Oshi no Ko Season 2 Episode 3 - Struggles of a Mangaka

Episode 3 of Oshi no Ko Season 2 effectively showcased the struggles of being a mangaka. In the previous episode, we saw the communication process between the mangaka and the scriptwriter, which resembled a game of telephone. While I felt sorry for Goa as Abiko harshly criticized his talent, I couldn’t be mad at Abiko. Beyond her introverted nature and difficulty with social cues, there’s a deeper reason for her behavior that adds complexity to her character.

Meeting deadlines is tough, and it’s even tougher when you’re doing it alone. Abiko is meticulous and a perfectionist. Due to her personality, assistants struggle to work with Abiko. Her editor can be considered a saint for their patience in dealing with her. But this can be viewed from another perspective as this episode revealed her passion for the art. Despite her difficult demeanor, Abiko cares deeply about her work and even the works of Yoriko, her former sensei. While her attitude does need improvement, the stress, pressure, and lack of sleep she endures make her situation understandable.

I, to an extent, pity her situation and this complexity makes her character feel real. Despite a heated shouting argument with Yoriko, it was touching to see Yoriko give Abiko a comforting head pat while she cried at the end. Abiko might have said hurtful things to her former sensei, but Yoriko remained understanding, recognizing that such frustrations are likely a common experience among mangakas.

If there’s one key takeaway from Oshi no Ko Season 2 episode 3, it is to try to be understanding, especially towards those who are clearly doing their best. Abiko isn’t a perfectly flawed character, but her introduction to the series feels refreshing and authentic. Over the past three episodes, I almost forgot that Oshi no Ko has supernatural elements. Its production never faltered a bit either and because of that, it felt like a purely dramatic representation of the real struggles within the manga world.

So far, the episodes of Oshi no Ko have been very informative about the realities of the manga and theater world. Aside from the few Kana vs Akane with a few scenes of Ruby on the sides, we’ve not only glimpsed the lifestyle of mangakas but also seen the roles of their editors and assistants. Episodes like these make you wonder if Aka Akasaka, the author of Oshi no Ko and Kaguya-sama – both weekly manga, is airing his own grievances, given that he also retired from being an artist to focus solely on writing. 

Lastly, there’s a key detail that deserves attention—Kana. It’s not just about her appearance in the first half, accompanying the gang to visit Yoriko, and her show of jealousy towards Akane and Aqua on a date, but rather her performance during the live-action adaptation of Sweet Today that made a significant impact on Abiko. Though it was a small scene, it held great significance. 

Sweet Today’s live-action adaptation was a disaster, which angered Abiko since she had worked on the manga. She had every right to be upset, just like Yoriko was. However, Yoriko mentioned that, in the end, she was happy the adaptation was made. The main reason? Kana’s performance in the climactic scene. Abiko hadn’t watched until that part, which is why she felt differently from Yoriko. But when she did see it, her face said it all. It’s amazing to see how Kana continues to influence the story indirectly. It seems the entertainment world is a sphere where one person’s work inspires another, creating a full circle. Kana’s scene was the turning point when Abiko became more open to meeting people halfway and gave her the final push to consider going to the theater Aqua recommended. Essentially, Kana was a catalyst for Abiko to become a better person and we’ll see where she goes from here on out.

With Abiko going to watch the stage play, there’s hope that this experience will give her a new perspective on the world of theater, opening her eyes in the same way it did for Aqua.

Oshi no Ko Season 2 is streaming on Bilibili and HIDIVE.
© Akasaka Aka x Mengo Yokoyari / Shueisha / Oshi no Ko Production Committee