What’s So Great About Oshi No Ko

[@mothersbasement]

HUGE thanks to Rosetta Stone for partnering with me to make this video! start your lifetime of language lessons at partners.rosettastone.com/mothers-basement/mb1

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

sounds cool!

[@sudolinuxfish]

I legitimately love that Rosetta Stone deal but can't afford that anytime soon.

[@ccino2010]

​@@sudolinuxfish😊

[@Tisbilly]

@@ccino2010🤨

[@gregwillams5463]

That deal was to good to pass up huge thanks.

[@Mrinsecure]

*Oshi no Ko fans watching the LoveNow Arc condemning people who harass actors for stuff that happens on TV:* Huh, I wonder who that's for.

[@jblaine6104]

The lack of self awareness there is absolutely hilarious whilst also extremely heartbreaking and disturbing.

[@downnice95]

​@@jblaine6104tbf she literally falsely slandered and tried to cancel the writer and sent her fans to harass Akasana F around and find out

[@CroakingBroking]

@@downnice95 Who are you talking about?

[@amrox9656]

​@NavyGamerZ The mother of a pro wrestler who committed suicide gave an interview where she basically said she wished there was a way for a story to include suicide/attempted suicide without causing grief to those who have been affected by it in the real world. Some anime fans decided this meant the grieving mother was the incarnation of evil and deserved to be harassed for saying such a horrific thing. All this about the episode where the message was 'don't harass people online when you don't know a thing about their situation'

[@CroakingBroking]

@@amrox9656 ohhhhh... I knew about the hana kimura thing but I didn't know her mom was harrassed. Tbf, it is impossible to do a story about suicide without causing grief but I get where the mother was coming from. I mean, its her daughter

[@grantharriman284]

One of the funniest and most thematically appropriate realizations I had in watching Oshi No Ko was that Aqua's calculated manipulation ended up building connections that actually brought him greater success in the entertainment industry than his sister who is directly and honestly pursuing success in the same. His guile is so much more potent than her honesty in that realm that he ACCIDENTALLY achieves more than her direct effort ever could.

[@Kevin_Street]

I'm kind of fascinated by the relationship between Aqua and Miyako. She's sort of his adopted Mom and sort of not. More than any of the other characters, she understands his personality even if she doesn't know about the reincarnation and revenge. I love the scene in episode 11 where she repairs the relationship between Aqua and Kana with just a few well chosen words. "That's not what's happening here."

[@akiko2559]

Nice observation.... spoilers Ruby gonna use the same technique... unfortunately

[@grantharriman284]

@@akiko2559 Your spoiler block doesn't work in my comments feed.

[@inadover]

​@@Kevin_Streetshe is the MVP of the show. Started as, essentially, a gold-digger, but ended up being the only one to raise the kids and keep the business when Ai died, even when her husband left.

[@teeweezeven]

Yes, because Aqua has the mind of an adult while Ruby has that of a 14 year old fangirl (who also had no hope in life anyways)

[@fanboy50]

The only thing that's really disappointed me with most of the coverage around Oshi No Ko is that people seem to be forgetting Mengo Yokoyari *a lot* in their coverage. Nominally, she 'just' does the art (which is still huge because the art is a huge part of what makes the series so good), but it's also pretty clear that she has creative input on the story, but Akasaka in a lot of cases gets sole credit for the creative leadership of the series, which is kind of sad.

[@IZEASGT]

Looking at Akasaka and Yokoyari’s ANN interviews, both seem to say that while he occasionally consults her, the story is mostly from him. That said, there’s points when it REALLY feels like her influence is showing.

[@fanboy50]

@@IZEASGT Yeah, like I know in terms of the actual *writing* it is first and foremost, primarily Akasaka's work, but I feel like if Yokoyari wasn't there for him to be discussing things and bouncing ideas off of we'd have a very different story. It's just disappointing that even Geoff's relatively brief mentions of Mengo's contributions to the series qualify as one of the bigger acknowledgements of her role in such a runaway success I've seen, at least in English-speaking manga/anime media coverage.

[@joshs5577]

The largest contribution Mengo has made narratively from my recollection was in whether or not Akane lived through the Love Now arc. Aka was leaning towards her having her die but Mengo convinced him to let her live.

[@Yesiyui]

Maybe because of the success of Kaguya-sama but I also want to people recognize the great work of Mengo Yokoyari because definitly the art of the manga is beautiful like her previous work Kuzu no Honkai.

[@_zenith_139]

​@@joshs5577 We gotta thank Mengo Sensei for that. She reminds me of the guy who prolonged Sasha's life in AOT.

[@BluePhoenixAlex]

I also think it's really interesting and worth noting that Ai being less fleshed out(relative to the rest of the cast) seems to be very intentional because we've been learning more about her and her past through people she interacted with when she was alive, and this plays into the whole theme of perceptions the story seems to have going on

[@sdbzfan1]

true, her kids knew one part about her, Miyako and Ichigo another, the b komachi members another, the directors and producers another, the fans another, Ai only showed what she wanted to people and in a way it adds to what Aqua said, Lies are the greats weapon and shield when it comes to the entertainment industry

[@003dylan]

I also love how when she was alive, people spoke to and about her more critically. What she could do better or how far she would go as an idol. Then after the time jump we hear much more praise and almost reverence for her, gradually revealing she has become a legend in the entertainment world and reached a mass appreciation higher than she ever achieved while alive.

