Oshi No Ko – Season 1 Episode 4 Recap & Review

Actors

Episode 4 of Oshi No Ko begins with the crew filming for the TV drama. At the same time, Kana ponders her life, highlighting her rise and decline as an actress. Despite all her past problems, she wants to make this performance count. Although prior episodes received poor reviews, Kana wants to synchronize with her co-star for this scene since it’s one of the manga’s – which the TV Drama is based on – best moments.

Kana gives her best in her performance, but she realizes Melt (her co-star) isn’t performing on par. Aqua enters the scene and acts, and Kana realizes Aqua is bringing his A-game, unlike his performance during rehearsals. Aqua knows he can’t pull an audience as Ai did, so he’s using his surroundings to perform sufficiently.

Aqua improvises his lines to bring out Melt and Kana’s inner acting chops. This works flawlessly, leading to Melt and Kana capturing the same tension as the manga they’re adapting. Everyone takes a break after filming.

The chief director asks Kana if she wants to film the final scene. Kana accepts and pulls off a solid performance. At the same time, the manga author and her assistants discuss the show. Despite her disappointment with the work, the author says she’s thankful there’s a version of her story with movement. She recalls speaking to other manga authors who warned her not to have high expectations.

After re-watching the clip the chief director sent her highlighting Aqua, Melt, and Kana’s performance, the author develops tears of joy. We then receive a montage of people telling their friends about the final episode of the TV Drama and how great it was.

Aqua and Kana attend a sushi banquet with the others who worked on the show. The manga author approaches Kana and tells her she carried the show. Although she wishes the show could’ve been as great as its ending, she’s thankful for her performance. Aqua meets Kubaragi and informs the audience he submitted Kubaragi’s cigarette butts for testing. It turns out Kubaragi isn’t related to Aqua in the slightest. Kubaragi tells Aqua he looks like Ai, so Aqua questions him about his relationship with Ai.

Kubaragi confirms he worked together with Ai when he was acting as an intermediary for fashion magazine models. He sent her jobs and kept a watchful eye on Ai. He confirms Ai met someone unbeknownst to her agency and questions if Aqua’s interested in gossiping around Ai. Kubaragi offers to give Aqua more intel in exchange for him participating in a reality dating show. Ruby and Aqua head to Youtou High School for the Entrance Ceremony.

Afterward, they bump into Kana, who gives them a rundown of the school’s operations and student body. Ruby’s nervous, but Kana tells her to act normal.

Ruby enters the class and converses with a classmate sitting next to her. The girl’s name is Minami Kotobuki, and Ruby researches her, making Minami uncomfortable. Ruby introduces Minami to Aqua, and she belittles Aqua for not making friends. Ruby asks Minami if she can be friends with Aqua too, and Minami doesn’t object. Ruby notes she saw someone who seemed profound at the entrance ceremony.

At the same time, a green-haired girl named Frill Shiranui enters the class and apologizes for missing the entrance ceremony. She shot a live TV promo that made her late.

Ruby informs Aqua about Frill, who appears to be a multi-talented entertainer. Aqua notices Frill walking by and tells her to get along with his sister since they’re in the same class. She recognizes Aqua and Minami’s talents but not Ruby’s. Ruby asks Miyoko to make her an idol, and Miyoko tells her not to rush her. Miyoko tells Ruby she’s having trouble searching for cute girls to join the idol group.

Ruby suggests her friend Minami join, but Miyoko shoots her down since Minami’s with another agency. The episode closes with Aqua suggesting Kana join the idol group since she’s a freelancer.

The Episode Review

Oshi No Ko continues to be a delight with its great cast and content. Aqua may not be as great of an actor as he says he is, but he knows how to bring out the best in many people. The whole recording segment involving him, Melt, and Kana gave me goosebumps and lit a fuse in everyone in that recording area. Many people will find Aqua’s acting in that scenario chilling and top-notch.

The anime also gives viewers an idea of how manga, light novel, and book authors ponder when they receive word of their works getting adapted into another medium. It’s unfortunate that some higher-ups treat it as a cash grab while others want to give the original source’s author a proper and beloved adaptation of their cherished work.

Kana and Sweet Today’s author’s conversation was short but sweet. On that note, it’ll be intriguing to see Aqua participate in a reality dating show. Although we don’t receive confirmation that he accepted Kubaragi’s terms, it’s likely he did since this gentleman obviously holds information that could give Aqua information on his father.

Overall, this was a great episode of Oshi No Ko. It has wonderful drama, excellent commentary on fandoms and adaptations, and introduced us to more characters with vast potential. I’m excited to see if we’ll stumble upon any other noteworthy figures who’ll point our protagonists in the right direction.