Recommendations after watching The Apothecary Diaries?

I'm very new to anime and really loved the two seasons of the Apothecary Diaries. I'm hoping you all could help recommend some good animes that fall into a similar realm of court intrigue and romance.

No children romances, please. (or hundred year olds that look like children). Apothecary diaries was borderline since she started at 17 but at least the romance was 19 so it felt less icky.

English dubs are preferred so I can crochet at the same time and not have my eyes glued to the screen.

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AutoModerator2025-12-24 00:07

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LongjumpingShip36572025-12-24 00:16

The Rose of Versailles It's a historical court drama like The Apothecary Diaries

It's set before and during the French Revolution and follows the head of the royal guard Oscar François de Jarjayes who's a woman that was raised as a man and the Queen of France Marie Antoinette

Here's the intro [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJIeJIqw-J0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJIeJIqw-J0)

catalhoyuk22025-12-24 00:20

It looks great! I started it on Netflix right now. Thank you for my first recommendation! 🤗

LongjumpingShip36572025-12-24 00:28

If you are talking about the movie on Netflix I wouldn't recommend it. It's an extremely condensed version of the story and also a musical for some reason.

I was talking about the original series from 1979 which is available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj2Ugc-vxcWFA8y3C8XxPW2-q\_sLHZG2q](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj2Ugc-vxcWFA8y3C8XxPW2-q_sLHZG2q)

catalhoyuk22025-12-24 00:32

Ah okay I'll look there then

ninetoesfrank2025-12-24 00:56

Why would you recommend an anime from 1979 to someone who is new to anime?

Foreversssssssss2025-12-24 05:48

Rose of Versailles feels timeless, actually. It’s not a bad recommendation, it’s on par with suggesting 12 angry men to someone new to English movies.

MrRandomGUYS2025-12-24 10:06

Exactly. The idea that all anime recs to new people have to be new anime is just absurd. This is how we distance ourselves from them and people stop wanting to watch them. 70’s and 80’s anime are awesome and I wish more people watched them.

Foreversssssssss2025-12-24 10:11

I agree! I’d say especially for the ones made in the 70s, so many of those og animes are completely watchable to anyone, because they’re all so good! I’ve watched and read half of all year 24 group’s animanga and I’d easily recommend them to most people. Especially rose of Versailles.

Thraggrotusk2025-12-24 00:26

\> No children romances

Odd way to say you don't want to watch high school romcoms.

catalhoyuk22025-12-24 00:37

Well, yes, high school romcom isn't quite the genre I'm looking for. I also was trying to encompass anything that would have a minor character (or character that looks like a minor) with an adult. I'm in my 30s and while a high school romance is simply uninteresting to me, the second option is just gross.

Thraggrotusk2025-12-24 01:05

Uh, I'm not sure why you think those predatory relationships are common in modern anime?

Even Apothecary Diaries you say it's borderline, but it's like a 1-2 year age gap?

catalhoyuk22025-12-24 01:16

I meant borderline for me to want to watch it with characters at that age, not that the romance was a problem.

Again, I'm new to anime, and the girls just seem to be drawn to look very young. I may have made some wrong assumptions, but I was trying to filter the recommendations.

Thraggrotusk2025-12-24 03:37

Oh, that makes sense.

Those are just artstyle differences, you can think of it similar to Disney/Pixar animation (since 90% of modern day animation was inspired by their designs).

MarmDevOfficial2025-12-24 00:31

I highly recommend The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, it's between two classmates in high school. If highschool aged kids is okay then I have a bunch of other recommendations.

yamatosennin2025-12-24 00:33

highschool romcoms aren’t even weird, seeing it as weird is probably weirder. of course not actual children romance.

something like apothecary, where it’s kinda romance but court like, would be yona of the dawn (season 2 announced finally after 10 years!), saiunkoku monogatari, and 12 kokki. i wouldn’t expect anyone to watch the last 2 since they’re extremely unknown, but my mum also loves romance and historical shows and these 2 are that so yeah.

Xanill2025-12-24 00:36

yona of the dawn

Spy_co2025-12-24 07:32

Finally getting a season 2 too!

Warm-Enthusiasm-95342025-12-24 10:19

I suspect AD being such a hit is the reason why.

No-Ground78982025-12-24 00:39

Ascendance of a Bookworm

TheDopplegamer2025-12-24 00:48

Ascendance of a Bookworm. Not a romance, but the main duo have a very similar dynamic to MaoMao/Jinshi (Without going into spoilers)

Khashishi2025-12-24 01:02

this setting is more common in Chinese animation than Japanese.
Liang Bu Yi (No Doubt in Us)
Tong Ling Fei (Psychic Princess)
Meng Qi Shi Shen (Cinderella Chef)
Shi Yi Chang'an (Memory of Chang'an)

Start with Liang Bu Yi

catalhoyuk22025-12-24 01:07

Gosh all of those look beautiful 😍

catalhoyuk22025-12-25 05:38

I'm on season 2 of Liang Bu Yi, and I wanted to say thank you for the suggestion. I absolutely love it.

1eye2arms2025-12-24 01:09

Yona of the dawn and why Raeliana ended up at the duke's mansion !!

katasticaa2025-12-24 01:10

Yona of the Dawn. You will love it.

