Oshi No Ko – Season 2 Episode 9 Recap & Review

Dream

Episode 9 of Oshi No Ko Season 2 begins with a flashback. In it, we see a young Aqua and Ruby sitting in a theater with Ai. They’re watching one of the films Aqua starred in. After that, Ai praises Aqua for his acting talent and hopes he can become a phenomenal actor one day. Then, we return to following Aqua and the others performing at the Tokyo Blade Stage Play. 

Kana acknowledges Aqua’s emotional acting skills. Then, we cut away to a dream sequence. In it, an older Aqua stares down at Ai’s corpse. While Aqua is doing that, a dark presence scolds Aqua for trying to live a happy life. The dark presence argues Aqua needs to defeat the man who murdered Ai first before pursuing such a life. 

Aqua argues the dark presence is wrong and tells the dark presence, who transforms into a younger version of Aqua, that he plans to use his frustrations to nail this performance. Then, we return to the performance, seeing Taiki, Kana, and others perform at their best. Aqua reflects on miracles and ponders what could’ve happened if Ai had survived. 

Then, Aqua cries while holding Akane in his arms. After that, Akane regroups with Yuki and the others. Yuki and the others praise Akane for her acting talents. Akane thanks them but argues Taiki and Kana are better. Then, we cut away to Kana in an undisclosed room. MEM-cho, Ruby, and Miyako join Kana there. 

Kana’s thrilled that the stage play is almost over. Then, Kana delves into detail about what she observed while performing with Aqua, Akane, and the others. Kana hopes to defeat Akane one day. Meanwhile, Kindaichi and Masaya discuss the stage play. Then, Masaya brings up Kana and discusses her value. 

Kindaichi argues Akane impressed him. However, Kindaichi says someone else impressed him the most. We then see one of Raida’s workers confronting Raida. She tells Raida that representatives want to speak with him. Raida says he’ll speak with them soon. Then, we receive a monologue from Aqua and a shot of him in a restroom. 

Next to Aqua are DNA samples from several folks. He says another play is about to begin. We cut away to the Tokyo Blade stage play. The play has reached its finale and all the actors and actresses bow and thank the audience for watching it. Then, we cut away to all the Tokyo Blade actors and actresses chatting in a room. 

Akane makes a restaurant reservation for everyone to attend. Kana doesn’t want to go. However, Aqua says he’ll be going so Kana insists on attending. At the restaurant, Aqua confronts Kindaichi, asking him questions about his Lala Lai experiences and Lala Lai’s origins. Kindaichi refuses to discuss a certain tidbit so Taiki intervenes and insists they attend a bar. 

There, Taiki and Aqua discuss the bar’s environment, the people attending it, and what Taiki is after. Then, Taiki tells Aqua the truth about Taiki and Kindaichi’s relationship. Wasted, Kindaichi praises Aqua for his skills and falls asleep at one of the bar’s sofas. Taiki apologizes to Aqua for failing to get Kindaichi to spill the beans. 

Aqua tells Taiki it’s okay because he wants to chat with Taiki. He places a DNA genetic test result document in front of Taiki. Aqua tells Taiki he and Aqua share the same father. The episode ends with Aqua asking Taiki to give him intel about their father.

The Episode Review

The Tokyo Blade Stage Play is seemingly over, and boy, what a way to end it. While the overall performance was spectacular visually, some character arcs weren’t done justice, anime-wise. The one in question revolves around Aqua’s character. While it’s narratively brilliant, the pacing was somewhat off. 

As mentioned in our prior coverage, it felt rushed and lacked impact, unlike Aka Akasaka’s source material. Nevertheless, the imagery was spot-on. From Aqua confronting his inner demons to him hugging a living Ai, those events will make any fan teary-eyed. Regardless, it’d be great if we could’ve sat with Aqua’s brief storyline more. 

That aside, this episode gives Taiki’s character some depth. Learning that he has connections to Aqua, Ruby, and Ai will increase fans’ interest in his character. I’m interested to see what new information we obtain from Taiki in the next chapter. But all in all, this was an enjoyable outing for Oshi No Ko Season 2.

The series remains a visual spectacle and critiques acting, adaptations, and other things wonderfully. We’re optimistic the next arc will be just as great!