Maomao: an atypical protagonist who steals the show (ENG-ESP)
Seeing that the Anime Awards are just around the corner and that Kusuriya no Hitorigoto is in several categories, among them Best Main Character thanks to Maomao, I decided to share with this great community of anime connoisseurs my analysis of this character and the reasons why, personally, I love her so much and she has managed to keep me completely hooked.
Viendo que ya falta poquito para los Anime Awards y que Kusuriya no Hitorigoto figura en varias categorías, entre ellas la de Mejor Personaje Principal gracias a Maomao, decidí compartir con esta gran comunidad de conocedores del anime mi análisis sobre este personaje y las razones por las que, en lo personal, me encanta tanto y ha logrado tenerme completamente enganchada.
For those who still don't know what The Apothecary Diaries is about, we follow a young girl raised in the red light district, an environment full of diseases, secrets and knowledge about the human body. Maomao, the illegitimate daughter of a courtesan and a doctor, grew up surrounded by alchemy, poisons and survival. When she is sold to the imperial palace as a servant, she decides to hide her abilities, but her brilliant mind does not go unnoticed for long.
As I mentioned in a previous review, Maomao is the opposite of the typical anime protagonist. She is not looking for love, power or anyone's approval. What drives her is scientific curiosity and her thirst for knowledge. This makes her a unique figure in historical anime, and positions her as one of the most original female protagonists we have seen in recent years.
Para quienes aún no saben de qué va Los Diarios de la Boticaria, les cuento que seguimos a una joven criada en el distrito rojo, un entorno lleno de enfermedades, secretos y conocimiento sobre el cuerpo humano. Maomao, hija ilegítima de una cortesana y un médico, creció rodeada de alquimia, venenos y supervivencia. Cuando es vendida al palacio imperial como sirvienta, decide ocultar sus habilidades, pero su mente brillante no pasa desapercibida por mucho tiempo.
Como ya mencioné en una reseña anterior, Maomao es todo lo contrario a la típica protagonista de anime. No busca el amor, el poder ni la aprobación de nadie. Lo que la mueve es la curiosidad científica y su sed por el conocimiento. Eso la convierte en una figura única dentro del anime de corte histórico, y la posiciona como una de las protagonistas femeninas más originales que hemos visto en los últimos años.
Maomao's personality is cynical, sarcastic, reserved and, at times, even a little brusque. But behind that facade hides a deeply observant, empathetic young woman with a very clear moral compass. She is not cold, she is rational. From an early age she knew that, in her world, no one would give her anything for free. She learned to survive by wits, and she fears neither blood nor pain. It is not that she is insensitive, she simply understands that there are situations that require a cool head, and she has that natural ability.
La personalidad de Maomao es cínica, sarcástica, reservada y, a veces, hasta un poco brusca. Pero detrás de esa fachada se esconde una joven profundamente observadora, empática y con una brújula moral muy clara. Ella no es fría, es racional. Desde pequeña supo que, en su mundo, nadie le regalaría nada. Aprendió a sobrevivir con ingenio, y no le teme ni a la sangre ni al dolor. No es que sea insensible, simplemente entiende que hay situaciones que requieren cabeza fría, y ella tiene esa habilidad natural.
One of the things I like most about Maomao is his obsession with solving medical mysteries. Her relationship with poisons is not out of malice, but out of learning. She studies them, tests them, analyzes them and that makes her a sort of Sherlock Holmes of the imperial world. Every symptom, every bodily reaction, is a clue for her. Her logical mind disassembles clinical cases as if they were puzzles.
When she arrives at the Inner Palace, she becomes an uncomfortable presence in a system structured by appearances, silence and tradition. While other maidservants and consorts move submissively, Maomao walks with curiosity. Every corridor of the palace, every rumor, every illness, is for her a new challenge to be solved. And without intending to, she becomes an agent of change.
Una de las cosas que más me gustan de Maomao es su obsesión por resolver misterios médicos. Su relación con los venenos no es por malicia, sino por aprendizaje. Los estudia, los prueba, los analiza y eso la convierte en una especie de Sherlock Holmes del mundo imperial. Cada síntoma, cada reacción corporal, es una pista para ella. Su mente lógica desarma los casos clínicos como si fueran rompecabezas.
Cuando llega al Palacio Interior, se convierte en una presencia incómoda en un sistema estructurado por apariencias, silencio y tradición. Mientras otras sirvientas y consortes se mueven con sumisión, Maomao camina con curiosidad. Cada pasillo del palacio, cada rumor, cada enfermedad, es para ella un nuevo reto por resolver. Y sin proponérselo, se convierte en un agente de cambio.
I find it beautiful how this anime shows us that in a world where women are treated as ornaments or political tools, Maomao challenges the status quo by using knowledge as her most powerful tool. Thanks to her intellect, she can save lives, discover truths that no one else dares to see, and protect herself in an environment that could easily devour her. She reminds us that it doesn't take brute force or magical powers to make a difference.
However, Maomao is not perfect, and that makes her all the more interesting. She has her insecurities, especially when faced with emotions she can't logically analyze. Her discomfort with romantic feelings, her inner conflicts, and the ambiguous bond she develops with Jinshi add layers to her character. She is not a flat character, but a complex woman trying to stay true to herself in a world that expects otherwise from her.
