DESCRIPTION

CAST

ANIME Drama[Oshi no Ko]
MANGA Drama[Oshi no Ko]
ANIME Drama[Oshi no Ko] 3rd Season

REVIEWS

• 

  melamuna

  90/100
  Intensely dramatic yet humorous, offered in an original spotlight amidst the sea of familiarity 2 seasons later

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  The first season of Oshi no Ko was released back in spring 2023 and seemingly blew up because of its original premise. Viewers are treated with an hour-long premiere episode that provides the laughs and the heaviest of tears because of the plot it proposes to convey throughout the story. Oshi no Ko is a series that explores the entertainment industry and the flaws around them through the perspective of Aqua Hoshino (Takeo Ootsuka) navigating through the industry in an effort to take revenge for the death of her mother, Ai Hoshino (Rie Takahashi). This is pretty much a simplified explanation of the hidden, complex nature of the series sprinkled with a touch of anime trope elements. This resulted in a series that is absolutely entertaining and captivating, beautifully enhanced by interesting characters, powerful moments, and a glossy and attractive animation that leveled up from your standard animation you see with other animes. With that in mind, this gathered enough fan base along with its manga readers to see something more in this world, and thus a 2nd season was inevitable as it was announced just right after season 1 ended. Will Season 2 hold up to the same standards as Season 1?

  Simple Answer. Yes. In fact, this might have a step up better than the first season, and there are multiple reasons for that:

  The 2.5D Stage Play Arc is the main highlight of this season, and it adapted a story that hadn't really been explored much in the anime scene, and that is stage play. We have seen glimpses of it, especially in romance shows, but the entire element of theater is pushed aside in favor of focusing on character moments. This season, however, it decided to tackle both the technicalities of theater—albeit a modernized fictional futuristic take on a stage play—as well as providing deep character development all throughout. We get to see the complications of the production starting from the script to the inner turmoils from the main and side characters presented well in this dramatized take in an attractive form of its animation that cranks up to 11. This season is not afraid to delve in with the shounen elements and apply them to an unusual setting where the inner monologues of characters are even more compelling than in the traditional sense.

  Another aspect this series is willing to do is put a huge spotlight on side characters or characters that we already have a bad impression of. In season 1, we've seen this with the character of Kana Arima (Megumi Han), who had a brat personality when she was introduced, but as the episodes come a long way, we get to see that she understands her flaws as a character but is also a center of conflict from the characters around her, in which this season encapsulates it. Another example is the character of Melt (Seiji Maeda), another character that we had a bad impression of in season 1 who had a jaw-dropping redemption. All of the elements of this season are greatly conveyed through the imaginative and attractive animation that keeps you glued to the screen for long.

  The second season of Oshi no Ko provides an original setting in its storytelling while providing captivating characters that keep you hooked episode by episode and providing eye-catching animation as the cherry on top. If you're not a fan of the series, Season 2 might not recapture you to be hooked in the series. But if you're a fan of Season 1, the second season will become your favorite season or your personal anime of the year for a very long while. ***

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• 

  HomuraDesu

  85/100
  What a perfect adaptation feels like. Peak delivery even without focusing on the main plot.

  This review contains SPOILERS for [Oshi no Ko] 2nd Season
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  What a season, Summer 2024 was. As a romance enjoyer, I couldn't have been more happier to experience quality shows like Makeine and Roshidere, so the fact that we're ending it off with Oshi no Ko's banger of a finale brings joy to my nether regions ;)). Of course, the weekly watch of other shows were nice, but there's always that one anime you desparately wait for every night- that being [Oshi no Ko] 2nd Season. Welcome to peak.

  Theater

  

  Let's start the review by talking about the premise. Last season ended with the finale pointing towards a 'Tokyo Blade' live action theater play. The sequel immediately picks up from where it left off and introduces us to the fresh cast of individuals directly related to the play, as well as some quite interesting information about theater plays, acting and the entertainment industry as a whole. Script-writing, emotional acting, chain of communication amongst the staff were all knowledge given to us by the story and we were happy to be fed. Nothing too spectacular was presented, until the actual theater play began.

  

  Each cast member clad in their new colorful designs were to act on a 2.5D rotating stage. The fact that we see the play from the audience's perspective, rotating and reforming, simply shows how much potential the premise had from the start. An exceedingly different type of directing which managed to continueously amaze the viewers both inside the anime and outside. The stage was set(pun absolutely intended) for the characters to act as they willed and undergo their own arcs, and so they did.

