highlighted in my head is, when she goes back to her town and works for the courtesans and says she doesn't want to be a courtesan herself. Not because she thinks she's better than them but, because she simply doesn't want to. The problem with NLOGs is that they think their being 'different' makes them superior, but Mao Mao shows that it doesn't - it just makes you different.
My absolute favorite thing with this show is the grace it navigates these issues with. No effort or thought was spared making this anime, and it shows.
The Apothecary Diaries has a lot of the charm that The Story of Saiunkoku had but grown up for the times a bit. The Story of Saiunkoku is one of those shows I watched early on in my process of getting into anime and I loved the historical-ish setting with social commentary and have really struggled to find another show that scratches that itch in a similar way and apothecary diaries has done that thus far, Im really looking forward to the next season!
this video convinced me to preorder the maomao nendoroid. i normally dislike nendoroids but watching this i remembered why i loved her so much and i just had to have her! such a great series/manga, it actually reminded me of ouran highschool moreso with the format of the show being slice of life (or like each episode having different plots). also tamaki and haruhi's dynamic reminded me of maomao and jinshi
As you talked about "living according to the rules and guidelines and still having bad things happen to you", I had to think of a quote from "Star Trek The Next Generation", where Picard once said: "It is possible to do nothing wrong and still fail. It is no mistake... that is life." Sometimes you can just do everything wrong and even then bad things can happen to you, because of circumstances you can't control. As sad this truth is, it is life and thus a truth we should accept and learn how to deal with it. Just like Maomao.
Your description of Mao Mao's personality as well as her navigation of her current cultural and societal situation have convinced me to check a show I otherwise did not have on my radar, so thank you! As I get older I think I'm valuing stories that focus on different human experiences more and more.
I Hope you Like IT, maomao IS one of my favorite characters ever, Not cause I Love her personality, but how she IS written IS Just so extreamly unique that she IS plain one of the Most interesting. Like she IS judgy AS hell, but never really indulges in condemnation for anyone, having a Lot of empathy for other peoples struggles and respect for how they try to Deal with them. She IS Not Like Other girls, but has Zero pride or resentment linked to that fact. She does Not think she IS better then anyone, unless its in regards to a very specific skillset . . . . She IS very unique AS a detectiv characters, WHO really really really does Not want to get involved and a Lot of IT IS driven by how aware she IS of her failablility and how direkt the consequences of her verdict can BE, whatever she was right or Not. She IS also the only characters in a powerimbalance Situation Like this i have seen, that really act Like IT! She IS very aware, that in her Position, having the favor, especially to mich favor of someone to high above her IS Just as Dangerous AS their resentment. That Attachments can BE fickle and conditional and IT IS likely she has to pay for IT, No Matter what she does. IT really IS a uniquily nuanced story
I liks how MaoMao doesn't just hate ignorant people, she hates those who deliberately choose to stay ignorant. We've seen her with illiterate Xiaolan and Ah-Duo's head lady in waiting who fed that baby honey and ended up killing him. She never makes fun of the illiterate girls and she understands Feng ming's genuine guilt. She only hates when people act like know-it-alls and refuse to admit they don't know something, thus harming others' lives(Lihua's ladies in waiting and Lishu's food taster)
This is my favorite anime of this season. My only issue with it so far is that the episodes feel too short. Whoever said that she looks more like a western female character has not been watching any k-dramas. I can think of a few k-dramas that has a female main character that is roped into working at the palace, or for the government higher ups, as a doctor or mortician in that time period. I am also on my seat wondering when they are going to tell us more about her mom. We are getting hints, and I have some theories. Either there is going to be another season, or it is going to be a 24 episode anime.
It’s a 2 cour season I believe. Has to be, cause I saw in the trailer stuff from the second light novel volume and we’re not even past the first this is not a rushed adaptation at all.
