Second Emulation

A Sharp-Minded Heroine Solves Palace Mysteries

• Shawn Juarez • Episode 89

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A servant with a healer’s mind enters a palace where status rules and secrets spread like smoke—and she chooses anonymity over applause. We unpack the first episode of Apothecary Diaries with a clear-eyed look at its slow-burn mysteries, sharp character choices, and how a “case-of-the-week” format can thrive inside court politics.

We start with a spoiler-free synopsis and the show’s tonal promise: medical deduction as drama. From the careful staging of rank and ritual to the way symptoms point toward social motives, we explore why the series feels closer to a palace procedural than a standard action title. Our take on the protagonist centers on agency over allure—no fanservice shortcuts, no forced romance—just a guarded, razor-smart lead who trades visibility for survival. That deliberate design reframes expectations and becomes the show’s engine.

Then we get honest about friction points. The premiere repeats a few character beats and risks losing momentum in a tight runtime. Viewers wanting strict historical accuracy may bristle at the era-as-backdrop approach, while fans of high-flash spectacle might miss the fireworks. Still, when the episode focuses on diagnosis, cause and effect, and the quiet tension of being seen by the wrong person at the wrong time, it clicks. We compare its rhythm to House MD, highlight community reactions from high praise to harsh pans, and land on a measured 7/10 that leaves us eager for more careful puzzles and political ripples.

If you’re into palace intrigue, medical mysteries, and intelligent female leads, this one belongs on your watchlist. Hit play, hear our breakdown, then tell us where you land: does the slow burn lock you in or push you out? Subscribe, share with a friend who loves smart anime, and drop your rating—your take might make the next episode.

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 📍 Hi, hello, welcome to Second Emulation! Okay, you are just so lucky right now, because you are literally about to spend, like, the best time with my amazing friend, Shawn.

He is, like, the expert on all things movies, anime, and gaming, and he just has, like, the best opinions. Seriously, talking to him is, like, a whole thing, in the best way.

So, get comfy, maybe with a little drink—I don't know, a kombucha, a latte, whatever is your thing—because Shawn is going to take you on, like, a total journey.

Okay, luv that. Here he is

Welcome to Second Alation

I'd like to welcome you back to Second Alation, a show where we dive deep into the latest anime, see what's with your time. I'm Shawn, your host, and today we're gonna be talking about the first episode of The Apothecary Diaries, this new drama shown in anime that premiered on CR Control. If you're a fan of the drama, then this one might be on your radar.

Stick around as we break it down, share your thoughts and see what other anime fans are talking about and to. To correct myself. This is actually, this anime is already in its second season, so let's get into it. 

Synopsis of The Apothecary Diaries

Brief synopsis, no spoilers here. For those who haven't seen it yet, the APO theory diaries follows, and I do apologize if I mispronounce the name.

Mayo. Mayo lives peacefully with her apothecary father until one day she is sold as a lowly servant in the Emperor palace. But she wasn't meant to be compliant life among royalty. So when the emperor's hes falls ill, she decides to step in and find a cure. This catches the eyes of Genchi, a handsome palace official who promotes her.

Now she's making the name for herself, solving Medical Mysteries. This is produced by Toho Animation Studios and OLM Oriental Light and Magic, and directed by Nora. Hero nama and I do apologize for pronouncing that. So let's get into it. 

First Impressions and Character Analysis

First impressions though, this is, it's very reminiscence of.

Any type of medical drama live action, medical drama it does do carry some of those kind of narrative and iconic, not tropes, but stereotypes where you always have that, smart intellectual who. Wants to fly under the radar, but doesn't wanna stand out until it either comes to a life or death situation, which then, reveals themselves to everyone around that they are actually, very smart and, for their status, depending on what the, an enemy's trying to convey this personally, it being I think set in, in China during the Emperor's Rule and at that time where there's different, sections towards the palace. So it was very interesting that, this would present itself in this way. And it's also unique in a sense that I think what kind of threw me off is that I was expecting more, so less drama.

