The Apothecary Diaries Season 2, Episode 20: “Thornapple” Release Date, Recap & What to Expect!

The intricate web of court conspiracies and quiet detective brilliance continues in The Apothecary Diaries! As we approach Episode 20 of Season 2, fans are buckled in for what promises to be another gripping chapter in Maomao’s story.

With secrets piling up and danger creeping ever closer, let’s look at when the next episode drops, what’s happened so far, and what we can expect moving forward.

When Is Episode 20 Coming Out?

Episode 20, “Thornapple,” will air on May 23, 2025, and will be available for streaming on Crunchyroll shortly after its Japanese release. If you’re in India, mark your clocks for 8:10 PM IST.

Quick Recap: Where Did We Leave Off?

Maomao once again finds herself in the thick of palace intrigue; seriously, this girl can’t catch a break. After narrowly surviving an assassination attempt meant for Jinshi, she wakes up to realize the court is more dangerous than ever. But our green-eyed apothecary isn’t about to lie low.

In true Maomao fashion, she begins investigating the incident, leading her to suspect a court lady named Suirei. However, the twist? Suirei turns up dead, or does she?

Maomao’s instincts scream something’s off. And sure enough, after pushing for an autopsy, she finds out the corpse isn’t even Suirei’s. That’s right, our mystery deepens! Is Suirei faking her death? If so, who helped her pull this off, and why?

Episode 20: “Thornapple” – What’s It About?

As the title suggests, this episode delves deeper into figuratively and literally poisonous plots. Thornapple, also known as Datura, is a dangerous plant often associated with hallucinations, deception, and death, perfect symbolism for what Maomao’s about to unravel.

Expect intense deductions, a closer look into Suirei’s motives, and maybe just maybe a step closer to understanding the broader power plays happening behind the palace curtains.

On top of that, Lady Loulan, a new court lady who arrived recently, might not be just another pretty face. Her subtle reactions in Episode 19 hint that she’s either got a keen eye or a hidden agenda.

Meanwhile, Jinshi, ever the enigma, quietly pulls strings behind the scenes. His decision to assign Maomao as food taster for Lady Gyokuyou (who might be pregnant again!) is classic Jinshi, protective, calculated, and emotionally distant. But fans know there’s more going on beneath that stoic exterior.

Where to Watch

Catch Episode 20 and the rest of Season 2 on Crunchyroll, with episodes released every Friday. Whether you’re here for the mystery, the subtle romance, or just Maomao’s dry wit and poison knowledge, this season has been top-tier storytelling.