Aqua’s first show ever continues in Oshi No Ko Episode 4, as we see where his hunt for his mother’s killer takes him and Ruby. This one is not as dark, so let’s get right into it.
Oshi No Ko Episode 4 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 4. Click here to read the review of the previous episode!
– My Star Episode 4 Review does not contain spoilers –
Oshi No Ko Episode 4 Review- Actors
This was a good episode, but I have a few things that I need to talk about that concern me about the direction of this show. The most important thing is that this is a show which is popular because of how naturally interesting and attention-grabbing its concept is. It combines a murder mystery and the power and prestige of being in the entertainment industry while having the talent to sustain yourself there. It seems to have all the tools it needs to be so much more than it is right now. However, it seems like we are missing something at the moment.
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The murder mystery element doesn’t receive as much attention as the entertainment industry one, which is understandable as it is supposed to be the low-key part of the show. However, it isn’t as well integrated with the show business plotline. Maybe it’s because Aqua isn’t very deep into establishing himself as a star, and the show is doing a good job of showing his rise in the ranks so far. However, it feels somewhat unnatural when he starts doing normal teenage things like going to school, given what he is trying to accomplish.
Something that aids in this is Ruby being written the way she is. She has no character beyond wanting to be an idol, just like her mother Ai was, and if you ask Aqua, this is by design. Not a very good design to get your most significant female character after the death of Ai to be stuck doing absolutely nothing and wanting to go into the same industry that caused the death of her mother. It makes some sense when you consider how young she was when Ai died in front of her and said that she wanted Ruby to be an idol, but you would believe Ruby would at least be somewhat careful of the industry.
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Other than that, Oshi no Ko Episode 4 featured some great stage knowledge on Aqua’s part, and he managed to do a very nice thing while trying to accomplish his goals. Kana is a well-written character who got a lot of screen time in this episode and will get even more of it with the direction the show is taking her. As the siblings have been fully accepted into the school where Kana also goes, there is a potential to meet many new characters to aid in this journey as well. The ones we’ve seen so far have great designs, but there is still time to see if their personalities also fit the story’s tone.
Speaking of character designs, I don’t know what Doga Kobo did to their production cycle for this show because this looks heads and shoulders above their previous titles. The glamour they are able to portray is astonishing and carries the production of this show. The dark mystery elements aren’t as polished but still fit the show quite well. As we discussed, this was a decent episode overall, with its own highs and lows. One thing hasn’t changed since the first episode, however. There is still no show I look forward to the most every week.
Verdict
Oshi no Ko Episode 4 continued the fascinating story of Aqua’s revenge while taking a longer route through his attempts to be an actor. A solid episode, even if there was nothing special about it.
Click here to read the review of the next episode!