[Oshi no Ko]

Mother and Children

Is the entertainment industry suitable for liars? The star of the first episode (or prologue movie) Ai Hoshino undoubtedly faces this crisis with her career as an idol. As an existence promoted for the sole purpose of loving her fans, is it ok if she doesn't understand love to begin with? With this dilemma as the overall concept of the episode/movie, we also get to view how an idol in Japan might struggle with keeping their personal relationships and even children under wraps. Looking beyond the slightly confusing premise surrounding her children, this first episode sets up a stylized interpretation of the darker sides of the Japanese entertainment industry, rife with mystery, revenge, and cute idols.

Third Option

It has been ten years since Ai's death. She is survived by Ruby, the younger twin sister, who aspires to become an idol, but is unable to grasp the opportunity due to her older brother Aqua's scheming. However, Ruby's admiration for her mother does not stop...

Manga Based Drama Series

Kana is eager to reconnect with Aqua and tries to talk him into getting back into acting, offering a role in a live action adaptation of the manga series Sweet Today. She mentions she has connections to famed producer Masaya Kaburagi, who Aqua recognizes as one of names on Ai's secret contact list he found on her personal phone. Aqua agrees to take a role as an excuse to get close to Kaburagi. Kana secures a role as the show's villain for Aqua, but he discovers it is a very low-quality production. Kana admits the show cast young male models and prioritized their looks over their acting ability, and she has been forced to hold back her own acting talent. She further explains that due to her spoiled behavior as a child, she quickly fell out favor in the acting industry as she grew older. During a break in filming, Aqua overhears Kaburagi brag that he is taking advantage of Kana while the former is collecting some of the latter's discarded cigarettes. Despite having gotten what he came for, Aqua decides to stay and go all out on his acting. (Source: Wikipedia)

Actors

Aqua uses his skills to set the scene up for Kana's performance. This gives Kana the opportunity to show off her true acting skills, which earns the praise of the people still watching the show. At the wrap party, Aqua meets Kaburagi again, now knowing he is not his father thanks to a paternity test. Kaburagi mentions that he knows about someone Ai had been spending time with in secret, and offers to tell Aqua who it is in return for starring in a reality dating show. Sometime later, Aqua and Ruby attend their first day at Youtou High School, where Ruby befriends fellow student and gravure model Minami Kotobuki. She introduces Minami to Aqua, and also mentions that the famous professional entertainer Frill Shiranui is also a member of her class. This makes Ruby self-conscious about the fact that she does not have an established place in the entertainment industry yet. She pesters Miyako about Strawberry Productions moving forward with forming their idol group, but Miyako points out that it is not easy for a small company like theirs to recruit idols. Aqua then suggests that they recruit Kana. (Source: Wikipedia)

Reality Dating Show

While reluctant to risk her acting career by becoming an idol, Kana decides to sign up with Strawberry Productions so she can work alongside Aqua. However, she is shocked that his next job is for a reality dating show titled My Love with a Star Begins Now, where he stars alongside fashion model Yuki Sumi, dancer Nobuyuki Kumano, actress Akane Kurokawa, internet personality MEM-cho, and musician Kengo Morimoto. Even though Aqua is putting on an act for the show, Kana feels jealous at how he is interacting with his female co-stars. Meanwhile, Miyako gets to work starting up Strawberry Productions' new idol unit. She decides to have Ruby and Kana make their debut online, and enlists the help of one of their veteran internet personalities, Pieyon, a masked physical training YouTuber. Pieyon determines that the quickest way for the girls to gain a following is to collaborate with his established channel. They perform a rigorous workout dance routine for an hour straight, with Ruby earning Kana's respect after seeing her last the entire hour. Pieyon then asks them what their group name will be, and Ruby decides to revive the name of B-Komachi. (Source: Wikipedia)

Egosurfing

As the season for Love Now continues, Aqua comes to learn that reality show stars are less scripted and more genuine than he had initially thought. Kana teaches Ruby about the importance and dangers of egosurfing, since idols need to carefully manage their appearance and reputation online. The show soon begins focusing on a love triangle between Yuki, Nobuyuki, and Kengo, with Aqua deciding to stay out of it to avoid drawing attention to himself. MEM-cho enjoys an increase in her subscriber numbers, but Akane struggles to stand out and gain attention, leaving her with the least screentime. Under pressure from her agency to get results, Akane briefly loses her composure and slaps Yuki on film, accidentally scratching her face with her freshly-painted nails. While Yuki forgives Akane and Akane herself posts a formal apology, Akane becomes the target of cyberbullying by Yuki's fans. After being constantly bombarded with negative comments, Akane falls into a state of depression and nearly leaps off a pedestrian overpass, only being saved by a last second intervention from Aqua. (Source: Wikipedia)

Buzz

First Time

Focused on revenge, Aqua underestimated Akane and gave the talented actress a way to win his heart. If love is a game, Akane is playing for keeps and Kana is falling behind. (Source: Hidive)

B Komachi

MEM-cho won't let her second chance go to waste and uses her influence to help grow B Komachi's brand. Meanwhile, Aqua's investigation into Ai's past bears fruit. (Source: Hidive & Ichigo Production)

Pressure

Idol