  Melting people's hearts. (Episode 6)

  Melt Narushima resonated within me. I honestly had a feeling I would end up liking him ever since the trailer for this season, but not this much. Melt was a star. He was deeply revered for his natural looks, his charms and his ability to achieve things without trying. He grew overconfident, and spent the rest of his teenage years thinking he's special. However, after witnessing Kana's breathtaking emotional acting and Aqua's skill in making use of his surroundings to receive results, Melt realized how pathetic he was. In reality, he wasn't good at acting and was quickly overshadowed by people who genuinely work hard for their goals. This crushed his ego down to a pulp and led him to begin his real acting journey.

  Though, even after signing up for 'Tokyo Blade', he still wasn't good enough. The higher-ups constantly questioned his presence amongst the loaded cast and this made him feel completely inferior. Everybody else could absorb their parts so well, so easily, but Melt didn't have an inkling of how. As he was reading the source manga for the live adaptation, Melt found himself in the pages. The character he was playing was so much like him that emotional acting suddenly became possible. Naturally, Doga Kobo masterfully animated this crucial part and proved, once again, why the series is one of the best adaptations in the industry. Conclusion? Melt is underrated as shit.

  

  Akane and Kana's closure (Episode 7)

  Akane's backstory and why she came to dislike Kana was shown in the very next episode. Peak production after peak production. Akane idolised Kana. Actually, she was the reason Akane got into acting in the first place. The shy, timid, crybaby Akane was constantly blown away by Arima Kana's bright and charismatic acting, until she met her in person(never meet your idol irl kids). At that point in time, Kana had already started undergoing her struggles of desiring to be needed, so she lashed out at her enthusiastic fan. Granted, this was not the reason Akane came to hate her. She couldn't comprehend why Kana acted that way, so she studied up on human psychology to understand her idol, thus the crazy experience in investigating and imitating. See, her reason for hating Kana wasn't so childish, or simple. It was because, after Kana's dark days began, she didn't perform the art of acting like the bright Kana anymore. In order to be picked up by people in the industry, she began acting as a perfect supporting actor who elevated other cast members' performances. This disgusted Akane because she wanted to see her idol- the charming star Kana once more again.

  

  After Aqua romantically declared that this time he would be the supporting actor and shined the spotlight on Kana, it convinced her to embrace her role. Arima Kana wasn't a star anymore, she was a solar
  system. Her eyes brimming with sparkles and her fans(mostly Akane) screaming from pure joy.

  

  Aqua's purpose (Episode 7)

  Here's the last character arc for the theater play. Can you believe it? There's another character arc after this one. Oshi no Ko be piling them peak up. Anyways, here's the summary for Aqua's arc. Aqua was also unable to do emotional acting, but Kana helped him in discovering a very easy method(For most people). If Aqua wanted to express sadness, rage and the desparation of losing somebody, he had to visualize Ai's death. This instantly triggered his PTSD and made it impossible for him to express his emotions, while also enjoying acting. He had to despise hating, in order to express his hate. A very chilling performance from him right after Kana's showcase. Stacked episode.

  

  Through multiple DNA tests, Aqua found out that Himekawa Taiki was his stepbrother. As you know his whole purpose in living as his reincarnated self is to identify his biological father and take revenge by murdering him. Himekawa informed Aqua that 'their father' had already died in a car crash and this freed Aqua from his shackles, erasing the star in his eye. It's really sad that he subconsciously negated the possibility of his dad not being the same person as Himekawa's dad, due to him wanting to be free.

  Back to the plot, Ruby's arc begins

  HELL YEAAAAAH. Twist after twist, suspense after suspense. We back to the main plot and we know season 3's gonna be fire. Aqua and Ruby's biological, charismatic dad presents himself after all the pain he's caused and has the audacity to place the same white flowers that Ryousuke was carrying, on Ai's grave.

  

  Ruby, who wanted to meet her first love (sensei), who wanted to show him that she had made it as an idol, was met with tragedy as she found his corpse hidden in a small cave. As a result, her other eye now projects a star, as well, directing her towards a path of revenge. Her twisted demeanor and a complete 180 in attitude sent shivers down my spine. The changed ED version reminded me a bit of DDLC.

