10 Best The Apothecary Diaries Characters, Ranked

There’s hardly any character in The Apothecary Diaries who is simply bad, excluding the outright villainous figures, of course. Every member of both the main and supporting cast plays their respective role to near perfection. Still, if we had to choose the 10 best characters in the series, the list would look something like the one below.

We’ve even ranked them based on how effectively each character steals the show in their own way. So, let’s check them out.

10 Guen’s Change in Personality Is the Funniest in the Series

Guen might be one of the most wholesome characters in the series. The guy has got nothing to worry about and just leisurely passes his days since Maomao arrived. But his first impression wasn’t that positive, though.

Initially, Guen came off as a self-centered apothecary in the palace, with much ego but little to no knowledge. It’s worth wondering how he was even allowed to work there. That said, after Maomao arrived at the clinic, his persona changed. And honestly, every moment he now shares with the cat, Luomen, or others lightens the mood.

9 Xiaolan Brings an Overwhelmingly Positive Energy Throughout

While there may not be much to say about Xiaolan since she has never been an active character in the main plot, she might still be the first & closest friend Maomao ever had. Xiaolan is a little too innocent for the politically dark storyline of The Apothecary Diaries.

Even so, her innocence always feels warm in certain smaller arcs. That one time when Maomao, Xiaolan, and Shisui teamed up to brew some chocolate, that was really wholesome. Also, her Japanese voice actor did a great job in the anime, making her all the more adorable. Thus, she easily secures 9th place here.

8 Suirei Goes Through a Lot in Her Traumatic Character Arc

In the later story arcs of the series, we got to see the full picture behind Suirei’s past. She is not only smart and ikemen-esque (possessing a masculine beauty), but her character has much depth that we couldn’t initially expect. She even gave Maomao a tough time.

Being the neglected daughter of the Shi clan, Suirei was mostly manipulated and abused by her stepmother, Shenmei. Her intelligence and wit were exploited, and she basically became a pawn in the series. But later, when the truth surfaces, she develops a fresh and welcoming personality.

7 Luomen’s Presence Brings a Sense of Calm in the Storyline

Although he was kicked out of the palace in the past, fate forced Luomen back to the same place. After all, his excellence in pharmacy and surgical operations as a doctor is inarguably unmatched. And upon returning to the palace, the old man was still fun to be around and a master of his craft.

That said, even the time he spent in the pleasure district was quite fulfilling. If circumstances hadn’t pulled him in, he might have preferred to stay at his cottage. But now that he is in the palace, his interactions with Guen, the cat, Jinshi, and others are some of the most wholesome moments in the series.

6 Lady Gyokuyou Might Be the Most Emotionally Intelligent Concubine

Among the other consorts, Lady Gyokuyou is arguably the best. The fact that she earned the Emperor’s approval to conceive his child is proof enough. Also, whenever she banters with Maomao and Jinshi on certain topics, her emotional intelligence really shines through.

Plus, her beauty is almost unmatched. Even the way Gyokuyou speaks and acts is just as classy as it is endearing. Therefore, she very much deserves a place on this list. Among the supporting characters, her contribution to Maomao’s growth is pretty significant.

5 Gaoshun’s Way of Interacting With Maomao Is Quite Adorable

The dude is almost an all-rounder. Though Gaoshun doesn’t excel at any one thing, he is still smart, caring, a strong fighter, Jinshi’s right-hand man, and much more. The best thing about Gaoshun is how he addresses Maomao as Xiaomao. It just sounds so personal and cute.

In fact, Gaoshun and Maomao have also been on many side quests together, which were quite introspective as well. Even his way of interacting with Jinshi is quite mature and understanding. He is like a father figure to Jinshi. Thus, he easily secures a place in the top 5 on this list.

4 Lakan Changes the Way We See Him As the Story Progresses

When Lakan was first introduced in the series, the hatred he brought among fans was real. He appeared to be a self-centered master strategist of the emperor and was quite skillful at his line of work. Though he was never really a villain figure, his initial impression was horrible.

But later, we find out that Lakan’s twisted personality stems from a dark past. Also, as it turns out, he is the biological father of Maomao! After solving the mystery behind his backstory, he is now just a father whose love for his daughter knows no bounds. The man would do anything for Maomao at this point.

3 Jinshi’s Status & His Love for Maomao Is a Deadly Combination

Now that we know that Jinshi is the Crown Prince, his interactions with Maomao make our hearts race even faster. Like, we know what it means. If Maomao properly acknowledges his feelings, then she could legitimately become the wife of the next emperor!

And from the very beginning of the storyline, Jinshi’s way of interacting with Maomao has been inarguably the best thing in the anime. Some of their moments have even gotten a little too spicy. Jinshi basically acts like a lovesick maiden, and that alone is more than enough to put him in 3rd place.

2 Loulan Stands Out as the Most Complex Character in the Series

The whole journey of uncovering the true identity of Shisui/Lady Loulan was extremely well executed. The moments she shared as Shisui with Maomao and Xiaolan are some of the most wholesome parts of the story. But after her real identity was revealed, the complexity behind her character could truly be felt.

Her character arc is also tragic, as Shenmei largely manipulated her into performing heinous acts. But when the storyline reached its climax, her self-sacrifice for Maomao and others was arguably the series’ most emotional moment. She easily deserves 2nd place here, which is why she’s ranked so highly.

1 Maomao Remains the Heart and Soul of The Apothecary Diaries

Finally, we got our girl, Maomao. Only once in a blue moon do we see a female MC who is this well-written. Even most male MCs in anime would pale in comparison. Her curiosity for knowledge, internal monologues, and disgust toward Jinshi are just too perfect a combo.

Every single episode becomes 10 times more interesting just because Maomao is present. She has an aura that boosts anyone’s mood. Even up to the current progression of the series, Maomao’s character writing is unrivaled. The first spot will always be reserved for her.

Some quick info on The Apothecary Diaries anime:

RELEASE DATE	Season 1: October 22, 2023 Season 2: January 10, 2025
MAL SCORE (as of June 9, 2026)	Season 1: 8.85/10 Season 2: 8.91/10
WHERE TO WATCH	Crunchyroll

Who else did you wish to see on the list?

The Apothecary Diaries is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.