Oshi no Ko - Season 1 | Discussion thread - What are your thoughts about the series so far?
Alternative title(s): My Star
Genres: Drama, Supernatural
No. Episodes: 11
Series Description: (source from MyAnimeList)
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In the entertainment world, celebrities often show exaggerated versions of themselves to the public, concealing their true thoughts and struggles beneath elaborate lies. Fans buy into these fabrications, showering their idols with undying love and support, until something breaks the illusion. Sixteen-year-old rising star Ai Hoshino of pop idol group B Komachi has the world captivated; however, when she announces a hiatus due to health concerns, the news causes many to become worried.
As a huge fan of Ai, gynecologist Gorou Amemiya cheers her on from his countryside medical practice, wishing he could meet her in person one day. His wish comes true when Ai shows up at his hospital—not sick, but pregnant with twins! While the doctor promises Ai to safely deliver her children, he wonders if this encounter with the idol will forever change the nature of his relationship with her.
Stream Link(s): Hidive, Disney, Ani-one Asia, Bilibili, Akiba Pass TV, ADN
Discussion Rules: Manga readers are welcome! Since Season 1 only covered till chapter 40, please hide any spoilers from chapter 41 onward by following the "Expandable sections" part of the formatting guide.
Fluff: I noticed that a few people in the recurring thread have been watching Oshi no Ko. Seems like a discussion thread is just what the doctor ordered!
I watched the series and became a massive fan instantly. I planned a Tokyo trip and ended up stopping at K-Books to grab as many used volumes of the manga as I could and bought the rest at a book store. I'm a huge sucker for narrative quality (not necessarily "plot" which is a bit different) and voice acting direction, and Oshi no Ko has both in spades. The show is character driven and each of the characters are a portrayed a bit "larger than life", which I felt an appropriate metaphor to how they navigate the cutthroat, personality-driven world of Japanese entertainment.
Perhaps my favorite thing in the show is the use of light and shadow to depict moments and characters. There's the obvious marker of the color of Aqua's star, but if you notice, a lot of the characters are shrouded in different amounts of light and shadow depending on how they're feeling or based on actions they're about to take. The prologue episode used this to great effect with Gorou and the clinic, but it comes up a lot too later on with Akane and Kana.
I'm also just wowed by the voice acting direction and talent. Ruby's VA, Yurie Igoma, is a first timer in this show and while she has fewer lines than some of the other characters, her acting in some really emotionally fraught scenes hints at both a great upcoming talent and great direction behind the scenes (and puts her up there with Fairouz Ai as one of my favorite new VAs.) Takeo Ootsuka plays Aqua who stars as the main. Ootsuka hasn't had too many big roles before this, the lead of Mononogatari being probably his biggest one. Despite this he plays a conflicted, nuanced character. Then there's the veteran Han Megumi who plays Arima Kana who as always punches appropriately hard for a complex character.
Really loving the series and can't wait to finish the manga volumes I have at home.
I remember reading the manga synopsis a few years back wondering how this story would make any sense at all. But after watching the anime not too long ago, I was seriously invested and looking forward to more. The way that the story builds up those super dramatic plot points always keeps you on edge while anticipating how conflicts will resolve. And when all the pieces do come together, you get a satisfying resolution that feels fulfilling. It's seriously addictive.
I'm glad the production for this adaptation turned out so good (at least to my standards). I hope that they can continue to deliver a compelling story for the next season. I will certainly be looking out for it.
I was surprised, given the hype around Oshi no Ko, what kind of show it is. I was expecting crazy plot twists abound, but in fact this anime is quite the opposite. And, I really like it. It's very much a solid show, very grounded. The main plot almost doesn't matter at all. It's all an excuse to show behind-the-scenes looks at different parts of the Tokyo entertainment industry. It feels like watching a documentary almost.
Of course the characters are really well done. They tell you quite explicitly that the characters will be multilayered. We're steered toward paying more attention to certain characters, like Kana, but all the side characters give off a mysterious vibe that make me want to learn more about them.
The art is way too good for what most scenes are—a few characters sitting around, talking. Yet every few seconds there's a camera angle change, dynamic facial expressions, detailed backgrounds, light and shadow interplay and subtle special effects. Really happy whenever they have costume changes too.
Looking forward to learning more about Ai's experience with Lala Lai acting troupe in season 2.
I've not watched the series yet (waiting for it to be fully dubbed before I commit to signing up for yet another streaming service), but I'm up to date on the manga and very much looking forward to watching it come to life on screen!
Manga spoilers, hopefully I've gotten the formatting correct
Definitely my anime of the season, and a serious contender for anime of the year for me.
The first episode was probably the single best episode of anime that I've ever seen...though it cheated a bit by being much longer than a normal episode. But 11/10.
The rest of the episodes have been 8-10s for me and I can't wait for more.
And the opening song is an absolute banger.