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Looking for a historical/period drama like The Apothecary Diaries

ZhouYanRan

I started watching this anime, The Apothecary Diaries, and my immediate thought was: I'd love to see a drama like this! I doubt they'll ever make a live action out of this, so I'm asking for your help :)
I'm aware not everyone is familiar with this title, so let me quote Wikipedia: "The series follows Maomao, a young girl working as an apothecary in the red-light district, who is kidnapped and sold to the Imperial Palace as a servant. However, she still retains her curious and eccentric personality and plans to work there until her years of servitude are over, without drawing the attention of anyone. One day, after hearing rumors that the emperor's children are critically ill, she begins to investigate the cause, using her experience as an apothecary, and successfully solves the mystery of their illness. Even though she intends to remain anonymous, her actions eventually catch the attention of an influential eunuch, and soon finds herself solving various mysteries in the royal court."
In other words, the heroine is pretty much a female Sherlock Holmes from imperial China. I realise it'd be hard to find a drama exactly like this, so I'm looking for a historical/period drama (might be wuxia/xianxia) from any MDL country with a clever and capable FL, who's a commoner, but thanks to her abilities she gains respect and a higher social position (if there was a mystery solving element, that'd be even better). I don't mind romance, but I wish the story would be more focused on FL's development rather than her love life.
I'm guessing from the description that Jewel in the Palace might be a drama I'm looking for? What other dramas would you recommend? I'll be grateful for any suggestion. Thank you in advance :)

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Gatcha

I have recs that are similar but not exact 

Dong Yi- also about a smart palace girl who is good at investigating  

Imperial doctress- medical historical drama. FL is from a noble family. 

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emeraldarrows

I haven't seen the anime but these have some of the elements from the summary:

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MelissaSternenberg

I'm still working on Apothecary Diaries, but my friends and I all keep drawing similarities to Rookie Historian - quirky female lead with a prince low-key obsessed with her, with the backdrop of political strife and other such things. Plus the Crown Prince is one of the best bros in the world.

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maidenholmes

I watched Jewel in the Palace recently. Keep in mind that it is 54 episodes long and covers a long period of time. There are mysteries, or in many cases common practices that lead to death or incapacity. In the first episode we learn that the senior kitchen staff profits from knowing which foods will poison certain royals without being poison. Much of the first third is taken up with internal doings, particularly in the kitchen. The FL believes that food should only be used to keep people healthy. She later studies medicine (mysteries aren't whodunnit but what is it). I enjoyed the series, but for me it comes under the category of having a heroine who is entirely too competent.

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burhaa aadmi VIP

The very first Drama I thought of was Dae Jang Geum (I refuse to use its stupid English name).  It IS overlong, and the middle section is very repetitive, so much so that I think of it as "Medieval Kitchen Rules", BUT, it remains to this day the ONLY Korean Drama of the 400 or so I've started that features a genuine FEMALE genius. Also the only straight sageuk I've ever finished. 

As to the accusation that she is "entirely too competent", there is of course dramatic licence taken, but the simple reality is that she was a real, historical person, one who was exceptional enough to earn the title DAE Jang Geum. Hence the actual name of the Drama and why I won't use the English abomination.  

For a female to rise to such heights in the extremely misogynistic world of her time  that she was still revered hundreds of years later in the misogynistic world of Korean culture (inc its TV culture) is remarkable.  You might decide it's not for you, but I definitely think you should give it a try.

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Hanah

+Dong Yi

Imperial Coroner - more of a detective team rather than her solving cases solo but features a commoner female lead in imperial China who is involved in solving cases 

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monstersnroses

Poong the Joseon Psychiatrist

FL is a just a regular sort of girl, the daughter of a country doctor.  She has a natural talent for forensic detective work.  But since she's just a regular girl, she has no prospects for using her talents for much.  ML is the country's best accupuncturist, but he had to stop because he went through some traumatic shit, and now he can't hold a needle steady in his hand, so he can't give treatments.  

They meet and are impressed with eachother, and he starts teaching her accupuncture because he can then use her to treat patients.  But along the way, if he wants to heal himself, he has to come to terms with the fact that him not being able to hold a needle has no physical source.... it's a psychological condition.

So they kind of become Korea's first practicioners of psychological treatment together, and come up with novel ways of healing people that can't be cured with medicine or accupuncture.

I'ts a cool series.  It's meant to be fun and clever, and it basically is.  FL has a very Sherlock quality about her, and sometimes she solves cases through deductive or forensic means.

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ymynym

now i'm more interested at the anime! where to watch the anime? 

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awkward potato
 ymynym:

now i'm more interested at the anime! where to watch the anime? 

It's currently showing on Netflix. Highly recommended, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Now waiting for the next cour.

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aulavelle

Honestly, I share the same sentiments as I have been following the anime myself. You might want to try Legend of Yun Xi! The main female lead is also skilled in Chinese medicine and it has a touch of romance. One of my faves of all time. Lost You Forever's female lead is also a medical practitioner tho it's not really the main highlight of the series. Tho it might be worth a watch.

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