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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!

The Best Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries

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...

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  1. Background image for The Hunt
    9.8/10(5 votes)

    #1 - The Hunt

    S1:E35

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

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  2. Background image for Ka Zuigetsu
    9.5/10(4 votes)

    #2 - Ka Zuigetsu

    S1:E36

    Maomao discovers Jinshi's secret. She wants nothing to do with whatever the politics behind it is.

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  3. Background image for The Moon Fairy
    9.2/10(5 votes)

    #3 - The Moon Fairy

    S1:E29

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

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  4. Background image for Chance or Something More
    9.0/10(11 votes)

    #4 - 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.

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  5. Background image for Maomao and Maomao
    9.0/10(5 votes)

    #5 - 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.

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    Director:Jun Owada
  6. Background image for Jinshi and Maomao
    8.8/10(9 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?

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries

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  8. Background image for The Shrine of Choosing
    8.8/10(5 votes)

    #7 - The Shrine of Choosing

    S1:E31

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

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  9. Background image for Ice
    8.8/10(5 votes)

    #8 - Ice

    S1:E39

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

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  10. Background image for Lantern Plant
    8.8/10(4 votes)

    #9 - Lantern Plant

    S1:E42

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

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  11. Background image for The Stronghold
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #10 - The Stronghold

    S1:E44

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

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  12. Background image for The Threat
    8.6/10(13 votes)

    #11 - 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.

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    Director:China
  13. Background image for Corpse Fungus
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #12 - 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.

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  14. Background image for The Late Emperor
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #13 - The Late Emperor

    S1:E33

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

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  15. Background image for The Baths
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #14 - The Baths

    S1:E37

    Xiaolan's term of service is almost up, so she must find a new job. Maomao and Shisui decide to help.

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  16. Background image for The Dancing Ghost
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #15 - The Dancing Ghost

    S1:E38

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

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  17. Background image for Festering Resentment
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #16 - Festering Resentment

    S1:E40

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

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  18. Background image for The Fox Village
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #17 - The Fox Village

    S1:E41

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

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  19. Background image for The Garden Party
    8.5/10(12 votes)

    #18 - 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.

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  20. Background image for Honey
    8.5/10(11 votes)

    #19 - 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.

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  21. Background image for Caravan
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #20 - 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.

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  22. Background image for The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #21 - 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.

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  23. Background image for Thornapple
    8.4/10(10 votes)

    #22 - 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.

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  24. Background image for Mirror
    8.4/10(5 votes)

    #23 - 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.

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  25. Background image for Balsam and Woodsorrel
    8.3/10(9 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.

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    Director:Jun Owada
  26. Background image for The Empress Dowager
    8.2/10(5 votes)

    #25 - 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.

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    Director:Jun Owada

Best Episodes Summary

"The Hunt" is the best rated episode of "The Apothecary Diaries". It scored 9.8/10 based on 5 votes. Directed by Shintaro Itoga and written by Misuzu Chiba, it aired on 3/21/2025. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Ka Zuigetsu".