Kusuriya no Hitogoto Season 3 Ep.01 - Maomao is back! Right with a new mystery!

And here we are with one of the most anticipated shows of the Fall 2026 anime season: Kusuriya no Hitogoto Season 3 is the newest entry in one of the most beloved series in recent memory. I only binged the first two seasons last year, so it's all still fresh in my mind.

Maomao is one of the most adorable characters out there, and I loved watching her adventures unfold within the rear palace: watching her slowly rise through the ranks, solve mysteries, and gain more and more attention, culminating in even the Emperor taking notice of her.

Maomao getting grabbed like a cat was probably the most adorable between the many scenes in this episode. It's nice to see you back Maomao!

Honestly I'm not a huge fan of the establishment and even a less fan of the new kid they added to it, but alas...we need to survive this.

That is all over now, and many of the characters from that era are gone, including Shisui, Xiaolan, and so on. I'm a bit worried about whether the remainder of the cast can keep up, but the series has been solid so far, so we can only wait and see what new characters get introduced.

One thing is for sure: I hate Kyou-u already. He was already annoying last season, and if he's going to be a regular, I sure hope they move past his childish antics quickly, or it could easily drag down the entire series. His arc was wrapped up properly last season with the war ending; I can't see him having much importance now.

Anyway, the focus is now on a potential famine and the brewing anger of the populace toward the Emperor. Is it a natural occurrence, or is someone planning to incite a rebellion against him? Maomao is on the case to investigate, but will she manage to resolve it in time, or will it end in tragedy like the war did?

The most important element that I hope gets explored this season is Maomao's role as the La clan's daughter. I know that Maomao doesn't like the idea, but it's inevitable if she is to marry Jinshi; the La clan is influential and can easily secure her a good position.

Lishu continues to be the most tragic of the heroines, she clearly doesn't want to be there, but forced to be the doll for everyone while her own family doesn't care...

What will Maomao cause in the country this time? Last time it was an entire war, can she top that one up? Time to become empress?

The preview for the next episode highlights a particular piece of white clothing as the central focus, but I can't see how all the scenes connect just yet. What is Jinshi doing in the middle of a swarm of insects, shooing them away? Is Maomao in danger? Because that's usually when he does reckless things...