The Art of Mystery and Medicine: Why The Apothecary Diaries Is a Must-Watch

I can’t stress enough how much I love historical anime. It will always be one of my all-time favorite genres, and The Apothecary Diaries is an outstanding addition to that category.

Set in a fictional country inspired by Ming-era China, this anime stuns with its breathtaking costume design and elegant architecture. The sleek, colorful art style makes every scene pop—it’s a visual feast from start to finish.

The story follows Maomao, and let me just say: words cannot express how much I adore her—which is very unusual for me. I’m often highly critical of how women are written in anime. Too frequently, they fall into lazy tropes: helpless damsels, sex objects, unbearably annoying, or emotionless badasses with no depth.

But Maomao? Maomao is different. She’s one of the rare female protagonists who actually feels like a practical, believable human being. She’s pragmatic and mature, with a sharp intellect and wisdom well beyond her years. She doesn’t overestimate herself, but she’s observant and composed, even in dangerous situations. As a main character—and as a woman—she’s everything I want to see in anime.

The supporting cast holds their own, too. Jinshi is equal parts funny and dramatic, and his barely-concealed admiration for Maomao is downright adorable. Her constant exasperation with him is equally hilarious, making their dynamic incredibly entertaining.

But my absolute favorite aspect of The Apothecary Diaries? The mysteries. Yes, you read that right—mysteries.

When I first started watching, I was expecting some light, quirky adventures with Maomao and Jinshi. But nope. What I got instead was murder cases, attempted poisonings, disappearances, ghost stories, political conspiracies—the works! I was pleasantly blindsided, and I loved every moment of it.

So if you’ve been sleeping on The Apothecary Diaries because it looks “too shoujo” or not your usual style, I need you to get over that and give it a shot. You’re missing out.

This anime offers a rich, suspenseful story, a refreshing cast, and just a little bit of spice. If you’re a fan of mysteries or tired of poorly written female characters, this gem deserves a place on your watchlist.

I give The Apothecary Diaries a solid 10/10.