Oshi no Ko Season 2 Episode 10 Review: Doga Kobo Captures Ruby’s Determination to Reach Her Goals

With the airing of Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 10, viewers finally witnessed Ruby Hoshino take center stage as the anime’s protagonist. Until this point, the series had largely shifted its focus away from the female lead.

This shift followed previous story arcs, but the decision to spotlight the female protagonist only after nine episodes raised some eyebrows. Fortunately, animation studio Doga Kobo effectively portrayed her drive and ambition to succeed as an idol.

In addition to Ruby, the episode also explored Aqua Hoshino’s character development. After a decade-long quest for vengeance against his father, he ultimately found closure.

Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 10 review: Doga Kobo illustrates Aqua’s transformation into a more compassionate character

Aqua Hoshino in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 10 (Image via Doga Kobo)

In Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 10, Aqua discovers the potential death of his biological father. Since his mother Ai’s death when he was just four, Aqua had been on a mission to locate his father. However, learning that his father had passed away years prior left him without a clear goal.

As he grappled with this revelation, Aqua began to notice those around him who cared for him. The scenes with Kana and Akane expressing concern for his well-being unveiled Aqua’s newfound appreciation for their support. Doga Kobo adapted this moment with greater depth than the original manga.

Following this, the animation studio shifted Aqua’s character from a cold demeanor to a more nurturing and empathetic personality, especially highlighted in a moment with Kana Arima.

Smooth transition from Aqua to Ruby in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 10

As Aqua Hoshino’s revenge storyline concluded, Doga Kobo successfully transitioned the main focus from Aqua to Ruby. Right after resolving Aqua’s arc, the storyline seamlessly shifted to B-Komachi.

Ruby Hoshino in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 10 (Image via Doga Kobo)

Mem-Cho aimed to boost the idol group’s YouTube presence, proposing various video ideas, including a room tour. Initially excited, Ruby later realized this would mean exposing her connection to Ai.

This moment was well-adapted by Doga Kobo, as it showcased Ruby reflecting on her past motivations for becoming an idol.

The focus on Ruby’s idol career continued as B-Komachi prepared to release new songs. It was disclosed that former idol group composer Himura had agreed to create a song for them, although he had yet to complete it.

The animation studio excelled at depicting Ruby’s multifaceted character. Initially shown throwing a tantrum at Miyako Saitou to expedite Himura’s work, Doga Kobo later portrayed Ruby’s maturity and her reasons for wanting the idol group to advance quickly.

Additionally, Ruby sent Himura a video expressing her gratitude for his previous works. This moment offered a new spin, showing Ruby inspiring Himura to start writing songs again with an astral-themed vision that fueled his creativity.

These scenes effectively established Ruby as the primary focus of the Private Arc.

Final thoughts on Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 10

In summary, Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 10 may not have featured many significant plot developments. Instead, it successfully laid the groundwork for fans to shift their attention from Aqua to Ruby in preparation for the upcoming Private story arc. Fortunately, the anime adaptation has been well-executed, and fans can look forward to a beautifully crafted continuation, much like the 2.5D Stage Play Arc.

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