[@marocat4749]

A lot of artists dont get to see their own popularity heights or really late, becausse they were ded and tht sellss usually, or tme passed to see they did overrect. Happens. Or the opposside how ausssiv a bdeloved artist is i guess really. And we see where she comes from, she went from the cold orphenage to cold showbiz and still wnted to at least make others feel love. Despite that. Ad that she likely has as orphan abandonment issues and finds it hard to open up. And has selfdoubt. But she really tries despite everything. Especially as mom. That alone really , what more do youeed tolike her. or get her

[@MrGksarathy]

Yeah, I think it's a really good choice because it reinforces the idea that Ai was a woman whose whole life was a series of performances and well-crafted lies, all of which stem from her inability to perceive her own honest feelings. It also adds to the tragedy of her quest to find true love in her lies, which she only realizes she had at the moment of her death.

[@shahaansalman3286]

Spoiler We're only now gonna find out her full back story and we're pretty much at the final arc.

[@batriam5921]

One of the interesting things about the final performance where Kana sees Aqua waving her glow stick is that in one of the closeup shots there's at least one white glowstick that I noticed. Now that's either an animation mistake or the way I like to view it: Her opinion of herself is so low that she disregards those other glowsticks. She's so focused on the support others are showing her friends she can't see the support she's getting until it's literally shoved in her face by Aqua sitting right up in the front. So yeah either a cool view of her inner turmoil or just a mistake

[@amara560]

Interesting! It's so hard to know cause it was quite unambiguous in the manga (cause ofc no colour), but they could have changed/added it or as you said simply forgot/made a mistake.

[@JayceCH.]

That was Akane /s

[@juanthegreat3954]

​@@JayceCH.Now, I can now imagine Akane wearing a disguise, and not to mention it could be canon. Lol

[@aminulhussain2277]

​@@JayceCH.Canon.

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

I saw that glow stick too and thought it was Aqua in the back. But then it showed he was in the front.

[@HeisenbergFam]

"we are talking about 10s of thousands of tweets" this hits different when Twitter severely reduced daily post limit

[@mothersbasement]

We are talking SEVERAL WEEKS WORTH OF TWEET RATIONS

[@airplanes_aren.t_real]

​@@mothersbasementthis would sound completely different last week

[@snorpenbass4196]

@@mothersbasement I wanted to Like this, but it had reached 42 Likes and I don't want to mess with the Answer to the question about Life, the Universe and Everything.

[@mothersbasement]

@@snorpenbass4196 it passed it anyway but I appreciate your dedication to being a real hoopy frood

[@boserboser6870]

​@@snorpenbass4196ita now 142 likes

[@PoolNoodleGundam]

The scene at the end of episode 6 (IIRC) alone is just so good. The juxtaposition of a calm, imagined, serene *redacted* cutting instantly to the dirty, wet, miserable reality just worked so well

[@hollowshield2315]

Oh yeah. Highlights how close to the edge (literally) aka e is, almost like she’s in a trance. Plus the hypnotic lights of the cars in the street only further that notion. That scene was executed VERY well, and I hope people were impacted by its message

[@SliderGamer55]

That transition is gonna stick with me for a long time.

[@niconicoanime]

Its lived in my head rent free for months

[@thelegendaryklobb2879]

@@hollowshield2315 Psychiatrists teach that the very moment of suicide is a fully psychotic experience, so that portrayal was probably painfully accurate

[@christopheriman4921]

@@thelegendaryklobb2879 I can very well believe that since I have gotten very close to trying to ending my life several times. The feelings that I had when I made up my mind that I would try to end things at a certain time and ultimately talked myself out of with some help from close friends was a process of going from conflicted with my existence to a feeling that is really indescribable it is very sad and yet almost content that you won't have to experience whatever you are going through and getting back out from that mindset is so difficult because it is emotionally and mentally taxing.

[@maroullis07]

Honestly the best thing about oshi no ko is how real it feels. Kinda like watching real life events unfold right infront of our eyes. And the fact that each and every character is so well written leaves you wanting to see them achieve their goals the way you'd want a loved one achieve them in real life He also shows the harsh reality of the entertainment industry through the proccess of working towards achieving their goals, which makes it feel even more real

[@abmorales5988]

As a wrestling fan and remembering that Hana Kimura actually managed to post pictures of her self-mutilating before passing away, episode 6 was a hell of a gut punch. To us she was just a young, talented pro wrestler. And then this episode paints in gruesome details how her psyche likely broke down leading to what sadly happened following that Terrace House incident. It's a real shame wrestling outlets don't even know about the episode let alone cover the story and impact behind it.

[@kingryuuka7018]

I think the comedy really pushes us a back a bit from Aqua, reminding us of everyone else in the world around him and their lives and struggles. Not everyone sees the world in the dark and bleak way Aqua does, so showing the comedy and lighthearted sections show more of the emotions of those around him. It also gives us a gateway to a part of Aqua he doesn’t like to show, he may be prickly, but he cares. When the series wants to be funny, it’s funny, and when it wasn’t to be dark, it’s dark as hell. I’m a manga reader so I really appreciate how the art changes and captures each emotion in the manga so well. I also love seeing how artistically that is captured in the anime. I think because of how artistic they could get in the anime, the more people wanted to watch. There are a lot of anime fighting for screen time, so a bright, well animated anime that can go from well animated idol scenes to painterly dark scenes really draws people’s attention. The changing of styles really helps set the mood in a way that I’m so appreciative of as an artist. My only problem with the series, isn’t a problem with the series itself. And that’s rare for a picky fan lol. This is such a good and in depth review, as always!

