To be a good detective does not always mean to be a Mary Sue.
Summary:
Mary Sue is the best at everything and calmly goes through all the difficulties.
Maomao is a capable detective.
Her abilities are not limitless — Maomao is ignorant about many things.
Very often capable and attractive heroes are called Mary Sue. This is the type of character who is beautiful, intelligent and strong. They are the best at everything and calmly go through all the difficulties, eventually turning out to be winners. The Apothecary Diaries has now become a popular anime, and its protagonist is competing with Frieren for best female character of the year. But can we really call Maomao a Mary Sue?
Very good detective
Maomao is a pretty young girl who lived her whole life in the pleasure district until she was kidnapped and sold to the palace. There she was able to stand out (even though she didn't want to) and was noticed by the emperor's court servants. After becoming a concubine's maid, Maomao began assisting Jinshi in solving the palace's mysteries and riddles. She does it well!
Maomao can be called a skilled detective. She uses all her medical and pharmaceutical knowledge and solves crimes quite quickly. However, this does not mean that she is a Mary Sue. Otherwise, all good detective characters could be characterized in this way. Maomao is certainly very observant, but it is worth considering that she is helped by rather narrow knowledge.
Not a perfect character
Maomao can't be called a Mary Sue just because she's not the best at anything. Sure, she stands out from the other characters, but that's why she's the protagonist. Her abilities are not limitless — Maomao is physically weak and ignorant about many things. Viewers still can't understand why she doesn't notice Jinshi's sympathy and couldn't understand the true meaning of hairpins.
Moreover, Maomao sometimes makes mistakes even in her field due to haste or inattention. She recognizes her shortcomings and her father's higher competence. She had to study hard to be good at pharmacy, and the tough life in a dangerous area helped her acquire the necessary survival skills and fostered her wit. Maomao is not Mary Sue, simply because many other characters in the anime don't like her.
The Apothecary Diaries is overall a very well written story where each character has a unique role to play. There are no super strong or super smart people, so the story feels realistic. Even the most outstanding characters have their strengths and weaknesses. So no, Maomao definitely cannot be called a Mary Sue.
To be a good detective does not always mean to be a Mary Sue.
Summary:
Mary Sue is the best at everything and calmly goes through all the difficulties.
Maomao is a capable detective.
Her abilities are not limitless — Maomao is ignorant about many things.
Very often capable and attractive heroes are called Mary Sue. This is the type of character who is beautiful, intelligent and strong. They are the best at everything and calmly go through all the difficulties, eventually turning out to be winners. The Apothecary Diaries has now become a popular anime, and its protagonist is competing with Frieren for best female character of the year. But can we really call Maomao a Mary Sue?
Very good detective
Maomao is a pretty young girl who lived her whole life in the pleasure district until she was kidnapped and sold to the palace. There she was able to stand out (even though she didn't want to) and was noticed by the emperor's court servants. After becoming a concubine's maid, Maomao began assisting Jinshi in solving the palace's mysteries and riddles. She does it well!
Maomao can be called a skilled detective. She uses all her medical and pharmaceutical knowledge and solves crimes quite quickly. However, this does not mean that she is a Mary Sue. Otherwise, all good detective characters could be characterized in this way. Maomao is certainly very observant, but it is worth considering that she is helped by rather narrow knowledge.
Not a perfect character
Maomao can't be called a Mary Sue just because she's not the best at anything. Sure, she stands out from the other characters, but that's why she's the protagonist. Her abilities are not limitless — Maomao is physically weak and ignorant about many things. Viewers still can't understand why she doesn't notice Jinshi's sympathy and couldn't understand the true meaning of hairpins.
Moreover, Maomao sometimes makes mistakes even in her field due to haste or inattention. She recognizes her shortcomings and her father's higher competence. She had to study hard to be good at pharmacy, and the tough life in a dangerous area helped her acquire the necessary survival skills and fostered her wit. Maomao is not Mary Sue, simply because many other characters in the anime don't like her.
The Apothecary Diaries is overall a very well written story where each character has a unique role to play. There are no super strong or super smart people, so the story feels realistic. Even the most outstanding characters have their strengths and weaknesses. So no, Maomao definitely cannot be called a Mary Sue.