Then actually, solving mysteries. And I felt like this kind of plays into that where we are presented with a we call in regular tv, they call it the Freak of the Week. But from what my understanding is that every episode is going to be. Having to solve or overcome some type of medical mystery that plagues the, the civilians in the palace and outside the palace.

And so seeing this play out, which I haven't seen a lot of in anime, where they take this type of a of approach where every episode is going to be, a problem that needs to be solved. And that's kinda what impressed me on the first episode. Yeah. We got into, we were introduced to the characters and like the overall narrative of what's going on.

I. Th thoroughly thought that, the animal is gonna go in the direction. Oh, she's a woman and she's smart. She cannot be smarter than a man type of direction, because the, in some miss some of these animes don't play or per portray women in a very, positive light. For those who do watch anime, most of these female characters are like, either the ditzy, the overly attractive very love struck, obsessive, none.

None of 'em are as strong or strong-willed. And if they are, they're, designed to be like the ugly duckling. And so it's always an anime. You don't know what you're going to get. And I thought it was going to be like, it feels like more a period piece, which I am enjoying. And so my first impressions was that it really got into the premise of the main character being like a.

A pharmacist having a full knowledge of like herbs and medicines and knowing what you know based on symptoms, what you know, what worked and what wasn't gonna work. Because during, I would assume, like during this time period medicinal medicine and just doctors didn't ha were also in this trial and error where.

You didn't know what was going to work, and there was a lot of bad actors during this time who were trying to gain favor into the palace where it's, you. Spray and type of prey and just hope that it works. And so it was interesting to see that within the first episode.

Strengths and Unique Aspects

And that's what impressed me overall, like the attention to detail. And this is what it is. Here are the things I'm seeing, and straight to the point, not like beating around the bush at all. I think one thing that worked for me personally within the first episode is playing into that role for the main character of wanting to fly under the radar.

Given that she is technically a slave or servant of low, caste level, that she herself understanding like, I am, I am smarter than everyone here. I don't want to lean into that, and I don't want to them to see how exceptional, bright I am. Otherwise, it's going to draw attention and that's something that I just don't want.

I just want to, be unordinary and just be able to navigate my life, in the shadows. Because normally in other animes, you've someone who's gifted. Is always taking that path of like they want to prove, they want to get all the accolades and achievement in accordance with with their gift and always stand out.

And this wasn't the case because the character looks very timid, is not attractive by any means. And what I mean by that is that there's always a common. Character design with women in anime, it's always like the western body type. It's always the curves, the hourglass curve shape, the curves always having, larger breasts than normal than anyone would assume.

And always dressing them in barely to anything type of clothes like body armor. They're always exposed in some way. And this is not that the case, the women are rarely, especially for this character, the main character, fully dressed they're wearing what I can assume to be. And I don't want to step any toes, but it looks like a rob of some sort that's assigned to them based on their standing and they're fully covered.

Now the emperor does have concubines that are garnered favor, who can dress a little bit more. Promiscuous to, to reveal their assets, but they still wear a type of robe per their station. And this is very interesting because none of the women, can use their bodies in a way to tempt men.

'cause they are all on the eagle playing field. So it's very different. And the men characters that are here are. Not overly obsessive. I think what I thought this was going to be was that a another harem type anime. Now there's, even though like animes. That kind of have it like this type of structure don't over overly come out and say they're, harem animes.

They're normally a Kais and action adventures. Where there's always the main character as a lead. And it's always like him buying a slave and or him running into another character who he. Finds attractive in some way. Then they work together and then they develop a relationship. And it's always the same concept overall.

And with this you can tell very well within the first episode, there is no love interest. The main character is not attached to anyone. They are very worst to describe an inch over. They just wanna be left alone, do their time, and then check out. And I've. It was a breath of fresh air for this anime, which kind of impressed me.

And I feel like what works with, this narrative and how the, characters are designed that really sets it apart from other animes, which is nice because it is on, it's, they're having their second season, which is. It goes to show how much of a fan base this enemy has.

