by Maomao may be one of the sharpest problem-solvers in The Apothecary Diaries, but even her incredible intelligence has limits. In Episode 13, her complete lack of interest in anything unrelated to medicine and poison causes her to fail an important examination, leaving Jinshi—and viewers—completely stunned.
The anime The Apothecary Diaries is known for its clever mysteries, medical knowledge, palace intrigue, and protagonist Maomao’s unusual personality. She can notice tiny details that almost everyone else overlooks, identify poisons, recognize symptoms, and solve complicated incidents using her knowledge of medicine and pharmacology.
However, Episode 13 shows that being brilliant in one particular field does not necessarily mean being good at everything.
After returning to the court, Maomao is ordered by Jinshi to take an examination required for her to work as a court lady. Jinshi has enormous confidence in her abilities and naturally assumes that she will pass without much trouble.
Instead, Maomao fails.
And her reaction is perhaps even funnier than the failure itself.
When Jinshi asks her why she failed, Maomao essentially responds with the attitude of someone wondering why he ever expected her to succeed in the first place.
The unexpected scene quickly became a talking point among viewers, with reactions ranging from laughter to disbelief at just how extreme Maomao’s interests are.
Maomao Is Brilliant—but Only When She Cares
One of the most interesting things about Maomao is that her intelligence is highly specialized.
She has extensive knowledge of medicine, herbs, poisons, toxins, symptoms, treatments, and the human body. Her childhood experience working around an apothecary also gave her practical knowledge that goes far beyond what an ordinary court lady would know.
This knowledge repeatedly allows her to solve mysteries throughout the series.
But Maomao has never pretended to be interested in everything.
In Episode 13, she openly admits that her memory is below average when it comes to subjects she does not care about. That becomes the key reason she struggles with the examination.
For Maomao, memorizing the names of palace buildings, departments, officials, customs, and other information simply isn’t as interesting as discovering whether a plant growing beside the road could be useful as medicine.
That difference in priorities is exactly what gets her into trouble.
Jinshi Expects Maomao to Pass Easily
After Maomao is dismissed from the Inner Palace, she does not simply return to her previous life.
Jinshi arranges for her to return to the court. Because he recognizes her unusual intelligence and values her abilities, he wants her to work in an official capacity.
However, Maomao needs to pass an examination before she can become a court lady.
From Jinshi’s perspective, there is little reason to worry.
After all, Maomao has already demonstrated an extraordinary ability to analyze complicated situations. She can identify poisons, recognize medical conditions, understand strange symptoms, and uncover hidden motives.
If she can solve mysteries that leave other people confused, surely she should be able to pass a basic written examination.
That is Jinshi’s assumption.
Unfortunately for him, Maomao’s brain does not work that way.
Her knowledge is enormous—but extremely selective.
Gaoshun Tries to Prepare Maomao
Before the examination, Gaoshun, Jinshi’s trusted military officer, helps Maomao prepare.
Gaoshun understands that Maomao needs to learn about the palace and its organization, so he gives her information about various locations, buildings, departments, and other things she is expected to know.
Under normal circumstances, this would probably be a sensible study plan.
The problem is that Maomao is not particularly interested.
Instead of concentrating on the information Gaoshun is teaching her, she notices the plants and trees growing around the palace.
And naturally, her thoughts immediately return to medicine.
Rather than thinking about which building belongs to which department, Maomao starts considering whether some of the plants could be used as medicinal ingredients.
This is classic Maomao.
She can be surrounded by important political information and still become distracted by an interesting herb.
Her priorities are simply different from everyone else’s.
Maomao Actually Fails the Examination
When the examination finally takes place, the result is exactly what Jinshi did not expect.
Maomao fails.
There is no dramatic twist in which she secretly achieves the highest score. There is no hidden strategy. She simply performs poorly because she did not properly study the material.
Jinshi is understandably shocked.
He had such a high opinion of Maomao’s intelligence that he seemingly could not imagine her failing an exam.
His reaction can essentially be summarized as:
“Why did you fail?”
Maomao, however, does not appear particularly surprised.
Her response is basically:
“Why did you think I would pass?”
That exchange perfectly captures the difference between how Jinshi sees Maomao and how Maomao sees herself.
Jinshi sees an exceptionally intelligent young woman.
Maomao sees someone who is only exceptionally competent when the subject happens to interest her.
The scene is funny because both perspectives are understandable.
Why Maomao’s Failure Actually Makes Sense
For viewers unfamiliar with Maomao’s character, her failure might initially seem strange.
How can someone capable of solving complicated palace mysteries fail a relatively ordinary examination?
The answer is that intelligence and academic performance are not always the same thing.
Maomao possesses an enormous amount of specialized knowledge. She has strong observational skills, logical reasoning, practical medical knowledge, and an unusual ability to connect seemingly unrelated clues.
But the examination tests information that does not naturally interest her.
She does not enjoy memorizing information simply because someone tells her that it is important.
If the subject involves poison, medicine, herbs, anatomy, or something mysterious, Maomao becomes extremely focused.