@@kichop the manga is pretty faithful. As is the anime. I prefer the LNs cause you get a few more details of inner thoughts and observations but the anime has paced itself well so not much is missed at all. Honestly this is one of the few shows that so far isn’t making me explain to others “so in the light novels this scene had this this and this context that didn’t make it to the adaptation”.
I actually read a lot of Chinese novels set in the rear palace. This lightnovel/manga/anime does its job really well in presenting the struggles of the women back in the day. I actually really like reading Chinese novels' takes on women struggles and roles and how it's weirdly still relevant right now. It's sad and it's true. A lot of these stuffs are really depressing, and it gets worse the more you delve into it.
Mao Mao the thing that comes to mind when I think about Mao Mao but really the story as a whole is grounded and believable characters. Their personalities, backstories, interests, just all feel so real and though not directly relatable their complex motivations makes it very easy to fall in love with basically all the characters.
What you said at the end is what I feel as well. I read a lot of Manhwa these days, but It's SO HARD to find any of them with a great female lead. So many of them start off as interesting characters with agency and goals, and then suddenly get a Male Lead and romance involved and they are just there to be saved and lose all agency and all of their interesting characteristics fade into the background sacrificed for the purposes of advancing the romance and making the ML more desirable by giving him all the cool stuff to do instead. As much as I love their dynamics, and I do think the romance could be done between them in a way that doesn't sacrifice Maomao's character, I'd much rather sacrifice the romantic aspect of the show than compromise on her suddenly becoming a completely different and less interesting character because of it.
personally i absolutely love the series genuinely. not because i can relate (because i can in no way relate) but because to me the character of Maomao and those simmilar to her intregue me. as an aromantic (not sure about ace) i always anjoy seeing characters like hers whos main characteristic is their craft and is something i really enjoy seeing regardless of the type of show it's in. i also genuinely think Maomao is Aromantic (not because of selfindentification) because she shows the traits of it imo. she can def recognise others romantic atraction but has never held anything like that in her regard her views on how she looks are mainly to do with selfpreservation and i do genuinly think that depicing an aromantic realistic person in a show is really hard but somehow i feel like it's pulled of well here but that's part of the course because depicting a lack of something is waaay harder then depicting the presence of it.
A very insightful analysis, I believe I've noticed most of your points. You mention Mao Mao's "village" a number of times. But she lives IN the pleasure district of THE CAPITAL. She points out the pleasure district is actually quite near the rear palace, "as the crow flies".
Maomao is mostly practical, and is quick to make the best of her situation, no matter how bad it may seem at first. At the same time, she doesn't tend to promote her own abilities or appearance. We see this not only in the freckles and the way she dresses, but in the fact she hid she was literate and had certain useful knowledge when she was working as laundry attendant, at least until she judged some of that knowledge was needed -- although she could have tried to pretend she couldn't read during the test, I still think she'd have been caught. As a result of being raised by Luomen and the highest-ranking courtesans of Verdigris House, Maomao has an interesting intersection of knowledge: From Luomen, her adoptive father, she learned herbology and other skills related to being an apothecary, as well as observational and deduction skills. We get to see how Luomen taught her, and that she resists jumping to conclusions based on speculation, which other people tend to do all too easily. In some respect, Maomao learning from Luomen, and especially from her failures to catch certain details, reminds me of how Soma Yukihira learned from his father, Jouichiro, as well as his many defeats in _Food Wars_ . In both Maomao's and Soma's cases, much of their knowledge is based in the sum of their experiences, failures included. Neither is superhuman, their abilities are built up over time. Maomao affectionately refers to the three princesses of Verdigris as her 'big sisters,' likely a result of them treating her as a little sister they adore and want to teach useful things to. Of course, them being more well-endowed than her is a point she is quick to point out on her own. However she is in a position where she can share this knowledge with other women who have the appropriate assets, and who are put in a situation not dissimilar from that of the courtesans, the consorts. And how they react to this knowledge proves that, despite being in these positions for some time, they didn't previously know. I cannot speak to the light novels, and I'm concurrently reading the manga courtesy of my local library, but I can say that when the anime addresses Maomao teaching the consorts what she's learned from the courtesans, this