The following contains spoilers for Episode 1 of Oshi no Ko, "Mother and Children," now streaming on HiDive.
Oshi no Ko has been one of the most hotly anticipated series of the Spring 2023 season, and studio Doga Kobo has answered that anticipation with a massive 84-minute first episode that launches viewers right into the story. The episode introduces the idol Ai Hoshino, who has given birth to twins that, unbeknownst to her, are two reincarnated fans of hers.
Hidden behind this slightly absurd premise is a story that is as heartwarming and hilarious as it is cynical and tragic. This first episode lays the groundwork for what will become an incredible series, and in terms and landing a strong first impression, knocks the competition out of the park.
A Peculiar New Life
Doctor Goro Amemiya finds himself in a rather strange position; he finds himself taking care of 16-year-old Ai Hoshino, his favorite idol who has gotten pregnant with twins. Despite his misgivings, he promises to help Ai give birth to healthy babies, but on the night of the delivery, he encounters a suspicious person and dies while chasing them. However, the doctor soon finds himself reborn as Aquamarine Hoshino, Ai's newborn son. To make things worse, his sister Ruby Hoshino is also a reincarnated person just like him, and is a crazy fan that even gives him pause. Unbeknownst to him, Ruby is actually the reincarnation of Sarina, a very young and sickly patient he had who died several years ago. Regardless of their pasts, the two children enjoy their life as the children of their favorite idol.
As an idol, Ai is forced to keep the existence of her children a secret, with the twins being passed off outwardly as the children of the president of Ai's agency. The president's wife, Miyako, reluctantly takes on the role of caring for the twins while Ai goes back to work with her idol group B-Komachi. At first, times are tough: Ai still hasn't gotten popular enough to be considered a successful idol, and Miyako is unhappy with having to take care of someone else's children. However, the twins manage to get Miyako to cooperate with a bit of trickery, while Ai's natural charm and determination start to win over the disbelievers.
The Good And Bad Of The Entertainment Industry
Oshi no Ko does not shy away from the dark side of the idol industry; despite all her hard work and professionalism, Ai can't avoid seeing messages that accuse her of being fake or artificial. Ai, however, doesn't mind at all. She is a self-professed liar, claiming that "lies are the most exquisite form of love." As someone who can't love openly the way other idols can, Ai can only rely on lies to get her feelings across to everyone else. Nevertheless, she ignores the criticism and does her best to be the consummate idol.
Ai's hard work goes beyond performing as an idol as she begins to take on acting work. Though her first drama appearance ends up being heavily cut, the director ends up striking a strange friendship with Aqua. As an apology for reducing Ai's appearance, the director offers Ai another role on the condition that Aqua appear as well. Despite appearing alongside popular child actor Kana Arima, Aqua performs perfectly and exactly to the director's wishes, despite never being told what to do. The director is certain that Aqua will become an incredible actor, though Aqua is hesitant about becoming an actor.
Years pass, and Aqua and Ruby become old enough to go to preschool. The teacher there announces that the students will be doing a dance performance, which upsets Ruby. As it turns out, Ruby is still traumatized from her previous life as a patient with a body so weak that she couldn't keep herself standing. It takes a moment of encouragement and support from Ai for Ruby to gain the confidence to dance, and she soon demonstrates that she is just as skilled as her mother. Aqua even observes that Ruby could become an incredible idol once she gets older.
An Unexpected Tragedy
Ai's appearance in the director's film sends her skyrocketing in popularity, and she soon becomes a rising star in the industry. With her 20th birthday only a week away, Ai and B-Komachi are set to hold a concert in a dome, one of the most prestigious places idols can hold a performance. Ai is more successful than she has ever been, but she is still unable to get over the fact that she is constantly lying, to the point that she can't tell her children she loves them because it might turn out to be a lie.
After hearing her children wonder about their father, Ai calls him up and asks him to see them. However, the stalker that initially killed Goro shows up instead, stabbing Ai with a knife for lying and having children in secret. Ai's compassion for the stalker causes him to run away, but it is too late as the wound is fatal. As Ai slowly takes her last breaths, she tells Aqua and Ruby that she loves them, and takes solace in knowing that those words were not a lie.
As the world reels from Ai's death, the twins are taken in by Miyako, who has come to see them as her own children. Aqua, however, soon realizes that there is someone behind Ai's death, as well as his own. After paring down the suspects, Aqua comes to only one conclusion: the person behind Ai's death is his own father. Driven by revenge, Aqua swears to spend the rest of his life hunting his father down and making him pay for Ai's death. After a number of mood shifts, twists, and turns, Oshi no Ko finally lands on its core premise: a revenge story.