Oshi no Ko Season 2, Episode 7 Blends Shonen Rivalries With Seinen Deconstruction (2024)

So far, Oshi no Ko Season 2 done a fine job balancing itself between several opposing and contrasting ideas. This season has some subversive elements like the first season did, revealing the ugly truth of the Japanese entertainment industry in the process while also having refreshingly honest, relatable underdog stories to tell that feel more like shōnen than seinen. Episodes like this week's "Sun" manage to both glorify and deconstruct the idea of girls like Akane Kurokawa leaping right into the competitive entertainment industry.

The previous episode handled that balance fairly well with the downdtrodden amateur actor Melt Narushima, who had plenty to prove while performing alongside Kamishida as their characters trade blows in the Tokyo Blade stage play. Now, Episode 7 tells an even better zero-to-hero story with Akane Kurokawa, the girl who is determined to surpass Kana Arima and do so fair and square. The episode delivers all kinds of excellent rivalry storytelling while smartly leaving the climax for the next episode.

Oshi no Ko Episode 7 Benefits Greatly From Focusing on Akane Kurokawa's Story

Intricate Character Studies Like This Make This Anime Shine

Any shōnen or seinen anime like Oshi no Ko needs a mix of episodes that develop several storylines at once, and those that focus on a single character. Episodes 6 and 7 of Season 2 are both the latter type, and while Episode 6 did fairly well with that idea, Episode 7 is already one of Oshi no Ko's best episodes yet in either season. After all, while Melt is a fairly likable side character who feels like a plucky shōnen lead, Akane is one of the anime's main characters alongside the popular Kana and the Hoshino twins. And unlike Melt, who's just a side character who has his own isolated arc, Akane's story is tightly interwoven with that of her rival and boyfriend. When Oshi no Ko fleshes out Akane's arc with a solo episode like "Sun," the other characters benefit from it, too. Mostly Kana, in this case.

Additionally, if an entire anime focuses on just one character with an in-depth, season-long character study, there is always the risk that the plot will drag. This is because, in such anime, most plot threads must be put on hold so a single character's own arc may be developed. Fortunately, both Episodes 6 and 7 get away with this because Season 2's first five episodes moved the overall plot along rather swiftly and efficiently. There is room to give Akane an episode like this and preserve the season's pacing with its Tokyo Blade arc. While Melt got one such episode, it seems likely that Akane will get two, since Episode 7's ending leaves ample room to finish the Akane vs Kana feud now made literal on-stage. Two Akane-centric episodes in a row may sound like a stretch, and it almost is, but it's worth it, given Akane's importance and the fact that this performance may be a career-defining night for everyone involved.

That said, it will be for the best if Oshi no Ko refrains from any more solo episodes for a while once Akane's own character study is completed. The anime is already putting a lot on hold to make room for the current arc, with the B-Komachi idol group and Aqua Hoshino's revenge both idling around while the Tokyo Blade play proceeds. And even then, some aspects of Tokyo Blade must be set aside or delayed to open up room for Akane's personal arc. Ideally, the anime's snappy pace will resume once Akane's and Kana's feud is wrapped up. Episode 7 may be right to be a solo adventure, but this shouldn't continue for too much longer.

Oshi no Ko Episode 7's Simple Ending Helps Pace Akane's Battle With Two Halves

The Girls' Final Clash Will Unfold Soon

Oshi no Ko Episode 7 spends plenty of time building up the shonen-style rivalry between Akane and Kana. More importantly, that rivalry is not resolved by the time the end credits roll. Akane's and Kana's professional and romantic rivalry is too meaty and substantial to be explored and resolved in a single episode, so even if it feels disappointing that Episode 7 does not resolve much, that's just fine for the season's pacing. Any good rivalry is worth savoring across multiple episodes, so fans can be kept on edge to see who wins. Such pacing allows the rivalry to be explored in more detail. Best of all, that kind of pacing allows plenty else to be resolved in the meantime. It's ideal that Episode 7 saves the resolution of Akane's and Kana's rivalry for Episode 8. Even if Episode 7's ending feels generic and forgettable, it still does its job.