  Conclusion

  I don't even think I have to talk about the animation. Oshi no Ko delivered before and will stay delivering. It's crazy that a psychological drama has better animation sequences and more creative visuals than most action series. I don't know about y'all, but I don't think the OnK manga can compare the anime with the way its being handled and loved. Even the story-telling is enhanced due to the visuals, creating room for creativeness. Not to mention, the enjoyability factor is so high because of the colourful characters and their dynamics, as well as the great voice acting(particularly Melt and Aqua). Whenever Oshi no Ko airs, they're immediately a candidate for anime of the year, and you better remember that. An 8.5 to 9, pinnacle of modern anime and an absolute hype train.

  I must say, nothing beats when a theory/prediction is right. Check out my posts back in July, if you're interested.

  (gets better the more you listen to it ong)

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  Click here for more goated reviews

  
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• 

  TheAnimeBingeWatcher

  60/100
  This is the peak of Oshi no Ko's power- and that's a problem.

  In case you're new around these parts, let me just pull a Kendrick Lamar and say that I'm Oshi no Ko's biggest hater. I staked my claim on this show being crap twenty minutes into the first episode and I've stuck by that assertion ever since. It's a shallow, insincere, cynical piece of crap masquerading as a Serious Examination of the entertainment industry, claiming to portray the true nature of working in this business while being just as plastic and pandering as the very attitudes it pretends to critique. No matter how many self-important speeches it puts into its characters' mouths, it can't hide the fact that at heart, it's a juvenile power fantasy about an self-insert edgelord who boringly broods and cringes his way through a half-baked murder mystery while amassing a harem of teenage girls, sister included. As I said in my season 1 review, if lies are the highest form of love, then Oshi no Ko must be the greatest lover of all.

  So imagine how infuriating it was when I put on season 2 and realized it was actually really good.

  Listen, I didn't want to believe it. How was this show getting me so invested? How was this show making me pump my fist and cheer with triumph? But the facts are the facts: for the first time this season, I saw Oshi no Ko rise to become the best possible version of itself. After all the garbage it put me through, I suddenly found myself watching a show that was propulsive, beautiful, earnest, and filled with genuine insight into what drives people to throw their lives into art against all better judgement. This is the kind of show Oshi no Ko was always promising to be but never lived up to before. This was a show at least a little worthy of the tsunami of hype it crested into the anime world on.

  Unfortunately, it was also proof that this show is never going to be truly great.

  But we're getting ahead of ourselves. The first two thirds or so of season 2 are taken up by the Lala Lai arc, in which Aqua, Kana, Akane, and a smattering of new and old faces get together to put on a 2.5D stage play adaptation of a long-running shonen action manga. On concept alone, that's a pretty novel direction to take things; we don't really have 2.5D plays in the West, so seeing all the technical stagecraft necessary to translate manga into a theatrical performance was fascinating. Ditto the insight into the complicated process of adaptation, how communication can break down between parties and the conflict between keeping a work's original soul and adjusting to fit the demands of the new medium. I've long been an advocate of adaptations making big changes when it makes the work better, and watching those conflicts and conversations play out made me much more appreciative of how difficult that process can be. For the first time, it felt like all the industry info-dumping was actually enriching my understanding of how this business works, and how it informed the characters' place within it.

  Speaking of those characters, what makes the Lala Lai arc really shine is in broadening the spotlight. This is no longer the Aqua and Ruby show; this is a full-on ensemble piece, where pretty much every member of the production has a moment to shine. It bobs and weaves between countless little stories playing out both during the rehearsal process and during the first performance of the play itself, flashing back and forth as it digs into the heart of each individual passion that drives these actors to shine so brightly. And watching those passions collide and cascade makes that performance absolutely riveting. Seriously, I can't count the number of times I just about leaped out of my seat and yelled "Fuck yes!" at someone reaching their full potential on stage and seizing the spotlight in a brilliant display of emotion (and animation; the swooping camera and surreal colorscapes that take over this part of the show are the best Oshi no Ko has ever looked). Natural genius, amateur, it doesn't matter; on the stage of Tokyo Blade, everyone is a star.

  And no one's served better by this kaleidoscopic focus than Kana and Akane, who are probably the true protagonists of this arc. I'm still annoyed at how dumb and retconny Akane's backstory has been treated- I swear, season 1 gave us three different conflicting backstories for her- but her rivalry with Kana over the years is the best stuff in all of Oshi no Ko. They've admired each other from afar for so long, but resent each other for their incompatible acting styles. They're determined to outshine each other but never believe they can measure up. They can't stand each other, but they're entwined by fate so deeply they know they'll never be truly alive without each other. That push and pull of wanting to live up to someone while wanting to surpass them, hating and loving them at the same time, is the singularity that makes this entire arc resonate. It's gripping and heartbreaking and beautiful, and if Aka Akasaka has any self-respect, he'll end the manga with the two of them collectively realizing Aqua isn't worth their time and marrying each other instead.