Critiques and What Didn't Work

Now, what didn't work where this anime is going to fall off for a lot of a lot of audience members is, the things that I mentioned, what make it work. And that is it doesn't have that sex appeal. A lot of, audience members who are, are going to be men who probably see a female character like this or, and are going to assume that there's gonna be a lot of sex about, she's gonna be sexualized in some way.

And I feel like that is not going to work. A lot of, again, I. Men are not gonna be drawn to this type of anime, especially with a female lead, who by definition isn't meant to be the eye candy of the series. Now I know I said that what didn't work, I feel like having, that's going to deter. Not saying it's a bad thing, having that to deter from, a man who might.

Wanna watch this or who have a certain type, we'll avoid this. Another thing that didn't work in its favor is, the thought or the idea that this is some kind of. Period piece. It is set in a specific time in Chinese history where, you know, the emperor and these type of, concor confine inner circle are inner palace, are very, in fluent at the time.

And those who are like very, huge history buffs might I squirm a bit at watching this because it is portraying, things in history that, they're playing very loosely with, which is, it's understandable. This is not an anime that is a, a period piece.

It is just using that timeframe in order to. Tell that story that it doesn't have to be accurate in, in many regards. So I feel like that is also something that is, isn't gonna work in its favor, as being that it's in medical drama. Some people might feel, and I'm not sure if they would care, but they might, be deterred.

And another thing is that, might deter people from watching it or I feel like might not work, is having a female lead. I know a lot of the anime fans are progressive and in that sense, but having a female lead I. Might turn away for a lot of people, and especially of her, maybe for people in the West, her being headstrong, strong-willed, not really taking any shit from anyone, and being intentionally smart, might turn away people because again, a lot of men who are anime fans.

I don't really watch anime like that, not saying that's a huge group of people, but there are, the minority who are very loud and opinionated when it comes to anime of these types. I don't understand why, but they are there. I think another area, what I feel like didn't work is the attitude or the character itself, how she's felt.

Because even though like we understand that she's trying to like slay, stay under the radar, they lean into that a lot, which is, which is okay, but they always try to remind you within the episode that. She don't care. She, is doing her thing as if the audience doesn't know, this is her personality.

And they, give you very different evidence that she is very uninterest interested, in forming, romantic relationships or friendships at all. And so they tried to hammer that home and, in the first episode it was okay as like an introduction to her character.

But as you get further in the episode you understand that the character is really just antisocial, but to hammer that home every time for, with every interaction gets. Burnt out over a while. Me, myself as the audience watching this, I like, I get it. I understand.

Let's progress. We don't need to be reminded every time she has an interaction that she, doesn't like being social. She's already ma, presented that case. Just leave her alone. And that's one thing I feel like they didn't, I. They kept hammering like every time she would have an interaction you always seemed one-sided.

And then she would just have to either give like a non, like a very basic answer. Like she wasn't trying as hard, like almost like she wanted to coast through her life. That's what I got and I felt like that didn't work. It was. It's good that we're seeing, a different personality type, but at the same time, I feel like that's something that, is uninteresting.

Like I want to focus more on the medical drama side of the anime. Not so more about like her in a sense. Because I feel like they're doing a way too much of, focusing on her interactions and her accolades. I know I sound like, I'm like back tiptoeing and backtracking, but I feel like that was the core that if you know what your core of the enemy is, then lean into that.

I know this is just the first episode, but I feel like those are the things that didn't work for me as watching it, but also let's get, I think another thing is let's get to. The issue at hand because the anime is only 24 minutes, technically 17 minutes. So there's not a lot of time to develop.

And if this is going to be like a freak of the week type of situation where every episode the main character is gonna have to solve a problem, we have to get to it very quickly. And so adding like this this filler within the episode doesn't help to progress a story. 'Cause I'm more focused on what's happening, what's going on?

And, I feel like that could have been portrayed a lot more better in the episode than than what was done before. Mind you, this is only the first episode. I plan to continue watching the anime. The because I am intrigued, it has grabbed my attention, and I would give this anime right now, a seven out of 10 for the first episode of the Apothecary Diaries, because I feel like.

