Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4 review: Doga Kobo surpasses the manga’s portrayal of Aqua’s PTSD

With the fourth episode of season 2 of Oshi no Ko, the anime delved deeper into the rehearsals for the Tokyo Blade Stage Play. In contrast to the previous episode where Aqua Hoshino was praised as one of the top actors and the only conflict was related to Abiko Samejima, the focus has now shifted to Aqua’s acting skills.

Despite the anime’s initial focus on Aqua’s acting abilities, it eventually shifted to his PTSD. This was due to Kana Arima’s misguided attempt to help Aqua with emotional acting by creating a fake scenario, which ultimately triggered memories of his mother Ai’s death, the most traumatic incident from his past.

The most surprising fact is that Doga Kobo did a better job depicting Aqua Hoshino’s PTSD in the anime adaptation than its original source material, the manga series.

Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4 review: Aqua’s PTSD depicts how deeply rooted one’s trauma could be

In Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4, Aqua Hoshino expressed his determination to improve his acting abilities and do justice to the revised script. Thus, he turned to Kana Arima for advice on how to cry on cue.

Despite Kana Arima’s innocent intentions to assist her crush Aqua, she was unaware that her actions triggered painful memories of his mother Ai’s passing. As a result, Aqua’s health rapidly deteriorated and he experienced a panic attack and unconsciousness. Additionally, he was haunted by visions of his past self, Gorou Amamiya, who blamed him for Ai’s death.

Aqua being haunted by Gorou Amamiya in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4 (Image via Doga Kobo)

Despite going to therapy, Aqua Hoshino’s mental state did not fully recover after witnessing his sister Ai get killed at the young age of four. Unlike his sister Ruby, who also sought therapy, Aqua struggled to cope with the traumatic event. Instead of seeking further help, he chose to hide his struggles from his family and pretended to be fine.

Despite the fact that Ai Hoshino had passed away 12 years ago, one might assume that the passage of time had improved things for him. However, as depicted in the anime, it was evident that Aqua had not made any progress in recovering from his PTSD. Instead, he continued to hide his emotions and avoided addressing them.

Aqua Hoshino as seen in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4 (Image via Doga Kobo)

Despite being completely engrossed in something else, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of emotions triggered by a suggestion from his friend, highlighting the deep-seated nature of one’s trauma.

Thankfully, Doga Kobo, the animation studio, succeeded in accurately portraying PTSD, a topic that is often mishandled in anime. The studio’s adaptation was exceptional, some may even argue that it surpassed the manga series. This is due to the somber and haunting depiction of flashbacks, particularly those of Ai’s death.

In addition, Doga Kobo surprised fans with unsettling scenes of Doctor Gorou Amamiya confronting Aqua and accusing him of causing Ai’s death.

Detective Akane Kurokawa Returns in Season 2 Episode 4 of Oshi no Ko

Akane Kurokawa as seen in the Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4 (Image via Doga Kobo)

In the fourth episode of season 2 of Oshi no Ko, Akane Kurokawa once again assumed her detective persona as she pieced together the pasts of Aqua and Ruby and revealed how their lives were intertwined with B-Komachi idol Ai, shedding light on their relationship.

Previously, Akane had concluded that the deceased idol Ai was likely an unwed mother. This conclusion was reinforced when she discovered that Aqua and Ruby’s intense fixation on Ai and a disturbing event from their past aligned closely with Ai’s passing and the likelihood of her being an unwed mother. From this, Akane was able to piece together Aqua’s past and the hardships he must have faced as a child.

Similarly, the anime’s portrayal of this scene was just as exceptional as Akane Kurokawa’s deduction in the first season, which was already praised for its high caliber.

What Happened in Oshi no Ko Season 2 Episode 4?

Despite being a great episode, Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4 had one scene that didn’t quite match up to its manga counterpart. The moment where Kana Arima proposes that Aqua Hoshino imagine the loss of his mother felt slightly underwhelming in the anime.

The manga successfully created a creepy and ominous atmosphere in the scene, while the anime failed to achieve this and instead made it appear dull and uninteresting.

Final Thoughts on Oshi no Ko Season 2 Episode 4

Kana Arima as seen in Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 4 (Image via Doga Kobo)

Season 2 episode 4 of Oshi no Ko was yet another outstanding addition to the series, with its stunning animation and well-paced storytelling. The episode also included some additional scenes that enhanced its overall quality. The only aspect that fell slightly short was when Kana offered Aqua a tip on how to improve her emotional acting.

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