  But of course, that's not gonna happen. Because Aqua is the one albatross Oshi no Ko will never be able to untangle from around its neck.

  And this is why for as excellent as the Lala Lai arc is, it can't save Oshi no Ko. It's why nothing can save Oshi no Ko. On a fundamental level, it will never be able to shake the fact that it's saddled itself with one of the worst protagonists in all of modern anime. Or at least, one of the worst not to come out of your average seasonal isekai slop, but I don't watch enough of those to know how hellishly low the bar truly is, and I intend to keep it that way, thank you very much.

  The point is, Aqua sucks. He's always sucked, he always will suck, and his mere presence in this story makes even its best ideas turn sour and ugly by the end. Even if you took out the fact he's technically a grown man involved in romantic subplots with three underage girls, he's the worst kind of edgy self-insert Light Yagami wannabe, and he forces the whole story to bend around him and suck his dick at the expense of what it's supposedly trying to say. Gut-wrenching portrayal of online hate mobs driving a young talent to suicide? Nope, it's all so he can save the day and add Akane to his harem with no further repercussions. Showing the difficulties of new idol groups struggling for attention in the modern age? Nope, just another chance for him to show off at Kana's concert and save her emotional state. Hell, even Kana and Akane's rivalry is tainted by the knowledge that they're ultimately fighting over this reincarnated pedophile's dick as much as for each other's respect. No matter what ideas this show tries to explore or how earnestly it tries to grapple with the realities of the entertainment industry, it always ends up coming back to "Yeah, but isn't Aqua such an edgy chad badass saving the day and getting all the bitches? Damn, what a cool brooding dude!"

  In other words, the real reason the Lala Lai arc works as well as it does isn't the focus on the stagecraft process, or the expanded cast, or Kana and Akane. It's because turning into an ensemble piece means Aqua gets at little screen time as humanly possible, so he's mostly not around to fuck everyone's great moments up for a change. And even then, every time he does show up in that arc feels like all the air being let out of a balloon. And he's probably at his best during the play! At least dealing with the lasting trauma of Ai's death gives him some actual internal conflict to play with! But even that's not enough to keep the protagonist of this fucking show from feeling like a sickening blemish on his own supposed series. And once that arc's over and the focus returns to Aqua and Ruby in the season's final third? Hooooooo boy does it immediately go to shit again. All the masturbatory chauvinism I ripped into season 1 for is back like it never left, no lessons learned from how much better Lala Lai was charting an entirely different path. Hell, it's arguably even worse, because it ends up reminding us that Ruby's just as irredeemably broken a character as Aqua at this point. I know, the teenage girl trying to marry her adult doctor who is secretly her reincarnated brother also makes this show worse? I'm shocked, I say! Shocked!

  Speaking of, can we acknowledge at this point that the whole reincarnation aspect of Oshi no Ko just should not have existed? There's nothing in this story that couldn't work just as well if Aqua was just a normal edgy teen who watched his mom die as a kid and developed PTSD/a desire for vengeance from that. It's only just become even somewhat plot relevant, it's barely present in any character interactions or relationships (even between Aqua and Ruby, they almost never talk about it!), none of its themes have any reliance on their past lives to get the point across... Really, its only contribution is making every potential romantic subplot with Aqua a five-alarm emergency siren while the show limply tries to pretend he totally counts as a normal teenage boy for dating purposes, honest! It's a ten ton weight dragging the entire story down for no goddamn reason and you'd barely have to edit the earliest chapters at all to get rid of it entirely. That wouldn't fix all its problems, but it would at least make it salvageable. Which currently, despite how shockingly good this season started, it is not.

  So where do we go from here? Who fucking knows. I'd like to think Oshi no Ko could somehow learn from its successes with Lala Lai and continue shooting for greater heights, but everything I've heard from my friends who've read the manga suggests that was the high point and it's all downhill from here. All I know is that for better or worse, I'm on this train to the end. If only to continue rubbing in everyone's faces that I was right from the start about what a turd this would turn out to be. But I'll save that gloating for when it's truly deserved, and god knows, it will be deserved later on based on some of the spoilers I've picked up. For now, though, I'll just hope the murder mystery roaring back into focus in the season's final couple episodes means this show will start being trashy in a fun way going into season 3 instead of just making me want to gag. We can only hope.

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