The Apothecary Diaries

I started watching The Apothecary Diaries (2023) during the most stressful time of my college life--senior year. This captivating series, released on Crunchyroll, brought a completely different world into my daily routine. With its mix of poison, royal politics, and a teenage girl who treats toxins like a normal hobby, The Apothecary Diaries became an escape from the stress of everyday life.

Do you like poison, mystery, and plot twists? This series offers all of that and more. The Apothecary Diaries, based on the novel series by Natsu Hyūga, follows the life of Mao-Mao (voiced by Emi Lo), a 17-year-old girl fascinated by poisons. She is introduced as both intelligent and unexpectedly humorous–remaining calm and even bored after being kidnapped. Honestly, how can she be so calm in a situation like that?  

While working in the rear palace, Mao-Mao experiments with different toxins and uses her knowledge to solve mysteries. As the story develops, more characters are introduced, including Jinshi (Kaiji Tang), the head official responsible for maintaining order, and Mao-Mao’s adoptive father, who raised her after her parents could no longer care for her. As she continues solving cases alongside Jinshi, she begins uncovering deeper secrets within the palace, all leading to a larger conspiratorial mystery involving an attempted assassination.  

One of the biggest shocks for me came when Mao-Mao realized that Jinshi was the target of the assassination attempt. After she saves him, it suddenly becomes clear that he is actually the Moon Prince, the Emperor’s brother. From that point on, their relationship becomes even more entertaining. While Jinshi begins to show subtle feelings for her, Mao-Mao reacts with complete disgust, making some of the funniest expressions in the series. The Apothecary Diaries is a phenomenal show for relaxing and escaping during stressful times. It’s easy to get caught up in everyday life and forget to pause, but this series offers a reminder to slow down. Watching Mao-Mao solve problems calmly–even in high-pressure situations–helped me reflect on my own stress. Just like she can’t control everything in the palace, I can’t control everything in my life.

My favorite scene in the series is when Jinshi and Mao-Mao first meet in the rear palace. The chemistry between them was obvious from the start. What makes it more exciting is Jinshi had seen Mao-Mao before she even knew about him. She had been murmuring something as they walked past each other. He does a double-take and twirls around to find her gone. Later, he figures out which servant girl she is, discovering her identity because she is the only one who can read. The development of their relationship is one of the strongest highlights of the series.

I am excited to continue into Season 2, especially with the confirmation of a third season and a movie anticpated to release sometime in October 2026. I am sure there are many plot points left to be discovered. If you have the time, take a break and immerse yourself in a world of mystery, intrigue, and unexpected humor–solving puzzles alongside Mao-Mao and Jinshi.