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The Best Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries

Every episode of The Apothecary Diaries ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries!

Binge this in 18h 48m•Peaking at 9.1/10

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, she's sold as a lowly servant to the emperor's palace. But she wasn't meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 29 - The Moon Fairy
    9.1/10(8 votes)

    #1 - The Moon Fairy

    S1:E29

    In order to realize the seemingly impossible request from the foreign envoy, Maomao speaks to the “Moon Fairy” herself.

    Director:Shintaro Itoga
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  2. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 42 - Lantern Plant
    8.8/10(6 votes)

    #2 - Lantern Plant

    S1:E42

    Maomao has been missing for ten days now. Jinshi's investigations lead him to a forgotten graveyard.

    Director:Erkin Kawabata
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  3. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 30 - The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time
    8.7/10(6 votes)

    #3 - The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time

    S1:E30

    The woman from the clinic finds out that Maomao knows a thing or two about medicine, and asks for her help.

    Director:Yukihiko Asaki
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  4. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 31 - The Shrine of Choosing
    8.6/10(8 votes)

    #4 - The Shrine of Choosing

    S1:E31

    Maomao directs her curiosity towards an old, oddly-shaped building.

    Director:Wazuka Komamiya
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  5. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 33 - The Late Emperor
    8.6/10(9 votes)

    #5 - The Late Emperor

    S1:E33

    Maomao's investigation of the "curse" reveals more about the late emperor than anticipated.

    Director:Akira Koremoto
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  6. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 24 - Jinshi and Maomao
    8.5/10(14 votes)

    #6 - Jinshi and Maomao

    S1:E24

    Lakan must now choose a courtesan to buy out. As a high-ranking military official, he can afford to freely choose, even from one of the Three Princesses. Who will he choose? Who does Maomao really want him to choose?

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries

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  7. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 25 - Maomao and Maomao
    8.5/10(8 votes)

    #7 - Maomao and Maomao

    S1:E25

    The spring garden party concludes without incident. Maomao returns to her regular life as Concubine Gyokuyou’s taster. Meanwhile, novels become popular in the rear palace. Maomao wonders how this came to be, as novels were typically considered low-class. But behind the scenes lies Jinshi and his goals as manager of the rear palace.

    Director:Jun Owada
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  8. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 27 - Corpse Fungus
    8.4/10(9 votes)

    #8 - Corpse Fungus

    S1:E27

    A concubine passes away, and a woman goes missing. Jinshi sends Maomao to investigate - not these incidents, but mushrooms growing in the rear palace.

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  9. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 35 - The Hunt
    8.4/10(9 votes)

    #9 - The Hunt

    S1:E35

    Jinshi goes on a hunting trip, and brings Maomao along. He seems ready to share his secret with her.

    Director:Shintaro Itoga
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  10. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 38 - The Dancing Ghost
    8.4/10(8 votes)

    #10 - The Dancing Ghost

    S1:E38

    Concubine Lishu reports sightings of a ghost in the baths in her pavilion. Maomao goes to investigate.

    Directors:Jun Owada, Kaho Asai
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  11. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 39 - Ice
    8.4/10(7 votes)

    #11 - Ice

    S1:E39

    Xiaolan accidentally ruins an expensive block of ice. Maomao comes up with a delicious backup plan.

    Director:Misu Yamaneko
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  12. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 44 - The Stronghold
    8.4/10(7 votes)

    #12 - The Stronghold

    S1:E44

    Maomao is taken to a mountain stronghold, where many of the secrets of the Shi clan are revealed to her.

    Directors:Akira Koremoto, Yuu Kinome
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  13. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 26 - Caravan
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #13 - Caravan

    S1:E26

    The caravan stirs up excitement in the inner palace. The merchants bring all kinds of goods. However, something gives Maomao a bad feeling.

    Directors:Akira Koremoto, Mayu Tanimoto
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  14. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 32 - The Empress Dowager
    8.3/10(8 votes)

    #14 - The Empress Dowager

    S1:E32

    Maomao's reputation for resolving conflicts reaches the empress dowager, who will ask for her help to unravel a mystery that won't leave her mind.

    Director:Jun Owada
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  15. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 40 - Festering Resentment
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #15 - Festering Resentment

    S1:E40

    Luomen returns to the rear palace. His observations trigger Maomao's curiosity.

    Director:Tsuyoshi Nakano
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  16. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 41 - The Fox Village
    8.3/10(7 votes)

    #16 - The Fox Village

    S1:E41

    Suirei smuggles Maomao and Shisui out of the rear palace. Jinshi begins to search for Maomao.

    Director:Shintaro Itoga
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  17. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 19 - Chance or Something More
    8.2/10(18 votes)

    #17 - Chance or Something More

    S1:E19

    A discussion with Lihaku about recent events leads Maomao to realize that the mysteries she's helped to solve are connected. As the final piece of the puzzle falls into place, she rushes to stop impending disaster.

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  18. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 28 - Mirror
    8.2/10(8 votes)

    #18 - Mirror

    S1:E28

    The special envoy from a foreign land gifts mirrors - a rarity in this country - to the high concubines. However, they bring mysteries as well.

    Director:Tsuyoshi Nakano
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  19. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 48 - The Beginning
    8.2/10(8 votes)

    #19 - The Beginning

    S1:E48

    After the war, Jinshi's work piles up and Maomao returns to the pleasure district.

    Directors:Jun Owada, Kaho Asai
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  20. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 4 - The Threat
    8.1/10(21 votes)

    #20 - The Threat

    S1:E4

    Under direct orders from the emperor himself, Maomao tries to care for an ailing Concubine Lihua, but finds her work impeded by Lihua's own ladies-in-waiting.

    Director:China
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  21. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 6 - The Garden Party
    8.1/10(20 votes)

    #21 - The Garden Party

    S1:E6

    Maomao does her best to navigate the complex social situations at the garden party, including meeting the other Upper First rank concubines. But once she settles down to do her work as a food-taster, she discovers a surprise in a bowl of soup.

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  22. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 10 - Honey
    8.1/10(17 votes)

    #22 - Honey

    S1:E10

    A tea party hosted by Lady Gyokuyou puts the politics of the rear palace at the forefront, and Maomao learns something new about Lady Lishu. His true intentions unclear, Jinshi sends Maomao to work for Lady Ah-Duo.

    Director:Erkin Kawabata
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  23. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 20 - Thornapple
    8.1/10(15 votes)

    #23 - Thornapple

    S1:E20

    Maomao was able to stop the assassination attempt, but was heavily injured in the process. However, the injuries aren't enough to stop her curiosity, driving her to confront the culprit behind the incident.

    Director:Akira Koremoto
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  24. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 23 - Balsam and Woodsorrel
    8.1/10(14 votes)

    #24 - Balsam and Woodsorrel

    S1:E23

    No longer willing to keep running away from Lakan, Maomao decides to face off against him. She challenges him on his own turf, in a chess match.

    Director:Jun Owada
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  25. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 46 - Royal Guard
    8.1/10(7 votes)

    #25 - Royal Guard

    S1:E46

    The royal guard, led by Jinshi, arrives, sealing the Shi clan's fate. Maomao wants to save her friend, Shisui.

    Director:Masahiro Matsunaga
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Moon Fairy" is the best rated episode of "The Apothecary Diaries". It scored 9.1/10 based on 8 votes. Directed by Shintaro Itoga and written by Misuzu Chiba, it aired on 2/7/2025. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Lantern Plant".