Oshi no Ko Rewatch - Season 2, Episode 8 Discussion

**Longtime B-Komachi Fan!**

Himekawa has a really good point about the audience not being able to see the actors' facial expressions in a stage play. I wonder if anyone will ever try to incorporate close-up shots into those background screens for a more cinematic approach.

[](#rengethink)

Speaking of cinema, the use color and music and special effects really shined in today's episode. The contrast between Aqua's cold blue/white tones and Himekawa's erratic splashes of red, Kana's beautiful mental montage with her memories of Aqua, and (to borrow a phrase from SAO) those sword skills! Seriously, how did they pull off that lightning effect? Regardless of my thoughts about the in-universe Tokyo Blade story, they succeeded in making a cool action spectacle on stage.

[](#neat)

And as an Aqua x Kana shipper, their scenes together were so good. I loved the way they basically had an entire conversation with each other without saying a word out loud.

[](#ilovethiskindofshit)

This episode also gave more insight into Kana's background. It was a real surprise to me when I read it in the manga because I wouldn't have guessed she had a stressful family situation like this, but in hindsight the foreshadowing was there - like her thoughts that it was nice how Ruby had someone who would support her, even though she didn't. Seeing her go all out in her acting, surprising Aqua with her star quality, was great and very reminiscent of the scenes from Sweet Today and their concert when he also drew her out into the spotlight.

We get confirmation that Gotanda is aware of Aqua's situation too - that he's the child of Ai, and planning to avenge her. I'm not surprised he figured it out, but it *did* surprise me how he seemed to accept it and back Aqua up on this! It'll certainly be interesting to see where this partnership of sorts leads.

**Questions of the Day:**

1) It did help add context to her attitude and desperation when it comes to acting, but I already liked Kana from the start.

2) On one hand, I want the best for Aqua, to see him enjoy acting rather than going down a dark path. But Aqua choosing the dark side also makes for a very compelling storyline.

**Rewatcher/Manga Reader**

* QOTD 1 - I was already liking her back in S1E7 for giving the speech at the start
* QOTD 2 - Either choice would be fine and would be cool to see

**First Timer, Subbed**

Aqua is Kana's Kana, someone who will always work to bring out her acting. In contrast to the actors dueling to see who can shine the brightest, Aqua and Kana had a duel to see who could support the production the hardest, and Aqua won.

[Akane fangirling a little on stage was the cherry on top.](https://i.imgur.com/9mfvSof.jpeg) I guess it made all those days forcing herself to eat bell peppers (flashback in the last episode) worth it.

This episode answers a longtime question I had, confirming that Gotanda figured out that Ai was their mom. And he figured out that Aqua's emotional block comes from his guilt over her death, which of course [has parallels with Aqua's character in the play](https://i.imgur.com/6a0z9cO.jpeg).

Gotanda: "You know what you're gonna have to do, right? Mike Tyson the shit out of Himekawa."

QOTD:

1) I guess I already assumed that Kana's backstory was like that, so it didn't change my perspective of her. At least in the west, the unhealthy upbringings of child actors is basically a stereotype now. I feel that Kana must be estranged from her mom now... I vaguely remember her saying that she lives alone in Tokyo.

Edit: Found it, in S1E3 at Gotanda's house she talks about living at the dorms because [her parents retired to the countryside](https://i.imgur.com/94K9hRU.jpeg), so that's her cover story. So the only kids shown to still be living with their moms are Akane, and Gotanda.

2) It's a decent solution, I suppose. Turn your weakness into a strength, that sort of problem resolution's common in anime. It's not like Aqua was going to be dissuaded from his revenge or seek therapy again, so honestly I'm just glad that he has someone else who knows about it and that he can talk to/plot with. Up until today, he was completely alone.

**Rewatcher**

Probably my favorite episode of the series.

Continuing on from Akane's argument last episode for being a more selfish, flamboyant actor, we get Himekawa who fully embodies this principle, caring not for accomodating other actors or the audience, not even being able to see them clearly, [asking them instead to match him](https://imgchest.com/p/ne7b6zevky5), and casually throwing in an extended ad-lib just because he didn't want Akane hogging the light so much. It's an approach that seems downright callous to Kana, and it might be that he is just that comfortable being a stage actor and the star of the troupe, but the fact that he *is* the star gives this approach merit.

Of course, this arrogance doesn't mean thoughtlessness, as the ad-lib he throws in is actually manga-popular ship content for [Touki-Tsurugi](https://imgchest.com/p/5xy2ovr3n4l), trusting Kana and Aqua to give the audience something fun, while [he directly steps in Akane's space](https://imgchest.com/p/dl7pnmla6yo).

