The following contains spoilers for Oshi no Ko Episode 1, "Mother and Children," now streaming on HIDIVE.
A new Spring 2023 anime adapted from the manga of the same name, Oshi no Ko's movie-length pilot episode has exceeded all expectations. The show initially appears to be another entry in the crowded genre of reincarnation tales, but it quickly becomes apparent that it is much more.
Oshi no Ko combines elements of various genres -- including comedy, drama, mystery, thriller and psychological -- to create a unique viewing experience that manages to be both captivating and thought-provoking. While there is some room for improvement, particularly in its comedy, the premiere is an excellent start that promises great things to come.
Oshi no Ko Starts Like an Idol-themed Reincarnation Trope
The story revolves around a rural doctor named Dr. Goro, who is a huge fan of his favorite pop idol, Ai Hoshino. As if being toyed with by fate, that very same idol goes to his rural clinic for a pregnancy consultation, a brewing scandal that could possibly end Ai's idol career. While conflicted with his discovery and doing his best to let Ai deliver her children, Goro is approached by a stalker. The moment the doctor learns of the stalker's identity, he immediately starts chasing. Unfortunately, he is outsmarted by the villain and is eventually pushed to his death. The next thing Goro knows, he's been reincarnated in the body of one of Ai Hoshino's children -- Aquamarine Hoshino.
Taking Oshi no Ko on a synopsis level, it seems to be another gimmicky reincarnation anime -- and perhaps it is. It gives the impression of having the same comedic and perverted hook as My Life as Inukai-san's Dog, making a borderline-obsessed fan into a popular child. The first few minutes of the pilot episode don't help redeem this first impression. A good chunk of its early runtime simply shows how Goro is adapting to a new life, all the while secretly fanboying about everything his idol-turned-mama is doing.
Just like the other shows utilizing this trope, Oshi no Ko mostly does it in jest, usually utilizing idiotic main heroine jokes or the main lead trying not to come off as a pervert. While the show's comedic moments are sometimes effective, the jokes mostly feel repetitive and thoughtless. Fortunately, they mostly dwindle down Ai Hoshino's twins become toddlers. Then, the anime suddenly shifts gears to another genre -- drama.
Oshi no Ko Tackles Multiple Sensitive Topics at Once
Other than trying to make viewers laugh, Oshi no Ko's humor also attempts to make sensitive issues more lighthearted. That's why, despite tackling one sensitive topic after another, the first part of the premiere is still mostly for the gag. The first of these topics is teenage pregnancy; Ai was only 16 years old when she first sought Dr. Goro's help. There is, of course, the dilemma of whether to keep the babies or terminate the pregnancy. In addition, Ai tackles the challenges of parenthood without any support from her spouse. However, Oshi no Ko brushes off the seriousness of all this with a couple of nonchalant phrases and smiles.
Then there's the toxicity of the idol industry. The main reason Ai has to seek the far-flung areas where Dr. Goro is practicing is that her pregnancy must be kept secret. If word of her situation comes around, her career as an idol is over -- after all, idols are not allowed to be in a relationship. There's also the matter of her stalker, who creepily attempts to know about Ai's movements and even has the audacity to feel betrayed by her pregnancy. He is so obsessed with her that he has no qualms about committing murder -- twice.
After all is said and done, Oshi no Ko seems to be focusing on Ai's struggle to juggle parenthood with her career, fighting her way to relevancy in the ever-so-competitive idol industry. Her twin children, of course, are backing her up all the way. Aqua in particular even dabbles in acting just to get her mother the necessary acting gigs. Then, near the end, the premiere shifts genres once again and becomes a revenge story.
What Exactly Is Oshi no Ko About?
Just when viewers are finally settled on the idea that Oshi no Ko may be an unusual slice-of-life drama, the very same stalker who murdered Dr. Goro returns -- and his target this time is Ai. He pays her a surprise visit and then suddenly stabs her. Unfortunately, Ai doesn't survive the attack, giving the narrative its needed push to shift to another main theme: revenge fantasy.
That's when Oshi no Ko finally tackles its most burning questions. Aqua sets out to find their father, figure out the mystery behind their reincarnation, and, of course, take revenge on the mastermind behind Ai's murder. He is prepared to use everything in his arsenal to accomplish this, including his uncanny talent for acting. This seems to be the path the series will tread in future episodes.
Despite Oshi no Ko's unassuming first impressions, it shows a great deal of promise. It tackles and combines a wide variety of genres, but it does so in an interesting manner. Each shift adds a certain hook, keeping viewers wondering what else it will have to offer. Despite having some room for improvement in its humor, Oshi no Ko is off to an excellent start. Everything that happened in the move-length premiere is sheer preparation for Aqua's grand tale of revenge. With numerous hooks from its genre-hopping, viewers are certainly intrigued as to how the story will unfold.