The Apothecary Diaries Season One

Okay, we're a bit late to this one. The Apothecary Diaries has been a popular series ever since it debuted in 2023, with two seasons down already and a third on the way. Moreover it began as a manga in 2011, so MaoMao and her adventures in the Chinese court have been around for over a decade.

Happily the series found its way to Netflix and, as a series that's been on my "watch when you get time" list, I'm happy to say that I concluded season 1 tonight.

To recap for those that aren't familiar, MaoMao is the daughter of an apothecary that finds herself kidnapped and sold into slavery at the Emperor's palace. Her skills and intelligence mark her out as something special and it's not long before she finds herself climbing the ranks, finding favour with the head eunuch Lord Jinshi. Palace politics, intrigue, scientific mystery and even murder follow - it's hard not to become absorbed in the life of Chinese royalty and their servants.

Jinshi and MaoMao's chemistry is as powerful as any of the drugs used in the show

Although saying that, it did take me a while to warm to the series. No doubt it's an attractive show, dripping with beautiful period detail, with MaoMao a wonderful point of view character to introduce the viewer to everything that's going on around her. It's almost Blackadder-esque in its sly wit and often world-weary, even sarcastic commentary on the events surrounding our heroine that give the show its flavour - all the protocol and formality she has to deal with seems needless to her, the exhausting pomp and ceremony just a superfluous and tiring game. Even so, she proves to be a master of the rules and manages to flummox those around her with a satisfying ease. It's a slow-burn start but once you get the feel of this period drama, it's hard to put down.

These social borders do make the show all the more intriguing though - often MaoMao finds herself fighting the system as much as the wily characters that manipulate it for their own ends. He knowledge of natural materials and processes is pretty much unmatched, and it's the clever reveals that give the show a pop not unlike US medical drama House, whose star is every bit as sardonic as our Chinese heroine.

The series is also smart in keeping the relationship between MaoMao and Lord Jinshi a contentious one, with MaoMao often frustrated by Jinshi's immaturity and he constantly trying to understand her motivations and cover for her many eccentricities within the palace grounds. There's an attraction there, but it's really just budding in season one.

So if, like me, you've not yet picked up on The Apothecary Diaries I can wholeheartedly recommend it, especially if you're a fan of historical drama. There's a verve and wit to the show that really comes through once the primary characters are established, some genuinely tragic and moving stories to get you dewy-eyed and enough wit to keep the series interesting despite the thoughtful pacing. No, it's not a shonen series with special moves and numerous fight scenes, but for a Sunday-afternoon there's nowhere better to be than the Emperor's palace following MaoMao's adventures.