Or, random facts about Imperial China
March 23, 2024 4:54 PM Subscribe
“The Apothecary Diaries” is an anime (/web novel/novel/light novel/manga/other manga) that takes place in a fictional kingdom based on Imperial China. Youtuber LibeliumDragonfly, a Chinese-Canadian translator, provides an episode-by-episode “viewing appendix” to separate the facts from the fiction. (SLYTPL)
薬屋のひとりごと(Kusuriya no Hitorigoto, The Apothecary Diaries) on MAL, for the degenerates among us
posted by glonous keming at 5:08 PM on March 23 [4 favorites]
posted by glonous keming at 5:08 PM on March 23 [4 favorites]
Thanks for this. I have recently become an anime watcher - my son curates well! We’ll watch this together.
posted by drowsy at 5:43 PM on March 23
posted by drowsy at 5:43 PM on March 23
This and Frieren have absolutely made the last couple seasons. I still can’t believe the latter is so far ahead of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood on MAL (double middle fingers to the diehard brigaders responsible for years of downvoting everything that threatened its #1 spot: no, seriously, fuck you all. FMAB is mid. Fight me.). Between these two shows the past two seasons have probably been the best representation women protagonists have ever had in anime. Plus they’re just great.
That said, despite Frieren’s historically long dethroning (and while I don’t realistically believe permanent, I can hope), I actually enjoy The Apothecary Diaries more. My only complaint is that if you’re anime-only Jinshi’s early behavior towards Maonao reads much creepier than it actually is with context. Very much looking forward to watching the final episode after meal prep this evening.
posted by Ryvar at 6:20 PM on March 23 [4 favorites]
That said, despite Frieren’s historically long dethroning (and while I don’t realistically believe permanent, I can hope), I actually enjoy The Apothecary Diaries more. My only complaint is that if you’re anime-only Jinshi’s early behavior towards Maonao reads much creepier than it actually is with context. Very much looking forward to watching the final episode after meal prep this evening.
posted by Ryvar at 6:20 PM on March 23 [4 favorites]
Just started watching this today after finishing up Frieren. Don't know if LibeliumDragonfly gets into this at all, but it's interesting that every episode I've seen so far starts with a notice saying everything depicted in the show is fictional and not meant to reflect any historical events or people. This seems like pretty aggressive legalese; it's not like other shows set in historical/pseudo-historical settings have these kinds of notices over top of the actual beginning of the show. Curious as to whether there's a specific reason for it here.
posted by chrominance at 8:01 PM on March 23
posted by chrominance at 8:01 PM on March 23
Fictional apothecaries are notoriously litigious.
posted by star gentle uterus at 12:11 AM on March 24 [2 favorites]
posted by star gentle uterus at 12:11 AM on March 24 [2 favorites]
Historical dramas are regulated in China, see for example https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1006454. The notice is probably just legal cover.
posted by homerica at 12:29 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
posted by homerica at 12:29 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]
If they follow the manga, the next few arcs of Frieren have a bit more action in them so I wonder how they will be received if they make a season 2. I actually think that part of if would work as a movie between seasons, ala Demon Slayer.
posted by LostInUbe at 1:53 AM on March 24
posted by LostInUbe at 1:53 AM on March 24
I wonder how they will be received if they make a season 2
I’m seriously hoping we get a season 2 of Bocchi, first (same director). Absolutely love Frieren but Gotoh is my “it me” whereas Komi-san is just… ugh. No.
So yeah, if he could alternate that would be ideal.
Anyways: the final episode of Apothecary was absolutely wonderful and that dance animation was *chef’s kiss*. The little headbutt at the end had me sit up and go “hey, that’s abusive! … and yet somehow also adorkably cute.”
SEASON 2 CONFIRMED, BABY! LET’S GO!!
posted by Ryvar at 2:26 AM on March 24 [2 favorites]
I’m seriously hoping we get a season 2 of Bocchi, first (same director). Absolutely love Frieren but Gotoh is my “it me” whereas Komi-san is just… ugh. No.
So yeah, if he could alternate that would be ideal.
