Oshi No Ko Season 1 Review – A Brilliant Idol Anime With A Dark And Informative Edge

Episode Guide

Episode 1: Mother and Children -| Review Score – 4.5/5
Episode 2: Third Option -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 3: Manga-Based TV Drama -| Review Score – 4.5/5
Episode 4: Actors -| Review Score – 4.5/5
Episode 5: Reality Dating Show -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 6: Egosurfing -| Review Score – 5/5
Episode 7: Buzz -| Review Score – 4.5/5
Episode 8: First Time -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 9: B Komachi -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 10: Pressure -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 11: Idol -| Review Score – 4.5/5

With numerous shows airing this season, it was tough for many to stand out. Some shows failed to deliver on fans’ expectations while others shocked viewers with their glorious presentation, content, and impact on the world. After Oshi No Ko’s 90-minute first episode captivated audiences with its wholesome and tragic tale, many questioned if it could maintain its charm, intensity, and grasp on the community. Despite having minor lows, Oshi No Ko follows other psychological idol anime like Perfect Blue in being a masterful work.

Our tale revolves around an unnamed doctor who perishes one night. He reincarnates as Ai’s son, an actor named Aqua. After living a delightful life with Ai and his sister Ruby, Aqua sees someone kill Ai. Believing his father is responsible for his and Ai’s demise, Aqua plans to locate his father and make him pay for what he did to them.

This anime’s plot had a lot to offer from subtle twists to providing excellent commentary of the ups and downs of the entire entertainment industry. From YouTube Content Creators to idols, actors, and directors, Oshi No Ko provided folks with an inside look into the lives of multiple people in these fields in a sincere and complex manner. From the harsh criticism folks receive online to the potentially deadly situations most celebrities deal with on a daily basis, Oshi No Ko’s story bridged the gap between ordinary humans and stars superbly.

Not only that but the story features some compelling humor and heartfelt interactions. This gives audiences a chance to take in the show’s constructive criticism and plot-heavy moments. Besides its critiques of the entertainment industry, Oshi No Ko tackles a variety of themes from friendship and family to revenge and personal growth. These, along with the show’s handling of darker topics like suicide awareness and stalking, helped it feel more intricate than most idol series that air nowadays.

While the story has its many highs, it has minuscule lows. For instance, the anime’s romantic angle surrounding Ruby and Aqua’s characters feels strange. From Ruby’s love for the doctor (Aqua’s former self) to Aqua getting roped into a potential love triangle with Kana and Akane, many will find these aspects somewhat uncomfortable. In addition to the romance, the comedy can be hit or miss at times. While the gags involving Pieyon are downright hilarious, many may find his squeaky voice a tad annoying.

At the same time, there were moments in the plot that could’ve been explored more like Ai’s relationship with Aqua and Ruby. The anime likes to follow the rule of “tell and not show,” leading to characters informing us of their growth than us seeing them develop naturally in the series. On top of having some minor pacing issues and weird dialogue exchanges between musical moments, the story has some cracks that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Nevertheless, these gaps aren’t too wide to damage one’s love for this remarkable tale.

Oshi No Ko’s cast is well-developed and full of life. While some background characters don’t receive proper development time, it has some with depth, intrigue, and personality to hold you over. Between Aqua and Ruby, Aqua steals the spotlight. He’s an intelligent and well-mannered individual who’ll do everything he can to make Ruby happy and accomplish his goal. Whether it’s using people for intel-seeking purposes or supporting Ruby at festivals, Aqua displays enough peculiarities to interest you.

Ruby, while adorable and funny, doesn’t come off as interesting as her brother. Although she serves as the beacon of hope in B Komachi (so far), her time in the spotlight is minimal and she doesn’t receive as much depth as others. Nevertheless, fans will admire Ruby for being passionate, caring, and a bundle of sunshine whenever she’s on screen. Other cast members like MEM-cho, Kana, and Akane were interesting to watch because of their personalities, motivations, and backgrounds.

From Kana’s concerns with failure and acceptance to Akane’s horrible experience with online criticism, the trio above are fleshed out enough to make audiences care for them. Whether or not one is a fan of anyone mentioned here, viewers will discover one character in this anime that will stand out to them for better or worse.

Another notable aspect of Oshi No Ko’s first season was its glorious visuals and animation. Doga Kobo isn’t a popular studio like Mappa or Ufotable, but it has produced some amazing anime in the past like Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun and New Game. However, Oshi No Ko feels different in comparison. This anime felt like a passion project from the studio because everything about Oshi No Ko’s visuals screams “effort and love.” From Ai’s corpse-like design in episode one to the stunning close-up shots given to Akane and Kana, many folks will take Doga Kobo more seriously after watching this.

On top of the excellent dance animations found throughout Oshi No Ko, fans are in for a visual spectacle with it. The soundtrack is equally enjoyable from its opening and ending themes to the background music and voice acting. The sound team deserves as big of applause as the animation staff as the soundtrack helped enhance the tension and emotions felt during the show’s most dramatic scenarios. In conclusion, the production team nailed this adaptation and fans couldn’t have been happier.

Although Oshi No Ko had minor bumps, it delivered a fantastic first season full of joys, chills, and enlightening content many fans will remember and cherish for ages. With its wonderfully-written premiere leaving fans both skeptical and interested, Doga Kobo and the series’s creator Aka Akasaka had to prove that the story could continue without Ai as its protagonist. But as it turned out, this first season of Oshi No Ko, with its wonderful commentary on the industry, great mix of characters, and compelling themes, was a glowing star that never withered.

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