Oshi No Ko
a review by Tharizdun03
a review by Tharizdun03
"Oshi no Ko" blew up the internet with its explosive, artistically ambitious premiere, setting the tone for a series that finally dives into the murky waters of the entertainment industry. As someone who craves more idol industry critiques, I was excited to give it a try. However, throughout the first episode, something felt... off. So let's start there. In that very first episode, where we are introduced to Ai.
Ai Hoshino, the central idol character in "Oshi no Ko," is a microcosm of the show's issues.
Throughout the series, Ai is depicted as the perfect idol, always displaying unwavering optimism and cheerfulness without showing any genuine emotions or weaknesses. Despite the show's premise hinting at exposing the facade of the idol persona, Ai remains consistently upbeat and unchanging, both on stage and at home. She never shows anger, frustration, or any negative emotions, even when she's alone. Her demeanor is perpetually positive and untroubled, with no moments of vulnerability. She is always exactly as she appears on the surface, with no mask to uncover.
I didn't need her to secretly be a terrible person, but you can't claim to humanize individuals whom parasocial fanbases build unrealistic fantasies about and then present a character who perpetuates that very fantasy. The supposed truth behind her idol persona does not exist.
Ai is portrayed as a victim of her circumstances who remains likable and perfect, devoid of personal flaws. Even in her final moments, she shows no negative emotions towards her murderer whatsoever.
It's difficult to care deeply about her when the narrative doesn't provide enough substance to justify such emotional investment—depicting her more as a symbolic figure than a real person.
Ai's situation, which could have been a springboard for discussing sexual exploitation and purity culture, is also glossed over. Instead, the show focuses more on the superficial aspects of idol culture, missing an opportunity to challenge the status quo and critique the systemic issues within the industry. This reflects the deeper issues I have with the show, all of which can be traced back to how the series treats Ai's character.
Aqua's character is defined by his gloomy personality and manipulative tendencies. He often uses those around him as tools to achieve his goals, primarily in his obsessive quest for revenge. Aqua's quest for revenge following his mother Ai's murder feels more like a plot device than a genuine emotional journey. The idea of toddler Aqua spending four years trying to unlock his dead mother’s phone is weird enough on its own, but his motivations remain murky. Did he really like Ai as an idol or was it for Sarina's sake? What's with the whole pedo and lolicon thing they insinuate with him? Why is it implied he has romantic feelings for Ai in the midst of this?
Some complexity in his feelings is interesting, but given that this is the central emotional hook, the series fails to establish why he is so obsessed with finding Ai's murderer/his father. This lack of clarity makes his actions seem more driven by a need to fulfill the narrative rather than any coherent personal logic.
Aqua's relationship with Ai is just one of several troubling dynamics he has with the female characters in the series. His interactions with Kana, Akane, and Ruby are marked by problematic elements, ranging from manipulative behavior to incestuous undertones. Aqua evaluates everyone based on their usefulness to him, particularly in his quest for revenge. He coerces Kana into making a significant career change and exploits Akane's tragedy as a strategic advantage in his metaphorical game of poker. Additionally, Kana's romantic feelings for Aqua and the incestuous hints between him and Ruby detract from the more important themes the series aims to address.
These issues are further amplified by Aqua's portrayal as the one adult, among naive girls, who can see the industry for what it truly is; giving the series a particularly paternalistic tone. Similarly, many of the women's struggles are reduced to being rescued by Aqua. This is particularly evident in Akane's storyline, which we will examine next.
Akane’s arc is heavily influenced by real-life events, notably the tragic story of Hana Kimura, a professional wrestler and reality TV star who faced severe online harassment and eventually took her own life. While I have opinions on the respectfulness of using this story and whether it feels exploitative, it would detract from the current focus to delve into that now.
Nevertheless, Akane’s portrayal as a reality show participant who becomes a target of vicious online bullying is both powerful and harrowing. The series does an excellent job of capturing the psychological toll such harassment can have on an individual. The sound design and visual depiction of Akane scrolling through hate comments are particularly effective in conveying her mental anguish.
However, the resolution of Akane’s arc falters significantly. Aqua’s ability to find her in a typhoon and the subsequent neat and tidy resolution is overly simplistic. Aqua manages to convince the director by admitting he's a bad person once, which inexplicably changes the director's mind. The kids' viral tweet succeeds, and everyone applauds as Akane returns to the very situation that instigated her suicidal thoughts. This is a wish-fulfillment fantasy at best.