[@Cheese-kz5io]

Also the comedic and light hearted scenes are essential to have a balanced and impactful story for me. If all of the scenes are dark I tend to detach my emotions because I know it would get dark and brace myself but if there are happy moments you let your guard down and then the sad parts will hit you like truck

[@TonyB369]

My biggest complaint with the show is that all the b komachi songs aren’t on Apple Music or Spotify. And if that’s my biggest complaint, I know this show is truly a masterpiece. Edit: they’re out now. This show is essentially perfect 👍

[@bojackbojackbojack]

July 5th. That's what I heard. They'll be released July 5th.

[@TonyB369]

@@bojackbojackbojackif true that’s awesome to hear

[@Pyxyty]

Full versions are already available on youtube, both new and original arrangements

[@Vysair]

Your wish have come true.

[@teeweezeven]

I thought the whole point of the show was "Idol industry bad" lol

[@mccloaker]

I've figured out that the anime you like the best, my dude, are the ones where the characters do things that are socially considered messed up or inappropriate, but do so authentically, sympathetically, and unapologetically. And I must say, I respect that.

[@BobNinjaCat]

Ai's death scene was nightmare fuel, as tragic as it is. That slow pan coupled with the presentation of her corpse, it's freaking terrifying and tragic and I absolutely adore how the director thought that was the best way to convey the right emotions of that scene. Screw that person, but also PLEASE keep doing what you do.

[@yoda0017]

I couldn't stop thinking about it for days. For me the thing that hits so hard is that it is both tragic and triumphant. Because as she was dying she took that step and told her children she loved them and realized it wasn't a lie. In that moment her character arc was complete, because her entire goal in entering the idol industry was to learn to love.

[@BluePhoenixAlex]

I can't wait to read the manga. Aka akasaka is such a genius at character writing and balancing tone as proven by both this and kaguya

[@redmustangredmustang]

You'll love it I promise. Start at chapter 41 if you already seen the first season.

[@BluePhoenixAlex]

​@@redmustangredmustangI'll probably read from the start tbh but thanks!

[@kenmaru777]

Yeah manga for children

[@l3d-3dmaker58]

as someone who is up to date with the manga (even the chapter 123 that doesnt even come out till tomorrow) i can definetly say it's something out of this world, by far the best i've read and I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE ENDING! its so hype all around

[@jeppykun05]

​​@@redmustangredmustang The tokyo blade arc especially the stage performance of the main cast was some of the best emotional experience I've had in manga to date. The attachment you have with every single character as if they're the main protagonist really shows the genius of Aka Akasaka's writing. I won't go through its details as I HIGHLY RECOMMEND to anime onlys who are interested in the manga to check it out blind and free from spoilers.

[@Zlatarier]

this adaptation was so good it elevated many parts from the manga for me

[@niconicoanime]

100% agreed. This is a PERFECT adaptation.

[@segevstormlord3713]

I haven't read the manga, but that is seriously high praise for _any_ adaptation.

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

Well, it is virtually following scene by scene 99% of the manga.

[@ryanmurray7443]

Let me say, give it another season or two and I'd love to see another movie length analysis video on this series. It definitely deserves it.

[@homulity5293]

The timing of this with the manga is amazing

[@ILikeTheThingsIDo]

I think the dramatic balance is extremely important to the more grounded feel of the show. Revenge when you don't even know your targets face or name can't be this purely all consuming thing. Aqua comes across as weird enough as a teenager without being totally consumed by it. Think like Inigo Montoya. Yeah, he asks everyone he meets if they have 6 fingers on their right hand, but he's not constantly actively searching for the man. Life happens too. Aqua would like to think he's singularly focused on his task, but he's a whole ass person with nearly 50 years of life experience at this point, and had some measure of compassion required of him particularly as a countryside doctor. He genuinely cares for Ruby and Kana and Akane(to a lesser extent I think). Though he might be maintaining that relationship for the sake of her talents as a method actor and how that can be useful to him, he's not leading her on unfairly. He plainly stated what he expected of the relationship because he didn't want to hurt her unnecessarily even if pretending to be for real partners might give him an advantage. I think Aqua is going to develop more to the point where he doesn't want to just kill his dad, he actually wants to get away with it because he's building relationships and a life he's not going to want to let go. And I hope a lot of that growth is tied to supporting his sister and rebuilding Kana's confidence.

[@edstasic]

My wife has a disorder that disables her from getting pregnant, we always watch shows together (anime and otherwise), ive been restraining from exposing her to Oshi no Ko because lately shes been having difficulty coming to terms with the fact that shell never get pregnant, maybe this anime wont have a huge "pregnancy+giving birth" aspect as i thought it would, aside from the 1st ep i mean, i really want to watch this anime with my wife specially since we both loved Kaguya-sama so much. What you say fellow anime peeps?

[@artfire28]

I'm sorry for your wife and hopefully she finds courage to face reality and move forward. OnK taught us good lessons on how sick and filthy reality can be under the guise of fame and glamor.

[@RKNancy]

It might though. From what I see, Ai had to work a lot to come to terms with her job and her children ultimately became her salvation in an ever demanding industry that asked for her blood if she didn't satisfy the audience. Especially the guga baby dance scene where she cheered up because her babies cheered for her. That is basically how mothers operate. Their kids are the source of their immense strength.

[@edstasic]

thanks for your replies, i was more or less wondering about if the whole series constantly show that or is it mainly on the first ep that we see, i have some ideas about the plot but im not sure on the details, still i appreciate your kind words.

[@niconicoanime]

Unlike Kaguya Sama this anime is quite dark. Choose depending on how you take that :P

[@sorcerousfang]

I think the best way to go about this is to have a conversation with your wife. Tell her you're really interested in this and would love to watch it with her, but that you're concerned how she would feel about the aspects of the story that are about the relationship between a mother and her children. If she agrees to try it, keep it on a trial basis, and make an agreement to stop if it's too much for her right now. Communication is going to be your best friend, both in this and in the future. Good luck to you and your wife in your struggles. I hope she can find a path forward for herself through that kind of painful news.

