Nothing makes me happier than seeing the Chinese-inspired, historical anime The Apothecary Diaries gaining recognition. The show isn’t for everyone, but it’s definitely for me . I’m not familiar with the source material, but I can say that the anime adaptation has been a delight. In celebration of its Anime of the Year nomination, here’s me gushing about all the reasons why I adore the show. RELATED: Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2025: Your Ultimate Guide Not all historical shows need to thrive on wars and battles. This, to me, is what makes The Apothecary Diaries worth watching. The series takes place in the Imperial Palace during the Tang Dynasty and puts court politics at the forefront. The Apothecary Diaries manages to hold my interest from start to finish just from its characters and storyline. I’d compare it to FX’s Shogun , though the anime has a lighter tone than the award-winning TV drama. That said, the show doesn’t hold back on mature and darker themes from this time period. The Emperor makes an appearance here and there, but the ones who steal the spotlight are the Consorts. Maomao, the main character of the series, ends up serving the Precious Consort, Gyokuyo, as a poison taste tester after getting kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace. Tensions are high among the Consorts, especially when one of them loses her baby to poison. That’s where Maomao comes in as an apothecary who knows how to identify poisonous substances to protect the Emperor’s Consorts. She’s a unique “detective” because of her status and age, but throughout the show, she’s proven that her deductions are almost always spot on. One of the main driving forces of The Apothecary Diaries is Maomao’s relationship with Jinshi, a eunuch who oversees the Rear Palace where the Consorts live. Some would argue that there’s barely any romance, but really, it’s just heavy on the slow burn. I actually love that Maomao is grossed out by Jinshi in the beginning; his charms don’t work on her. She’s there to do her job and survive, not fawn over a pretty guy! Still, they share a dynamic that’s both entertaining and sweet when they have their moments, like when Jinshi gives Maomao a hairpin, but Maomao is, of course, oblivious to the meaning behind it. During that exchange, however, Jinshi learns more about Maomao’s upbringing in the red-light district, and she sees a different side of him that doesn’t annoy her. It’s these moments that make me cheer for them, even if they won’t end up together anytime soon. RELATED: The Apothecary Diaries Season 2: Where to Watch, Trailers, Voice Cast & More Along with the romance is the, well, title of the series. It’s not called The Apothecary Diaries for nothing, as Maomao is prone to diving headfirst into explaining chemical reactions, pointing out which plants are poisonous, and freaking out over ox bezoar. She’s the apothecary, the one everyone in the Imperial Palace trusts when it comes to tasting food for poison and solving mysteries. If you love an unhinged character, you’ll love Maomao and her obsession with poisons as she lives up to her reputation as the poison taste tester. It’s also fascinating to learn new facts in Maomao's delightfully deadpan voice. With The Apothecary Diaries , Maomao’s explanations help the viewer understand why someone would use a certain plant or substance and how mixing them together causes a certain type of reaction. It’s not just a plain “That’s poison!” — we get a breakdown of what the poison is made of, how it got inside the Imperial Palace, and all the ways it can be prevented from appearing again. It makes me wonder just how many poisons were developed back then and how anyone could come up with an antidote without dying first. All that to say, I’m happy that Maomao knows her limits and hasn’t been fatally affected by the poisons, but on the other hand, it gives Jinshi a heart attack every time he sees her that way. RELATED: So You Want to Get Into Japanese Historical Anime? Here's What to Watch! Speaking of the best girl, Maomao's a gremlin through and through. Compared to the Consorts and ladies-in-waiting, Maomao sticks out like a sore thumb, preferring to sleep in the storage room and consuming poison at every chance she gets. She keeps her appearance “plain” as a survival tactic, but even when she removes the makeup, her demeanor doesn’t change. Maomao’s lines are almost always deadpan and she only gets excited when rewarded with rare, medicinal ingredients. Maomao also shows more compassion than she thinks, especially toward the people she interacts with every day, like when she Consort Lihua from dying. Maomao may have done so out of survival, but she also went to great lengths to ensure Lihua wanted to keep living. That said, Maomao also isn’t afraid to slap a lady-in-waiting for being in the wrong and not doing her job properly. She’s just that girl! But it's not just Maomao who shines here. With some shows, the main character has such a strong presence that the side characters pale in comparison and fade into the background. Thankfully, that’s not the case with The Apothecary Diaries . RELATED: How The Apothecary Diaries Explores the Beautiful Nuances in Female Relationships The Consorts, for example, aren’t just pretty faces. Gyokuyo appears bright and friendly, but she’s fiercely protective of her ladies-in-waiting and can read the room. Then you have Consort Loulan, the newest of the bunch who replaced the former Pure Consort. Aside from the Consorts, there are characters like Lakan who becomes a thorn in Maomao and Jinshi’s sides. He’s the type of character who always looks like he’s plotting something and is an expert at fake smiles. Of course, once we get to his backstory, empathy starts to kick in. That’s when you know that a character like this has good writing. Watching Maomao's relationship with these characters, especially since she admits that she’s emotionally stunted given how she was raised in the brothels, is just as fulfilling as watching her with Jinshi… or poisons. Anime of the Year is a tough category to win, especially with such a stacked lineup of nominees , but The Apothecary Diaries has definitely earned its spot. If nothing else, this hopefully has convinced you to give the series a shot!