While "Oshi no Ko" sensitively and thoroughly depicts the psychological effects on individuals in the industry, ultimately this dating show is a thing that should not exist in the first place. Dating shows with minors is inherently exploitative and predatory. That's what's actually bad for Akane. The series primarily shifts the blame to the fans, portraying them as the main source of toxicity through their bullying. While fan behavior is a significant issue, this focus detracts from a deeper critique of the systemic problems within the entertainment industry. By not addressing structural exploitation and the role of industry gatekeepers more thoroughly, the series misses an opportunity for a more comprehensive critique of the environment that fosters such toxicity. Why critique the institutions that perpetuate exploitation and abuse when you can just blame bad fans instead?
Moreover, while he saves her life, Aqua's actions are driven more by his own agenda rather than genuine care for Akane’s well-being. Aqua’s manipulation of Akane for his revenge plot, and his decision to use her deep understanding of Ai to further his own goals, also feel like the story itself exploits Akane’s trauma for narrative convenience, and detracts from the empathy her story initially garners on its own.
"Oshi no Ko" attempts to deliver a critical view of the idol industry but falls short in its systemic critique, favoring more superficial resolutions and romanticized portrayals. While it begins by highlighting the industry's dark aspects, it frequently opts for convenient resolutions that undermine the gravity of its critiques.
The narrative often attributes problems within the industry to individual bad actors or misguided fans rather than addressing systemic exploitation. When Ai is killed by a fan for having had sex, the series misses an opportunity to explore the necessity for idols to hide behind perfectly crafted personas. Ai is always happy and the same on stage as off stage, with domesticity and falling in love being her humanizing factors, rather than a critique of purity culture or the objectification and sexual exploitation of women in the industry. The series focuses more on the dramatic impact of Ai's death on her children rather than the systemic issues that contributed to it, shifting the blame from the industry to individual fans. Aqua’s obsession with revenge is directed at individuals rather than the industry that shaped the environment allowing such tragedies to happen. The killer, or the one who tipped him off, is not the sole villain here.
"Oshi no Ko" also tends to resolve complex issues with overly simplistic solutions, diminishing the impact of its critique. Akane's return to the same environment that led to her suicide attempt is met with applause and cheers, suggesting the problem is resolved by a viral video and supportive fans. This kind of resolution once again fails to address the broader systemic problems within the entertainment industry that create such toxic environments.
The series treats it as cute and funny that horrible singers can succeed as long as they're attractive. It glosses over the problematic aspects of Memcho, a 25-year-old woman, being on a dating show for high school kids. At Ruby's school, many young girls are already gravure models, but this is barely addressed. Well... Ruby says they're hot (and bless her), but that's not really what I'm looking for.
The series frequently misses opportunities to delve into deeper, more uncomfortable truths about the exploitation and abuse of women in the idol industry. Issues such as purity culture, sexual exploitation, and the grooming of young girls are not explored. And this reluctance to fully explore the dark side of the industry is ultimately because the series sympathizes with the industry more than it critiques it. We don't have to blame the industry if it's just a "bad fan" that is the cause of the issue. Or maybe I'm asking for too much for a series to be unsparing in deconstructing the industry that rolls in its finances.
Additional critiques include Ruby's lack of meaningful development so far. Her character needs a substantial arc, and it remains to be seen whether it will celebrate her idol idealism or just let her walk into the industry that killed her mother. Kana's character shows glimpses of depth, but her romantic obsession with Aqua makes these moments inconsistent. Have Kana and Ruby date instead, and you solve two problems with one solution.
There are likely more points to critique, but these cover the primary issues with the series.
The core issue with "Oshi no Ko" is that despite all its brave posturing about peeling back the pretty fantasy of the entertainment industry, it is cowardly incapable of actually challenging that industry. The very promise the premise is dedicated to fulfilling, it betrays.
Just like Ai Hoshino herself, what it tries to criticize and what it actually is are one and the same.
If you like the idol genre and just want a very strong show of that ilk to follow, I'd recommend Love Live Sunshine. If you want something that actually explores the sexual trauma of an idol, I'd recommend Perfect Blue. And if you just want a show that's a bit more unsparing in critiquing the entertainment industry, I'd recommend Girlish Number.
Thanks for reading.
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