You're scrolling through Crunchyroll or Netflix, and you see a girl with lime-green hair tasting poison like it’s fine wine. It hooks you. Maomao is basically the Sherlock Holmes of ancient China, but with more medicinal knowledge and a much lower tolerance for nonsense. If you've just started the journey into the Rear Palace, you’re probably asking the same thing everyone else is: how many episodes are in Apothecary Diaries anyway?
It’s a fair question.
Some anime wrap up in twelve episodes and leave you hanging for three years. Others, like One Piece, will probably outlive us all. The Apothecary Diaries (or Kusuriya no Hitorigoto) occupies that sweet middle ground that gives you enough time to actually care about the characters without overstaying its welcome.
The Current Episode Count for Season 1
Honestly, the first season was a bit of a marathon compared to the usual seasonal "one-cour" shows. Most modern anime seasons run for 12 or 13 episodes. How many episodes are in Apothecary Diaries Season 1? The answer is 24.
The studio, TOHO Animation and OLM, decided to go with a "two-cour" run. This means the show aired consecutively for two chunks of the television season. It started back in October 2023 and wrapped up its initial run in March 2024.
This 24-episode structure was a blessing. If they had tried to cram the first few light novels into just 12 episodes, we would have lost all that delicious, slow-burn tension between Maomao and Jinshi. You need those "filler-that-isn't-actually-filler" moments to understand the politics of the Inner Court. Each episode runs about 23 minutes, which is standard, but the pacing feels incredibly dense because there is so much visual storytelling happening in the background.
Is Season 2 on the Horizon?
Yes. Thank goodness.
When the 24th episode finished airing, the producers didn’t leave us in the dark for long. They immediately announced that Season 2 is coming in 2025. While we don't have a confirmed episode count for the second season yet, the industry standard for a hit of this magnitude suggests we are looking at another 12 to 24 episodes. Given how much source material exists—the light novels are currently sitting at 15 volumes and counting—there is plenty of story left to tell.
If they follow the pattern of the first season, they will likely cover another two or three volumes of the light novel. Maomao has a lot more poison to taste and a lot more of Jinshi’s advances to dodge.
Why the Episode Count Matters for the Story Pacing
If you look at the structure of the show, those 24 episodes are split into two distinct arcs. The first half focuses heavily on Maomao establishing herself and solving the mystery of the "cursed" heirs. It’s episodic. You get a mystery, a solution, and a bit of world-building.
Then, the second half of the season shifts.
The stakes get higher. We start learning about Lakan. We see the external politics of the Li clan. If the show had been shorter, the revelation about Maomao’s parentage wouldn’t have hit nearly as hard. It needed those twenty-plus episodes to breathe.
Think about the Lakan arc. It's a masterpiece of character writing. If that had been rushed, he would have just seemed like a creepy guy with a monocle. Instead, because the show had the luxury of time, we see the tragedy and the obsession that defines him. That’s the benefit of a healthy episode count.
Where to Watch and What to Expect
Currently, you can find all 24 episodes on Crunchyroll in most territories. In some regions, Netflix also carries it. If you’re a dub fan, the English version finished shortly after the sub, so you can binge the whole thing in either language without waiting.
The production quality remains shockingly high throughout all 24 episodes. Usually, long-running shows have "off" episodes where the animation budget clearly took a hit. You know the ones—where the characters' faces look a bit like melting wax in the wide shots. The Apothecary Diaries mostly avoids this. The colors remain vibrant, and the attention to detail in the period clothing stays sharp.
Understanding the Source Material Gap
To understand how many episodes are in Apothecary Diaries long-term, you have to look at the books. Natsu Hyuuga, the author, has been prolific.
- Light Novels: 15+ Volumes
- Manga (Nekokurage version): 13+ Volumes
- Manga (Minoji Kurata version): 18+ Volumes
Season 1 only covered the first two volumes of the light novel. Let that sink in. 24 episodes for two books.
That is an incredibly slow and respectful adaptation rate. It means the anime isn't skipping the internal monologues that make Maomao such a compelling protagonist. If they continue at this pace, we could easily see 100+ episodes before the story is finished. This isn't a show that's going to run out of material anytime soon.
Common Misconceptions About the Episode List
I’ve seen people online getting confused because there are two different manga versions and the light novel. Some people thought the show ended at episode 12 because of the mid-season break. It didn't.
If you see a site claiming there are only 12 episodes, they are likely looking at "Part 1" of the first season. Check again. There is a whole second half where Maomao returns to the pleasure district and eventually gets dragged back into the palace under even more interesting circumstances.
Also, don't confuse the "OADs" or specials with the main count. As of right now, the core experience is the 24-episode TV series. There aren't a bunch of hidden OVAs you need to hunt down to understand the plot. It’s a straightforward watch.
What to Do Once You Finish the 24 Episodes
So, you’ve binged the whole thing. You’re obsessed with the "Blue Rose" episode and you need more. What now?
First, don't just wait for 2025. If you’re a reader, pick up the light novels starting at Volume 3. The anime is very faithful, so you won't be lost. The translation by J-Novel Club is excellent and captures Maomao's dry, cynical voice perfectly.
Alternatively, check out the manga. Most fans prefer the Square Enix version (illustrated by Nekokurage) for its art style, which matches the anime's aesthetic closely. It’s a great way to see the visuals of future arcs before they get animated.
Actionable Steps for Fans
- Verify your streaming platform: Ensure you have access to the "Second Cour" (Episodes 13-24).
- Track the 2025 release: Keep an eye on the official Japanese X (Twitter) account @kusuriya_PR for the exact Season 2 premiere date.
- Explore the Light Novels: Start with Volume 3 if you want to jump ahead of the anime, or Volume 1 if you want the extra internal dialogue.
- Join the Community: The r/TheApothecaryDiaries subreddit is surprisingly good at avoiding spoilers for anime-only viewers while providing deep dives into the historical inspirations of the show.
The 24 episodes we have right now are just the tip of the iceberg. This series has the legs to become a decade-long staple in the anime community. It’s rare to find a show that balances forensic science, palace intrigue, and genuine character growth this well. Whether you're here for the chemistry between the leads or the mystery of the week, those 24 episodes are some of the best television produced in the last few years.