The Apothecary Diaries Has the Best Anime MC of the Year

[@thelegend2146]

MaoMao is a perfect example of how to write a good female character She has her own beliefs and values Not to mention she’s powerful but not a fighter I think a lot of writer don’t know how to write a strong female character, so they just make them fighters MaoMao is, strong character but she not a fighter probably never will be Not to mention that while she is kind hearted and a good person she’s not against prioritizing herself, and her needs and using people (if it doesn’t harm them)

[@hafirenggayuda]

She also more a detective/ investigators who deals with palace intrigues. You need to be smart, witty, and knew how to socialize well so you can survive. Fighting prowess kinda useless in politic there

[@thesquatch9821]

May not be a fighter, but she does know how to kill someone

[@Nameless_Strinova]

imagine if disney actually wrote characters like this again instead they doing stupid shit

[@whm_w8833]

She’s the harmony character that’s makes everyone around her feel and be good

[@Gilded_Cage_Princess]

​@@thesquatch9821i love that she's pretty, but not sexualized, ironically in an atmosphere where women are exploited for sex. ❤

[@miyukisakiko]

Maomao has all the traits to be the best girl this year

[@nuzhatmaliat9258]

i feel like her charac is still being undermined by how ppl saying she is solving them too easily like its a self insert. Like you said, she got both booksmarts by family bg and streetsmarts from brothels, but the other factor ppl miss (ironically) is how many of the cases that happened and stayed hidden for so long was related to women's field of materials, culture, etc. which were underlooked by male doctors and guards bc they wouldnt bother knowing women's stuff + historical culture making it taboo This is why the show works: its specifically on concubine and courtesan politics that utilizes and hides behind feminine cultures so the men trying to solve goes like "idk bitches be crazy (the dancing sleepwalker), women just weak in general (makeup poisoning), spoiled girls be bratty picky eaters (alergies), this gal dumb yandere she tryna die with her lover (planned murder)". Even the maids (majority got no education) fall for this and become easy pawns. Maomao is the bridge that connect two worlds, the world of illiterate maids who dont even know what is allergies and the world of booksmart officials men that think the inner palace dramas and schemes can't be that deep or elaborate.

[@Darksnakeshadow]

To add more to this, the fact that all of them are real concepts and you've basically made an educative version of learning. Some animes just explain what the new material is and their properties are coincidentally perfect for the characters to use. Quite the contreversial take but I won't sugarcoat it. Forgive me if that'd be insulting

[@nuzhatmaliat9258]

@@Darksnakeshadow I get you lol that's like the cheat code for many isekai animes (ascendance of a bookworm had a few of those moments). i know kusuriya isn't perfect (some eras inventions clash) but its really well done compared to other animes

[@DaniDani-eo2vk]

Also her dad/teacher is One of the best doctor in the nation/the ex imperial doctor......she's taught/trained by the best doctor in the nation so she's gonna beee gooood

[@Some_guy_passing_by]

Pretty much all the ' mysteries ' were happening because most women weren't literate , those who were literate ( concubines) were pretty much confined and sheltered , and men didn't bother looking into the troubles of women/ dismissed them , there were minimal resources for the welfare of the rear palace women . Maomao is a genius ( we will know later that both of her parents had top tier iq ) , she is literate , well informed and isn't confined ; that's why it's easy for her to spot certain things that others won't. Detective Conan had mysteries solved much faster , one murder an episode ( until they felt like stretching each mystery into two episodes might make more money) and nobody felt like it was too fast .

[@orangejuice3235]

The author definitely gives her soft plot armor later on in the LN, I can point out a handful of times where other characters were written to be a little too incompetent to prop up Maomao, but most of what she does is believable. I do wish her character actually got more development though. When you put her side by side with Jinshi, who actually gets character progression, a lack of character growth eventually stands out. She doesn't need to develop, it's not bad writing for her to be a static character, but it is pretty jarring to me how the world moves around her throughout the entire series, and then she's just sitting there living her day-by-day until something comes and falls in her lap.

[@anagramhound]

MaoMao is the perfect female MC the western media nowadays tried to make but always failed cuz they ended up being a one dimensional strong girlboss character everytime. Also Frieren too.

[@opornogeros]

Facts

[@riwen0851]

I think I like damian's way of saying it : "she's just someone cool that we enjoy to watch, who also happens to be a girl."

