The Apothecary Diaries, S.1, Ep.1 - Maomao
Added 2025-09-19 15:00:21 +0000 UTCI freakin' LOVE this show and I've only watched the first episode!
There are some cool historical things happening in this show and I am excited to see it in an anime.
I cannot wait for episode 2!!!
Comments
The only reason I was mildly reticent about recommending the show was the same reason as yourself in that it wasn't music based, combined with the investment of time required as the two seasons released so far means 48 episodes to watch, tying up one of your reaction slots for near enough a year. The anime itself is great, easily one of the best overall shows released in the past decade, the dub is actually pretty good, though I still prefer the subbed version with the original VAs. Managed to get my partner obsessed with it to the extent she started buying the manga (one of only a handful of titles) and then ended up switching to the subbed version with me to just avoid the 2-3 week wait for Crunchyroll to dub the episodes as it was released (prior to that I was re-watching the episodes with her in the dub). The setting of Apothecary Diaries is fictional not exactly ancient China, based mostly off the Tang Dynasty era but with an extra blend of elements from several different additional dynasties all put through a slight Japan influence filter (the original light novel author Natsu Hyūga is Japanese). The story actually has two different manga adaptations being published concurrently since 2017 as well. With regard to the busty/curvy appearance being an 'advantage' it's in part going off the pre-industrial revolution assumption that it indicates you're well fed and healthier, therefore more likely to be able to safely bear children. The paler skin associated with beauty & lead based makeup thing was in medieval Europe as well as Asia and comes from the concept that peasants/the lower class get a tan/darker complexions from working outside doing manual labour. Infant & child mortality was much higher worldwide even as recently as the early 20th century, people used to have lots of kids due to a combination of the lack of reliable contraception and the likelihood that a decent percentage of them wouldn't survive into adulthood. With modern society in developed countries we have become a lot more insulated from the concept of death outside of accidents and illness in old age. In childbirth/labour classes (feel like there's another more specific name I'm forgetting) they will frequently asked the expectant mothers what's the worst thing that could happen, the actual 'correct' answer is that even with modern medicine if a whole bunch of things go wrong, the worst case scenario is that both the mother and child could die. The Vedigris House is a high end brothel in the red light district. Whilst most provide bedroom activities for customers, courtesans can also entertain customers without necessarily providing night services and the higher ranked they become the more their time costs. The 'Three Princesses' are the top ranking courtesans well known throughout the capital, it's a nickname to reflect their status as opposed to being actual royalty. A single night with one of them could cost as much as a well paid official might earn in a year and they have far more control over who they choose to spend time with. In term of the meaning of the name Verdigris is a blue-green color associated with the patina that forms on aged copper, brass, and bronze. So think like ancient Greek statues and similar works of art. With this show there's plenty of foreshadowing both in the plot and even the OP sequences for each cour references stuff that only becomes apparent much later. I'll probably try and drip feed you information most episodes without causing spoilers, cos there's so much to talk about in the show. Perhaps even more than with Sound Euphonium, what might seem like minor plot points often come back round and things are never really forgotten about or overlooked. You asked a lot of questions and some if not all of those will eventually get answered. Also the vast majority of the extended cast have a good amount of character depth, they are rarely purely good or bad and believable development isn't an unusual occurance. I've heard Mao Mao described as a female Dr House in ancient China before, whilst that is somewhat reductionist given how nuanced her character is, if you've ever watch Hugh Laurie's show then you might recognise some parallels. Even from the little you've seen so far, without spoiling much I can say that her new friend Xiaolan is a precious cinnamon roll who must be protected at all costs. I wouldn't say she's my favourite per say, but she doesn't have a bad bone in her body and is almost as innocent as the girls from K-On. As others have said, it's AiNA THE END performing the ED, you recently reacted to her guesting on a song with Hotei. She has a lot of range with the music in her solo career and a killer live/touring band called the Mogwrians, might have to make a few suggestions for reactions.
Andrew Hellebrand
2025-09-19 22:17:10 +0000 UTCSo yeah, it is very funny that you reacted to Aina the End on youtube recently, and now you hear her in the ending lol. I know for a fact that you will love the adventure of Maomao, Jinshi and all this peoples, but Maomao is something and they chosen the best voice actress for that, Aoi Yuki. Aoi Yuki have been my fav VA for years now and I really need to find the good song anc music video to show you, because yeah, she is not just a talented VA, she is also a talented singer, she is even able to sing in characters and have done it a lot of time for different anime, singing opening, ending or insert song like in Symphogear, a magical girl anime based on the power of song where she is one of the main heroine and then, sing a lot. I will try to find the good song and maybe a music video to go with it, but most of them aren't on youtube, there is very little music video of her on youtube sadly, but she is a beautiful woman and I don't wan't to deprive you of seeing her lol.
Spadeas
2025-09-19 21:00:23 +0000 UTC
