REVIEW: ‘Oshi no Ko,’ Episode 7 – “Buzz”

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With the online backlash to Akane’s actions on the show driving her to attempt suicide, Aqua could barely save her in time. Now, Aqua leads the cast in trying to help Akane climb out from under the online harassment so she and the show can go on in Oshi no Ko Episode 7.

While last week’s episode dwelled on how dark the internet can become, this week’s episode focuses on the good side of people as Akane’s co-stars rally around her to help her recover from her mental and emotional distress. Despite Oshi no Ko Episode 7 being focused on the positivity of Akane’s friends, there are still some tear-inducing moments as Akane explains her actions and reasons to those around her. Seeing the character breaking down once again as she attempts to explain why she didn’t reach out for help before things got to such a dangerous point is an extremely poignant moment. The animation in these moments leans into the character’s pain, as it uses every trick in its arsenal to present Akane’s mental state in a way that will impact the viewer, reminding them that, while this instance is fiction, it is very much inspired by reality.

As Akane attempts to piece herself back together, the episode shifts its focus to Aqua as he focuses on stemming the tide of online vitriol against her. With the help of the rest of the cast, he begins building a video of footage and still images that weren’t used in the show to highlight who Akane is and how her friends and coworkers feel about her. This sequence delivers an excellent emotional cleanse as the hate and pain of the previous moments are slowly scrubbed clean by the uplifting efforts of the characters. Just as the animation brought extra weight to the hardship that opens Oshi no Ko Episode 7, so too does it help the joyful portions of the story shine.

While the brightness of this episode is the aspect that captures the viewer’s attention first, the importance of what transpires here for Aqua’s character cannot be understated. Given how coldly the show has presented the character since the time skip, seeing him going so far for someone else is a nice reminder of who he is at his core. The good doctor is still there, even if wrapped in a few layers of chill exterior.

While I love most of what the show does with Aqua, it, unfortunately, feels the need to trot out his old fixation with Ai. Given the vast age difference and the fact that Ai was a minor when they met in his previous life, the fact that Aqua has intense feelings that he does for his quasi-mom is an awkward and uncomfortable element of the series. I wish it would let slide off into the sunset. If the show could focus on his desire to avenge her without getting into those details, I’d be far happier.

Overall though, Oshi no Ko Episode 7 delivers a wonderful entry into the series, putting the pieces of one of its characters’ lives back together after the last episode’s near-calamitous events. The series continues to be an emotional roller coaster I look forward to every week.

Oshi no Ko Episode 7 is streaming now on HIDIVE.