[@derpyduck5207]

​@@riwen0851 absolutely true, but it's also more than that. Being a girl is a core part of her identity, even if only a small part. Replacing her with an exact copy except male would actually detract from the character, which I think is absolute proof that she's a well-written female character.

[@riwen0851]

@@derpyduck5207 yes absolutely

[@SadBirbHours]

@@derpyduck5207I wasn’t expecting media literacy in a KZbin comment section but thank you for giving me faith. I see a lot of people saying Maomao is a good character because she’s well written and just happens to be a girl, but her being a girl is integral to the text and the underlying narrative of power and expectations within the setting.

[@nschannel826]

About the 14 y/o Lishu: It's actually explicitly said in canon that the current emperor, unlike his father (who in later scenes in the manga is implied to be a p*do in general), is against going after younger girls and thus never "visits" Lishu at all. So, yeah, good to know the guy has some standards at least.

[@tanayamohanta2098]

in futher light novel it was indicated he saw her as daughter figure .

[@CatOnACell]

the source material makes it very clear that Lishu the 14-year-old is a purely a political figure to the current emperor. closer to a political hostage. he holds her home country in high enough regards that she is a first ranked consort AND NOTHING ELSE!!

[@frog8878]

that shi better be the case bru😭

[@FaeAngst]

The current emperor also makes it very publicly clear he likes busty girls to be like "yo im not like my dad ok"

[@SnuSnuDungeon]

​@@frog8878the current emperor's father was the pedo. His first empress consort was 10 when she gave birth to the current emperor

[@irondragonmaiden]

Yeah, the emperor even makes a point of going for big breasted women as a sort of "I AM NOT A PEDO LIKE MY FATHER, THANKS!"

[@xL.420x]

@@frog8878 fr when i saw that the old emperor got with her (old emperor actually WAS a pedo unlike current emperor) WHEN SHE WAS NIIINEE, I was jaw dropped horrified lmao

[@no_one00152]

0:45 The Apothecary Diaries is a light novel, which has two manga adaptations currently being serialized at the same time by two different publishers, Square Enix (Monthly Big Gangan) & Shogakukan (Monthly Sunday GX). The Square Enix version, which is illustrated by mangaka Nekokurage and started three months earlier than the Shogakukan version illustrated by Minoji Kurata using the character designs of Toko Shino (the illustrator for the light novels), is the version that received the Next Manga Award and the one that the anime seems to be adapting at least art-wise, although the anime studio promotes both versions and both promote the anime. Not even the author seems to know why there are two different manga adaptions being published at the same time. I'm not sure which version your friend is reading and I've only been reading the former, but most fans seem to agree that the art in the Square Enix adaption is superior to the Shogakukan version, while the story and progression of the Shogkakuan version, which has six more volumes, is better, although both are considered to be faithful adaptions of the light novel. Pretty much agree with your review! But now I'm going to be staring at everyone's feet.

[@thehomiedamian]

Thanks for letting me know!

[@teslashark]

I'm Chinese, watching this felt like it competently beat a lot of Chinese webnovels and webmangas by simply making a fantasy Chinese version of Korean Changumi. It clicked just right.

[@Haigen6]

2:59 Fun Fact: Kagi Tang(Gojo dub va)voices Jinshi in the dub. JJK universe because Jinshi and Gojo are both pretty boys who get all the girls.

[@frequentlyoffline3917]

In the English dub, Jinshi is voiced by Kaiji Tang, the voice of Satoru Gojo.

[@lewisdogdson416]

It wasn’t unnoticed by me that the two leads are played by Chinese American voice actors (Emi Lo and Kaiji Tang). Great casting. And their performances ended up being one of the best English dubs I’ve ever seen.

[@dvillines26]

in last week's episode MaoMao almost had an orgasm, during the emperor's goddamn tea party, because the soup she was tasting was poisoned. to be clear, she was extremely excited about that. MaoMao is a real one. also she got Jinshi absolutely whipped just by looking at him like he's a cockroach.

[@hafirenggayuda]

Jinshi having M tendencies because of her

[@Yuki_Ika7]

MaoMao and Frieren are my top contenders for Best Girl of the season, both are badass brave petite powerhouses and i love it!

