The Apothecary Diaries features the main character figuring out mysteries while trying to survive in an inner palace in a nebulous setting of Imperial China. It is absolutely worth a watch.
The Apothecary Diaries focuses on a young apothecary girl, Maomao, who tends to turn into a very happy cat every time she is allowed near ingredients. She is adorable, and fans love her.
There is also an incredibly pretty eunuch, Jinshi, who occasionally helps Maomao and occasionally gives her tasks. He cannot get Maomao to acknowledge his beauty, and it seems to amuse him.
The anime is not necessarily historically accurate, but the backdrop to Maomao’s investigations is pretty and pleasing.
The Apothecary Diaries is about a girl named Maomao who was kidnapped and sold into the inner palace. Fans note that she takes the situation very well, mostly just hoping to work her way out of what is essentially slavery, especially since the people who kidnapped her seem to be getting part of her salary. She, unfortunately, attracts the attention of one of the emperor’s favorites, Gyokuyou. Since then, her life mostly consists of creating medicine and testing Gyokuyou’s food for poison, which she loves very much. Her happiness about the situation is usually shown through animation by giving her cat ears. She enjoys her position very much.
Maomao, M.D.
Maomao is shown to be very good at figuring out the small and big mysteries that happen in the inner palace. Her first mystery was the illness that seemed to plague the mothers of the Emperor's two children. Both being babies, they seemed to have similar symptoms, and it was generally assumed that the children were cursed. However, Maomao noticed the symptoms and figured out that it was likely the effects of the whitening powder popular among women at that time. Her experience being around prostitutes helped her to figure that one out.
She secretly informed both concubines about the powder, but since writing and reading were not common skills among the servants of the inner palace, she was quickly discovered by an incredibly pretty, clever and nosy eunuch, Jinshi, who tricked her into revealing herself.
Since then, Maomao keeps getting herself into the mysteries of the inner palace, together with Jinshi and Gyokuyou.
The Setting
Many fans comment on how much they love the Imperial China setting, but a few have pointed out that it is not very well defined. Some of the ingredients that Maomao uses would not be available at the time period they seem to be going for (especially cacao), and the wardrobes do not seem to match the time period when cacao would be accessible in China. However, even those who criticize the setting don’t seem to mind the potential historical inaccuracies. The setting is mostly a backdrop to Maomao’s shenanigans, which is pretty enough to be entertaining.
Overall, The Apothecary Diaries has strong, interesting characters and can satisfy your need for mystery with a nice Imperial China background. It’s definitely worth watching.
The Apothecary Diaries features the main character figuring out mysteries while trying to survive in an inner palace in a nebulous setting of Imperial China. It is absolutely worth a watch.
The Apothecary Diaries focuses on a young apothecary girl, Maomao, who tends to turn into a very happy cat every time she is allowed near ingredients. She is adorable, and fans love her.
There is also an incredibly pretty eunuch, Jinshi, who occasionally helps Maomao and occasionally gives her tasks. He cannot get Maomao to acknowledge his beauty, and it seems to amuse him.
The anime is not necessarily historically accurate, but the backdrop to Maomao’s investigations is pretty and pleasing.
The Apothecary Diaries is about a girl named Maomao who was kidnapped and sold into the inner palace. Fans note that she takes the situation very well, mostly just hoping to work her way out of what is essentially slavery, especially since the people who kidnapped her seem to be getting part of her salary. She, unfortunately, attracts the attention of one of the emperor’s favorites, Gyokuyou. Since then, her life mostly consists of creating medicine and testing Gyokuyou’s food for poison, which she loves very much. Her happiness about the situation is usually shown through animation by giving her cat ears. She enjoys her position very much.
Maomao, M.D.
Maomao is shown to be very good at figuring out the small and big mysteries that happen in the inner palace. Her first mystery was the illness that seemed to plague the mothers of the Emperor's two children. Both being babies, they seemed to have similar symptoms, and it was generally assumed that the children were cursed. However, Maomao noticed the symptoms and figured out that it was likely the effects of the whitening powder popular among women at that time. Her experience being around prostitutes helped her to figure that one out.
She secretly informed both concubines about the powder, but since writing and reading were not common skills among the servants of the inner palace, she was quickly discovered by an incredibly pretty, clever and nosy eunuch, Jinshi, who tricked her into revealing herself.
Since then, Maomao keeps getting herself into the mysteries of the inner palace, together with Jinshi and Gyokuyou.
The Setting
Many fans comment on how much they love the Imperial China setting, but a few have pointed out that it is not very well defined. Some of the ingredients that Maomao uses would not be available at the time period they seem to be going for (especially cacao), and the wardrobes do not seem to match the time period when cacao would be accessible in China. However, even those who criticize the setting don’t seem to mind the potential historical inaccuracies. The setting is mostly a backdrop to Maomao’s shenanigans, which is pretty enough to be entertaining.
Overall, The Apothecary Diaries has strong, interesting characters and can satisfy your need for mystery with a nice Imperial China background. It’s definitely worth watching.
