The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 1 arrives on Friday, October 2, 2026, bringing Maomao and Jinshi back to screens after the Season 2 finale aired in July 2025. The new season premieres on Crunchyroll for most of the world and on Netflix in select Asian regions. The episode focuses on Maomao discovering a grasshopper infestation that points to a possible famine threatening the empire.
Season 3 will be split into two parts. The first cour runs from October 2026, and the second cour is scheduled for April 2027. The season features a new opening theme, “Kumo o Nukekazashimo e Watashidake” by yorushika, and an ending theme, “AIYOU” by Eve. Reina Ueda joins the cast as Bai Niangniang, a mysterious new character set to play a major role in the season.
Exact Release Times for The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 1 in USA, UK, India, Australia, Germany, France and Worldwide
Crunchyroll streams the episode at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 2, 2026. Here is the exact time for each major region:
- USA and Canada (Pacific Time): 8:00 a.m. PT on October 2
- USA and Canada (Eastern Time): 11:00 a.m. ET on October 2
- United Kingdom, Portugal, Ghana (GMT): 3:00 p.m. GMT on October 2
- Central Europe, Spain, Italy, Poland, Germany, France (CEST): 5:00 p.m. CEST on October 2
- India (IST): 8:30 p.m. IST on October 2
- Japan and South Korea (JST/KST): 11:00 p.m. JST on October 2 for the NTV broadcast
- Australia (AEST): 1:00 a.m. AEST on October 3
- New Zealand (NZST): 3:00 a.m. NZST on October 3
Viewers in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, CIS, and the Indian Subcontinent can watch the episode on Crunchyroll at the same moment it airs in Japan. Netflix carries the season in select regions of Asia, including Taiwan, Singapore, and Southeast Asia, but the platform does not have the series in other parts of the world.
How to Watch The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 1 Online in Every Region
Crunchyroll holds the worldwide streaming rights outside Asia. Fans in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, India, Brazil, Mexico, and most other countries can stream the episode on the platform with English subtitles. A Crunchyroll subscription is required.
Netflix carries Season 3 in select Asian markets, including Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. The platform releases the episode on the same day as the Japanese broadcast.
Japanese viewers can watch the episode on Nippon TV and its affiliate channels during the “Friday Night Anime” block at 11:00 p.m. JST. The episode runs for approximately 24 minutes.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Finale Recap: What Happened in Episode 48
The Season 2 finale, titled “The Beginning,” resolved the Shi Clan rebellion arc and delivered major changes for every main character. The episode opened with Jinshi visiting Maomao at dawn after the suppression of the Shi Clan. Maomao was sleeping alongside the children rescued from the fortress.
Jinshi bore a fresh scar on his face from the conflict. Maomao, still recovering from her own injuries, gently reassured him that his worth went beyond his appearance. She told him that “more scars would look nice,” a moment that mixed humor with genuine affection. The two leaned in for what appeared to be their first kiss, but the moment was interrupted by movement in the cart.
The interruption turned out to be the poisoned children waking up. The so-called “resurrection medicine” had worked, and the children were only temporarily incapacitated. Four of the five children went to live with Ah-Duo, the former consort who took them in as her own.
The fifth child, Kyou, suffered partial paralysis and memory loss. He was renamed Chyou and found a place among Maomao’s adoptive family in the pleasure district.
Gyokuyou gave birth to a son and became the new Empress as the Emperor’s legal wife. Jinshi was officially recognized as the Moon Prince, but he gave up his title as Crown Prince ahead of Gyokuyou’s son’s birth.
Maomao returned to the Verdigris House in the pleasure district because she could no longer work in the Rear Palace. Her father stayed in the palace as a full-time physician. Xiaolan got hired outside of the Rear Palace and sent Maomao a letter.
The episode’s final scene revealed that Shisui survived the fall from the fortress. She traded the hairpin she received from Jinshi for a jade cicada and adopted the new name Tamamo, preparing to go overseas.
Maomao and Jinshi Relationship Progress Before Season 3
The Season 2 finale marked the biggest step forward in Maomao and Jinshi’s relationship since the series began. Jinshi let his guard down completely, showing vulnerability about his scarred face. Maomao responded with genuine warmth rather than her usual deflection.
The almost-kiss between them was not a disappointment but a confirmation that their bond had grown stronger. Their feelings for each other were no longer hidden, even though they still were not officially together. Jinshi had abandoned his fake identity as a eunuch and was now openly the Emperor’s brother. Maomao had left the Rear Palace but continued to work with him on mysterious cases.
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What to Remember Before Watching The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Episode 1
Maomao is no longer a servant in the Rear Palace. She now runs her father’s apothecary in the pleasure district and cares for Chyou, the surviving Shi Clan child with memory loss.
Jinshi visits Maomao whenever he can, sometimes just to rest and sometimes to ask for her help with mysteries. Their working relationship continues even though Maomao has left the palace.
A famine is the central threat of Season 3. Maomao discovers an overabundance of grasshoppers in local food markets, which points to a coming agricultural crisis. The empire must find solutions to sustain the people and maintain favor for the Emperor’s rule.
Two new princes have been born, one to Lady Gyokuyou and one to Lady Lihua. Gyokuyou’s status has risen from Consort to Empress.
Shisui, now known as Tamamo, is alive and preparing to leave the country. Her story continues in Season 3.
New cast member Reina Ueda voices Bai Niangniang, a mysterious figure who will play a major role in the coming season. The season adapts events from Natsu Hyuuga’s light novel series, which currently has 16 complete volumes.
Also Read: The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 Premiere Date Confirmed, New Trailer Shows Maomao’s Next Mystery
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