The end result is that, unless Oshi no Ko does anything highly unusual in Episode 8, this phase of the rivalry will be told in two distinct halves. This is a neat and balanced way for the girls' rivalry to play out in the context of Tokyo Blade, with Episode 7's contents being the first half. Namely, the half in which the rivalry is built up and the personal stakes are laid out for all to see. The second half will no doubt be a turning point for this professional/romantic feud, providing payoff for what Episode 7 is doing. The anticipation for that showdown is why viewers can forgive Episode 7 for having a rather generic ending. It almost feels like a typical shōnen battle, with many blows traded and flashbacks explored in one episode before the final decisive exchange is made. It's a simple but effective strategy that makes Episode 7 more than just a continuation of Akane and Kana clashing.

Oshi no Ko Episode 7's Events Neatly Balance Familiar Shonen Storytelling & Seinen Subversion

This Creative Fusion Broadens the Anime’s Appeal Among Anime Fans

Oshi no Ko Episode 7 is also an excellent example of a broader trend in this anime: a balance between a grim deconstruction of the entertainment industry and conventional shonen-style storytelling. Some episodes focus mostly on one of those things or the other, but if fans assess Oshi no Ko as a whole, they will see that this anime is two flavors mixed into one. Episode 7, in particular, is a wonderful sample of that duality at work. Of course, Oshi no Ko really is more seinen than shōnen and is primarily billed as a dark, subversive series. But in practice, that's only about 55 to 60% of what this anime is really doing and aiming for. The subversive drama is strong enough to make sure that the initial hook delivers results, but there's still ample room for shonen-style rivalries and underdog stories. This, in turn, makes characters like Akane that much more compelling.

What's more, this means that Oshi no Ko has strong cross-aisle appeal, having plenty for fans of drama, idol anime, and subversive series to enjoy while also giving fans of classic underdog stories some great plots to follow as well. These two halves blend elegantly in episodes like "Sun." In fact, this episode's very title may feel like a piece of My Hero Academia, with Akane wishing for Kana to shine brightly like a fierce and honest sun. In a similar fashion, My Hero Academia's Tamaki Amajiki calls himself Suneater because he looks up to Mirio Togata, who's bright and warm like the sun itself. Oshi no Ko's sun-based analogy probably wasn't directly lifted from My Hero Academia, but the results are similar and just as effective. It's good fun for shōnen fans. Both Tamaki and Akane need a strong, expressive ally to push them further, and one day, Akane might eat the sun, too.

This balance of shōnen and seinen is blended especially well in a flashback sequence when a young Akane attends an audition where Kana happens to be. In a near-empty hallway near a vending machine, Akane crosses paths with her personal idol, Kana, and learns the grim truth: that this audition is a sham. The producers, as Kana tersely explains, have already settled on Kana to make use of her star power, and the auditions are just for show to maintain the appearance of legitimacy. In fact, Kana gets quite upset when explaining this, suggesting that she is suffering from impostor syndrome and wishes to earn her roles and fame more honestly.

This harsh reality contrasts sharply with Akane's shonen-styled quest to become a great performer like Kana. Akane refuses to let this grim, subversive truth dampen her shōnen spirit. It's an effective and fascinating clash of fresh-faced optimism and determination versus well-established talent and fame that represents the industry's exploitative and unfair side. Together, they create a neat encapsulation that makes Oshi no Ko more than the sum of its parts. Akane knows more than anyone that this industry is unfair and unglamorous behind the curtain, but that won't stop her from challenging and surpassing her personal sun, Kana, and prove something. This alone gives Episode 7 a lot of heart, and it's outstanding to watch.

Oshi no Ko Season 2 is now streaming.

Oshi no Ko Season 2, Episode 7 - "Sun"

9

10

TV-14

Drama

Fantasy

Halfway through Tokyo Blade, Akane's and Kana's characters clash while the two actors fight over who's the best performer. Akane hopes to pull ahead and win by challenging Kana at her best.

Release Date

April 12, 2023

Cast

Rie Takahashi , Yumi Uchiyama

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1 Season

Creator

Aka Akasaka

Production Company

CyberAgent, Dogakobo, Kadokawa, Sentai Studios, Shueisha

Number of Episodes

12 Episodes

Pros

• Strong contrast between shonen grit and subversive elements.
• Akane's and Kana's rivalry is on full blast.
• The strong pacing leaves plenty for Episode 8 to do.

Cons

• Ending is generic and forgettable out of necessity.