I really enjoy Ayanokoji's character so over the years I wondered what a story would look like if it had a female lead like Ayanokoji. And without a doubt Maomao is the closest thing I've ever found.
Both of them had a bad childhood that forced them to emotionally detach from others and think of the world in a very logical black & white way. Both of them are incredibly smart. Both of them have an insane thirst for knowledge and innate curiosity. Both of them have abilities and talents that no one else around them has. Both of them like to help others, they don't know why, but they know they just want to and both come to grips with why later on. Both of them can't help but look at human relationships from a transactional lens given their life experience and what they've been through (though Ayanokoji does it a more extreme degree).
And when you read their monologues, both of them are very similar in the way they reason through problems. I picked up Apothecary Diaries last year and the first thing that went through my mind was like "holy shit this reminds me of COTE". Even the way they talk and think are very similar IMO.
And lastly, both of them can be ABSOLUTE savages when the need arises. And both series also show off puzzles that you can solve individually and once you solve those individual puzzles they add up into a massive puzzle. Also both characters are put into a world that is completely foreign where they have to use their intelligence to navigate the world.
If you like COTE, especially the characterization and writing that I covered in my summaries, I have no doubt you'll like Apothecary diaries. Maomao is an absolute queen.
Saadisfy
I really enjoy Ayanokoji's character so over the years I wondered what a story would look like if it had a female lead like Ayanokoji. And without a doubt Maomao is the closest thing I've ever found.
Both of them had a bad childhood that forced them to emotionally detach from others and think of the world in a very logical black & white way. Both of them are incredibly smart. Both of them have an insane thirst for knowledge and innate curiosity. Both of them have abilities and talents that no one else around them has. Both of them like to help others, they don't know why, but they know they just want to and both come to grips with why later on. Both of them can't help but look at human relationships from a transactional lens given their life experience and what they've been through (though Ayanokoji does it a more extreme degree).
And when you read their monologues, both of them are very similar in the way they reason through problems. I picked up Apothecary Diaries last year and the first thing that went through my mind was like "holy shit this reminds me of COTE". Even the way they talk and think are very similar IMO.
And lastly, both of them can be ABSOLUTE savages when the need arises. And both series also show off puzzles that you can solve individually and once you solve those individual puzzles they add up into a massive puzzle. Also both characters are put into a world that is completely foreign where they have to use their intelligence to navigate the world.
If you like COTE, especially the characterization and writing that I covered in my summaries, I have no doubt you'll like Apothecary diaries. Maomao is an absolute queen.
I also made some videos on it some time back they're all here - youtube.com/@saadcorner
4 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 337