knowledge is not specifically shared with the audience, only some reactions and results, such as the Emperor shifting his visits. I think this is to preserve how this series isn't overly sexual in nature, and that's despite taking place mainly in locations where a man, or men, go to satisfy their passions. It's tasteful, rather than relying on fanservice, and even when cleavage is shown, it is never a focual point for the episode or storyline. Instead, Maomao's investigations are. As smart as Maomao is based on her experiences with the darker side of humanity, her familiarity with crime, death, and perversion, she is rather naïve about some human experiences and emotions. This may be a result of her closing herself off from most human interactions and relationships, because of her birth father, and her birth mother's situation. The result is that it mostly leaves her clueless about how the ladies-in-waiting, the consorts she's worked for and helped, or even Jinshi see her and feel about her. It would take a significant event, I think, for her to see how Jinshi is interested in her, however I think she would conclude thus eventually, given how she knows her 'big sisters' and father love and adore her. Her naivete does show how she has room to grow and learn in a very basic human way. Maomao's passion for and obsession over medicines and poisons are something she can easily get carried away by, but considering her circumstances, it's easy to see how she might dive into that, as a hope of being able to find a way to save as many people as possible, her mother naturally included. Unfortunately, Jinshi has discovered that an easy way of getting Maomao to agree to accepting something is to offer her a rare ingredient, so it is something she can be manipulated by. Hopefully that never goes too far, but considering how drugs, aphrodisiacs in particular, have already been addressed, who can say what will happen. At the same time, though, since she's not particularly physically fit or strong, and she has low social status, as she is quick to remind Jinshi, it's not like she can ever do whatever she wants when she wants. But oh boy, when she sees the kinds of injustices that put people's lives at stake, does she ever get her dander up and jump right in! The way she dealt with the poison powder was justice itself. Never get in the way of an Angry Maomao.
A similar anime to this is Emma a Victorian Romance. Just it's based in Victorian England and is far more serious as a period piece or as Historic Fiction. But the same dynamics of the protagonist being in an unfair position in life but rolls with it is there. Like Apothecary Diaries it as well isn't preachy but shows you those dynamics from a position of a realist, concrete and not abstract. So no Robot Revolution like say Solo a StarWars story for example. Just droids being droids despite it being unfair. Gotta say Apothecary is a breath of fresh air.
I need you to watch/read the Ascendance of a Bookworm anime/light novels. I think you’d really love them. And a 4th season of the show (this time produced by WIT studios) was just announced!!! The show looks a little like shit but the story is amazing and I’ve been hooked since the first season. The light novels are fucking amazing
new viewer here! i LOVE the fact that you're doing a "deep dive" into the concepts present in this series! it might not be others' cup of tea, but that's why there are so many different kinds! i can see why people just want to mindlessly watch the pretty art or colors on the screen but personally, i like to think about the media i'm consuming and make it worth my time. what a great video! keep up the good work!
I adore Apothecary Diaries! The absolutely unique main characters of Maomao and Jinshi and their incredible chemistry are completely addicting! I love the stories and am sooo excited that it will be getting a second season! ❤
**SPOILERS** A moment I found really interesting was when Maomao asked to be executed by poisoning if it ever came to that. Jinshi was so taken aback by her matter-of-fact perspective that acknowledges just how easily disposed of she is given her social rank and role in the palace. Jinshi is so clearly smitten with her and she is so competent and bold that he has completely forgotten the huge disparity in their rankings, but it is something she is constantly aware of because she doesn’t have the privilege of being able to forget her position like he does. If they do go in the direction of a romance between them I certainly hope they do it well and continue to establish that MaoMao is aware of her status but will not be pushed around and has clear boundaries and that she will continue to teach Jinshi to expand his worldview. I hope that Jinshi will come to fully appreciate what it is like to be in her position and that maybe if they get together it is only after she is done with her service and perhaps is requested to become the official imperial apothecary or is given some other high ranking position for saving the emperor’s life or something so that she and Jinshi are on slightly more even standing before getting together. Even just as the manager of the rear palace he already far outranks her, but since he is so obviously the heir to the empire (or at least as far as the emperor knows, his younger brother) the difference in their station could not be further. I hope they do it right.
