Review of [Oshi No Ko]

Oshi no Ko’s climactic pilot serves as both a bold introduction to the series and a stab in its knee as further acts become forced to maintain the same quality. It’s unable to excite with the thematic approaches it takes moving forward, primarily due to its dialogue’s expository nature preventing any kind of a nuanced look into the underbelly of the entertainment industry. Most of the issues can be attributed to Aqua being a ridiculously stagnant character, overtly edgy with his vengeance shtick that invades opportune moments of sincere cast progression. He’s probably the most significant thorn in Oshi no Ko’s back, as his presencedirectly obstructs the thematic fulfillment the show is trying to achieve. There is a lot of potential here, mainly when the writing focuses on the individualistic perils artists face in the industry, most notably seen in Akane’s arc. However, Akasaka seems more keen on turning this into a murder mystery, which he simply doesn’t have the knack for writing, and the show turns drab when that aspect of the plot, coupled with the apathetic Aqua, takes the front seat. The production values are typically fine, having some particularly detailed frames at consequential moments, but the general animation tends to be quite stiff. I don’t find the soundtrack memorable either, but I’m rather fond of the ending song, possibly as it indicated the episode’s conclusion. Oshi no Ko is middling at best, although there are hints of narrative ambition that I doubt it’ll build upon.