It takes artistic skill to make an appealing anime character. Sexy plots are harder, and making a twisted character attractive is harder still. The gooner fodder harem characters that plague low-effort anime are proof enough of the difference. Enjoying samey sexy onee-san characters and their ara ara energy is fulfilling in its own way. However, sometimes I want more cleverness than tropey harems with bold perversion have to offer, while still enjoying a show about beauty.
Enter The Apothecary Diaries.
It Starts With Sexiness
The Apothecary Diaries can be visually stunning. Taking place largely in an imperial harem in a fictional country inspired by Ming dynasty China, the show’s historical aesthetic is on point. But that doesn’t stop the anime from being sexy. Maomao, the show’s protagonist, brings her ‘big sisters’ from the red light district and her know-how and charm to ramp up the sexual intrigue. More than that, Maomao is a pervert for mad science, experimenting on herself with healing ointments, and enjoying being poisoned.
Going down the street one day, Maomao is kidnapped and sold to the imperial rear palace as a servant. Her abductors earn part of her salary, and so despite being a literate apothecary’s apprentice, she keeps her head down and her salary low.
The plot really kicks off when Maomao hears a rumor. Turns out two of the consorts, and their newborn children, are ill. Maomao cleverly figures out the cause of the illness by observing the two beautiful consorts fighting in the courtyard. She knows nobody will listen to her explain her discovery, so she chooses a different tactic. She’s a nobody. They’re beautiful and important consorts.
Instead, Maomao warns the consorts secretly. Lady Lihua’s son dies because her retainer throws Maomao’s note away, but Consort Gyokuyō’s girl child lives. Gyokuyō then demands that the palace administrator, Jinshi, find her child’s saviour. When Jinshi, our male lead, discovers Maomao, plain Maomao becomes Lady Gyokuyō’s poison taster.
Don’t Be Deceived by the Sexy
Why did Lady Lihua’s son die? Because of ideals about beauty.
The show’s complex relationship with beauty and attraction makes it stand out. From its first arc, The Apothecary Diaries examines beauty standards, such as the poisonous whitening face powder the consorts use to create a pale and flawless complexion. Maomao shamelessly appreciates Jinshi’s beauty on many occasions. Courtesans and consorts alike are admired by people whose values we trust.
Yet at the same time, beauty leads to suffering. Maomao’s modest looks may have saved her from being sold to a brothel. Consorts are exploited by Jinshi as he purposefully tempts them — despite his being a eunuch — to test their loyalty. And of course, a child dies because of beauty standards. I can recommend watching The Apothecary Diaries for its complex and thoughtful exploration of allure, despite being the anime’s secondary theme. It takes talent to make viewers happy to see characters show off, and also wary of every sexy moment because of how beauty is presented as a double-edged sword.
Survival in a Man’s World
The sexiness of The Apothecary Diaries is deceptive. Women use their appearance to exercise the little power they have, and survive. Beauty is a tool. The courtesans of Maomao’s childhood home are intelligent and have larger-than-life personalities, but they still use their bodies to make a living. The highly educated and cunning consorts of the imperial harem carefully maintain their appearances, knowing that the men of the court discard any woman who fails to meet their standards. These two worlds of Maomao’s are one and the same, shown when Maomao whispers the secrets of paizuri into consort Lihua’s ear.
Women’s lives are the feature of The Apothecary Diaries. Survival in a man’s world is difficult. Good fortune plays as much a part as hard work. Circumstances, personal beauty, and intelligence all matter.
There’s a scene that haunts me. In it, Maomao describes how girls purchased at a young age are trained and work as servants for the brothels until they start their journey to adulthood. Once puberty advances, the brothel management separates the girls into two groups: the beautiful and the acceptable. The brothel invests in the beautiful women, continuing their training and apprenticeship to other beautiful courtesans. The acceptable ones remain regular servants until they’re old enough, at which point most make their living as whores. Both repay the brothel with their bodies, but the beautiful ones can end up only having sex if their contracts are bought out, often with men they have influence over. Unlucky girls are used up because they have less natural beauty.
Cunning, Sexy, and Human
Maomao’s story is one of mysteries and puzzles in this man’s world. She has to be smart and cunning as she resolves a series of increasingly difficult tasks. Every mystery she solves — like the poisoned face powder — grows her responsibilities. She goes from investigating illnesses to solving crimes like potential murder. If you enjoy a mystery story, then the episode-to-episode investigations in The Apothecary Diaries are reason enough to watch.
Yet it is Maomao’s relationship with Jinshi that brings much of the color to her investigations. Jinshi is the Emperor’s problem solver, but he’s overworked. He relies on Maomao more and more because he needs help. Jinshi provides a way for the plot to escalate, as well as cause relationship tension because Maomao is one of the only people outwardly immune to his charms (inwardly is a different story). Paradoxically, because Jinshi’s life of status and beauty means most people are fake with him, when Maomao treats him with disdain, he becomes interested in her and appreciates her. Jinshi is also eye candy for the ladies.
More than any of that, Jinshi is utterly human. He’s flirty, friendly, responsible and irresponsible, overwhelmed, and hiding both a secret life and his real emotions. While Maomao can come across as cold, cruel, or even crazy at times, Jinshi’s always there to add a humanizing touch to the story through his affection for her. At times, he’s the viewer’s lens into Maomao’s world when the narrative wants to hide Maomao’s plans and create tension. I have rarely enjoyed two main characters as much as these two; their dynamic is delightful.
Finding Meaning
The Apothecary Diaries has multiple levels of storytelling, leading steadily toward more serious and dangerous scenarios, wrapped up in a beautiful package. Its women-centered stories keep plots linked by theme even when the events are separate. Character designs range from cute to peak sexy. Every character matters, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Best of all, with two double-cour seasons, there are nearly 50 episodes to watch as season two comes to an end.
I’ve barely scratched the surface describing this anime. Do yourself a favor and watch The Apothecary Diaries.
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