[Photos/Images] A Face of Unworldly Resentment... Even Jinshi Is Frightened by Mao Mao's Expression Upon Hearing Her Biological Father's Name in "The Apothecary Diaries" 1st

In episode 18 of the anime "The Apothecary Diaries," the cool and detached Maoｍao (voiced by Aoi Yuki) reveals an intense hatred that makes even Jinshi (voiced by Takeo Otsuka) recoil. Her expression, seemingly rejecting her biological father, was so terrifying that viewers described it as "trauma-inducing" and "seared into their memories."

"The Apothecary Diaries" is an anime adaptation of the light novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu. It has also been adapted into manga in two monthly magazines, with the series' total circulation exceeding 38 million copies. The TV anime aired continuously for two cours starting in October 2023, and gained significant attention for its mystery drama centered around Maoｍao, who works as a food taster in the imperial court, and her comedic interactions with the handsome eunuch Jinshi. The second season began airing in January 2025.

In episode 18, Jinshi is approached by Rakan (voiced by Takuya Kirimoto), a strategist who frequently gets involved with him, with the message, "Could you tell her that her father will visit her soon?" Rakan is both Maoｍao’s biological father and someone she harbors resentment towards for various reasons. When Jinshi informs Maoｍao that an official wishes to meet her and reveals that it is Rakan, Maoｍao does not respond but briefly shows an intense expression of anger. Her expression was so cold that even Jinshi instinctively stepped back, barely managing to say, "I'll try to refuse on your behalf." After Maoｍao calmly left the scene, Jinshi was left bewildered, saying, "I've never seen that face before. I never want to see it again."

Normally, Maoｍao is not easily moved by anything other than poisons and medicines, nor does she often show strong emotions. Her intense reaction in this scene left viewers feeling chills, with comments like "That was incredibly eerie," "Her expression is burned into my memory," and "That was trauma-inducing scary." The animation direction, which briefly zooms in on Maoｍao's expression, also garnered reactions such as "It was so frightening it gave me goosebumps," "The level of anger was conveyed well through the direction," and "Maoｍao's expression in that scene gave me chills."

(C)Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos/"The Apothecary Diaries"Project