One of the main reasons why The Apothecary Diaries was a success was Maomao’s character development that followed a singular trope.

SUMMARY

Maomao being the protagonist of The Apothecary Diaries holds a lot of significance to the story.
Her character development in the narrative makes her more relatable and realistic.
This character development follows the slow burn romance trope that is also seen in the development of her feelings towards Jinshi.

2024 was a good year for the shoujo genre in the anime industry, and one of the main reasons behind it was The Apothecary Diaries. The first season, which started in October 2023 and went on till March 2024, was considered one of the top 5 anime series of the year. And one of the main reasons behind the immense success of The Apothecary Diaries is Maomao.

Maomao, the unreliable narrator of The Apothecary Diaries | Credit: Toho Animation

Based on the Japanese light novel series by Natsu Hyuuga and Touko Shino, The Apothecary Diaries follows the story of Maomao, an apothecary in the red-light district. She was eventually sold to the Imperial Palace as a servant, and her life changed as she explored the different mysteries of the Royal Court of the Imperial Palace along with Jinshi.

Maomao’s character has been a reason for The Apothecary Diaries’ success, as she is one of the most relatable and realistic characters. This realism in her character comes from her feelings for Jinshi, which she eventually develops. And although it is one of the most frustrating romantic tropes, it works perfectly with her character and for the story.

The slow-burn romantic trope makes Maomao relatable

Maomao, being the protagonist of The Apothecary Diaries, holds a lot of significance in almost every aspect of the story. From the investigation of the Royal Court to helping Jinshi, Maomao carries a lot of duties that ideally should have overwhelmed her as a character. However, her understanding of the surroundings and slowly adjusting her accordingly make her perfect.

Her growth is reflected in how she deals with the challenges, and one such challenge that she faces is her feelings towards Jinshi. Just like any other character development, Maomao’s feelings toward Jinshi gradually change her and make her fall in love with him, giving her a sense of realism.

Maomao and Jinshi | Credit: Toho Animation

But Hyuuga makes it relatable by following the slow-burn romantic trope in almost every aspect of her character’s growth. This way her development in the overall narrative of The Apothecary Diaries creates tension and anticipation, making the story enticing and thrilling for fans.

Maomao’s voice actor talks about her character development

Maomao’s relatable and realistic character development was also revealed by her voice actor, Aoi Yuki, during her interview which was shared by Mantan Web. Yuki pointed out that unlike other characters Maomao doesn’t experience growth and development drastically, but she observes everything around her, and then she tries to loosen up according to the situation.

Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries | Credit: Toho Animation

Yuki stated:

Maomao is not a child who changes or grows a lot. She carefully observes her surroundings, and it’s a story about the people around her taking a step forward and growing. In the midst of all this, Maomao’s heart also loosens up a little.

Maomao’s personality makes her feel intrigued by almost everything but that doesn’t mean that she will change herself in order to discover the world. She knows her status in the world and that is why she makes sure to be as real as possible.

With the second season of The Apothecary Diaries just around the corner, fans will get to see more of Maomao’s character and her slow but significant growth in the series and also her love for Jinshi.