After multiple abrupt turns and an absolutely amazing first episode, Oshi No Ko Episode 2 tries to follow up on that blinder of a start. Let’s see how it did in this review!
Oshi No Ko Episode 2 Overview
Oshi No Ko, or My Star, is a drama and supernatural anime based on a manga written by Aka Akasaka, who also wrote Kaguya-sama Love Is War and illustrated by Mengo Yokoyari. The anime adaptation is being directed by Daisuke Hiramaki, who has directed shows like Selection Project and Koisuru Asteroid in the past, alongside being a part of huge productions such as Bunny Girl Senpai and Naruto.
The series is being brought into the medium of anime by studio Doga Kobo, a relatively new studio which has been behind shows like Himotou Umaru-chan and Shikimori’s Not Just A Cutie. This episode is also referred to as My Star Episode 2. Click here to read the review of the previous episode!
– My Star Episode 2 Review does not contain spoilers –
Oshi No Ko Episode 2 Review- The Third Option
Let’s rip the band-aid out really quick- this episode was never going to touch the heights that the first episode managed to. Neither did it have the feature-length of the original, nor did it have the same mysterious aura that the first episode maintained just by being that unknown. This episode had a task to do, and it was one that it did very well- it had to set up the rest of the story in a way that was believable and in character for our main duo after the horrors that they witnessed in the first episode.
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It was important to recategorise the goals of each of them because none of them could do what they wanted for themselves because of the original reasons that they wanted to do them. Everything that they do now has to be either because of or for Ai and to honour her memory. Ai still dominates a lot of the show’s runtime despite her tragic passing in the first episode. Ai might not be present physically in the world of Oshi no Ko, but her memories and fate will always drive it, especially as the protagonists were born in this world as a direct result of them loving her so much.
This episode puts a lot more focus on the idol industry and how brutal it is to those that dream of being in it, and it follows the very logical storyline of Aqua wanting Ruby to have nothing to do with them. They both have inherited different assets from Ai, with Ruby possessing Ai’s looks and dancing abilities and Aqua combining Ai’s mysterious demeanour with his own devious looks and intelligence that he combines with how smart he used to be in his previous life. They are both characters with much going for them, Aqua a lot more so than Ruby.
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There is a surprising amount of focus on the side characters in this show, which is refreshing to see. Both Miyako, their adoptive mother, and Taishi, the director, got a large amount of screen time in Oshi no Ko Episode 2. They are both also decent characters who only seem to be helping the kids out for now, it is great to have them in the kids’ lives, given how much they have already suffered so far. Not everyone has had to see their mother die in front of their eyes, killed by the actions of their own father.
Changing gears to talk about the production of this show for a bit, studio Doga Kobo has been absolutely killing it with this. Every frame with the main characters in it looks gorgeous, and even the backgrounds are very well done. This was also the first time we saw the show’s opening theme, and as always, Yoasabi did a marvellous job with it. The music duo has routinely killed it in every anime they contribute to, and this show was no different. This is on its way to becoming my favourite opening of this season.
Verdict
Oshi no Ko Episode 2 was everything that it needed to be. It lowered the show’s pace just enough to tell a compelling story once again and built up a lot of plot elements and characters for the same.
Click here to read the review of the next episode!