Oshi no Ko episode 11 (season finale)

Rating: A-

For a series which has idols at its heart, Oshi no Ko has been remarkably light on actual idol performances. Since episode 1, the closest the series has gotten is the silly exercise video with Pieyon (which I don’t count) and Kana’s past music videos (closer, but not really the same thing). The season finale, appropriately title “Idol,” predictably corrects that by using its first third to showcase two performances of classic B Komachi songs by the group’s new incarnation. Rather than take the common all-CG approach for the performance numbers, the production team dazzles by using many of the same gimmicks seen in typical idol shows (especially the highly-mobile camera) with regular animation but somehow doing it better. The animation and direction efforts effectively support the energy and star power of the performances better than I could have hoped.

And yet, for all that the performances dazzle, the focus isn’t really on the songs or the dance moves. It’s on the feelings behind them and the impact that they generate. Mem-cho shows that she can draw the expected enthusiastic crowed. Ruby shows that, despite her mediocre singing ability, she has inherited every bit of her mother’s energy and charisma, and in divinely displaying that, she can win over even fans of Ai and the original B Komachi. At the center, Kana shows that, if she’s given even a slight bit of support and indication that someone wants her specifically (and not just those with her), she can shine gloriously herself. And in a fitting parallel back to episode 1, it’s Aqua who provides that support with no regard to how silly he might look in doing so. Was Aqua’s reaction to Kana stepping up her game a realization that she responded the same way Ai did back in the day, or was that a specific appreciation of what Kana can do? Both, perhaps. (As a side detail for this scene, also note that B Komachi was on the schedule between groups called “Fake Hands” and “Loveless Smile.” Yeah, definitely too on-the-nose to be a coincidence.)

While the performances provide a worthy climax to the arc about the forming of B Komachi (and stepping stone to the group ascending higher), the episode hardly rests just on that. The way Mem-cho starts to pick up on the love triangle forming between Aqua, Akane, and Kana is cute, and I like the way the dynamic between Aqua and Kana is being portrayed; Kana is being more than a bit of a tsundere in her interactions with Aqua, while Aqua shows both though his actions and willingness to argue with Kana (when he would normally ignore people) that he cares more than he would ever admit. Neither is being honest about their feelings, but they also strike me as the kind of couple who would quickly get bored with each other if there was not a degree of combativeness in their relationship.

The set-up for the next story arc, which dominates the back half of the episode, is also interesting. Sure, it gives Aqua the “in” into Lala Lai that he needs to further his investigation, but that feels like a comparatively minor factor given the tensions that look like they could arise. Kana made comments a few episodes back suggesting that she saw Akane as a professional rival, and their meeting during Akane and and Aqua’s “work-date” shows that the feeling is not only mutual but also on the level of a grudge on Akane’s side. They are also now romantic rivals for Aqua, both in real-life and in the roles they will play in the stage play version of “Tokyo Blade.” Can’t ask for much juicier soap opera-ish drama than that! The accord that Kaburagi and the stage director come to also has its interesting tensions and shows that Kaburagi isn’t the only one who can play the entertainment biz game. With cameos shown for other actors who will participate and the potential for running commentary on the relatively recent phenomenon of 2.5D stage plays, the next season shows a lot of potential.

And there will definitely be another season, as the Japanese broadcast of episode 11 included an announcement that a second season has been green-lit. This is easily one of the least surprising anime announcements of the year, since there was no way such a big hit was not going to get more animation. The only question now is how long we’re going to have to wait. Since nothing was mentioned about it returning in October, my money is on either the Winter 2024 or Spring 2024 season. Whenever it returns, though, it will certainly be one of the most-anticipated titles of its season.