[@flarecoils1573]

Aka Akasaka is a high tier name ngl, no wonder hes a great author

[@joshs5577]

Apparently he chose that as his pen name because it’s very easy to type on Japanese phone screens basically the equivalent of naming himself njnjnj while still having something legible.

[@BryanBBryan]

There's a huge factor that you didn't bring up as to why people like this anime: the high quality of the animation and character designs.

[@Sheamu5]

I was one of those hoping for the death note route, but I've enjoyed the journey Aka has written. The character really grew on me.

[@grantharriman284]

Calling Aqua a "hero" seems VERY premature. He has lied cheated and manipulated at every turn. That boy reminds me of Light Yagami in a LOT of ways. I see nothing stopping him from recreating his performance of the stalker on set if he tracks down and eventually kills their father. He has by far the most capacity for outright evil of any MC I've watched in a LONG time,and I am here for it.

[@teeweezeven]

Also he's obsessed with his mom, who is dead for over 10 years. And Gorou Amemiya (the guy that reincarnated/is Aqua) had the same obsession with Ai while he was an adult and she was 16. Gives off very bad vibes.

[@souloftheworld9810]

Except he has been kind and helpful to everyone around him. He was there for both Kana and Akane when they needed him. It wasn't even expected of him, we went out of his way to do it. Also, when Akane asks him if he was really into her, he is blunt and honest. Light would have lied and manipulated her in such an event. Despite his manipulative tendencies and desire for revenge, aqua is still a very sweet boy. Light was a narcissistic lunatic with a god complex.

[@kaylemathewcomendador6964]

I guess “anti-hero” would be the better label for him.

[@uttkarshnarayan]

"Fuck it, I'm gonna go binge that manga now" - literally me when the show ended.

[@nightgirlpuppy]

I didn't even get half way through this video before going to watch the anime

[@Artahe]

Loved the video. I wanted to touch upon some points you made. I've caught up to the manga at this point (142), but I won't be spoiling anything. The first thing I've come to realize is that basically anybody who claims - or expects - Oshi no Ko to be a revenge manga is wrong. This isn't Redo of Healer. The revenge part isn't the plot of the manga, it's one element that informs Aqua's character, as you pointed out. The thing is, Oshi no Ko is, first, foremost and perhaps even ONLY, a manga about its characters. Yes, you could argue that it has elements of idol culture analysis. Of japanese entertainment analysis. That it has supernatural, isekai-esque elements with the whole reincarnation. And yes, that it has revenge story elements. But at the core of everything else is its characters. The reason why the story works so well is because the characters are believably humans. They're not stereotypes nor even archetypes. Because of this, what happens to them, what they do, feels genuine and natural, instead of feeling like they're a plot device. For example, Ai's murder and Akane's attempted suicide. It's quite a testament to the writing chops of Aka Akasaka that despite killing her off 4 years ago and after only 9 chapters that Ai keeps being one of the most popular characters in popularity polls, and her character is still such a central figure in the show. And Akane, despite her first defining moment being that harrowing 6th episode experience, is now far more remembered for her acting skills and... things I can't really talk about, but that will definitely become relevant in season 2. Generally speaking, when you take a character like Ai and kill her off that early in the story, it just so happen that this is the only thing we remember of them. Ai was so well written, as are all of the characters, that in the span of 9 chapters and a 90 minutes episode, we end up getting attached to her so much that her death still hurts, 133 chapters later. Akasaka's character writing is so great, in fact, that frankly, trying to analyze its characters within the confines of a single season is kinda... impossible. He writes them complex, multi-layered, flawed. In short, humans, and can take them in unexpected directions that never feel weird or misplaced, unless you're really trying to see it that way. His writing goes beyond that though, to the point where it is actually a detriment to us international fans who don't speak japanese - thing I'm working on correcting - because of just how much layer is lost. Just in the naming convention of some of the main characters, either real or in the realm of possibilities, is so specific that it would be a shock if it wasn't intentional. Hoshino means "field of stars", and stars are a common theme in the show. Ai can either mean "love" or "indigo". Love is another central theme of the story, and indigo is a colour theme that Ai shares with her twins. Aquamarine and Ruby's names are kirakira names where the kanji used aren't read normally, but in a way decided by the parents. Aquamarine's name is written using kanji that can mean something like "sea of love" where the kanji for love is used twice, to add that extra effect. And of course, Aquamarine is also a blue colour, like indigo, sort of. And Ruby, despite her name, isn't named after the red gemstone, but is another kirakira name using the kanji for lapis lazuli, connecting her to the blue colour scheme, beauty, and cloth. All Hoshino characters share a theme of spreading love and beauty, which is quite telling since that's exactly what Ai vied to do all of her tragically short life. But the name that surprised me the most was actually Sarina. Her full name is revealed in the manga, but that isn't a huge spoiler in itself. Tendouji Sarina is her full name, and Tendouji is written in kanji while Sarina is written in hiragana, which leaves us with several possibilities, but only one makes sense in the context of the naming convention. Tendouji is basically a "cherub" or "god that disguise as children". Sarina, in the most apt writing I've seen, could be translated as "a thread that binds the village with love. So, Tendouji Sarina is the god disguised as a child binding the village with love". Given, once again, the central theme of Ai vying to spread love when she was alive, and her not only making Gorou a much happier man by introducing him to idol culture, but reincarnating as Ruby, her name as Sarina makes so much sense. Because, well, Oshi no Ko is a story about its characters. It's the story of the Hoshino family, yes, but also of every other character just as much. At its core, it's not a revenge story, it is a part of it, sure, but it's, more importantly, a story about love.