If the subject involves something she considers boring, her attention disappears.
This is one of the character traits that makes her different from the typical “genius protagonist.”
She is not an all-purpose academic genius.
She is a medicine-and-poison genius.
Maomao’s Obsession With Medicine Explains Everything
Throughout The Apothecary Diaries, Maomao’s obsession with medicine and poison is one of the central elements of her personality.
She was raised around an apothecary and became deeply familiar with medicinal ingredients, toxic substances, symptoms, and treatments.
Because of this background, she sees the world differently from the people around her.
A normal person might see a beautiful flower.
Maomao might wonder whether it is poisonous.
Someone else might smell an unfamiliar perfume.
Maomao might immediately start thinking about its ingredients and possible effects on the human body.
Someone might become concerned about a strange illness.
Maomao becomes curious about its cause.
This way of thinking is extremely useful in the palace, where poisonings, illnesses, suspicious deaths, secret medicines, and political schemes are common.
Ironically, the same personality that makes her incredibly useful at solving palace mysteries also makes her terrible at studying subjects that do not interest her.
Her Failure Leads to an Unexpected Job
Although Maomao fails the examination, her story does not come to an end.
Instead, she ultimately begins working as a maid attached to Jinshi’s quarters.
This is another amusing development because Jinshi originally expected her to qualify through the examination.
Instead, Maomao ends up in a position where she can remain close to him while continuing to become involved in the strange incidents surrounding the court.
For viewers, this also demonstrates an important aspect of The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao does not necessarily get where she wants through conventional methods.
Her unique abilities constantly create unexpected opportunities.
Even when she fails at something ordinary, she somehow ends up exactly where the story needs her to be.
Jinshi and Maomao’s Relationship Makes the Scene Even Funnier
The examination scene also works because of the relationship between Maomao and Jinshi.
Jinshi is highly interested in Maomao’s abilities and frequently relies on her unusual intelligence.
At the same time, he often has difficulty understanding the way she thinks.
Maomao does not react to Jinshi in the same way many people around him do. She is generally much more interested in medicine, food, herbs, poison, and solving mysteries than in Jinshi’s appearance or status.
This creates much of the comedy surrounding their interactions.
Jinshi can be extremely confident about Maomao’s abilities, only to discover that she has completely ignored something he considered obvious.
The failed examination is a perfect example.
He sees Maomao as someone who should obviously pass.
Maomao sees the entire examination as something she never had much reason to take seriously.
Viewers React to Maomao’s Unexpected Failure
The scene quickly generated humorous reactions from viewers.
Some viewers were surprised that Maomao actually failed rather than simply struggling.
Others found the result completely believable because of how consistently uninterested she is in anything unrelated to her favorite subjects.
Comments reported by Japanese anime coverage included reactions along the lines of:
- “She actually failed, lol.”
- “I guess the material wasn’t interesting to her.”
- “She really failed that easily.”
- “Why did Jinshi think she would pass?”
- “Maomao is only interested in poison and medicine.”
These reactions highlight why the scene works so well: the failure is unexpected from the perspective of Maomao’s overall intelligence, but completely believable once viewers understand her personality.
Maomao’s Specialized Intelligence Is One of the Series’ Strengths
Many mystery protagonists are portrayed as characters who are good at almost everything.
Maomao is different.
She can be extremely perceptive in one situation and completely uninterested in another.
Her strengths include:
- Medical knowledge
- Poison identification
- Knowledge of herbs
- Observation
- Logical deduction
- Understanding symptoms
- Practical experimentation
- Recognizing suspicious behavior
- Connecting small clues
But she is not particularly motivated by:
- Memorizing information she considers useless
- Palace etiquette
- Social expectations
- Political status
- Romance
- Studying simply for the sake of an examination
That contrast makes her personality much more entertaining.
The Apothecary Diaries Moves Beyond the Inner Palace
Maomao’s failed examination is also part of a larger transition in her story.
The early portions of The Apothecary Diaries focus heavily on the Inner Palace, where Maomao becomes involved with the consorts, servants, officials, and mysteries surrounding the imperial court.
However, the franchise’s story continues to expand beyond that setting.
The upcoming third season, for example, moves the story from the Inner Palace toward the wider city and eventually neighboring regions. The official synopsis describes new mysteries involving signs of a disaster threatening the country, a mysterious immortal-like woman, and Jinshi’s responsibilities after revealing his true status as the Imperial Prince.
This means Maomao’s medical knowledge and investigative abilities will become important in an even larger world.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Release Date
While Episode 13 discussed above is from the earlier anime storyline, The Apothecary Diaries is now preparing for its next major chapter.
Season 3 will premiere on October 2, 2026, on the Nippon Television network’s Friday Anime Night programming block at 11:00 p.m. JST.
The third season will be broadcast in a split two-cour format. The first cour begins in October 2026, while the second cour is scheduled to begin in April 2027.
For international viewers, the series will also be distributed through streaming platforms after its Japanese broadcast, with regional availability depending on the service.
