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The Worst Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries

Every episode of The Apothecary Diaries ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Apothecary Diaries!

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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 Worst Episode
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    The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 34 - A Ghost Story
    6.8/10(10 votes)

    S1:E34

    Maomao joins some women exchanging scary stories on a hot summer night to provide chills.

    Director:Oh Jin-koo
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  2. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 37 - The Baths
    6.9/10(11 votes)

    S1:E37

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

    Director:Mayu Tanimoto
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  3. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 45 - Taibon
    7.1/10(9 votes)

    S1:E45

    Maomao is accused of attempting to escape, and is tossed into an ancient method of torture and execution.

    Director:Takanori Yano
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  4. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 28 - Mirror
    7.2/10(12 votes)

    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.

    Director:Tsuyoshi Nakano
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  5. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 49 - Locusts
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    S1:E49

    A locust plague is looming, and mysteriously, a book on insects belonging to the Shi clan appears.

    Director:Jun Owada
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  6. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 50 - The Fire-Rat Cloak
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    S1:E50

    An interesting cloak points Maomao's imagination towards international politics.

    Director:Yuu Kinome
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  7. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 51 - Let Them Eat Cake
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    S1:E51

    Maomao treats a sick girl, but food poisoning and malnutrition are not the true problems that need solving.

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  8. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 14 - The New Pure Consort
    7.6/10(1284 votes)

    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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  9. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 15 - Raw Fish
    7.6/10(1273 votes)

    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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  10. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 16 - Lead
    7.6/10(1253 votes)

    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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  11. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 27 - Corpse Fungus
    7.6/10(12 votes)

    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.

    Director:Wataru Nakagawa
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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  12. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 38 - The Dancing Ghost
    7.6/10(10 votes)

    S1:E38

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

    Directors:Jun Owada, Kaho Asai
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  13. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 1 - Maomao
    7.7/10(1854 votes)

    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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  14. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 2 - Chilly Apothecary
    7.7/10(1649 votes)

    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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  15. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 9 - Suicide or Murder?
    7.7/10(1396 votes)

    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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  16. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 7 - Homecoming
    7.8/10(1441 votes)

    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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  17. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 10 - Honey
    7.8/10(1357 votes)

    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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  18. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 13 - Serving in the Outer Court
    7.8/10(1326 votes)

    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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  19. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 21 - How to Buy Out a Contract
    7.8/10(1248 votes)

    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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  20. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 43 - Festival
    7.8/10(8 votes)

    S1:E43

    The village holds a festival. Maomao attends, and Shisui introduces some of the village's history to her.

    Director:Mayu Tanimoto
    Writer:Yuko Kakihara

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  21. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 5 - Covert Operations
    7.9/10(1511 votes)

    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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  22. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 17 - A Jaunt Around Town
    7.9/10(1265 votes)

    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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  23. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 22 - Blue Roses
    7.9/10(1250 votes)

    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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  24. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 26 - Caravan
    7.9/10(10 votes)

    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.

    Directors:Akira Koremoto, Mayu Tanimoto
    Writer:Misuzu Chiba

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  25. The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 36 - Ka Zuigetsu
    7.9/10(9 votes)

    S1:E36

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

    Director:Masahiro Matsunaga
    Writer:Hitomi Ogawa

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Worst Episodes Summary

"A Ghost Story" is the worst rated episode of "The Apothecary Diaries". It scored 6.8/10 based on 10 votes. Directed by Oh Jin-koo and written by Yuko Kakihara, it aired on 3/14/2025. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Baths".