[@andrewlinehan2834]

Binging this manga over the last few days was a hell of a roller coaster. That Manga got me to tear up at least twice. Man knows how to build up emotional drama till you hit the breaking point.

[@KnightFury1]

Aqua's motivation in finding the real killer is only half vengeance... the other half the justice his former doctor persona would have sought had he continued living... that is writing at its most layered and nuanced.

[@augusmnyt]

I could listen to you talk Anime for hours. 😊

[@SgtShinobi0]

"Fuck it. I'm gonna go binge that manga now" was my reaction to episode 1. Your sheer strength at not doing the same is impressive to me. Be sure to start from the very beginning to see the special interviews at the start of each chapter of volume 1.

[@KRDiStort]

Speaking as someone who's been with this story since the manga started (and is still following the manga), the first season captured it pretty much perfectly. There are so many awesome story beats still to come in season 2 and, god willing, beyond.

[@ojrmk1]

The epitome of the writing axiom "Write what you know, and if you don't know, ask those that do."

[@ilikethis3203]

I also think we need to congratulate the real MVP's of this season and those are the animators from Studio Doga Kobo. As someone who had read the manga before the anime was cool, I was kinda worried that they wouldn't be able to pull off the high expectations I had personally had for Oshi No Ko considering most of Doga Kobo's anime were either fine or just mid from a production standpoint, but holy crap did they blow all of my expectations out of the water. They've gone from a just okay tier animation studio to Kyoani tier overnight.

[@Jimera0]

I get the impression that someone with a lot of influence at Doga Koba or somewhere else along the production line recognized the pure gold they were getting to work with and just found every possible way they could to pour more and more resources into it to ensure it got the love it deserved. One of the things I love about this show is you can feel just how invested the creators are in the project. You can just TELL that they are pulling out all of the stops for this one.

[@219Hexagons]

Hooked from episode 1, watched as soon as it became available on hidive every week, once it was done, binged the entire manga run over the course of a weekend. This might just be my new favourite thing.

[@horsemann1384]

does he know about that newest chapter though... 💀

[@KindaMad958]

Wait until the unessecary incest plot line >:)

[@augusmnyt]

Tons of anime have the weird sister brother thing but it’s never any more than a crush.

[@KindaMad958]

@@augusmnyt That doesn't make incest plot lines better, also I said plot line (I have heard it actually matters to the story)

[@markclinton9088]

Don't forget the freakish fans who obsess over it and care more about it than the story itself

[@augusmnyt]

@@KindaMad958 you’re not wrong, I just ignore them as much as possible, at the very least it’s not up and center in this show.

[@milkflavored]

I'm so glad I took a chance on this series. I don't keep up with anime/manga the way I did as a teen and the last series I watched was Ousama Ranking (s1) -- but all the hype made me curious, so I did absolutely no research and just watched it not knowing what to expect. From then on, I'd set an appointment to watch every week, as a treat to myself after work. It's revived my love for storytelling and good writing, and I feel like I'm going to try to read novels and manga I've been putting off. I also really love the OP/ED -- the Gregorian chants in the OP reminded me of Soul Eater's 1st OP and the ED is so emotional and angsty. AND KANA ❤My favorite character. Best girl. I can't say enough good things about this show. It's really been a high of my 2023 so far.

[@KaeMcSpadden]

And how strict the Jpop industry is, how Ai is forced to hide her pregnancy and babies, and maintain the image of being the cute single idol serenading the lonely otaku.

[@Piromysl359]

Remember to lock your door, bois.

[@kyled.7748]

No one would shut up about this show so I finally decided to watch the first episode. Then it's all a blur after that because 8 hours later I finished the finale and realized just how obsessed I now am with this series. My God, Aka Akasaka just doesn't miss, EVER. Literally a TRUE GENIUS

[@RickSolus]

The manga is incredible, I can hardly remember any other that keeps giving out plot points and hints like candies and yet manages to increase the questions you have and leave you hanging, desperately wanting more. There is lot that is only shown with drawings, details that might be lost in animation. And the web of relations between the characters is as important as the main plot line: the twins' relationship (what will happen when they learn each other's identity), Aqua-Akane-Kana love triangle (no spoilers, but it will likely last until the end of the series), the development of the new B-Komachi, the rivalry between Akane and Kana... Not to mention that a lot of secondary characters may turn out to be important later on. Do yourself a favor and pick up the manga. I read all volumes in like 2 days, and I still struggle to not read scans.

[@homulity5293]

Let's hope it does not usagi drop the ball with the last chapter

[@CCartman69]

I'm so excited to see how a 2.5D stage play is supposed to look, I'm sure it'll be more impressive on screen versus how it was in the manga. This is gonna be gooooooood!

[@zennvirus7980]

This one's anime of the year. Period. I admire Akasaka's commitment to his trade. Hard to imagine the kind of tweets he got because of all the things this series touches upon. More so because of the impact they cause when animated. And he faced the storm TWICE (one for the manga, one for the anime). May he has a good career. Thanks for the rant, Geoff. You neatly put in words what many of us think about this series. And yes, that opening is serious stuff.

[@loquad_]

"im not obsessed, you're obsessed!" definitely obsessed

[@FadedFreddie69]

I literally just finished binging Oshi No Ko and I already want Season 2

[@flopez7695]

for me this show pilot episode is the main reason i was hooked. i went in blind and late. i did not expect this show to go the direction it did and i didnt expect to get so invested in ai , ruby, and aqua.

