What else do you want from PG-13?
The Apothecary Diaries (Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) spoilers ahead!
Summary:
- The creators of The Apothecary Diaries do not fully exploit the possibilities of the setting.
- Fictional Country of Li uses the image of China in the Middle Ages.
- Struggle for the Emperor's favor should be unpredictable and surprising with plot twists.
The Apothecary Diaries is an entertaining anime for the fall season of 2023, which has already gained a large number of fans and continues to surprise with unusual plot twists in the second cour.
Despite the fact that the title has become extremely popular and fans eagerly await the release of a new episode every Saturday, the creators do not fully exploit the possibilities of the setting — medieval times and palace intrigues look too soft.
Interesting setting
The Apothecary Diaries is set in the Middle Ages. This is evidenced by the horses used for transportation, the lack of high technology, the political system, and the traditional costumes. Incidentally, the clothing and names of the characters indicate that the fictional Country of Li uses the image of China.
However, there are no references to specific historical events. At the top of the political system is an emperor with an army. He has several concubines belonging to different political clans. They try to win his favor to help their families.
The main theme of the plot is palace intrigue — Maomao uses her skills to solve crimes and mysteries. Viewers are warned at least a couple of times that the lives of ordinary servants in the palace are not guaranteed.
In the beginning, Maomao tries to help the Emperor's concubines as discreetly as possible, so she won't be punished for her excessive curiosity.
Missed opportunities
Although the audience was intimidated by the strict and ruthless system, there were few real consequences for the servants' negligent actions. Most of the time, they just received a reprimand from Maomao.
The most telling example is when a maid continued to use poisonous powder and dye the Emperor's concubine after an official order to get rid of the product was issued.
Probably the most famous example of the media's full exploitation of the medieval setting is Game of Thrones. In the show, no one is immune — even if the character is lucky today, he may be brutally murdered or betrayed tomorrow.
Palace intrigue and the struggle for the Emperor's favor should be unpredictable and surprising with plot twists. Perhaps the whole story should be darker. However, we should not forget that the show is rated PG-13 and some things just cannot be shown as they are.