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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...

Seasons1

  1. Background image for Maomao
    7.7/10(856 votes)

    #1 - Maomao

    S1:E1

    After being kidnapped and forced to work as a servant in the rear palace, former apothecary Maomao inadvertently draws the attention of the higher ranks when she investigates what's causing the emperor's infant heirs to fall mysteriously ill.

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  2. Background image for Chilly Apothecary
    7.8/10(780 votes)

    #2 - Chilly Apothecary

    S1:E2

    Maomao tries to settle into her promotion to lady-in-waiting and food taster, but struggles to fend off both boredom and the overly-familiar Jinshi. That is, until she gets an assignment of her dreams: to concoct an aphrodisiac.

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  3. Background image for The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit
    8.1/10(821 votes)

    #3 - The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit

    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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  4. Background image for The Threat
    8.5/10(822 votes)

    #4 - 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
  5. Background image for Covert Operations
    7.9/10(721 votes)

    #5 - Covert Operations

    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
  6. Background image for The Garden Party
    8.3/10(766 votes)

    #6 - 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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  8. Background image for Homecoming
    7.9/10(687 votes)

    #7 - Homecoming

    S1:E7

    Gaoshun goes to Maomao to get her help in resolving the events of the garden party. Later, Xiaolan explains the purpose of the hairpins Maomao was gifted, and Maomao makes a deal with Lihaku in order to finally visit home.

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    Director:Tadao Okubo
  9. Background image for Wheat Stalks
    8.2/10(697 votes)

    #8 - Wheat Stalks

    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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  10. Background image for Suicide or Murder?
    7.7/10(646 votes)

    #9 - Suicide or Murder?

    S1:E9

    An older acquaintance of Jinshi's dies while drinking at a party. A servant's body turns up in a moat. Both deaths are written off as self-inflicted, but Maomao's keen observations tell her that there's more to both stories.

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  11. Background image for Honey
    7.8/10(630 votes)

    #10 - 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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  12. Background image for Reducing Two to One
    8.7/10(720 votes)

    #11 - Reducing Two to One

    S1:E11

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

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  13. Background image for The Eunuch and the Courtesan
    8.0/10(637 votes)

    #12 - The Eunuch and the Courtesan

    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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  14. Background image for Serving in the Outer Court
    7.8/10(617 votes)

    #13 - Serving in the Outer Court

    S1:E13

    To Maomao's surprise, Jinshi brings her directly to his house instead of taking her back to the rear palace, and tells her she's to work in the outer court. Not only is there much to learn, it seems there's many eyes on her as the new hire.

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  15. Background image for The New Pure Consort
    7.7/10(595 votes)

    #14 - The New Pure Consort

    S1:E14

    Ah-Duo's replacement has arrived in the rear palace, and Maomao is assigned to give a certain lecture to all four high concubines. Later, Maomao helps Lihaku investigate a warehouse explosion.

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  16. Background image for Raw Fish
    7.7/10(589 votes)

    #15 - Raw Fish

    S1:E15

    Gaoshun requests Maomao's help in solving an apparent poisoning case. Meanwhile, Jinshi deals with an unwelcome visitor who's taken to lingering in his office.

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  17. Background image for Lead
    7.6/10(576 votes)

    #16 - Lead

    S1:E16

    A shack, a chest of drawers, and a fishbowl are all that a talented metalworker leaves to his three sons upon his death. Maomao is assigned to investigate how these strange inheritances all fit together.

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    Director:So Toyama
  18. Background image for A Jaunt Around Town
    7.9/10(584 votes)

    #17 - A Jaunt Around Town

    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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  19. Background image for Lakan
    8.2/10(623 votes)

    #18 - Lakan

    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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  20. Background image for Chance or Something More
    9.1/10(1.0k votes)

    #19 - 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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  21. Background image for Thornapple
    8.2/10(581 votes)

    #20 - 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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  22. Background image for How to Buy Out a Contract
    7.9/10(568 votes)

    #21 - How to Buy Out a Contract

    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
  23. Background image for Blue Roses
    7.9/10(562 votes)

    #22 - Blue Roses

    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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  24. Background image for Balsam and Woodsorrel
    8.8/10(693 votes)

    #23 - 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
  25. Background image for Jinshi and Maomao
    8.9/10(716 votes)

    #24 - 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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  26. Background image for Maomao and Maomao
    9.0/10(5 votes)

    #25 - 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

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Maomao" is the best rated episode of "The Apothecary Diaries" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 856 votes. Directed by Akinori Fudesaka and written by Yuko Kakihara, it aired on 10/22/2023. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Chilly Apothecary".