The cat ears thing isn't a horny thing, grow up. It's a pun on her name (Maomao) which means cat, and on her nature which is aloof unless she wants something from you, which is considered to e cat like.
After I have seen the teaser trailer I read all the manga, so I'm way ahead in the story. I love this kind of stories, a inconspicuous character with a great head and enough humbleness to avoid to "strike big in life" because a quiet life is preferable than a hectic one (and more safe). And even though that could give her a hell of headaches she helped their peers anyway. She's likeable, yes, but what makes her "bloom" is the cast of characters she befriends: if it were not Jinshi that heard her statement about writing she would not have been recognised as a "valuable asset", as an apothecary, just because she's a woman; if she became a helper for another courtesan (not Gyokuyou) she could have a dull quiet life as she hoped. Her early life she learned the ways of the world thanks the brothel courtesans, and they are always happy to be with Maomao. I mean she's cunning, sarcastic and powerful because she had to be like that to survive in the pleasure town as a young weak girl. That's why for me even the rest of the cast is well written, Lihua especially, she changed so much that she even acknowledge a little plain girl, and even though their stances are completely different I think many of the high ranking characters think of her as a friend. The mysteries are interesting by themselves but they are just parts of a bigger picture, when all the pieces starts to click it becomes even more interesting.
Must watch, i just finished this and kudos to the studio for the relaxing pace and non male identified content .This was about her passion for medicine not about her competing with the concubines or being a pick me as other romantic anime . It feels romantic but it actually it is more about flirting and admiration .She's really just a detective with keen observation skills and has an ally the high ranking Eunuch of the Palace Ginshi
I really love we have a female that actually doesn't Want a male romance Part Or the Cheesy Pick Up Line she eventually feel in love with him through Natural means and i love it
I definitely think the analysis is spot on, in later episodes MaoMao describes both the palace and the red light district as cages, and I fell more broadly society itself is a cage for women (both in the anime and in real society) one thing I also think is interesting is that the web novel was aimed at a female demographic but when it went to manga it became a seinen. I love the anime and this analysis was really good. Thanks.
I’m really happy with how the anime has adapted the manga. I started reading the manga during CoVID two years ago and I remember back then they announced that manga was under consideration of possibly getting an anime. I was beyond excited and hoped it does get an adaptation. I’m so happy it did!
I am so happy the second season has been confirmed and really hope that they will treat the source material as they did for this season. I am currently reading the Light Novels and the first two make up the first season and they only have additional scenes but don't change much. I hope they will continue like that.
Hey, I saw the episodes out and I decided to read the manga. This series is great. I love the pacing and the depiction of the setting, the characters and the stories. If I'm going to be nitpicky, I think the anime sometimes transitions too abruptly in scenes. I realized this when my boyfriend got kinda whiplashed with some of the transitions. And well the other thing is whether Maomao's amount of knowledge is believable. The stories told get more specific and niche as the series goes on and its hard to believe the deductions made came from Maomao or even Luomen. That said, I dont care too much to argue against it being unbelievable because it still makes for good story telling. Its like how superheroes are still popular but unbelievable. Maomao is a reflection of that but with herbalism and surface chemistry knowledge.
You call 2 of the EMPEROR'S CONCUBINES mere courtesans??? If you would have watched the show, you would have made the difference between the courtesans, that Maomao takes care of in the red light district, and the women that would give the next heir to the throne of China.