[@sr60030]

you're right. i'm obsessed

[@zeo4481]

Cuz the Kaguya-sama creator is a genius.

[@lucasfrantz2500]

If you made another hour long video like you did with Kagugaya-sama i would watch it certainly. I think i watched that other one like 4 or 5 times, and it gets me every time. Keep up the good work. Your reviews never fail to encapsulate all the show's in depth nuances, which is not something i found very often. Gj :)

[@AuronSurmount]

I wish we had more of this Anime. The season ended too soon.

[@c.t.nelson4314]

Season 2 was confirmed!!!

[@luthientinuviel3883]

​@@c.t.nelson4314Yayyy!!!!

[@niconicoanime]

The wait for season 2 is going to feel like an eternity

[@phillbuggy]

​@@niconicoanimewe'll likely get it before silksong comes out, so the time'll pass in the blink of an eye

[@Gbeat-]

The manga gets even better, season 2 going to be great

[@niconicoanime]

Can't wait!

[@IinkcIick]

End of season 2 and afterwards*

[@ravenpotter3]

Let’s just say there was a leak about future chapters…. I don’t want to say anything except there is now a character who is doing incest. Still great series though

[@aliensinnoh1]

@@ravenpotter3what do you mean you don’t want to say anything. There’s only two characters in this entire show that you could possibly be talking about it. By bringing it up you already give the game away.

[@ObliqueReference]

I saw a reactor, I can't remember who, say that Aqua has a superpower: he's an adult in an industry that doesn't act like an adult. He can look through the glitz and self-delusions people have and go 'yeah, you're just making a reality show, it's not worth screwing up a 17 year old'. It speaks to the strange normalization that happens in the world of the arts, a normalization that is very hard for outsiders to grasp. Look at how people reacted to Akane's deep dive of Ai. In the acting world, that's just what a good method actor does. It's only notable for how well she pulls it off, not how much she does it, but to normies, it seems like insanity.

[@AnarchoCatBoyEthan]

WOOOOOOOO!!!! OSHI NO KO! Already caught up on the manga, favorite series of the last few years.

[@Will-jg2zs]

Ai was too good for this world. I miss her frfr

[@CombativeRoboGuy]

I’ve been waiting for this video since you said you would make it. The manga is easily one of my favorites and after the second season, the anime will probably be up there as well.

[@niconicoanime]

Yussss great news to hear season 2 is going to. Rock!!

[@iffus_akiyoshi]

Brilliant analysis. I didn't notice the time passing as I watched the whole thing. Feels like there's less anime analysis/theory channels and videos on youtube nowadays but at least we've still got you. Ruby is best girl (after Ai) and it's not even close imo but it sounds like you quite like Kana. I'd even put Akane above Kana. Just a case of different strokes for different folks, I guess.

[@maliquelovell9093]

The way you masterful craft sentences makes my day dude

[@genderenigma8276]

Oshi no Ko makes me want to cosplay. I want to live those lies, project them, and become someone else. Live their beautiful lies. Oshi no Ko makes you see both the disgusting lies and the beautiful, and make you love those lies all the same.

[@skeletor8951]

Glad you shouted out the What's in an OP on the other channel cuz I completely didn't see it inym feed despite being subbed! And judging by the like... 61 views I think it said when I checked a minute ago, I am not the only one.

[@yuuichi4356]

Although I personally consider Heavenly Delusion to be the best new anime of the spring season, but Oshi no Ko is right behind it. The anime, in my opinion, was very amazing, especially in terms of character writing. Frankly, I was attached to all the characters, especially Ai and Aquam. Also, the story was really good, although there are some expected and repetitive things in it, but it also contains many new and innovative things. (But this is natural from the author of Kaguya-sama) Even the production was very good, whether in terms of drawing, animation or music. In the end, I consider Oshi no Ko one of the best new anime in 2023, and my rating for the first season is 8.5/10.

[@RowanTS]

Thanks stranger on the internet, cus for no particular reason I thought ‘I bet this random person has an excellent take on anime, I’ll watch it right now’, which while usually being incredibly wrong, turned out to be absolutely the right call in this case. Loving Heavenly Delusion, cheers!

[@amara560]

For me it was so hard to choose between the two. I felt Tengoku Daimakyou got a little off course near the end of the season, so I do prefer Oshi no Ko at the moment matching up the two seasons. That being said Tengoku is so fresh, original and beautiful I can 100% understand choosing it as the best of the season.

[@hmurdock]

I just feel lucky to be able to see such masterpieces like Oshi No Ko in the little free time I have these days, its great there are people with the time and resources to explain why they are so good on KZbin XD

[@ojastalgaonkar3000]

Oshi no ko has everything i look for in anime , uniqueness , reality based, amazingly written characters which are entertaining too, and to top it off, a staff that went above and beyond with production of the anime

[@darklordnier]

Best anime of 2023

[@aliensinnoh1]

I stopped to read that Kana rant that was put up on screen and I cannot tell you how much I agree. Especially that last paragraph. It’s really easy to feel for Kana.

[@wildeyoung3943]

I love a good thriller and the way that Oshi no Ko pulls the bait and switch is amazing. I totally agree that deciding to run the first arc as a movie episode was a stroke of genius. Even I was passing on the show based on the premise until someone convinced me to watch the first episode and I was hooked harder than a hungry fish.

[@LinnaAP]

very excited to watch this video bc it baffles me why Im so OBSESSED with this anime! it has everything for me to not care/hate it but I love it!

