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Maomao might be changing the perception of female anime characters but she isn’t without flaws. That’s exactly what makes her so well-written and nuanced inThe Apothecary Diaries.Some fans might not have gotten the message, apparent by their dislike of how unreliable she is as a narrator. However, there’s a very compelling reason why her character is this way and it all lies in a confession she made to Jinshi; not one of love but of pain.
A good, well-written character can’t exist without some flaws that could make or break it for fans. The beauty ofThe Apothecary Diariesis how realistic their personalities are, especially Maomao who has been hurt before and it reflects in her character. She copes with logic and maintains her distance from people other than Luomen. Many fans relate and see themselves in her. Norihiro Naganuma has nailed this aspect in his direction ofThe Apothecary Diaries.
Maomao’s Trauma Doesn’t Define Her But It Certainly Explains A Lot
The criticism surrounding Maomao’s character centers on her personality. Many fans believe she’s devoid of emotions, resentful, and has no development throughout the series. All of these are not entirely true. She may be emotionally detached but that’s also because she can’t even begin to describe her own after years of abuse. She was also kidnapped so there’s no reason why she should trust anyone in the Imperial Palace. However, she does slowly but surely developan attachment to Jinshi, a part of her longing to connect with someone.
Gaoshun’s Mysterious Nature Isn’t the Only Reason Why He is One of the Best Written Characters of The Apothecary Diaries
It might be easy to hate a character that seems to live on logic and has the classic “Mary Sue” archetype. However, within her lies deep trauma that is also slowly healing asThe Apothecary Diariesgoes on. She quietly confesses this to Jinshi in a line about her deformed pinky finger. Norihiro Naganuma says so himself inan interview:
I cannot remember the exact full quote, but the line goes like “Do you know the pinky finger? Even if it gets cut, it will regrow.” So that’s the one that left the biggest lasting impression on me. That specific line represents the fact that Maomao’s own trauma, the trauma of her birth, of her mother and father, can also be cured. And the fact that Maomao is telling that to Jinshi shows her growth as a human.Maomao doesn’t understand love, and so there’s a lot of scenes in each episode where she looks at her pinky finger, and so that’s a representation. So being able to tell Jinshi that line, and then the fact that the pinky finger can even cure and regrow, really show Maomao’s character arc in a beautiful way.
Even ifNaganuma’s favorite character is Gaoshun, his understanding of Maomao saves her from getting the Sakura treatment. The pinky dialogue was a mirror of her journey towards overcoming trauma. Just like a pinky finger, she can grow beyond her pain.
Maomao’s Growth InThe Apothecary Diaries
Say what you will about Maomao but she has a well-rounded personality that goes beyond just being a victim of parental abuse. She has a loving relationship with her adoptive father and continues his legacy through apothecary. She solves medical crimes and puzzles through sheer intellect.
The Apothecary Diaries is Fighting a Lone Battle That Will Make Hayao Miyazaki Fall in Love With Anime Again
Maomao mightlack emotional intelligencebut that doesn’t mean she isn’t trying. Her romance with Jinshi proves she’s capable of loving and its natural progression is what makesThe Apothecary Diariesset itselfapart from other shojo anime. Her denial of her feelings is something we all must be guilty of at some part of our life. That’s what makes her so eloquently human.
The Apothecary Diariesis available on Crunchyroll.
Bidisha Mitra
Articles Published :802
Bidisha is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with over 700 published articles. With over 7 years of writing experience, she’s versatile and adept. When she’s not writing, she’s also a voice actor on the side.Bidisha is currently continuing to learn Japanese and gets more fluent everyday. Her expertise is One Piece, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Haikyuu, but has been watching anime for over a decade. She was previously a Content Writer reviewing the latest Kpop music.
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The Apothecary Diaries