[@katherinemerkel3505]

Fern is up there to

[@LDHedgehog]

maomao is human ? and frieren

[@Yuki_Ika7]

@@katherinemerkel3505 true

[@derpyduck5207]

8:35 man I'm not asian but if an asian bows to me like that imma bow back

[@MravacKid]

Y'know, the word for the apothecary person is apothecary.

[@ben-san9677]

1:50 I don't know why the word "apothecarist" exists when "apothecary" already refers to the person making the drugs

[@xyreniaofcthrayn1195]

er no an apothecary is the establishment similar to a modern pharmacy/doctors office ( depending on how rural your town or village was) an apothecarist is the person whom works there. It wasn't really until the 1920's shanghai that the apothecary was synonymous with the the building and the people who work there. TLDR: Blame the British foreigners.

[@Nour-db7ig]

I like how she doesn’t care about her image in society (which she knows is pitiful, and wants it to be). She’s not a wannabe queen because she’s realistic. She just wants a peaceful and simple life. Her kidnapping spoiled everything lol

[@Ash_Wen-li]

Thorfinn: Best boy Maomao: Best girl

[@Haigen6]

What about my boy Boji(Ranking of Kings) as Best boy

[@Ash_Wen-li]

​@@Haigen6That was last year

[@ben-san9677]

Thorfinn: "I have no enemies." Maomao: 11:04

[@Killerqueen2000]

unsure why he doesnt like vinland saga lol

[@Admiral_Briggs]

1:44 The funniest thing about this particular claim is that, if I'm not mistaken, in the DC Universe, Metropolis is located in Kansas (not far from the town Clark Kent (Superman) had crash landed as an infant and raised), at least in a majority of T.V. shows. Gotham is supposedly not more than like 100-200 miles away from Metropolis, even when, in various other comic serializations, they are located in New Jersey or Delaware. So, it's possible that in some stories, Gotham could be located in Illinois (which is where Chicago is located). However, the thing that is truly funny about this is that, in the Dark Knight series of movies, they actually filmed it in Pittsburgh, PA. In fact, I remember back when they were filming the first Dark knight film, I was actually in the area just outside where they were filming while I was hanging out with my friends. I didn't know at the time they were filming, just that they were doing so. I only found out after I watched it in theatres, the day it released... Of course, this isn't necessarily something that would be funny to anyone other than myself and my friends, but it still was a pretty interesting experience. This just kind of reminded me of that now almost 20-year-old memory (I mean it was for Batman Begins), and I just had to share it....

[@jnieto490]

For me apothecary diaries and Frieren both equally hold a place in my heart nowadays and are on my personal favorite anime of all time along with FMA, Bocchi the rock, spice and Wolf and mushoku tensei

[@hyjjjkyikk3158]

Mushoku tensei the only anime that that won my heart then tore it to shreds with season 2 only to rebuild my heart after reading the web novel. Honestly a solid read but the ending is straight up depressing but it is a happy ending

[@antonhallergren588]

Maomao instantly went into S-tier territory with charcaters like Yang wen-li. Such a good show

[@Jayz457]

Hell boy this show is amazing. It came out of no where and MoMo is a Diamond 💎 calling her a gem is an insult. Also Really Really is a fun show also. I love Savage people and MoMo is a beast.

[@elsolitariodrogado]

Actually saying that she is a gem would be correct because some prefer diamonds and some prefer rubies or emeralds so it would be more a matter of what you like the best

[@Yuki_Ika7]

@@elsolitariodrogado agreed, plus Diamonds have mostly artificial value compared to some other gemstones that are rarer and have more interesting uses and have prettier colors

[@Jayz457]

Guys I am totally ignorant when it comes to fine gems. All I know is that woman go nuts for them.

[@DestinyCampbell-q5e]

at this point everybody is getting locked up😂

[@didyouknowbydan5151]

This anime is so good that I think it deserves a live action. I think it's worth it. Who needs super powers and intense action when you have a dialogue this good.