With everything that I just mentioned, what worked and didn't work. It's still a solid anime. It's something that's different that I've seen from, from anime that's a seasonal. And so it's nice to see something that's not just anime. Flop or sch flop that kind of gets just thrown at you.

You're always gonna find a, one or two, maybe three good anime from, the handful of darts they just chuck and hopefully something sticks and that's okay. Not every anime's going to be like a banger, but I feel like this, is something that's good and it's interesting and I'm.

Looking forward to that story and what, the end of the season's going to bring. 

Community Reviews and Reactions

Now let's see what other anime fans are saying about the Apothecary Diaries on anime list. I. To get a sense of like how the community is reacting, I'll read a few, share their rating and let you know if I agree or disagree.

Review one is gonna be from user Allison oh seven says the apothecary diaries, or carus know hit. GoTo, and I apologize if I, butcher that, an anime that's pleasantly surprised me and in my opinion, ranks amongst the best animes of 2023 and 2024. The anime is set in the imperial China, and tells the story of.

Mal who was kidnapped and taken to the empress palates. From there, we begin to learn more about her personality and traits, along with unfolding story revealing an intricate web of interconnection events and mystery. They gave it a 9.8 out of 10, and I will agree with this anime. It's very unique, based off in manga and.

The story kind of unfolds this, it is a slow burn, if you would wanna kind, categorize it in that way. This anime's a slow burn, and I agree with that. It does take time. You learn about her personality and her traits along with this, the overarching story that's unfolding. Review two is gonna be from User Ryan, the bread they wrote from the response online.

I anticipated a mature period piece, a historical drama with sprinkling of mystery tied together through investigations performed by a, if the internet is to believe, which is oddly isn't exceptionally interesting and compelling. Protagonist, I'm gonna have to start. They rated a one out of 10, which as I mentioned earlier, there are, with it being a history piece or the assumption or the illusion that it was going to be a period piece this person seemed disappointed because they were expecting like, more.

History to be involved in this anime. Then. What was actually led to believe. Now I have to disagree with this user because even though I mentioned earlier that was the one thing that didn't work, I felt like his expectations were set too high on this anime. Because given if you watch the trailer, it sets you up of what this anime's going to be about.

Now, if you. Read the synopsis or watched the trailer and still assume that it was going to be, an anime based solely on the Imperial China, then he would've, probably never watched it. Because, but it felt like he solely watched this anime because his expectations were high, that it was going to dive deep into the imperial of China at that time.

At that period in time, and he was let down. So I felt like this is more so his expectations up high and not really setting him low, and then just being upset that, the anime didn't give you what you wanted, so to speak. Our third review is gonna be from username, ginger holic.

They said now that it does it. I thought to myself after credits roll at, in the end of the fifth episode as a total sucker for ugly duckling turned beautiful swan storyline, I knew I got hooked. The moment our female protagonist, Mao, got a makeover, or should I say the lack thereof, they gave it.

A six out of 10. And I have to agree, which actually now looking back on it, forgot that was also part of the story is that they a underlying narrative story, plot or trope. Is that turning. A female character who's designed to be the ugly duckling, and then over time, give her a makeover and then you assume, she's now presented that she was always beautiful and attractive and I forgot that they they did that. And so that is also another thing. 'Cause you also know, I agree with this username, this user and their opinion because I felt like. You find out that the character intentionally makes herself look unappealing.

And when they do the makeover you realize that she was actually beautiful. She just did it as a way to protect herself as a woman in this time. And I felt I do apologize 'cause that was something I did overlook when, think talking about what worked and didn't work. It seems like the general consensus on my anime list is mixed.

There are people who are praising it, giving it, remarkably high scores and then in between, and then there are, other users who are just ranking it very low and. And that's probably fine. I agree with the mixed reviews because depending on your expectations when you're watching this anime, it can go either way.

If you are having high expectations based on what you're seeing and reading and expecting that, it's going to fulfill those expectations, then you might, be let down. And so just what I'm seeing from users on. My anime list and scrolling through, like these were just the ones reviews that caught my eye.

