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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!

Binge this in 9h 36m•Peaking at 9.2/10

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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  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 1 - Maomao
    7.7/10(1224 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.

    Director:Akinori Fudesaka
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  2. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 2 - Chilly Apothecary
    7.7/10(1104 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.

    Director:Kentaro Fujita
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  3. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 3 - The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit
    8.0/10(1149 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.

    Director:Kyohei Yamamoto
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  4. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 4 - The Threat
    8.5/10(1153 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.

    Director:China
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  5. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 5 - Covert Operations
    7.9/10(1015 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.

    Director:Gaku Shiga
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  6. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 6 - The Garden Party
    8.3/10(1068 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.

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  7. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 7 - Homecoming
    7.8/10(969 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.

    Director:Tadao Okubo
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  8. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 8 - Wheat Stalks
    8.1/10(983 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.

    Director:Kentaro Fujita
    Writer:Yuniko Ayana

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  9. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 9 - Suicide or Murder?
    7.7/10(919 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.

    Director:Akira Koremoto
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  10. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 10 - Honey
    7.8/10(905 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.

    Director:Erkin Kawabata
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  11. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 11 - Reducing Two to One
    8.7/10(1032 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.

    Director:Yukihiko Asaki
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  12. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 12 - The Eunuch and the Courtesan
    7.9/10(913 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.

    Director:Mitsuyo Yokono
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  13. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 13 - Serving in the Outer Court
    7.8/10(881 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.

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Yuniko Ayana

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  14. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 14 - The New Pure Consort
    7.6/10(848 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.

    Directors:Jun Owada, Akira Shimizu
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  15. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 15 - Raw Fish
    7.6/10(841 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.

    Director:Kentaro Fujita
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  16. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 16 - Lead
    7.5/10(824 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.

    Director:So Toyama
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  17. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 17 - A Jaunt Around Town
    7.9/10(841 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.

    Director:Club Kadomatsu
    Writer:Yuniko Ayana

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  18. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 18 - Lakan
    8.2/10(885 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.

    Directors:Mayu Tanimoto, Jun Owada
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  19. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 19 - Chance or Something More
    9.2/10(1466 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.

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  20. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 20 - Thornapple
    8.2/10(843 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.

    Director:Akira Koremoto
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  21. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 21 - How to Buy Out a Contract
    7.8/10(827 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.

    Director:Yuushi Ibe
    Writer:Yuniko Ayana

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  22. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 22 - Blue Roses
    7.9/10(824 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.

    Director:Erkin Kawabata
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  23. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 23 - Balsam and Woodsorrel
    8.9/10(1019 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.

    Director:Jun Owada
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  24. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 24 - Jinshi and Maomao
    8.9/10(1068 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?

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  25. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 25 - Maomao and Maomao
    8.8/10(6 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.

    Director:Jun Owada
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Maomao" is the best rated episode of "The Apothecary Diaries" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 1224 votes. Directed by Akinori Fudesaka and written by Yuko Kakihara, it aired on 10/22/2023. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Chilly Apothecary".