[@soop6921]

As someone who just.. does not like anime, I LOVE apothecary diaries. Nothings too overexaggerated, its funny but not everything is played for jokes. Its just so great. Also, it doesn't have an english dub, so i watch sub. and i literally have no attention span, so the fact that i am able to do that is just a testament to how entertaining the show is

[@ZaraAllegra]

Very seldom I encounter guys recommending a shoujo anime, I am so glad you picked this one up. The light novels are well done, which I am currently updated. I highly recommend A Sign of Affection and Witch Hat Atelier. They're on a different spectrum tho, but both are well done. Also, how about checking out the anime series Moribito: The Guardian of the Spirit? I think the anime series is done well when I compared it to the light novel it was based from. Another underrated anime series is The Vision of Escaflowne. The creator of this is Shoji Kawamori who is known for Robotech and Macross, as well as, the Mechanic Concept Designer from FromSoft's Armored Core game franchise. :)

[@thehomiedamian]

I might be wrong, but isn't the manga classified as a seinen? Not that it matters though, those other series you mentioned are great too!

[@no_one00152]

Moribito is a regular fantasy novel, not light novel, and the manga was serialized in Monthly Gangan, which is the shonen version of the seinen magazine Square Enix's adaptation of Apothecary Diaries appears in. The Shogakukan Apothecaries adaptation also appears in a seinen magazine. A Sign of Affection is the only shojo series you mentioned, but I love your Witch Hat Atelier manga (seinen) and Escaflowne (shonen) recommendations. Escaflowne's music is iconic and by Yoko Kanno.

[@sedarue123]

⁠@@thehomiedamianthe anime might be better classified as a josei anime. The difference between josei and seinen is the same as shoujo and shounen, so a more adult demographic geared towards women. But honestly I don’t know who actually cares about the demographic it is targeted for since people like what they like regardless of who the intended target is

[@daveedhua3760]

@@sedarue123i think he's referring to the fact that the manga is published in a seinen magazine therefore making it a seinen series

[@sedarue123]

@@daveedhua3760 aaaaah that’s interesting

[@o0ugi860]

6:20 low tier frieren edit goes hard

[@nailsnailsgoodinbed]

Did U just say apothecary diaries isn't plot heavy? It has a crazy convoluted plot, you're just only seeing it from Mao Mao's pov in bits at a time

[@goldenpaladin]

Dud you see episode 1 of season 2 yet

[@xstaticelite1640]

Just binged Apothecary Diaries today and this is straight facts

[@yurkdawg]

Lol I'm from Chicago and was wondering if you were too right before you said so... 😉

[@MrMuel1205]

This year it is surprisingly hard to pick best girl, but I think Maomao gets my vote. I think it's a good sign for anime's future that there so many interesting female characters, beyond just Zero Two type waifus. Like, don't get me wrong, I love a good waifu as much as the next weeb, but it's just refreshing to get more nuanced female characters that are just interesting in their own right.

[@Nour-db7ig]

My hopes for her is that she finds a purpose or a goal. I like the fact that she isn’t foolishly hopeful, like many anime characters (they achieve their goals because they’re mc, or don’t cuz nobody cares). She expects nothing good from those around her. But I want her to gain more interest in stuff outside of medicine, and most of all, gain more emotional intelligence (she doesn’t get obvious hints)

[@spineridersinthesky4991]

7:56 is there something about the design of the Verdigris House that screams brothel to Asian viewers? In all the reaction videos I’ve seen, there is a clear divide between people who clock it’s purpose IMMEDIATELY and people who need a minute to figure it out. Are the confused viewers missing something?

[@killerqueen4558]

Hello damian damn I miss you yapping, med school made me busy. Hope you have a great day man.

[@thehomiedamian]

Thanks dawg

[@heyyitsdexter]

walter white vs maomao epic rap battles of history, need it.

[@derpyduck5207]

YES

[@bluemoondiadochi]

With Pablo Escobar making an appearance

[@xstaticelite1640]

13:20 Historical times seem cool sometimes but we NEED the FBI up in here! Lock em all up

[@Yuki_Ika7]

i don't think i could make it back then, especially with all my disabilities, mental problems, poor social skills, an immune system on the weak side, so on and so forth. But history is fun to learn about most of the time

[@mardshima2070]

Sadly he is the highest authority

[@romaingraphiste]

I think one of the major things that helped this serie to stand up before everything else is the fact that the characters are honest to themselves and don't wear a mask. In japanese it is called "honne tatemae", aka the social mask you wear at work, in opposition to your true feelings. Here, the characters behave more like occidental people than asiatic people, in a way.