And I thought I should share. But there are other reviews after reviews where I'm seeing, some users are praising the anime and recommending it while others are like, really just dog shitting on it and then not recommending it and then saying Hey, a lot what led to their review and their opinion is just the narrative and the pacing, which I can agree the pacing is a slow burn.

I feel like it. It starts slow and it ramps up. And I feel like every episode is like that. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you're more focused on the draw will please you in like her solving mysteries, then they could adjust that to to the beginning of a, instead of having it being a slow burn which I completely understand.

But I wanna know what you think of the anime. You can, reach out to us on our social which is gonna be in the link in the episode description, and let us know what you think. Did you like the anime? Did you have the same type of opinion that the users did? On my anime list?

Or do you agree or disagree with my my opinion? Let's open a, a discourse. I want to, talk with the anime community fans and see, pick their brains and see what they thought. Is this in anime that you're gonna be putting on your watch list and, binge watching? Let me know.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Getting on to like my final thoughts and overall the first Epi episode of The Apothecary Diaries. I'm gonna write it a seven outta 10. Now, reason for that is that if you're a fan of a drama sci-fi medical drama, I feel like they should have that as a genre in there and medical, because they do.

The anime does. Put a lot of detail in, solving medical cases, but a action drama for this anime is what it would be labeled or in this period type piece. I really enjoyed it. Now, as I mentioned earlier. They're on their second season. I'm definitely going to put this anime in my watch list and continue watching it because I felt I type of, the type of anime or the type of shows I watch are like in par with this and.

For those a little bit, like inside, I've watched a show called House MD that was around that aired in like 2012, which had this type of premise of just solving, medical cases on a week by week basis. And watching the first episode of, the Apothecary Diaries reminded me of that, which is very intriguing because that show is I favorite of mine.

And so it feels like I'm getting that, like that itch filled, like I'm getting that itch scratched by this anime, which is very interesting, which I also forgot to say. So I feel like. This anime, based on what I gave it, the seven out 10 is appropriate. It, may not be everyone's cup of tea, which is fine.

Anime is very universal. There's an anime for everyone. And so overall I'm gonna continue watching it. I feel like the things I said earlier, are very valid and they're, based on my review. Of the first episode, I am eager to see what else happens in the anime. So I am looking forward to that.

Now if you do like the Apothecary Diaries, I recommend checking out, case Close, which is, I would say the longest running detective anime out there that kind of has that same premise, but instead of medical dramas, it's more criminal dramas. And I felt like case clothes would be a good kind of like.

On par with, similar but also polar opposite for this anime and Case Close does have a lot of episodes. Mind you, it is a long running anime that has a huge fan base, but I feel like that recommendation of this anime of case clothes would be good to watch. There are some other ones that I feel like are, in the same realm that I have to like look into. But I'm gonna give that list right now. Another enemy I can recommend is sales at work. Even though this, even though that sales at work isn't like a period piece, it's more about like the internal body inside. I feel like if you're in that medical anime type drama series, that'd be also a good recommendation. I believe it only had one season. I have to double check that, but I feel like that is a good one to watch to fulfill that same scratch or itch for this type of enemy. 

Closing and Next Episode Preview

I had to thank everyone for tuning into this episode of second Simulation.

If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to subscribe. Leave a review, share it with your friends. You can also follow us on our social, our social handles are gonna be a link in the description. So if you click on that, it's gonna, you'll be presented to, the podcast episode for Apple Podcasts, you'll see our YouTube channel where we actually Twitch channel, where we stream games that are, we are reviewing, I.

And you'll see our socials for Instagram and X, which is formerly known as Twitter, and you can contact us at any moment. You can even, leave us a fan mail on our main website. So there are d very different avenues for you to get ahold of us and tell us your, what your thoughts are and if you have any anime recommendations.

Don't be afraid to hit us up. We would love to hear from you. And then next week we're gonna be diving into Furin fi in's, really hot right now. This is Furin beyond your end. They just got announced for season two and we're, I'm excited to dive into this 'cause I've seen a lot of people were it, I'm taking my first step into it.

So that is the next anime that I'll be reviewing. Come next week. Thank you and have a great day.

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