Hmm... I still feel she is very cartoonish, but personally, her interactions with Jinshi and the way that she is genuinely creeped out by his advances is not only fresh to see but it's that part you mentioned about her being well rounded
I was kinda surprised but totally loved those scenes too as someone who also got creeped/ annoyed whenever he showed up near her. Granted, I haven’t read the manga yet so maybe my opinion of him might change at some point lol
I've been LOOOOOVING the Diaries. You're right in that gender absolutely is the base rock that the entire show sits on, and how it reflects back on the two main chars, both Mao Mao and Jinshi.
I get nurodevergent vibes from Maomao. The hyperfixation in herbs medicine, and poisons. Her imunity to pretty men and honestly i think she's ace because she doesn't seem to bend either way and might only become romantic with someone she gets emotionally close to, which seems to be the direction the story is going. Just my taje tho i haven't started reading and qm only up to episode 18
i really into this series. it's been a long time since i'm not so enjoying the anime i watched. i found this one is comforting. pls recommend me another anime like this!
I still don't understand why some people are saying she is not like other girls. Are all women supposed to fit in certain standards to be like other girls? As long as they aren't bragging about it or using it as a way to stand out from others, I don't see it as a problem. ' Not like other girls ' clearly fake themselves to look unique and put other women down. I don't get how maomao is like that
I feel like she gain universal empathy from every femme-percieved person when we learn she paints freckles on her face to make herself less appealing to creepy dudes.
5:27 sorry what? This comment is sooo irritating. Firstly, it's an anime. So it is not "western" you know. Secondly, she doesn't know everything, she knows everything about herbs, medicine and poisons because that's her passion. She is not an expert in other fields. Third, She is always afraid of making mistakes.An sometimes we do see her going in the wrong path in her investigations. Where's "can do no wrong" coming from?
My coworker recommended it and I loved the series so much I’ve since read all of the translated light novels in which it’s based on. I’m thoroughly hooked.
i remember skipping it back on it release (part of it is because of frieren), and when i saw it back then, i was confused because the banner looks like them wearing traditional chinese clothing. and they are. the thing is, i was a cdrama maniac back then, so watching this actually gave me so much fun, and can feel some controversy coming in her way (well- it is the most generic cdrama plot 😂) and- this may be my all time favourite, so cant wait for latter episodes!
Okay so this is coming from someone that is up to date on the translated LN and might be a bit nitpicky. One of the inerseting things to me is that they treat the consorts positions as a job. It's even mentioned in the LN that it is a job and they get paid for it and that it is a very respectable job at that. Another thing that a first had me confused was the setting. Like you I thought it was strictly Chinese inspired, but after reading a post by the author (and I'm seriously paraphrasing here). They took elements from Chinese, Korean, and Japanese imperial palace life and added their own spin on it. So if you see any glaring inaccuracys between Chinese palace life and what is going on in the anime that is why. Otherwise they are doing a good job of translating the story from the LN naturally a lot of detail is left out and there has been some info added, but all and all the spirit has stayed true.
She was out there because she ran out of the herbs to make her freckles. She slipped up one time and got kidnapped. Im sure she blames herself for being careless just one time.
thank you so much for talking about this! I’ve been following this manga for awhile now and was really excited when they decided to adapt it. It would be really great if more people got to know the main character as she stands out as an interesting woman protagonist and it’s a story that explores themes that I feel that are rarely explored in anime. ❤
The reason I like this show is: 1. First of smart MC are just brilliant, 2. The story is actually interesting, 3. Xiao miao is beautiful written with characters flaws and perfections. She’s not just another girl MC with no personality and no problems, 4. It’s historical (not accurate albeit) and it’s Chinese historical different from all the samurai Japanese historical 5. It’s 25 episodes. 6. Both the sub and dub VAing is amazing. Don’t believe me the dub Voice acting is great go to the episode where miao miao and the other are preparing for the garden party. The “oh Miao Miao make some for all of use” (said by head lady) was absolutely priceless
I was really disappointed when I first read comments on this anime. Even with a world building so well done and balanced, people fail to see what it is about.
