There are several reasons why The Apothecary Diaries is celebrated as a masterpiece. To say the least, it is a fine seinen series. It’s got mystery, suspense, drama, and comedy all blended into a wholesome plot.
What makes it top-tier is Natsu Hyuga’s approach to her characters. Each character is layered with complexities that make them all so unique and stand out. But there is one such individual whose story remains jarring to most fans.
She embodies one of the darkest themes in the story. Be it her backstory or actions, the author left no stone unturned in bringing out the intricacies of the anime’s themes through the character. But what makes it so disturbing? Let’s find out!
The Apothecary Diaries aced complex characterization with Shisui’s character
It isn’t often that you come across a well-detailed story that stays with you, now is it? Well, The Apothecary Diaries is one such example with its array of characters, intriguing themes, and the element of surprise. But that’s not it!
Unlike most series that abandon their characters, this one pays great attention to them. This applies to their complexities, especially when it comes to their personality. Precisely one of the reasons why fans love the series so much.
One such character is Shisui, who piqued our interest early on. Her interactions, motivations, and persona made her all the more enigmatic. But it was only recently that viewers couldn’t help but empathize with her past.
Kidnapping Maomao seems trivial when we look at her poisoning of the Shi clan children. It angered most fans, but readers are well aware of the nuances behind it. Some even went so far as to validate her painful backstory:
Shisui Was Just a Child
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What makes her so profound is how her character is written. Her motivations and actions seem to posit her as a potential villain. However, she’s far from the idea. This is because Natsu Hyuga sensibly portrayed her trauma in the story.
The intricacies of trauma in Natsu Hyuga’s story
Natsu Hyuga deserves applause for her sensible portrayal of trauma. Be it Maomao or Shenlu, her characters highlight the spectrum of responses. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, they say, but that’s the opposite.
With Shisui, the trauma stripped her of her childhood. With a mother like Shenmei, one cannot expect any less. At this moment, you’d want to console her, but that isn’t the end of it all. She matured emotionally way too early.
Trauma is something so profound that it grips you mentally. Shisui took drastic measures. She acts as an emotional anchor for Suirei and orchestrates the events to protect her clan. That is merely a fraction of what she endured.
Shenmei’s physical and emotional abuse shook her completely. With the lady abusing Suirei, all she could do was watch. She even turned herself into a doll to play by her mother’s rules, but she was smart in doing so.
By getting into her mother’s good books, Shisui was able to protect the ones around her. This also includes Maomao and the Shi clan children, who were able to safely escape through the “poison,” aka the resurrection drug.
Through Maomao, she felt seen, heard, and validated as an individual. It is probably one of the most realistic portrayals of abuse and trauma, and it is spot-on!
The Apothecary Diaries is currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
