Oshi no Ko is back for season 2 and it starts with a tense first episode. The opening introduces the cast of the stage play in grand style, setting the stage for an exciting journey ahead. It offers a dramatic view of the play from the audience’s perspective, showcasing the show’s impressive directional choices. It also serves as a great introduction to the actual live performance before taking us back to the early rehearsals, where we get an insight into the creative process behind the scenes. Things are definitely heating up, especially with last season’s stars, Kana and Akane.
The end of the first season sets the stage for a fierce rivalry between Kana and Akane, as they are cast as competing characters in a new project. Akane seems to have the upper hand at the moment, especially since she is the one “dating” Aqua at the moment. However, Kana is far from out of the picture. Despite her talent, Akane still struggles to understand her role. It’s not always easy to effectively play a character when you can’t connect with the script. With the help of Aqua and Goa, things finally work out for her. Goa’s explanation of the scriptwriter’s job in adapting a stage play from a manga is also insightful, and I’m glad Oshi no Ko continues to deliver these engaging and informative scenes.
Kana is another one. level. Previously, she has limited her acting to avoid overshadowing others and maintaining a level playing field. However, this time she is acting alongside top actors and is finally able to reach her full potential. The metaphor of Kana and Taiki giving it their all is fantastic and perfectly captures the energy of a truly dynamic performance. The bright splashes of color on the black and white background during their rehearsals are mesmerizing. As their performance increases, more colors fill the monochrome backdrop. It simply symbolizes their love of acting and by the end of the scene, the entire screen is filled with vibrant colors, showing that their passion is truly bright and burning. It is truly a creative and visually impressive direction.
Overall, this episode was pretty standard for Oshi no Ko. Don’t get me wrong, it was still good—there were some tense moments and some poignant scenes scattered throughout, but for the most part it felt pretty routine. There was one moment that stood out to me, though: a short scene with Ruby that captured the essence of the first season so well. Her telling her mother’s grave what happened throughout the previous season was sweet and endearing. Not only that, but it reminded us of the main plot of the story—the search for their father.
While this season seems to be shifting its focus more towards the performing arts, and I'm here for it if it continues, it's refreshing to see the show delve deeper into this world. Oshi no Ko has always been excellent at exploring the entertainment industry, and I find it annoying when supernatural elements interrupt that focus. If the series continues to highlight the behind-the-scenes drama of the performing arts, I'm excited to see where it goes, especially since the original creators disagreed on how the script for the stage play was written.
Oshi no Ko Season 2 is streaming on Bilibili and HIDIVE.
© Akasaka Aka x Mengo Yokoyari/Shueisha/Oshi no Ko Production Committee