This rare display of strong emotion from Maomao had viewers exclaiming, "I can't believe Maomao would make such a face...," "That expression is burned into my memory," and "It's terrifying to a traumatic degree...," leaving many shaken. The dramatic close-up of Maomao's face was praised for effectively conveying the intensity of her anger, with comments like, "The direction really conveyed the degree of her anger," and "That scene with Maomao gave me chills."

Currently streaming in its entirety, the anime "The Apothecary Diaries" is based on the light novel of the same name by Hyuganatsu. It has been serialized into manga across two monthly magazines, with the series surpassing 40 million copies in circulation. The TV anime aired consecutively for two cours starting October 2023, gaining immense popularity for its mystery plots centered around Maomao working as a "food taster" in the imperial court, as well as the comedic interactions between Maomao and Jinshi. The second season of the anime began airing in January 2025.

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

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