To be trustworthy, there aren’t many sequence that would make a film that is basically 22 minutes lengthy – effectively, it is typically described as a feline … Oshi no Ko can do trashy rather well, and this ep was a shining instance of that. It is a unusual mess of contradictions, this sequence. It appears to work rather well at each ends of the spectrum of dignity and seriousness (if such a factor exists) and stumbles when it tries to bridge the distinction.
A superb chunk of this episode was about Soften (who might take anybody significantly with that identify?). You possibly can really feel a bit of sorry for him, as a result of he’s only a half-smart, half-talented fairly boy who can’t appear to get again on his toes. Not a foul man, simply an insignificant one. If there’s one factor Soften is sympathetic about, it’s that he’s self-aware sufficient to understand his personal shortcomings and even need to overcome them. However that’s really a problem for Akasaka. Like his too-neat decision to each trade criticism he presents, it’s an implicit denigration of performing as a talent and a occupation when Soften pulls it off in “Tokyo Blade.”
Soften does rating some factors right here by making an attempt to avoid wasting Ruby (the story is determined to make her related to this arc, and that’s a recurring theme) and her boyfriend from the predatory Kamoshida-kun. However the primary thrust of the story is the open warfare between Kana and Akane. Kana additionally takes Soften underneath her wing a bit, however that’s actually a sideshow. At this level, it looks as if Akane has the higher hand – in “Blade” phrases, at the least, they’re on the identical aspect of the battle – however Kana remains to be the higher of the verbal assault.
Soften and Aqua are an attention-grabbing distinction of their self-doubt, as Aqua’s self-doubt is way more knowledgeable (largely because of Kana’s affect on him). I truthfully do not care a lot for the struggle itself, however it’s attention-grabbing to see how he handles it. It is pure for Aqua to ask Gotanda for assist, although you get the sensation that he would have gone to Kana extra reflexively when it got here to performing if that was doable. Gotanda can be making an attempt to maintain himself from having a PTSD breakdown on stage, however the motive Aqua can not seem to do emotional performing is as a result of he is operating away from his feelings.
Akane remains to be a chunk of labor. She’s completely fantastic with Aqua being there to kill somebody – she’s a yandere herself, in spite of everything. It’s solely pure that the fanbase can be divided over Akane vs. Kana, as a result of that’s what fanbases do, and finally the elephant within the room is that that is actually about pairing Aqua with one or the opposite. I’m leaning towards Kana myself – they’re each significantly tousled in their very own methods, however I simply discover her to be the extra endearing character. I additionally really feel like, as evil as she could be (and he or she is right here), she has an ethical core that finally pulls her again from the cliff of outright depravity. And I don’t assume Akane has that.
I’ve a powerful suspicion that “Tokyo Blade” goes to be a success, as a result of that’s what Akasaka does. And naturally, nothing within the Akane-Kana wars goes to be determined definitively. So I feel the drama will likely be extra within the execution than the decision, and within the affect this all finally has on Aqua’s psyche and his quest for revenge. Once more, credit score the place credit score is due – Oshi no Ko is nice at mining leisure worth out of this type of factor, which isn’t usually my area as a viewer. I can see why many followers take into account this arc the present’s finest – it clearly performs to its strengths.