And this leads us to learn why Kana hesitates to take up this challenge even though [it is very much something she enjoys](https://imgchest.com/p/vj4jm2xv548), because she never felt secure enough to do so. Having a non-existant support system, and feeling like her mother's love was [contingent on her surviving in the entertainment industry](https://imgchest.com/p/lqyel586x4d), she has grown risk-averse, taking some satisfaction from her work as long as the project can keep from failing.

Which is also why she falls so hard for Aqua, being the first guy in a long time to [support her](https://imgchest.com/p/bp45obw2x75). And in the Akane-heavy season we've had, the show [throws in a little flashback](https://imgchest.com/p/a846obelg4x) to remind us that Kana and Aqua do share genuine chemistry. With him, she feels safe enough to [become the star that she longs to be](https://imgchest.com/p/9249kb8dvyn), absolutely taking over the scene

1. I wouldn't say there was a change. I mean her story - a promising child actor being used and abused by parents wanting to vicariously live the entertainment industry through them, and them burning out as a result - is common enough that we have the term *stage mom* for it. We have come to know that she tries to take the role of the responsible adult in every production, and that is because she never really got to be a child.

2+

Then we come to Aqua, who is happy to [recognize the stars shining in others](https://imgchest.com/p/na7kkl9dk78), but is unable to do it to himself. It is a self-sacrificing savior complex ([something he shares with Touki](https://imgchest.com/p/ej7meqb3qyd)), but in many ways, Aqua's progression feels more like a total villain arc. In a story played more straight, this would be the moment that the protagonist discovers their genuine joy for acting, vows to make their mom proud, achieves the power of friendship, all that.

But Aqua just can't get himself to enjoy this life without feeling like he needs to atone for the sins of his past one. It's survivor's guilt, but magnified by the fact that this is Aqua's second shot at life, while Ai didn't even get to live half of one. Director Gotanda notes [his conflict](https://imgchest.com/p/lqyel58qx4d) too, genuinely enjoying the craft of acting, despising what the industry did to Ai, yet having to engage with it - constantly entertaining the thought of a better life, new friends and fulfillment while a part of him keeps dragging him back to Ai and revenge - being half-in and half-out with the industry and with this life.

Instead of working through his pain to find purpose, a decidedly long term process that [Aqua actually has to opt into](https://imgchest.com/p/agyvn832w48), the solution they come up with it is to put it on a pedestal, let it define him and whip himself into a [war frenzy](https://imgchest.com/p/9249kb8vvyn) - like an antagonist would do. It is a method that, as the Director notes, is exhausting, unsustainable in the long term, and [liable to push even people like Kana and Akane away](https://imgchest.com/p/md7obr29a4p) - the exact kind of thing that turns stars away from sobriety. For now though it works, as his grieving rage aligns with Touki, and he is able to go toe-to-toe with Himekawa in terms of emotional projection. I further worry for Aqua if he keeps getting typecasted into negative/antagonistic roles, as it will bring out this unresolved internal conflict up to the surface again and again.

Some things to note-

- [Some further cool usage of the 2.5D stage](https://imgchest.com/p/ljyqk3jvey2) - including laser projection for Princess Saya's power, her blood being displayed by screens(?) on the floor.

- The [Red-Blue color scheme](https://imgchest.com/p/ne7b6zedny5) is briefly continued

- Akane feels a [similar way about Himekawa hogging the light](https://imgchest.com/p/md7obr2wd4p)

- [Kana's blushing for Aqua here works for her character Tsurugi as well](https://imgchest.com/p/o24a6ewj3yl). No acting here, sir

- [Kana also does remember her first meeting with Akane](https://imgchest.com/p/agyvn83r948)

- Kana's suddenly stepping into it [genuinely catches people off-guard](https://imgchest.com/p/9249kb832yn). Kaburagi looks like he is rethinking his entire marketing strategy for her lol

- Aqua miserably continues the pattern of rejecting [even the smallest gestures of parental affection](https://imgchest.com/p/m9yxnae2m7q)

- Himekawa [apparently recognizes and appreciates Aqua's spark](https://imgchest.com/p/dl7pnml86yo) in the moment, even responding with his own star eyes. It also aligns perfectly with his character of Blade

- The idea Aqua uses here is very similar to what he advises Melt to do, [forsaking finer technique for raw emotive expression](https://imgchest.com/p/wl7lwjngp4x)

- [This slayful Akane pose](https://imgchest.com/p/ej7meqbwbyd)

And so now it's Kana's time to shine.

So, there's Kana's backstory.

Look at Kana go!

Seems Akane is giving Aqua therapy.

Oh Aqua looks _crazy_.

And now it's Aqua's turn.

Questions:

1. So, she's just fulfilling the wish of her mum.
2. Ok...