Oshi No Ko Season 2 Episode 9 Review: A Shocking Turn Of Events!

The 9th episode drops another bomb on us with the last section. Let’s see how episode 9 unfolded.

Oshi No Ko Season 2 Episode 8 Recap

This episode offers a deeper dive into Kana’s life, allowing us to see her struggles from her own perspective, while also delving into Aqua’s ongoing battle with his panic attacks.

It opens with Kana reflecting on how she’s allowed herself to step back while others take centre stage. Even Taiki brings this up, though he reassures her that he’s there to support her in any way she needs. Taking charge, Taiki ends up facing off against Aqua in what becomes a tense showdown. This marks the first time Aqua encounters a real challenge from another actor whose talent is undeniably superior.

Taiki’s strength lies in his emotional vulnerability, putting his raw self on display for the audience. Aqua, on the other hand, isn’t used to performing with such emotional openness, and attempting to match Taiki’s approach would only expose his weaknesses. So, Aqua chooses a different tactic: he suppresses his emotions, adopting a cold, detached style of acting. This evens the playing field, at least for the moment.

Meanwhile, we get a glimpse into Kana’s painful past. Her mother’s overbearing influence, combined with an unhealthy obsession with Kana’s fading stardom, created a toxic environment. In response, Kana adapted by becoming the actor everyone could easily work with—always accommodating, never causing trouble.

But Aqua refuses to let her remain in the background any longer. If she’s been holding the spotlight for others, he’s determined to turn it back on her. The episode maintains a steady tone throughout, but as it builds toward the finale, we’re abruptly reminded of the show’s true nature, and the narrative takes an unexpected, dramatic shift.

Oshi No Ko Season 2 Episode 9 Review

Today’s episode starts very strongly with the revelation and exploration of Aqua’s feelings. We understand his trauma a bit more through his acting, where he becomes completely unhinged. His emotional acting surfaces as he begins to channel the grief of losing his mother into the sorrow his character is experiencing on stage.

On top of that, Aqua, for the very first time, confronts his dark alter ego, which has been haunting him for enjoying acting. Aqua accepts that this blaming entity is he himself, who still has not gotten over such a tragic loss and the fact that he couldn’t do anything to stop it from happening. This aspect makes the drama a hit and proves Aqua’s worth as an actor.

Even after the success of the stage play, the two main actresses of the show, Kana and Akane, are still in a constant battle of who is better. Even though each of them stood out in their respective roles, both of them credit the other for being a genius. Thankfully, rather than envy, this comes from a place of respect. Thus, one thing is clear both of them will help each other grow as an actress even in the future.

Aqua, as usual, did not forget about his mission, which was to find out who his father was. For this reason, he approaches the director of this stage play, Kindaichi, from whom he wishes to extract more info. For this mission, Aqua, Taiki and Kindaichi go for a drink, and we also get to know more about Taiki’s past as an orphan.

However, the last revelation that came up shocked me to the core, and I am again in awe of the brilliant writing of this series.

Verdict

Yes, I was again deceived by the very simple opening of the episode. The way you get introduced to the dramatic and comedic elements and then suddenly you are presented with one of the most unsuspected twists that comes out of nowhere adds to the overall watching experience. I would just recommend you go and see this episode for yourself.

Must Read: Oshi No Ko Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Goosebumps Absolute Goosebumps!