[@tylerc5021]

I can't wait to watch your reactions to the rest!

[@DIYDazzleNails]

i saw someone else's video call her a good female character because she's "one of the boys" and it just rubbed me the wrong way (insinuating the correct way to be a girl is to be a tomboy). so i enjoyed this video miles more through your own explanations

[@maplepainttube8158]

The one of the boys thing doesn’t even make sense to me. Maomao is so good because she’s a three dimensional person, not a trope or stereotype. The things that make her odd make her odd as a person, not just odd as a girl. But at the same time being a girl does inform her character, for example on a very obvious level, she wouldn’t have been kidnapped and working as a maid if she was a boy, but on top of that she, like most of the other female characters, are very aware of what it means to be a girl in their world, and every female character has slightly different methods of survival and attitudes towards it. Also in general I love how Maomao has many female friendships where they mutually prop each other up.

[@Damonnanashi]

I started reading the LN, and caught up to the series in like a week. Shit is just too good. Also, just to say, it ain't Maomao that's the yandere. Just sayin. Also also, if anyone is a real one, its Ah-Duo. She's awesome.

[@skycladobserver9246]

This show and Frieren both are the best shows with the best MC's of the season, no contest.

[@rebekadoczi2136]

4:30 Man, you'll have to rewatch this scene in the future because this is an excellent foreshadowing. 🤩 Without spoilers, I'll say this: she wasn't thinking about simply selling this medicine if it existed. She had personal experiences in mind. 😌😔

[@rushirushi2415]

I always click on your video thinking that this review gonna be trash and say some abusive words in comments to feel better but you always nail every video thumb up 👍 for this video ❤

[@jonyloco4134]

Jinshi, we need to cook!

[@anhdunghisinh]

hey, which version of manga did you read? there are at least 2 major manga adaptation of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto (KH). The 1st one is named Pharmacist Dialogue, which many people don't like it due to low quality of art style and story rushing. The 2nd version is the Square Enix version, which the anime adapted from. This one has much better art style, and follow the pace of the currently releasing light novel of KH which make people prefer this version more. One more plus side If you are a guy, the "Pairs of Peaches" of people like Consort Rifa, Pairin etc ... are very "Exquisite" in Square Enix version :) you should check this version out :)

[@thehomiedamian]

I think I read the square enix one

[@amandabernard8179]

The anime follows the original source... light novels. The manga does not have smaller cases and other details

[@Darksnakeshadow]

There is definitely a girl like her in reality if the author manage to create such a character it would be backed up by references. If otherwise I'll be head over heels for the author's imagination and creativity. IT'S A PRODIGY.

[@clowtears1898]

1:35 Yay, another person that spelled it A-pocket-ary

[@xewiii]

11:39 bro?

[@thehomiedamian]

🤷‍♂️

[@theunlverse5241]

What's funny is that Gotham City is actually in New Jersey so now you have to live with knowledge that Gotham is in fact Newark.

[@sovest555]

I always chuckle a bit when the other ladies-in-waiting dote on Maomao after jumping to conclusions about certain things. Of course, maybe it is for the best they don't know the truth XD

[@WeaponsRemorse]

this is one of my favorite anime like top 5 shit i'm buying it as soon as it is available i'm enjoying being a anime only

[@rumplstiltztinkerstein]

Bro, Bro, Bro, Have you watched "Under Ninja"? Here is a quick idea of what to expect: The characters are people I can't decide if I hate or love them. They are both cool and insanely cringe. I think I hate them because they are degenerates just like me. The story: I have no idea what is going on, but some cool things happen, I guess. The animation: They somehow make the combat both interesting and clunky at the same time. The super powers: Incredibly lame. But also cool some times? Soundtrack: I think it is pretty decent. Please make a video about it?

[@scorpio1coco562]

Yapping is crazy

[@guilty329]

Just keep a buzzer with “boop boop dats the sound of police” 😂😂😂 instead of saying lock them up 🤣🤣

[@shiichan32]

i love the ln but manga is good as well. the ln is the actual source but the art is based on the manga

[@Opscot]

Please make a video on selling School Days as a masterpiece anime

[@Jayz457]

Yeah Still not sold on that Anime. I need a hard sale on it.