Urosesum2025-12-24 01:15

It reminded me a lot of Ace Attorney in so many ways. Investigations, the random funny characters, the random funny faces. If you play video games then Ace Attorney hits ways harder as a game, even though it is basically an anime that is point and click. Besides Ace Attorney, I would recommend something like Snow White with the red hair.

Yamino_K2025-12-24 02:03

Raven in the Inner Palace. Pretty similar dynamic of Apothecary but with magic.

notanfan2025-12-24 16:49

pity it didnt get a se2

WelcomeToWitsEnd2025-12-24 02:09

A lot of folks are recommending Ascendance of a Bookworm. I want to point out that this series is *nothing like Apothecary Diaries*. We're getting another season, but the seasons currently out don't touch on the subject matter you're seeking.

That being said, Ascendance of a Bookworm is quite good! I definitely recommend checking it out!

Some shows you may enjoy that have a similar feel vibe to what you asked for:

* Secrets of the Silent Witch: I'm not sure if this one has a dub, but this is right up your alley. It's about a powerful witch with equally powerful social anxiety.
* Snow White with the Red Hair: this is a little on the older side, but the story is super good.
* Inu-Yasha: my partner recommends this one for you; I haven't watched it.
* Sugar Apple Fairy Tale: again, not sure if this one has a dub, but it's highly enjoyable. It's about a girl who sculpts sugar, and her fairy body guard.

Some shows you may enjoy that aren't quite what you're asking for:

* The Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash: We're getting another season! I'm stoked! This one is about a small girl who is driven from her village and embarks on a journey.
* Frieren: I'm watching the dub for this now! It's my rewatch. This is about a long-lived elf as she embarks on a journey to understand the short-lived humans' hearts. Words don't do it justice; it's a fantastic show and will be great while you're crocheting.

catalhoyuk22025-12-24 02:17

Thank you so much for all the details 🤩 I'll be sure to check them all out. I think I might even start with Frieren. I know for sure I have access to that one, and it sounds excellent. I'll try Inu-Yasha next. It's been recommended to me by a friend, and I never got to it.

Tokyo_Ink2025-12-24 07:22

Excellent choices, but I'm here to put a second recommendation on Snow White with the Red Hair (Akagami no Shirayuki-hime) It's incredible imo. I'm constantly hoping for more.

jfcat2002025-12-24 02:26

Happy marriage

365 days to the wedding

Days with my stepsister

Dahlia in bloom

In/spectre

uzumadi2025-12-24 02:35

for kinda fitting older time pieces : i like golden kamuy its silly and the main girl is a child but everyone else is adults and her relationship w the main character is purely sibling like

for just older characters who look older & romance: i like wotakoi, its a office life romance

for kinda just overall vibe and i think it marks all the boxes is definitely frieren. they are all adults and look/act like it, it has that certain whimsy and silliness and basically just replace poison with spells

sighjongs2025-12-24 03:38

snow white with the red hair and yona of the dawn!

nikapo2025-12-24 03:46

Color Cloud Palace, also called Saiunkoku Monogatari. Not sure if it has a dub but it's an older anime.

sameosaurus2025-12-24 18:08

I am so happy to see Saiunkoku on this list but also be prepared for it to end as the series wasn’t finished, and likely never will be

Opaque_Window2025-12-24 04:57

Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master has court drama you might enjoy. There's more fantastic elements than Apothecary Diaries but still some good intrigue

jniij2025-12-24 07:52

Second this. So underrated. This actually has court intrigue which the other recommendations here lack.

DirtyThrowaway45762025-12-24 05:23

Acendance of a Bookworm is really good. I feel like the Shield Hero is also kinda good (Both are isekai, only the second one is a question of taste immo)

mastesargent2025-12-24 07:24

It doesn’t fit your criteria 100%, but I’m never not going to recommend Spice and Wolf in these threads.

Instead of court intrigue you have economic intrigue, and the romance and chemistry between the leads is absolutely top-tier. The main character is a 25 year old traveling merchant, and while the female lead is a “looks 15 but is actually hundreds of years old” type of character, she is in no way child-coded and it’s honestly easy to forget that she’s technically supposed to look like a teenager. And the English dub is absolutely incredible, especially for the two leads.

Other_Total55362025-12-24 08:16

Maybe the twelve kingdoms if you want a political focused anime you really gave zero information of what you want lmao

matrix55592025-12-24 10:00

Ascendance of a Bookworm

Warm-Enthusiasm-95342025-12-24 10:20

*Raven of the Inner Palace* is the most similar, though that has a supernatural element.

vexorian22025-12-24 10:20

After finishing Apothecary S2, I felt most at home watching Generic Kowloon Romance. Which is weird because they are nothing alike. But maybe you'll like it.

SomeManSeven2025-12-24 17:21

In terms of general vibes Hyouka is also a semi-romance/mystery show.

R0n0rk2025-12-25 07:31

It's a fair bit fluffier, but I quite enjoyed The Saint's Power is Omnipotent for similar reasons.

Edit: it's an isekai, the woman summoned to the otherworld brings her herbology hobby knowledge over and uses it to entertain herself and improve the era's medicinal knowledge. I remember liking the romance a lot, and enjoying her trying to integrate into the noble society without losing her autonomy and fighting back against some of the courtly intrigue stuff she disagreed with. There's also some decent action.

Iwannasellturnips2025-12-27 06:25

Try C-dramas.