The BEST episodes of The Apothecary Diaries

Every episode of The Apothecary Diaries ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Apothecary Diaries!

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 heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, she’s making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!

Last Updated: 12/17/2024Network: Nippon TVStatus: Continuing
Chance or Something More
star
8.84
138 votes

#1 - 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.

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Jinshi and Maomao
star
8.78
134 votes

#2 - 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?

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Balsam and Woodsorrel
star
8.49
127 votes

#3 - 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.

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Reducing Two to One
star
8.37
131 votes

#4 - 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.

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The Eunuch and the Courtesan
star
8.24
135 votes

#5 - 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.

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The Threat
star
8.22
148 votes

#6 - 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.

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The Garden Party
star
8.18
136 votes

#7 - 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.

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Thornapple
star
8.15
123 votes

#8 - 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.

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Wheat Stalks
star
8.14
139 votes

#9 - 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.

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Covert Operations
star
7.97
136 votes

#10 - Covert Operations

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/4/2023

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.

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Blue Roses
star
7.97
119 votes

#11 - 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.

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Honey
star
7.94
127 votes

#12 - 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.

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The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit
star
7.94
151 votes

#13 - 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.

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Chilly Apothecary
star
7.90
159 votes

#14 - 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.

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A Jaunt Around Town
star
7.88
122 votes

#15 - 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.

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Homecoming
star
7.87
137 votes

#16 - 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.

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Lead
star
7.86
131 votes

#17 - 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.

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Serving in the Outer Court
star
7.85
135 votes

#18 - 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.

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How to Buy Out a Contract
star
7.83
120 votes

#19 - 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.

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Lakan
star
7.83
120 votes

#20 - 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.

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Suicide or Murder?
star
7.81
137 votes

#21 - 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.

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Maomao
star
7.77
173 votes

#22 - 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.

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The New Pure Consort
star
7.70
120 votes

#23 - 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.

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Raw Fish
star
7.69
123 votes

#24 - 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.

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