# Where to Watch The Apothecary Diaries

**You can stream The Apothecary Diaries on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix, so it's easy to reach no matter which service you already pay for. It's one of those rare shows that satisfies almost everyone at once — part cozy mystery, part opulent court drama, part slow-burn character study — all carried by Maomao, a deadpan apothecary whose fascination with poisons makes her the most dangerous mind in the palace. If you want lavish production, clever self-contained puzzles, and a heroine who feels truly one of a kind, this is a perfect place to start.**

## Where to Watch

- [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/G3KHEVDJ7/the-apothecary-diaries)
- [Hulu](https://www.hulu.com/series/the-apothecary-diaries-d7b5390e-b8cb-4cc3-ba7c-7ed570355d7d)
- [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/title/81712068)

All three services carry the show, so the easiest call is simply whichever you already subscribe to. Crunchyroll is the obvious pick if you want a deep anime catalog surrounding it, while Netflix and Hulu are ideal if that's where your watching already lives. You won't lose anything by choosing one over another, so pick the login you already have and dive in.

## Synopsis

Maomao grew up learning the apothecary's craft at her father's side, perfectly content among herbs, remedies, and the poisons she loves testing on herself. That quiet life ends the day she's snatched away and sold into the emperor's rear palace as a nameless serving maid. She fully intends to serve out her term unnoticed — but when a mysterious sickness begins creeping through the imperial household, she can't stand by, and she quietly leaves behind a cure only a trained hand could have devised. That clue reaches Jinshi, a dazzling and unreadable court official, who pulls her out of the servants' quarters and into his orbit. From there, the palace's poisonings, strange ailments, and carefully buried secrets all become Maomao's domain — and she chases each one with the glee of someone who has finally found work she adores.

## Fast Facts

- **Format:** TV
- **Episodes:** 24
- **Premiered:** 2023
- **Studio:** olm, inc., toho animation studio co., ltd.
- **Score:** 8.8

## Watch Order

Good news for newcomers: this is the very beginning of the story, so there's nothing you need to watch first. Start right here with the first season. The tale does continue in a follow-up season for when you're hooked, but everything kicks off with this one.

- Maomao no Hitorigoto — side\_story
- [Kusuriya no Hitorigoto 2nd Season](https://hozuna.com/anime/the-apothecary-diaries-season-2) — sequel

## If You Liked This

- **[Frieren: Beyond Journey's End](https://hozuna.com/anime/frieren-beyond-journey-s-end)** — If you love how The Apothecary Diaries slows down to savor small moments and gorgeous detail, Frieren scratches the exact same itch — a quiet, deeply human fantasy about time, memory, and the people we tend to overlook. It's patient, beautiful, and quietly devastating in the best way.
- **[Kaguya-sama: Love Is War](https://hozuna.com/anime/kaguya-sama-love-is-war)** — Maomao and Jinshi's push-and-pull is half the fun, and Kaguya-sama turns that same 'two clever people refusing to admit their feelings' energy into a razor-sharp comedy. It's witty, dialogue-driven, and endlessly rewatchable.
- **[Ascendance of a Bookworm: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke](https://hozuna.com/anime/ascendance-of-a-bookworm-adopted-daughter-of-an-archduke)** — Another heroine who bends a rigid, pre-modern world to her will through sheer knowledge — Ascendance of a Bookworm follows a girl obsessed with books navigating a society that has no place for her, and rising anyway. If you love watching Maomao out-think everyone around her, this is your next binge.
- **[Death Note](https://hozuna.com/anime/death-note)** — For the pure pleasure of watching a brilliant mind dismantle a problem step by step, Death Note is the gold standard — a tense battle of wits where every move is a calculated gamble. It's far darker than Maomao's palace, but if the deduction is what hooks you, this delivers.
- **[Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc](https://hozuna.com/anime/chainsaw-man-reze-arc)** — 
- **[Re:Zero Season 4](https://hozuna.com/anime/re-zero-season-4)** — 
- **[Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood](https://hozuna.com/anime/fullmetal-alchemist-brotherhood)** — 
- **[Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2](https://hozuna.com/anime/attack-on-titan-season-3-part-2)** — 

## FAQ

### Where can I watch The Apothecary Diaries?

It's available to stream on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix, so you can watch on whichever of those you already use.

### How many episodes are there?

This first season runs 24 episodes, giving the mysteries and court intrigue plenty of room to breathe.

### Do I need to watch anything before it?

No — this is the starting point of the series, so you can jump in with zero prior knowledge.

### Is The Apothecary Diaries good for people who don't usually watch anime?

Very much so. Its blend of mystery-of-the-week storytelling, historical court drama, and a magnetic lead makes it one of the most approachable, widely loved shows around.