Summary
The following contains spoilers for Episode 3 of Oshi no Ko Season 2, “Rewriting,” now streaming onHiDive.
Rehearsals are stuck on holdthanks to the squabbling over the script, meaning the actors have a little time to themselves. Akane decides to take Aqua to the Stage Around theater just to show him what plays can achieve, and he comes away realizing that while she is the original creator, Abiko won’t be able to make a script that makes the most of the theater’s equipment and the medium of live acting.
The newest episode ofOshi no Kofocuses a little more on Abiko’s side of things, as a creative whose work is being adapted into another medium. It takes a close look at the process and mindset behind creating manga, as well as the feelings and worries of those who have to hand off their works to others. It’s another introspective look at the entertainment industry that this anime simply excels at.
Aqua’s First Theater Experience
The Unique Experience Of The Stage Around
Ruby finally has enough groundswell as an idol to feel like she belongs with her more famous classmates, but she quickly starts asking for more work so that she can better relate to them. Meanwhile, Akane and Aqua head out to the Stage Around theater to watch the playSmash Heaven. Aqua isn’t expecting much out of it, but to his surprise,he becomes immersed in the play, and he comes out of it thoroughly impressed.
Aqua’s extremely good impression of the play brings joy not only to Akane, but to Raida as well, who also happens to be the producer ofSmash Heaven, and saw Akane and Aqua while people watching. Aqua asks Raida about how the script is going, and Raida admits that they are having problems. Aqua tells Raida that after having watched a Stage Around play, he believes that there’s no way that Abiko can write a proper script. Raida agrees, and points out that GOA also wrote the script for the play they just watched, noting his incredible writing talent and sense for theater. Realizing that theTokyo Bladeplay will fail otherwise, Aqua decides to intervene.
The Grueling Life Of A Mangaka
Working In The Industry
Aqua, Akane, Kana, and Melt all make their way to Yoriko Kichijoji’s studio, with Aqua’s intention being to somehow get Kichijoji to talk some sense into Abiko. His rationale is that Abiko seems to be the type of person to not listen to other people, and only someone like Kichijoji,who is a mangaka in her own rightand has also mentored Abiko herself, could possibly get through to her. As they chat, the discussion naturally turns to the subject of being a mangaka, with Kichijoji explaining the ins and outs of the industry in a stark and realistic light.
Eventually, the topic turns to Abiko and her history with Kichijoji, in particular the time when she was working with her as an assistant onSweet Today. Though Abiko is shy, she also has a strong passion for manga, and gets talkative about it easily. Kichijoji believes that Abiko is a girl who wants to connect with others despite not being able to, but her sudden success as a mangaka herself has made her a little too big-headed. When Akane asks Kichijoji to talk to Abiko about giving GOA another chance, Kichijoji considers it, but ultimately decides to stay on Abiko’s side. Aqua accepts her decision, but also asks her to hand something over to Abiko, at the very least.
From One Mangaka To Another
An Important Reality Check
Kichijoji goes to Abiko’s studio in order to fulfill Aqua’s request, only to find Abiko working in a dark, cluttered room. She immediately realizes that Abiko hasn’t been taking care of herself and has missed her deadline, so she sits down and gets to work helping her finish the chapter she’s working on. She tells Abiko to find an assistant soon, but Abiko claims that she never gets any good assistants, and they either quit when she gets too hard on them or she fires them herself due to constantly having to fix their mistakes.
Kichijoji tells Abiko that she is using her work’s quality as an excuse to avoid getting along with others, and Abiko snaps back that she doesn’t understand what it’s like to be writing such a popular series. Kichijoji admits that is true, but claims her work is better anyhow.The two begin bickering as they work, allowing the both of them to air out their feelings honestly for once. Eventually, the manuscript is finished, and as the two lie down on the floor exhausted, Abiko admits that she is stubborn about the adaptation because she was really upset at how badlySweet Todaywas adapted. As the two reconcile, Kichijoji hands Abiko the envelope Aqua wanted to give her, which turns out to be a ticket to aSmash Heavenshowing.
