7.7/10479 votes#1 - Maomao
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/22/2023
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
7.8/10432 votes#2 - Chilly Apothecary
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/22/2023
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: Kentarou Fujita
Writer: Misuzu Chiba
8.0/10465 votes#3 - The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/22/2023
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
8.5/10453 votes#4 - The Threat
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/29/2023
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
7.9/10401 votes#5 - Covert Operations
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/5/2023
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
8.3/10417 votes#6 - The Garden Party
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/12/2023
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
7.8/10378 votes#7 - Homecoming
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/19/2023
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
8.1/10384 votes#8 - Wheat Stalks
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/26/2023
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: Kentarou Fujita
Writer: Yuniko Ayana
7.7/10345 votes#9 - Suicide or Murder?
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/3/2023
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
7.8/10333 votes#10 - Honey
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/2023
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
8.6/10384 votes#11 - Reducing Two to One
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/17/2023
Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo.
Director: Yukihiko Asaki
Writer: Yuko Kakihara
7.9/10342 votes#12 - The Eunuch and the Courtesan
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/24/2023
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
7.8/10323 votes#13 - Serving in the Outer Court
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/7/2024
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
7.6/10305 votes#14 - The New Pure Consort
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/14/2024
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.
Director: Akira Shimizu, Jun Owada
Writer: Hitomi Ogawa
7.6/10295 votes#15 - Raw Fish
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/21/2024
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: Kentarou Fujita
Writer: Yuko Kakihara
7.5/10288 votes#16 - Lead
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/28/2024
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
7.9/10295 votes#17 - A Jaunt Around Town
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/4/2024
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
8.1/10320 votes#18 - Lakan
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/11/2024
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.
Director: Mayu Tanimoto, Jun Owada
Writer: Hitomi Ogawa
9.1/10485 votes#19 - Chance or Something More
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/18/2024
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
8.1/10290 votes#20 - Thornapple
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/25/2024
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
7.8/10282 votes#21 - How to Buy Out a Contract
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/3/2024
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
7.8/10273 votes#22 - Blue Roses
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/10/2024
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
8.7/10340 votes#23 - Balsam and Woodsorrel
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/17/2024
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
8.8/10336 votes#24 - Jinshi and Maomao
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/24/2024
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
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!
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...
Genres:AnimationDramaMystery
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Maomao" is the best rated episode of "The Apothecary Diaries" season 1. It scored 7.7/10 based on 479 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".