[@MurderedHer0es]

IDOL is such a good song like I keep getting it stuck in my head I can't stop listening to it

[@samdaman401]

27:49 - "So thats obviously gonna do quite a bit to move the central mystry forward" ...who wants to tell him lol?

[@qqsami]

Oshi no Ko is a masterpiece and everything around it is insane. I love the adaptation aswell it just builds on the already masterpiece of a story that Oshi no Ko is.

[@ErihanBlank]

Man the latest chapter really hits hard after this video

[@DeckDogs4Life]

Easily a 10/10 anime for me. I cannot wait for season 2.

[@anotherkenlon]

I would have absolutely no complaints about you turning out more movie-length videos. I've watched your Kaguya-sama one multiple times, because it's a really good breakdown of why the show works.

[@ArchonKujo]

Aka Akasaka just made a true masterpiece, Kaguya Sama and Oshi no Ko, such big titles, what a legend and a genius!

[@jasonwrathorn9281]

My main takeaway from the video is to reaffirm my notion that whenever someone says "go in blind" I should immediately figure out why! Knowing what the hook is, I might actually be able to get through this and enjoy it... If it had hit me unaware I probably would have ditched the series. I 'went in blind' on Madoka Magica, and dropped the series for six-years or more after episode-3 (you can probably guess when). When I eventually went back knowing what to expect, I was able to enjoy it for what it was. It became a reference point for me for the strength of character that several of the principle girls display. (Mainly the bonds between Homura and Madoka) I can appreciate the value of a good surprise-twist, but I've run into a few anime that don't twist so much as mutate, transforming into something else entirely. This works if you are a fan of both genre's, but I'm personally fairly selective. I'm sure this contributes to me missing out on some things that might appeal to me. I know for certain I wouldn't have watched 'your lie in April' if I had known the punchline of the piece. Yet I don't really regret watching it, and aspects of it have stuck with me despite not being something I would seek out. Given the spellbinding nature of Kaguya-Sama, I really wanted to give this one a shot... Hopefully i will find as much to like in it as I did with Love is War.

[@sora9138]

coming back here after having read the entire manga inspired by this video Geoff, I'm suing for emotional damage where the _hell_ are we going

[@waddles8927]

If I had a nickel for every time an "idol" anime turned into a depressing murder mystery I'd have two nickels Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice

[@jwonwolf]

I love OShi no ko cause its hit deep into many things, you have to actually understand to enjoy and it give me chills and not alot of anime do that. This anime definitely not some that just want to watch anime to be entertain with action scene. Really hard to put into words but if you know, you know.

[@prakharmathur9453]

The only reason I even watched the first "episode" was because of Akasaka. I am not someone who likes idol anime but the end got me hooked so hard I caught up with the manga on the same day.

[@niconicoanime]

Hell yeah! Akasaka is a genius in storytelling

[@DKNguyen3.1415]

I didn't watch it until way after the fact because I thought it was a random idol anime. I ran out of things to watch so I watched it because I saw a lot of people posting images of it a while back. After a bit I thought that Arima Kana seemed a lot like Maki Shijo and only then did I find out that it was also written by Aka.

[@lfr8666]

Great analysis as always, you pointed out some things about Aqua I hadn't realized. 24:00 There is one thing that bothers me about Oshi no Ko (might be more personal than a criticism): unless their biodad was another up-and-coming teen actor whose parents/management orchestrated the hits, a grown-ass man took advantage of inexperienced teenage Ai, and then had her killed to cover his tracks. Aqua clearly realizes that, if he suspected the much-older producer, but I feel like no one points out how dubious the "relationship" was. This story is incredibly compelling, I think partly because that whole pregnant celebrity/reincarnation premise was such an unexpected start for a Dark-Side-of-Fame story. (Putting the first arc in one episode was a good call!) I really need to just binge Love is War; even if the romantic mindgames premise turned me off, you've raved about it so much.

[@moonshine7682]

20:06 OOOOHHHH this is a good catch, i really want them to go deeper on the supernatural aspect of this series soon

[@Ashtarte3D]

I knew nothing about this show starting this video just that people were making a big deal over this seemingly bizarre anime. You only needed to say one thing to get me to watch it: a comparison to Perfect Blue. My love of Satoshi Kon is so strong that even being proxy to one of his best films has my attention. [edit] Two weeks later I finally got around to watching this. So fucking glad I did and put this episode on hold.

[@mortysempai6585]

The timing on this ooof

[@carlosrobinson7176]

I'm completely in favor of another movie analyzing Oshi no Ko plot, characters and structure Also Akane is best girl, i will die on this hill

[@niconicoanime]

Akane needs to be protected

[@kciref6016]

1:50 I AM OBSESSED, GEOFF! AND IT’S YOUR FAULT! ONCE I STARTED LOOKING DEEPER INTO KAGUYA-SAMA I FOUND SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT AND TALK ABOUT THAT I AM ACTUALLY SAD YOU ONLY HAVE 3 IN DEPTH VIDEOS ABOUT IT!! (I’m thinking of What’s in an OP for OPs 1 &2, What’s in a Waifu analyzing Kaguya & Chika, and the movie) I’d actually be so happy if you made more content like that, analyzing Akasaka stuff. These mangas are legit amazing, ABD THEIR ADAPTATIONS ARE SO GOOD THEY’RE MAKING LITERAL WAVES EVERYWHERE! In short, please more Akasaka content!! It’s incredible

[@annienunyabiz6627]

I normally am not a fan of idol shows, so wrote this one off. I am so damn glad I got bored and decided to give it a shot. It is so good. And I'm also kinda glad I waited to watch so I had 8 episodes to binge. Made the waiting game pain less horrible.

