The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 2 sets the stage as life in the rear palace resets back into its usual rhythm.
Maomao, now accompanied by an unexpected feline companion, continues working on remedies and solutions for the concubines.
With the arrival of new residents to the palace, the calm is short-lived, hinting at challenges that could shift the delicate balance of palace life.
What lies ahead in this ever-changing world of intrigue and quiet transformation?
The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 1 recap
The episode opened during springtime, immediately following the events of the previous season’s garden party.
Jinshi conducted checks with all the households in the rear palace, speaking with the ladies-in-waiting residing in the Pavilions. During this process, concubine Gyokuyo informed him that Maomao had spent much of her time at the clinic.
When Jinshi visited Maomao at the clinic, he learned that she had been working on creating new remedies and seeking solutions to benefit the concubines in the rear palace.
Maomao had ordered books from the brothel where she previously worked to help educate the ladies-in-waiting at the rear palace. After reviewing the books, Jinshi and Gaoshun decided not to reprimand her for ordering them without permission. Instead, they confiscated the materials.
Subsequently, Jinshi requested that novels be printed by the company that produced Maomao’s books. These novels were distributed to the concubines in the rear palace.
The concubines enjoyed the novels and wanted to share them with others outside the Pavilions but were concerned about losing or damaging the original copies. Maomao suggested that Lady Ailan make copies of the books to share more freely.
Maomao suspected that Jinshi’s actions were part of a plan to improve the literacy and reading skills of those living in the rear palace.
Meanwhile, at the Jade Pavilion, Lady Gyokuyo asked Maomao to accompany her child on a walk outside the Pavilion. She explained that the child was at an age where she needed to experience more of life beyond the Pavilion.
The princess found a stray kitten during their walk and asked Maomao to catch it. As Maomao leaped to catch the kitten, another girl intervened and secured it. Maomao explained that animals were rare in the rear palace and that keeping one required a special permit.
Maomao took the kitten to the clinic, where she and the doctor nursed it back to health. That night, the Emperor permitted Maomao to care for the kitten. It was suspected that the kitten had snuck into someone’s luggage cart and ended up in the Pavilion.
Later, the Emperor bestowed the kitten with the title “Admonisher of Thieves” because it was tasked with hunting rats that threatened the clinic’s reserves. The kitten was also named Maomao.
The episode concluded with the ladies-in-waiting at the Jade Pavilion informing Maomao that a caravan would arrive soon.
The Apothecary Diaries season 2 episode 2 release date
The second episode airs on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 6 a.m. PT (Pacific Time).
The release times and schedule for international viewers vary based on their time zone.
| THE APOTHECARY DIARIES SEASON 2 EPISODE 2 RELEASE DATE TIME ZONES | FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025/TIME |
| GMT+8 | 10:00 p.m. |
| JST (Japanese Standard Time) | 11:00 p.m. |
| CT (Central Time) | 8:00 a.m. |
| ET (Eastern Time) | 9:00 a.m. |
| GMT (Western European Time) | 2:00 p.m. |
| CET (Central European Time) | 3:00 p.m. |
| IST (Indian Standard Time) | 7:30 p.m. |
Where to watch The Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries is available on the following platforms:
| THE APOTHECARY DIARIES STREAMING PLATFORMS: |
| Crunchyroll |
| Netflix |
Availability may differ depending on your region.
READ MORE: 7 anime like Oshi no Ko that will make you laugh, cry, and dance a little