Anyways: the final episode of Apothecary was absolutely wonderful and that dance animation was *chef’s kiss*. The little headbutt at the end had me sit up and go “hey, that’s abusive! … and yet somehow also adorkably cute.”
The very, very final little placard at the end made me cheer.
SEASON 2 CONFIRMED, BABY! LET’S GO!!
posted by Ryvar at 2:26 AM on March 24 [2 favorites]
The last thing at the end of Frieren was a tease that Frieren's journey to Ende continues and at the end of Apothecary Diaries one that season 2 has been confirmed so... awesome. I just hope they keep up the quality. sometimes there is a serious drop in the quality of anime second seasons.
posted by lordrunningclam at 6:11 AM on March 24
posted by lordrunningclam at 6:11 AM on March 24
This and Frieren (as everybody else is saying) have been my favorites of this season. I'm sorry that the season is over.
I love how they made her father look like a villain, until the last couple of episodes and you discover who he is, and how that sad state of affairs happened. I also hope that the future brings more excellent seasons of these.
I would be remiss if I didn't nod to the nearly as good "Delicious in Dungeon" which has reached it's midpoint. I hope the second half of the season can stand up to the first.
posted by evilDoug at 7:41 AM on March 24
I love how they made her father look like a villain, until the last couple of episodes and you discover who he is, and how that sad state of affairs happened. I also hope that the future brings more excellent seasons of these.
I would be remiss if I didn't nod to the nearly as good "Delicious in Dungeon" which has reached it's midpoint. I hope the second half of the season can stand up to the first.
posted by evilDoug at 7:41 AM on March 24
The past two seasons have been "Frieren Friday" and "Diaries Saturday" for me, with this season also being "Diaries and Dangers (The Dangers in My Heart) Saturday."
I've been reading the light novel and the manga for The Apothecary Diaries and really enjoying both. I'm all caught up and waiting for volume 11 of the novel and volume 12 of the manga. The light novel is really good if you're looking for something new.
I saw the announcement for season 2 for The Apothecary Diaries mentioned on Reddit before I watched the final episode, but still cheered when the end card dropped at the end of the broadcast.
I hope Frieren gets a season 2, but I agree that the next few arcs could also be a good movie. I'm not really a "swords and sorcery" kind of person (the ARIA series is my all time favorite anime and manga series) but I've really enjoyed the Frieren manga and anime.
I didn't realize that the director of Frieren was also the director for Bocchi the Rock, which was my anime of the year for 2022. They also directed I've Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, another of my favorite light novel, manga, and anime series.
posted by ralan at 8:59 AM on March 24
I've been reading the light novel and the manga for The Apothecary Diaries and really enjoying both. I'm all caught up and waiting for volume 11 of the novel and volume 12 of the manga. The light novel is really good if you're looking for something new.
I saw the announcement for season 2 for The Apothecary Diaries mentioned on Reddit before I watched the final episode, but still cheered when the end card dropped at the end of the broadcast.
I hope Frieren gets a season 2, but I agree that the next few arcs could also be a good movie. I'm not really a "swords and sorcery" kind of person (the ARIA series is my all time favorite anime and manga series) but I've really enjoyed the Frieren manga and anime.
I didn't realize that the director of Frieren was also the director for Bocchi the Rock, which was my anime of the year for 2022. They also directed I've Been Killing Slimes For 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level, another of my favorite light novel, manga, and anime series.
posted by ralan at 8:59 AM on March 24
Because the anime wikis often seem to drop any attribution the original author I try to track down the light novels they're based on.
posted by BrotherCaine at 11:33 AM on March 24
posted by BrotherCaine at 11:33 AM on March 24
The commentary on the penultimate episode just dropped. Learn about the inherent accessibility of Chinese Chess!
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:35 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 1:35 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]
And the season finale commentary just posted. Did you catch the wedding?!
It sounds like the channel will keep going with commentary on other anime.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 11:58 AM on March 30
It sounds like the channel will keep going with commentary on other anime.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 11:58 AM on March 30
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I would like to see more of these episode critiques for historical shows. More commonly, you see videos/essays about a single thing (e.g., the lack of chin turrets in “Masters of Air”)
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 4:56 PM on March 23