I read the manga first before watching the anime. What draw me to the series is the beautiful use of medical and chemical information. Knowing about it a bit as a chemistry student and seeing it in the anime brings me joy. Like I understand why it happens and I was thrilled seeing Mao Mao's action about them, how she solve the misteries surrounding the inner palace because of them. The manga is amazing, the anime is amazing. They are fun and beautiful and intertining. Thanks for the review.
I love the fact that this series portrays the reality of being a woman (nowadays at least, I don't know how where things in ancient China). I've loved the manga for years and now that there's an anime I'm SO gonna watch it. Thanks for such a well written analysis of the character and the plot!
I find intense characters like Maomao a lot of fun e.g., Rozemyne/Myne in Ascendance of a Bookworm, the gals in Sakura Quest, Magus Bride, … Gremlins Rule especially if they rampage. So whether Historical, Isakai, Magical, or just modern Japan there are wonderful opportunities for great anime and characters. Apothecary Diaries is by far and away my favorite anime (as well as Light Novel and Manga) in years and years.
This is more of a personal note, but Maomao is one of the few 'good' characters that could be interpreted as autistic and high functioning. Not saying she is, but characters can be read in multiple ways; I am on the spectrum, and the way she tries to avoid people, tries to make things right and not stand out is very relatable. Especially the disinterest in romance and the huuuge hyperfocus on the thing she is interested in, here being Medicine. How she is interested to help people, but not in trouble and simple socializing. And how she is failing in situation where she is logically doing everything right, but not taking people's emotions into account or being read as aggressive or intrusive. ESPECIALLY the way Maomao had trouble getting through the concubines when tasked with saving the emperors favorite. She had to rely on Jinshi's charismatic and social skills just as much as he relied on her hyperinterest in medicine and healing. I really really love that arc. Usually, I can only see autistic traits (as with trouble reading and identifying ones own emotions, hyperfixation, and self absorbed disregard, social issues and disinterest in social activities) in villains or characters who have multiple personalities. Which is not to say I don't love me a good villain or would not want anyone to include them. But it makes me really happy to see someone nice who analyzes the world around them like I used to do in my youth, and them having the luck to meet people who really appreciate them for who they are. And this character having so much emotional growth that they don't go and judge people heavily for that gossiping, romantic side, just shows how big of a person Maomao is and how much her upbringing in the brothel affects her and her tolerance towards people. It took me so long to not see people as dumb gossips, I hope a lot of people can achieve more emotional maturity through media like this. "Not being like the other girls" is a defensive reaction. It isn't fun, it shows an incredible amount of distrust in and bad experiences with people. I can't stress enough how incredible Maomao is for not falling into that, how she maintains herself, her opinions and interests, without judging others for it for the most part or trying to set herself apart. Though it makes sense, seeing how she has been raised by a similarly intelligent dad - who I frankly suspect being very suspicious of a person, very judgemental of certain practices in their country, and very much part of a rebellion. Maomao was encouraged to think logically and not emotionally. And in turn, it shows how long it can take for her to trust in someone, and how Jinshi slowly becomes more of a trustworthy person. He is smart and struggling in his own right as well, something which he is incredibly good at brushing off. But he has more the social smarts, which complements Maomao incredibly well. I wish more people in the world would be open minded to another, and I hope we can achieve that together while having fun!
My understanding was that the work is Josei, but was picked up by a publisher focusing on Shōnen and seinen. Thank you for our perspective on the series, I really enjoy it.
