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Season 1 – The Apothecary Diaries

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Apothecary Diaries Oct 2023 Mystery & Thriller Drama Romance Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
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!
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The Apothecary Diaries — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Kambole Campbell IGN Movies 04/10/2024
8/10
The Apothecary Diaries’ faux-historical medical drama makes for incredibly compelling case-of-the-week anime viewing. Though the mysteries can be a little morbid, the show is mostly fun and breezy. Go to Full Review Panos Kotzathanasis Asian Movie Pulse 05/19/2024
7.5
This, though, is the only significant fault of a truly exceptional series, which stands out due to its outstanding writing and the excellent direction. Go to Full Review Mariló Delgado Espinof 05/07/2024
4.5/5
If you like period dramas with a little spice, 'The Apothecary Diaries' has it all. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Kirsten Carey The Mary Sue 04/26/2024
The Apothecary Diaries‘ Maomao is arguably one of the best female characters in all of anime. She exudes a combination of wit, humor, peculiarity, and emotional complexity rarely afforded female characters in any kind of mainstream media. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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- T @XinXin663 Jan 3 Muy interesante. La encontré por error pero definitivamente fue una gran fuente de entretenimiento. El carácter tan diferente de MaoMao me hizo continuarla. PD: Me mareé con el árbol genealógico See more Smiling D @RT57046910 Dec 16 I asked myself before rating, did I want to see the next episode, was I hooked. The answer is yes. What I enjoyed the the intersting main character. She is an odd bird. Suprisingly comfortable with human anotomy and sexuality but yet remains inocent herself. She strange additions and a thirst for knowledge and solving mysteries. I have had a good laugh with her bluntness, singular self interest but a caring heart at the same time. The villians seem to escape justice but I'm focused on the Apothecary because she is facinating. See more Ryan H. @RyGuy Aug 1 A girl who likes to experiment with poisons is taken as a servant by the palace but once she starts solving medical mysteries, she is quickly promoted in the kingdom. See more LABEL 2 @RT75584273 Jul 5 围绕宫廷琐事展开的推理单元剧。故事文本足够细腻，点到为止式的揭秘和猫猫自身的命运形成了呼应：在身不由己的时代，对命运的真相三缄其口或许是最好的选择——由此派生出来的忧伤感怀确实令人着迷。动画制作较为一般，算是合格完成任务，只可惜未能给作品增添更多的光彩。 See more Prehana S @RT77632088 Jun 29 I enjoyed this series. Slow budding romance between maomao and jinshi. A a series of intimate glimpses into a man realizing he's deeply in love with someone who may never fully understand her own worth to him. Maomao employs her apothecary/pharmacist skills at a young age to solve mysteries at palace. Just wish there was more between maomao and jinshi See more Catherine Y @RT37479973 May 31 Although the animation is fun, it is hard to watch them misuse Chinese cultures and values while using Chinese clothing and Chinese medicine. The main character is also overly powerful and intelligent. She turned into a Sherlock Homes in the Palace while other people are completely stupid and not seeing the obvious clues. Recommended for people younger than 15 if they want to feel smart about themselves. See more Read all reviews
The Apothecary Diaries — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Aoi Yuki

Maomao

Takeo Ōtsuka

Jinshi

Katsuyuki Konishi

Gaoshun

Atsumi Tanezaki

Gyoku YoHi

Yui Ishikawa

Lihua

Hina Kino

Lishu

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 22, 2023 Mao Mao Maomao, a pharmacist in the red-light district, is abducted and enslaved at the emperor's palace. Hearing rumors of a "curse" killing the emperor's heirs, her curiosity propels her to investigate. Driven by her insatiable curiosity and expertise in medicine and poison, Maomao decides to take action. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 22, 2023 Chilly Apothecary 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. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 22, 2023 The Unsettling Matter of the Spirit 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. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 29, 2023 The Threat 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. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 5, 2023 Covert Operations A eunuch stricken by a curse comes begging for aid; the rear palace buzzes with excitement as everyone prepares for the upcoming garden party; Gyokuyou's ladies-in-waiting aren't about to let Maomao get away without dressing her up. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 12, 2023 The Garden Party The favourites, their attendants and a number of notables gather at the court banquet. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 19, 2023 Homecoming Gaoshun asks Maomao for help in resolving the events from the garden party; Xiaolan explains the purpose of the hairpins Maomao was gifted; Maomao makes a deal with Lihaku to visit home. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 26, 2023 Wheat Stalks 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. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 3, 2023 Suicide or Murder? An older acquaintance of Jinshi's dies while drinking at a party, and 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. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 10, 2023 Honey 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; Jinshi sends Maomao to work for Lady Ah-Duo. Details Episode 11 Aired Dec 17, 2023 Reducing Two to One Maomao confronts Fengming about the dark secret she's been hiding from her noble Lady Ah-Duo. Details Episode 12 Aired Dec 24, 2023 The Eunuch and the Courtesan 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. Details Episode 13 Aired Jan 7, 2024 Serving in the Outer Court To Maomao's surprise, Jinshi brings her directly to his house instead of taking her back to the rear palace, telling her she's to work in the outer court; not only is there much to learn, but it seems there are many eyes on her as the new hire. Details Episode 14 Aired Jan 14, 2024 The New Pure Consort Ah-Duo's replacement arrives in the rear palace, and Maomao is assigned to give a certain lecture to all four high concubines; Maomao helps Lihaku investigate a warehouse explosion. Details Episode 15 Aired Jan 21, 2024 Raw Fish Gaoshun requests Maomao's help in solving an apparent poisoning case; Jinshi deals with an unwelcome visitor who's taken to lingering in his office. Details Episode 16 Aired Jan 28, 2024 Lead 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. Details Episode 17 Aired Feb 4, 2024 A Jaunt Around Town Covering up Jinshi's otherworldly beauty is no easy task, but after Maomao takes on the challenge, she's surprised when she's also asked to don the disguise of a noblewoman and escort Jinka outside the palace. Details Episode 18 Aired Feb 11, 2024 Lakan 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. Details Episode 19 Aired Feb 18, 2024 Chance or Something More 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. Details Episode 20 Aired Feb 25, 2024 Thornapple Maomao was able to stop the assassination attempt but was heavily injured in the process; the injuries aren't enough to stop her curiosity, driving her to confront the culprit behind the incident. Details Episode 21 Aired Mar 3, 2024 How to Buy out a Contract Back to work at the rear palace, Maomao listens to Guen talk about his family's business; Lihaku hears a rumor that whips him into action. Details Episode 22 Aired Mar 10, 2024 Blue Roses Lakan challenges Jinshi to produce blue roses to present at the upcoming garden party, forcing Jinshi to turn to Maomao for help. Details Episode 23 Aired Mar 17, 2024 Balsam and Woodsorrel 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. Details Episode 24 Aired Mar 24, 2024 Jinshi and Maomao 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. Details

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The Apothecary Diaries — Season 1

The Apothecary Diaries The Apothecary Diaries The Apothecary Diaries The Apothecary Diaries View more photos

Season Info

Director
Norihiro Naganuma
Screenwriter
Natsu Hyuga, Norihiro Naganuma
Network
NIPPJP
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Romance, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date
Oct 22, 2023
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