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The Best Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries Season 1

Every episode of The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries Season 1!

The Best Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries Season 1

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. 10.0/10(2 votes)

    #1 - The Hunt

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    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. 10.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Ka Zuigetsu

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    S1:E36

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

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  3. 9.1/10(884 votes)

    #3 - Chance or Something More

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    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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  4. 9.0/10(2 votes)

    #4 - The Moon Fairy

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    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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  5. 8.9/10(606 votes)

    #5 - Jinshi and Maomao

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    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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  6. 8.8/10(586 votes)

    #6 - Balsam and Woodsorrel

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    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
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  8. 8.6/10(623 votes)

    #7 - Reducing Two to One

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    S1:E11

    Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo.

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  9. 8.5/10(702 votes)

    #8 - The Threat

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    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
  10. 8.5/10(2 votes)

    #9 - Caravan

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    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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  11. 8.5/10(2 votes)

    #10 - The Shrine of Choosing

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    S1:E31

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

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  12. 8.3/10(654 votes)

    #11 - The Garden Party

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    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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  13. 8.2/10(535 votes)

    #12 - Lakan

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    S1:E18

    Back at home, Maomao visits an annex building at the Verdigris House that hides one of the brothel's secrets. Lakan continues to antagonize Jinshi as his connection to Maomao becomes clear.

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  14. 8.2/10(495 votes)

    #13 - Thornapple

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    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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  15. 8.1/10(598 votes)

    #14 - Wheat Stalks

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    S1:E8

    Maomao's peaceful morning at home is interrupted when she's called in to investigate an apparent double suicide at one of the local brothels.

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  16. 8.0/10(705 votes)

    #15 - The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit

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    S1:E3

    Tasked with investigating a ghostly woman dancing nightly on the palace walls, Maomao finds a sleepwalking Concubine Fuyou. But with no medicinal cure for sleepwalking, she's forced to dig deeper to find the real reason behind Fuyou's affliction.

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  17. 8.0/10(2 votes)

    #16 - Maomao and Maomao

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    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
  18. 8.0/10(2 votes)

    #17 - Corpse Fungus

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    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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  19. 8.0/10(2 votes)

    #18 - Mirror

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    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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  20. 8.0/10(2 votes)

    #19 - The Crystal Pavilion, for the Third Time

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    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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  21. 8.0/10(2 votes)

    #20 - The Baths

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    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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    Director:N/A
    Writer:N/A
  22. 7.9/10(622 votes)

    #21 - Covert Operations

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    S1:E5

    A eunuch stricken by a curse comes begging for aid. Meanwhile, the rear palace buzzes with excitement as everyone prepares for the upcoming garden party, and Gyokuyou's ladies-in-waiting aren't about to let Maomao get away without dressing her up.

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    Director:Gaku Shiga
  23. 7.9/10(550 votes)

    #22 - The Eunuch and the Courtesan

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    S1:E12

    Discovering that Maomao's kidnappers were connected to Fengming's family, Jinshi is faced with a choice between keeping Maomao in the rear palace where he can be near her or releasing her from her service.

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  24. 7.9/10(499 votes)

    #23 - A Jaunt Around Town

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    S1:E17

    Covering up Jinshi's otherworldly beauty is no easy task, but after Maomao takes the challenge head-on, she's surprised when she's also asked to don the disguise of a noblewoman and escort "Jinka" outside the palace.

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  25. 7.9/10(479 votes)

    #24 - How to Buy Out a Contract

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    S1:E21

    Back to work at the rear palace, Maomao listens to Guen talk about his family's business. Meanwhile, Lihaku hears a rumor that whips him into action.

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    Director:Yuushi Ibe
  26. 7.9/10(476 votes)

    #25 - Blue Roses

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    S1:E22

    Lakan challenges Jinshi to produce blue roses to present at the upcoming garden party, forcing Jinshi to turn once again to Maomao for her help.

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Hunt" is the best rated episode of "The Apothecary Diaries" season 1. It scored 10/10 based on 2 votes. Directed by Shintaro Itoga and written by Misuzu Chiba, it aired on 3/21/2025. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Ka Zuigetsu".