[@niconicoanime]

Idol shows are weird but I'd call this one a drama featuring idols. What do you think?

[@annienunyabiz6627]

@@niconicoanime That sounds accurate. I thought it was gonna be just an idol show, but it's not. It doesn't fit the genre at all.

[@stunt95hstdt89]

I laughed so hard when Ruby yelled at Aqua that hes a talking baby xD

[@Crowald]

That "eye" of the stars bit. I can't believe I missed that. How absolutely fucking chilling. It feels just a TINY bit cosmic horror-ish, knowing what happened to Ai, and then the same thing happening again to Kana.

[@Kevin_Street]

Thank you for a wonderful review and analysis of this amazing anime. You cover everything there is to cover really well, so well I can't think of anything to add. It really is an extraordinary story, mainly because of the strength of the characters. After that opening movie length episode we know them so well we just have to keep watching. I'm not personally that interested in the Japanese entertainment industry, but the story makes me want to know more because the characters care about it so much. We come to share their passion because they feel so real. One thing about the show that really impresses me (maybe awes me would be a better description) is the way it creates Ai. All the main characters love and look up to Ai, and normally in a story that would create a problem. The readers/audience expect to see a character that lives up to the hype, and because of her place in the plot you have much less space to bring her to life. A lot of writers would just leave this kind of character offstage and let the readers fill in the blanks themselves, or show her in flashbacks. But Oshi No Ko introduces you to Ai right away and they _make_ you love her. You simply have no choice. Like Ruby and Aqua, we fall for her and understand their motivations. If we didn't come to know Ai and then lose her in one giant episode the effect might not have been so strong.

[@purpleconvict4152]

I really like Oshi no Ko but I really don't like the romance side of it. Like I don't mind a 'will they won't they dynanic" but these only work if you actually want the characters to be together. Aqua's will they won't they dynamic with Arima feels in bad taste. Aqua is mentally in his 30's so it feels like they're teasing something that won't happen and that shouldn't happen. It just feels like a waste of screen time because the rest of the show is so interesting. I just really hate when anime have teenage girls drooling over an adult in a teenagers body. It just feels like really creepy and cheap wish fulfilment.

[@SharkWitchMeruna]

I’m usually not into today’s anime but this one stole my heart! 💖 Huge thanks to you and your sponsor code, I was able to buy Rosetta Stone while I already had my eye on it! I’ll actually be learning Korean instead of Japanese tho XD

[@claytonrios1]

Kana Arima is best girl! Baking Soda lovers unite!

[@death-by-ego]

I actually went into this show completely blind. I waited until it finished so I could binge watch it. All I knew was that it got popular (or possibly Ai did), the main character is Ai and it was one of those "dont judge it by the cover" animes which typically means "looks cute, gets dark." I didnt even know the first episode was movie length until I realized that the first episode didnt end. This hit me when i tapped my remote and it was 40mins in with like 50mins to go. By the end of it when Aqua said this was a prologue, i was hooked. This is what I like. Drama, mystery, dark, detective story. And I kept watching... and watching.. and then I realized that they really werent going to go into the "who done it, detective" part with any urgency. I enjoyed it and all, but it didnt feel like what I was promised. It was very very very good, but it just kept going with another commentary of japan idol culture and modern internet culture and bullying. Ive kind of seen those before. It was done well, but I rather get into the meat that I thought it was going to get into. It was 90% social commentary with maybe 10% of the hook i was promised at the end of the first episode. All in all, its good but Im going to wait until at least aeason 2 to make my mind up on this show.

[@Triforce_of_Doom]

I got around to marathoning it with a friend a day or two ago where the most I knew was "it's about idols & by the mangaka that made Love is War" & seeing your "don't look up shit" tweet & god. You know a series is gonna be good when both you & the friend you watch with get to THAT scene & go "HOW IS THIS ONLY THE FIRST EPISODE?!"

[@liquidpaper1349]

The one question we really have to answer: how many hats does Kana have?

[@ColdAscle619]

😅

[@truefacts128]

REAL

[@KnucksBunny]

loving the super eyepatch wolf figure in the backgroung, kings supporting kings

[@Mangacide]

Now I just want to see a Film Theory style video that connects this series with Perfect Blue.

[@Lost_In_LA]

Brilliant video essay-like Oshi no Ko, it entertains while it informs.

[@gerrymilgarcia7300]

Bro, even if you read ahead the anime is so good, even if you know what happens next the anime will still surprise you. That’s how I felt watching the anime even though I was caught up with the manga.

[@HannonHawkes]

Here's a question, is there anyone else watching this video because they DIDN'T enjoy the show and genuinely just want to understand what they missed?

[@mizaralcor]

yup, im right with you. genuinely disliked the first episode and surprised by how much hype the show has generated. wanted something a little more perfect blue

[@GenkiGirl12]

Honestly same I thought the first episode was great but everything afterwards felt like a massive step down also I didnt like the whole reincarnation aspect and felt it added nothing to the show.

[@Barnacl3_Boi]

Right there with you, I feel like Yaosobi’s OP misrepresented the show that I watched. Expected Perfect Blue, shadow-self exploration but got all the usual modern anime tropes of a pervy self-insert getting isekai’d into his fantasy. I feel like the anime industry is cannibalising itself and Oshi No Ko is the perfect case study

[@syaieya]

I didn't not enjoy it, but episode 1 left me whelmed and unattached to the characters or the mystery at hand that were left so I just let it and my hidive subscription drop.

[@narutofan08nd12]

I enjoyed it but nowhere near as much as other people on here. Some of the reasons mentioned in this for why the show is good were things I even happened to dislike about the show