Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Premiere Promises Intrigue

#review #anime October 02, 2026

by Carla Bianca Carreon , Tamara Lazic

The Apothecary Diaries is one of the most compelling anime adaptations in recent years and for a good reason. The series brought so much intrigue, mysteries, and incredible character writing. And now, it is back for a third season.

The first episode wastes no time in pulling us back into the captivating world of The Apothecary Diaries. With the help of the narrator (voiced by the legendary Sumi Shimamoto), the episode lays out the events following the rebellion, serving as a sort of recap but hinting at a mix of uncertainty and excitement for what’s to come. In fact, it seems that there are a lot of changes to look forward to in Season 3, combined with a brief time skip. Maomao isn’t in the rear palace anymore, Jinshi takes on the responsibilities of the Imperial brother, and Li’s political landscape is entering a new era. Almost everyone makes an appearance too, and even brief character cameos are setting up the stage for stories that are to come.

Carla's Fangirling Commentary (Thank you, I toned it down hehe)

The Apothecary Diaries has no shortage of mysterious foreshadowing and political intrigue, and one of my favorite surprises from the anime is Rikuson, the trusty aide of Lakan. I am so excited that he showed up in the first episode of Season 3 and, in comparison to his previous cameos, the episode actually gave us a little bit of his character this time. Now, not only do we know he's a polite, smart, and reliable character, but he can also be a bit cheeky at times. I suppose that’s how he effectively manages Lakan and Lahan, after all! It’s an interesting detail to look forward to in the La Clan dynamics.

These are just breadcrumbs for teasing, but it’s so satisfying to see just enough personality and presence to make one feel like there's a much bigger story to unfold. It’s super exciting to also see how Koki Uchiyama will be portraying his future antics with Maomao and Jinshi. As a manga and light novel reader, this is one of the best treats of the Season 3 premiere.

Maomao navigating around the Verdigris house is also a refreshing change of scenery, especially now that she lives with Kyou-u, or rather, Chou-u (they animated the light novel illustration too!). I think we can speak for everyone when we say that the boy easily took the spotlight. His warm personality distracts us from the serious and bittersweet parts of the story, including the disgusting locusts and grasshoppers. Maomao and Chou-u's dynamic is sibling-like, and it will be interesting to see if he will be the force that will make her emotionally mature a bit.

It's obvious Maomao misses Shisui, who left a big mark on her life, despite the brief time they spent together. Maomao mourns the loss of her friend in her own way, which is finding another potential mystery to solve.

The mystery will likely be embroiled in a political intrigue. A new Empress has been chosen, leading to celebrations, but also some grumbling. While Gyokuyo shine, Lihua's supporters grumble about the timing of her child's death. It's obvious they don't care about Lihua and that she is only a pawn, but she takes it in stride. Lishu's position will also be interesting to explore this season.

Season 3 of The Apothecary Diaries brings back the recognizable, vivid visuals and the wonderful music. Satoru Kosaki, Kevin Penkin, and Arisa Okehazama outdid themselves: each scene was accompanied by carefully chosen tracks that elevated the watching experience to a completely new level.

Although a slower episode, the premiere of The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 is sure to make the viewer fall in love with the anime all over again. There is something incredible about Hyuganatsu's ability to intertwine sad moments that follow permanent changes with excitement for the upcoming plotlines. The disappointing part is having to wait another week for the next episode, but hopefully the fandom will make even the wait fun.