Mention The Apothecary Diaries in a conversation, and you’ll see fans go on endless rants about how great the anime is. Interestingly, every word of praise would be true. The second season is as good as the first one, if not better, only with one minor problem: the opening theme.
All the opening themes of The Apothecary Diaries sound and look great. The visuals and the songs capture the spirit of the narrative, and it’s always fun to spot the countless hints hidden in details. Opening 4 does all of that too; however, it doesn’t stick with you the same way.
All is well in The Apothecary Diaries season 2, except for the opening
The Apothecary Diaries has everything from mystery and politics to romance and relationships. All the opening sequences capture this blend of genres. The first one, Hana ni Natte by Ryokuoushoku Shakai, prepares us for Maomao’s adventures and the strong personality she hides behind the mask of naivete.
The second opening by Uru sounds more emotional and soulful, and there are easter eggs in every frame. For some fans, opening 2 pales in comparison to Hana ni Natte. Season 2 has seemingly followed a similar pattern. The first opening of the second season, Hyakka Ryoran by Lilas Ikuta, leaves a strong impression with its first listen.
The visuals paired with the music tease some of the best scenes from season 2, including Jinshi’s past and the Frog Scene. The song is cheerful and lifts your spirits while preparing you for a season full of memorable moments. Hyakka Ryoran is as good as Hana ni Natte, if not better.
The opening left such a strong impression, only to be replaced by opening 4, Kusushiki by Mrs. GREEN APPLE. Kusushiki is a great opening; however, it doesn’t have the same synergy between its visuals and song. There are some jarring elements in the opening, which made it difficult for fans to like it right away.
Everything that makes Kusushiki pale in comparison to the other openings
The first thing that stands out about Kusushiki in The Apothecary Diaries is the masks. The 3D masks feel like an amateur addition to an otherwise beautiful video. Some fans even thought that these were emojis at first. Apart from the masks, the video isn’t as stunning as its predecessors.
The concept and idea are great, as we see Maomao from different lenses, but the execution is a bit lacking. The song is great but the disparity between the visuals and the song affect the overall enjoyment. Opening 3 was excellent on all fronts, which makes the slightest flaws of Kusushiki more apparent.
If we judge the current opening in a vacuum, it’s actually great. The visuals capture the mystique and the emotional weight of the events of season 2. The reception of this opening would have been a lot better if only it wasn’t replacing opening 3, which is perfect in many ways.
The Apothecary Diaries is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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