New Season 3 Opening Theme
The third season will feature a new opening theme by Yorushika titled “Kumo wo Nuke Kazashimo e Watashi Dake.”
The official promotional video for Season 3 introduced the new song alongside footage of Maomao and Jinshi traveling into a new stage of the story.
The Season 3 promotional material also introduces Bai Niangniang, a mysterious character voiced by Reina Ueda.
Her presence is connected to the new mysteries that Maomao and Jinshi will encounter.
The Story Is Expanding Beyond the Palace
One of the most important changes in Season 3 is the expansion of the setting.
The official story description says that after the aftermath of the Shi clan rebellion settles down, Maomao returns to her everyday life as an apothecary in the pleasure district.
However, a seemingly ordinary breakfast gives her a strange feeling, prompting her to investigate.
At the same time, Jinshi has begun facing his responsibilities as the Imperial Prince. He is also troubled by a warning about a disaster that may strike the country.
Rumors surrounding a mysterious woman further complicate the situation.
The story therefore moves from the relatively contained environment of the Inner Palace toward the wider world, creating new mysteries for Maomao to solve.
The First Apothecary Diaries Movie Is Also Coming
The anime franchise is also expanding into theaters.
The first theatrical film in The Apothecary Diaries franchise is scheduled to open in Japan on December 11, 2026.
The movie will feature a completely original story, with original author Natsu Hyuga providing the story concept.
According to the official announcement, the movie takes place in a water-based city in the southern region of the kingdom and centers on the death of a consort as well as a hidden treasure.
Maomao and Jinshi will once again find themselves facing a mystery unlike the cases they have encountered before.
The movie is particularly notable because it marks the first theatrical film for the franchise.
The Apothecary Diaries Has Become a Major Global Franchise
The popularity of The Apothecary Diaries has continued to grow since the television anime premiered in October 2023.
The official franchise portal currently states that the series has surpassed 57 million copies in cumulative circulation, including digital editions.
The combination of mystery, historical-inspired palace drama, medicine, poison-related cases, and character-driven storytelling has helped the series reach audiences far beyond Japan.
Its popularity also comes from its unusual protagonist.
Maomao is not trying to become the strongest fighter or the most powerful magician.
She is simply fascinated by medicine.
That relatively small obsession repeatedly places her at the center of enormous events.
A New Game Is Also in Development
Another major franchise update arrived in September 2026.
The official website announced the series’ first consumer video game, titled The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Prince.
The game is scheduled for release in early 2027 and expands the franchise into an interactive format. A promotional video and package artwork have already been revealed.
For fans who enjoy the mystery-solving aspect of the series, the game represents another way to experience Maomao’s world beyond the anime and manga.
The Anime’s Future Looks Busy
With Season 3 beginning in October, the theatrical movie arriving in December, the second cour scheduled for April 2027, and the first consumer game planned for early 2027, The Apothecary Diaries is entering one of its busiest periods yet.
The franchise is no longer limited to a single television anime.
It now includes:
- Multiple anime seasons
- A completed manga adaptation currently continuing in publication
- Light novels
- A first theatrical movie
- A new consumer video game
- Merchandise and collaboration campaigns
- International streaming and promotional events
The official website has also announced an autumn “#Kusuriya Ikkimi” binge-watch campaign, running through September 27, 2026, giving fans an opportunity to revisit the anime before Season 3 begins.
Why Maomao’s Exam Failure Remains So Memorable
The examination scene is funny because it reveals something important about Maomao.
Her intelligence is not artificial or convenient. She does not magically know everything.
Instead, her knowledge comes from years of experience, curiosity, and an almost obsessive interest in medicine and poison.
When something falls outside that area, her motivation can disappear completely.
That makes her feel more human.
She can solve a complicated poisoning case but fail to memorize the names of palace buildings.
She can identify a dangerous substance almost instantly but become distracted by a plant growing beside the road.
She can notice details that even experienced officials overlook but still shrug when she receives a poor examination result.
And perhaps most importantly, Maomao herself does not seem particularly bothered by it.
That attitude is what makes the scene so entertaining.
Maomao’s failure in The Apothecary Diaries is a perfect example of why she remains such a memorable anime protagonist.
She is exceptionally intelligent, but her intelligence is highly specialized. Medicine, poison, herbs, and unusual mysteries immediately capture her attention, while subjects she considers boring are almost impossible for her to remember.
Jinshi’s surprise therefore makes perfect sense.
He sees a brilliant young woman and assumes she will naturally succeed.
Maomao knows herself well enough to understand that intelligence alone cannot make her care about something.
Her simple attitude toward failure—essentially, “Why did you expect me to pass?”—turns what could have been an ordinary examination scene into one of the series’ funniest character moments.
And while Maomao may have failed the test, her unique abilities continue to make her indispensable whenever a mysterious illness, suspicious death, strange medicine, or possible poisoning appears.
With Season 3 arriving on October 2, 2026, the story is about to take Maomao and Jinshi far beyond the Inner Palace. The upcoming season, first theatrical movie, and new game also show just how much The Apothecary Diaries franchise has expanded since its anime debut.
