[First Impression] The Apothecary Diaries

Premise

Maomao was an apothecary. On her way back home from delivering medicine to the courtesans’ house, she was kidnapped, brought to the capital, and ended up as a rear palace maid. In order to return home, she kept a low profile and planned to do so until her contract finished in two years. However, curiosity got the better of her when she was able to solve the case of dying newborns of different consorts. She sent a letter to the consort with a sick baby. In return, a eunuch and decided to “promote” her as a poison tester.

Overall Review

How come every single time something new and shiny anime or drama catches my attention, all the episodes are not out? HM? WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?!

I’m invested in Maomao’s story. Her solid strategy to keep a low profile obviously didn’t work. She even pretended to be illiterate out of spite because she knew it would increase her salary but the kidnappers will get a huge cut of her pay. I like her brand of petty. Heh. Also, she knew, in the palace, she had the lowest rank and having more unusual skills such as reading and writing as a maid will make her stand out.

Here’s my issue, I hardly see being a poison tester as a “promotion” of any sort. In fact, it’s dumb to make her a poison tester if she’s the apothecary. I know she said she was immune to poison because she’s been testing poison on herself. BUT… Was she supposed to heal herself if she was ever poisoned? Or will they call the palace doctor? After all, she was a consort’s lady-in-waiting.

On a positive note, I like that some lady-in-waiting were kind to her. I know some was out of pity but she could use some friends in a foreign place. I wonder how she would also interact with the other courtesan whose baby boy just died.

Here’s another issue, Jinshi broke into Maomao’s personal space as and when he pleases which was sometimes irritating and there was that one time he harassed Maomao. Kissing her neck because he likes her even though she never reciprocated is harassment. People really need to stop romanticizing that. It’s not okay. Maomao literally looked disgusted. She wasn’t playing hard to get. She wasn’t interested. And the annoying thing was Jinshi’s assistant was asking her to tone down her response to him. Tone what down? How was that her fault? Is he so emotional that he couldn’t tone it down? She was in no way, shape or form seducing him. I cannot comprehend how consent is such a foreign concept to people who just received rejection. Bruh, go bother the emperor or something.

Nevertheless, I’m staying because I’m out here rooting for Maomao. As long as she doesn’t end up with Jinshi, she could become a popular apothecary or go back home to her grandpa or both. I haven’t read the manga but I’m just out here rooting for her.