Me parece bellísimo cómo este anime nos muestra que en un mundo donde las mujeres son tratadas como adornos o instrumentos políticos, Maomao desafía el statu quo usando el conocimiento como su herramienta más poderosa. Gracias a su intelecto, puede salvar vidas, descubrir verdades que nadie más se atreve a ver y protegerse en un entorno que fácilmente podría devorarla. Ella nos recuerda que no se necesita fuerza bruta ni poderes mágicos para marcar la diferencia.
Sin embargo, Maomao no es perfecta, y eso la vuelve aún más interesante. Tiene sus inseguridades, sobre todo cuando se enfrenta a emociones que no puede analizar con lógica. Su incomodidad ante los sentimientos románticos, sus conflictos internos y el vínculo ambiguo que desarrolla con Jinshi, suman capas a su carácter. Ella no es un personaje plano, sino una mujer compleja que intenta mantenerse fiel a sí misma en un mundo que espera otra cosa de ella.
After watching all the episodes aired so far, I fully understand why she was nominated for Best Lead Character. Maomao represents a new generation of female protagonists: sharp, ironic, pragmatic, but also human, vulnerable and emotionally restrained. Her story doesn't need big battles or transformations to be gripping. It is her intelligence, her critical look at the world and her sharp sense of humor that make her unforgettable. What about you, what do you think of Maomao, do you think she deserves the award? I'll read them in the comments.
Después de ver todos los capítulos emitidos hasta ahora, entiendo perfectamente por qué fue nominada a Mejor Personaje Principal. Maomao representa una nueva generación de protagonistas femeninas: aguda, irónica, pragmática, pero también humana, vulnerable y emocionalmente contenida. Su historia no necesita de grandes batallas ni transformaciones para atrapar. Es su inteligencia, su mirada crítica del mundo y su afilado sentido del humor lo que la hace inolvidable. ¿Y tú? ¿Qué opinas de Maomao? ¿Crees que merece el premio? Los leo en los comentarios.
- Created by: Natsu Hyūga
- Publisher: Shūeisha
- Studio: TOHO animation STUDIOxOLM
- Straeming Platform: Crunchyroll
- Official Website
I am so happy to see someone dedicate Maomao , I find her character unique and very well written not the typical protagonist who loves poison and etc. Thanks for talking about her. 😄
I love this character because I find her to be quite complete and with layers of depth that make her that much more charming.... I think as the anime progresses, we will see this character develop much more. I'm glad you liked this review.
I love Mao Mao, she has so much personality haha. Good post! 💗
I'm glad you liked it. I love Maomao too and I find her a unique character in this kind of historical anime, being that they give a lot of relevance not only to knowledge but also to female empowerment through knowledge.
She's beautiful 😍 I haven't seen the anime yet, but what I've read and seen about Maomao is enough for me to realize that she's the kind of female protagonist I love ❤️ I like her attitudes towards different situations, especially when she ate poison, it's amazing haha 😂
That specific part about eating poison, gives it that different yet funny touch that I love about Maomao, I feel it's unique and also brings a touch of freshness to this imperial cut anime.
The truth is, Maomao is a great character, and yes, I'm also completely hooked on Kusuriya no Hitorigoto! She's just as you describe her: a protagonist who completely breaks the mold. I love that her main driving force is scientific curiosity and her thirst for knowledge, rather than the typical romantic or power clichés. Her cynical yet insightful personality, and how she hides that empathy behind her rational facade, makes her incredibly real and interesting.
She's truly one of the most original and refreshing female protagonists I've seen in years. I'm crossing my fingers that she takes home the award at the Anime Awards! She more than deserves it. Excellent review!
I'm also crossing my fingers that she will be the winner, although I don't deny that Frieren is also a winner, we just have to wait and see what the public decides. I'm glad you're also super hooked on this plot and this character in particular.
Maomao es genial, su inteligencia y personalidad hacen que te agrade de una jeje, buen post!
Maomao is great, his intelligence and personality make you like him hehe, good post!
That's right. She's a character you fall in love with from chapter one and you click immediately, in my case also because of her somewhat cynical sense of humor, I loved that. Her development throughout these two seasons has been great.
Me gustaría saber cómo se desarrollan las habilidades de Maomao en el palacio
Maomao va siendo reconocida en todo el palacio interior por su gran agilidad mental y por resolver misterios que otros consideraban imposibles. Pero lo que más destaca de ella es su habilidad con la medicina en un mundo en el que las mujeres no podían ejercerla. Esto la lleva a vivir aventuras increíbles.
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Mao mao could perfectly win the award to Best Main Character. I love her personality, she is the reason The Apothecary Diaries is so popular.
I really like and agree with your analysis.
I'm glad you like this analysis, I share with you the fact that thanks to it, the general public has been hooked on that anime and that's why it has had so much popularity. I hope it wins the award, although it competes with Frieren and I see that she has also had very good acceptance with the public.
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STOPDe los mejores animes que he visto del año pasado y este año, la verdad. La mezcla de drama como comedía y misterio es fantástico, al igual que lo es la excelente construcción de los personajes y de la historia en sí. La animación es otro punto bastante fuerte, como es de esperarse de su estudio de animación que siempre ha realizado excelentes trabajos en adaptaciones anteriores.
Buena reseña.