Let it be said that episode 1 truly will make or break you being interested in this series. There's a distinct sense of self-awareness even in the decision to make the first episode a three episode long theatrical display instead of just releasing each episode individually; it harkens back to a topic i haven't seen much lately that once circulated anime-watching communities: the three-episode rule. That's to say, if a series fails to hook you by the third episode, it has nothing else worth sticking around for. What Oshi no Ko does to flip the concept on its head is fairly self-evident, but nonetheless you're given an absolutely insane premise, not one, not TWO, but THREE major twists to the formula, and establishes the main players of the rest of the narrative.

Aqua seems to be the front-and-center protagonist here. A cynical realist thrust into a world commanded by showboating and facade who nonetheless rolls with the punches and at times becomes just as dastardly and conniving as the people he lambasts for treating his loved ones so coldly. Kana, his opposite, is someone forced to grow and adapt as the industry turns its back on her; she's forced to become a more complete person from the pompous, entitled brat she's introduced as. Ruby acts as the momentum with which the rest of the cast is meant to be carried by; an inexhaustable bundle of energy and optimism precariously perched at the precipice of a ruthless world.

But most of all, the phantom of the literal progenitor of the narrative, Ai. She exists beyond reality for the world, embodying the narcissism and callousness of the industry and its lies and fronts—yet still emerging as a realistic, human character in the end of it all. She lives onward in each and every character connected to her, going on to further validate her status as a genuine, once-in-a-lifetime performer. All of this done without ever actually idolizing any of these characters, thus maintaining their humanness to make for some genuinely heartfelt and touching moments throughout.

What really caught me off guard though was the supporting cast: MEM and Akane in particular are exceptionally captivating characters, if a bit over-the-top in their personalizations. MEM's reveal as a much-older-than-her-contemporaries voice of reason fit in perfectly with how she coordinated herself within the reality TV arc, never getting too close with any of the kids she was surrounded with. Rather, she acted as a gentle nudge towards success for everyone, and had a few genuine mom-moments as well. Nonetheless, the fact wasn't obvious upon reveal, leading to a really satisfying capstone to what's sure to be one of many character arcs. Akane too always showed a meticulous, calculating personality within that same arc and, with proper motivation and focus, bloomed gorgeously with the spirit of Ai (a pun not lost on me whatsoever).

It's character-driven romantic/comedy/drama in the end, but with characters this fleshed out and enjoyable to watch, there's no fault to take at all here. That the series also deep dives into the psychology behind performance is what pushes the series above its contemporaries, however; furthermore, the literally mature-for-their-age characters at the center of the story make the insightful a-ha moments of the series (like Aqua taking the idea of "playing a role" and applying it both to the reality tv drama he's participating in and socializing in general) actually hit and make sense, rather than coming off as wooden or spoken out of turn. Aqua is a young-adult doctor reliving life again, keeping all past experience with him. Of course he's wiser than his years. Of course he's able to subvert the expectations of those around him, but it never feels cheap or unearned, either. But returning to the central idea at hand: the delicacy with which idols, models, actors, and internet personalities coalesce in the series resonates deeply, and how the infrastructure of their world is but a microcosm of the larger world within which it resides rings true, too. There's a certain degree of facade, lying, and coyness demanded to safely navigate a world in which we so easily harm one another—intentionally or not. Look forward to more of this. I know i am.