Honestly one of my favorite animes this season mostly based on the MC being such a well rounded relatable (for me as a neurodivergent person) but from a female lead? In an anime?? Very unusual 😂In a great story not relying on fantasy world-building to carry the show. Historical drama, great script writing, character relationships, crime drama, really covers it all.
i feel like we watching the same show but you are omiting the parts i find interesting or disturbing , it is a very good show though so at least we agree on that the things i think you missed is the fact that maomao is not just a woman in male world since it is the back palace where no men expect the emperor can set foot. and all the "men" you see are no longer carrying manhood in theyre pants. but that is not all maomao was kidnaped yes , but she was also sold as a slave to the palace , the same way as many "male" guards by kidnaping a low birth person, and selling them to the palace it means they can buy back theyre freedom by working there and if i am not mistaken women are sold as is and no harm happen to them other than restriction of freedom, and they can go back to normal life after they done paying theyre depth to the palace for freeing them from slave traders, but for men well they can buy themeselves back but the thing is not growing back plus you deal with class segregation where anyone above your rank can make an excuse to end your life regardless your gender last episode showed it perfectly when maomao knowing full well than she will slip up someday to upset someone above her rank (that being a peasent) asked her superior noble rank eunuch to remember her prefered way of execution when her time comes around if she was a high birth or even a concubine to the emperor that would not be a case since position is permanent even after current emperor deth there is quite a bit of nuances about every aspect of the story
The people who keep saying that she's similar to a typical western women in Hollywood movies or considering as a Mary Sue failed to analyze her character. She was able to easily solve problems not because she thought of it out of nowhere, it's because she learn it due to her experience as an apocathery back in the red light district. Compared to western written women characters, they just discoverd that they can use power and they instantly becomes good at it without the hardship of learning the power. Again, maomao knows a lot because she learns it based on her experience as an apothecary, and I think that is something that people can relate to. People can learn based on their experience. And maomao as a character has flaws, she even tries to be careful and tend to experience conflict of whether she use her assumptions or not, because she was taught by her father not to do so.
This is one of my fav anime’s of all time now - just binged it a couple weeks ago 🤩 I love your vid and the comments here are so empowering esp us women discussing the themes of this story and such a wonderful character in Mao Mao! Looking forward to more ✨ I get her… I’m a lawyer and author. Being an intelligent woman who has seen “high places” with powerful people and disgusting behavior I really vibe with how she navigates these situations. She wants to help people and is passionate about poison. I love that for her 🥰
Someone please recommend an anime like this one. I liked the style, the narrative between the ml and fl and the slowburn and the story was attention catching too.
the person describing her almost as a mary sue... have they watched or read the thing at all? she has multiple flaws, its just she's a nice girl in the end of the day lol
Wonderful video my friend as always keep up the great work just love your content so much. I'll have to check out these two Anime's and give them a watch.😁
i just stumbled upon your content and analysis and ahh it's so refreshing! Apothercary Diaries is one of my favorite series from 2023, and the points you hit were definitely aspects of this anime that stood out to me. You helped put words for it for me and I really appreciate it. :)
It should be noted that when Maomao was kidnapped, she was *not* wearing her freckles; she was in fact gathering the ingredients to create that specific makeup because she'd run out of the stuff. This is mentioned in passing in a later episode of the anime but is crystal clear in the manga.
I love this anime as well as the manga and light novels. After episode 24 I recommend you check these out. Maomao’s world gets a lot bigger and new characters, especially women, appear who are each unique and being added depth to the story and Maomao. I hope a new season of 24 episodes comes to expand on this interest in world.
i have read the manga and im super excited for them to animate the rest because the manga does a deep dive on a lot of lore and some filler "lore" to expand maomao's personality
I think the story and Mao Mao's character is a reflection on the struggles of science. Her name "Mao Mao" is written using the character "cat" twice "猫猫". Indicating she clearly has the traits of a cat, including the "whiskers" she paints on her face. She is constantly curious, which lends itself to the saying "Curiosity killed the cat." But not just any cat, a cat obsessed with poison. Which again seems to borrow from Schrodinger's thought experiment about the cat in the box with a container of radioactive poisonous isotope. Her existence is a myriad of dualities, being good and evil, pretty and ugly, truthful and lying, liking and hating, masculine and feminine etc. The story seems be based around how she navigates her complicated environment and how she is constantly in the "twilight zone", trying to be truthful and humane at the same time.