[@TheFandomGirlCreations]

Gojo and Jinshi share a voice actor in English wich makes sense because they are both hot

[@modvavet]

I love this series and MaoMao is the best. Also, we get that banging OP sung by Asian Shakira

[@steviemoe-]

Kevin Penkin on the music is so goated

[@7474cv]

definitely love this anime. the best i've seen in a long time.

[@mrsoulslike570]

Maomao is just delightfull. All the characters are 😊

[@ak0ka486]

finally something i can agree with. bruh

[@omghi95]

Returning here to let you know that Gojo voices the English dub lol. Jinshi really is them.

[@someguythatdoesstuff7658]

For me, Thorfinn from PEAKLAND SAGA is my male MC of the year while Mizu from Blue Eye Samurai is my femal MC of the year. They are the GOATS. Both exemplify PEAK character writing and development. Your choice for MC of the Year is still GOATED though

[@JaydenBelieves]

Mao Mao aint Walter white thats Walter Asian💀

[@Timotarius_]

is the audio out of sync with your lips?

[@xlottyx2979]

u look like that one valorant pro player in prx forsaken

[@mickeyroth1454]

Where can I watch Apothecary Daires?

[@thirdperspectivebyrishabh]

crunchyroll

[@raiboodie]

Netflix

[@mikakestudios5891]

Crunchyroll

[@Plexdet]

I see your Maomao, and I raise you one Frieren

[@missmisomisa]

Prfffft I burst out laughing when you said Geto and Jinshi are the same person in different universes …….. btw : it’s a-po-the-car-ist ~ not tough B Pfffft

[@halted_code]

courtesan is pronounced like parmesan

[@cookiebeast555]

Maomao just the goat what can I say

[@Ourspark34]

What about Frieren?

[@aiver9]

Maomao>

[@ishashifar]

She's also another great female charecter maomao and frieren were my favourites from fall season

[@michaelmireles3119]

I like the show...you should watch it. But after 6 eps can't say it's better than frieren yet...

[@Ash_Wen-li]

That's fair but Frieren is also 4 episodes ahead and this show feels like a slow burn so it hasn't gotten to its real plot yet

[@michaelmireles3119]

@Ash_Wen-li yup! That's why I put yet at the end haha. The drama keeps elevating each ep for Maomao. Will be interesting to see how far it goes

[@M3g4nium]

Me when there's an anime that doesn't make most of there female characters only personality trait just Fan Service or Mary Sue pixie dream sTrOnG girl

[@jonathanhamlet1942]

Agreed!!

[@riizeontop]

i haven't watched the video yet but yes

[@amandadiamond7147]

Characters with weird special interest will always get my attention and when they are woman presenting, its even better for me, a womanish weirdo with a special interest. Maomao is a bit more fun than Count Cain.

[@KaladinPaladin]

Comment for the algorithm

[@CaptainStupendous]

It's pronounced core-teh-sans, not core-tee-sians.

[@ganipra7402]

Maomao the best girl??? how about she-hulk? or maybe all female in 'the marvels'? they trying to make female character better / undefeatable / strong / interesting / charming than male. it is better than maomao?? ... ... ... ok ok, comparing them is an insult, JK :p

[@Anon-cp6bm]

I don't know, I feel like PLUTO has the better main character

[@panjipewe]

Maomao best girl of the year... Yes even better than ai...

[@WeaponsRemorse]

bro xahiolin is fucking awesome best girl

[@Yuki_Ika7]

that is the girl Maomao befriended in episode 1, right? yeah she is awesome too, an excellent friend

[@WeaponsRemorse]

@@Yuki_Ika7 yeah

[@nonstopper1410]

Maomao is the best Girl!

[@kaifuyu1]

You look skinner? Are you eating well?

[@osteoalchemist]

Maomao could be walter white but walter white couldnt be maomao

[@spicy_l3mons135]

Chapter 63.1

[@exnozgaming5657]

"stellar animation" - *shows jjk really ?

[@1204khalil]

My problem with maomao is her "no my problem" or "im not going to think more since i dont have more evedince" actitude even when that put her in situations that almost kill her

[@RKNancy]

Nah, she's very careful. It's not the usual stuff. In real life, you need to take a step back before you jump to conclusions.

[@P21345]

And the worst love interest of the year

[@nicholasli8017]

that manga sucks read the other version