Season 3 of Oshi no Ko had some very solid animation and art, the OP and ED were very solid and continue to hold up to the stands its set. The season had a lot of hype and some great episodes of some meaningful development however it does not maintain that level of consistency. Coming off season 2, it felt like season 3 had momentum and would be where the plot took off however, season 3 felt more like a detour than an actual leap of development. Some of the character subplots felt shallow and were almost all resolved or stopped by Aqua with no real lasting effect on the cast and plot.
I think that the events following Akane were executed very well and it really developed her as a character. It was interesting to get more information about what has been hiding within her by showing her mindset and her sense of obligation to do something for Aqua. She develops a self sacrificial intending to take Aqua's burden herself. Her detective work advanced the plot and fueled Aqua's shift his mindset from believing to be freed from his vengeance to discarding all else into his rekindled pursuit revenge. The shift feels a bit too sudden and that it somewhat throws all the development Aqua had out the window.
Starting the season Ruby's change in demeanor following the ending of season 2 really raised her to be more substantial to the plot. It was a really welcoming change to see her independent take control of the direction of the plot. It was a breath of fresh air from how Aqua dominated everything beforehand, this was short-lived however with Ruby's breakdowns resolved with Aqua "saving the day" again. It felt like a cheap cash out on the built up not knowing each others past identities for the past seasons whenever it felt convenient. Ruby once again becomes a passive character giving Aqua all the spotlight for his revenge scheme. I'm not saying its horrible and ruins the show but it was unfortunate to see Ruby fall flat.
Kana's scandal was initially very interesting with her insecurities as a fading child star desperate to land an acting gig pushing her to take more risks leading to her getting set up. With the imminent fear of public it attempted to highlight the fragility of an idols career and the dark side of the industry but could have been expanded on. It seemed like the series would start to move towards heavier themes and being less all sunshine and rainbows. However again Aquas act of heroism sweeps Kana out of danger.
The final episode being an hour long did a solid job expanding on Aqua and Ruby's past and the reason behind their motives, it ties up some loose ends and sets the stage for the final season. Overall I might have criticized the plot a lot but I personally really enjoyed the season, if you don't overthink the story line too much its a great watch for the drama and great animation. I get why some people see it as nothing but slop but I found value in its engaging and funny moments. I have faith season 4 will live up to its expectations and finishes the series with a satisfying ending.
Thanks for reading this review, have a great day ദ്ദി(ᵔᗜᵔ) ✧ 82/100
