REVIEW: ‘Oshi No Ko’ Episode 22 — “Freedom”

Picking up where the story left off, Oshi No Ko Episode 22 “Freedom” sees Aqua (Takeo Otsuka) agree to travel with Ruby (Yurie Igoma) and the rest of B Komachi for their upcoming video shoot. Before he can depart though, he needs to get some luggage for their three-day trip. Insisting on helping him shop, Kana (Megumi Han, Vampire in the Garden) looks forward to some alone time with the object of her affection. But as Aqua looks to find out what’s next for him, some big questions have to be asked about his life, and someone close to him will have to decide whether or not to point out a mistake he made in getting to this point.

The first half of Oshi No Ko Episode 22 is dedicated to Kana and Aqua’s shopping trip. Before she can meet Aqua in Shinjuku, she has to ensure she looks perfect while she has his undivided attention. Her preparations see the teenager try on several outfits ranging from casual sportswear to more elegant attire. Each ensemble is accompanied by commentary from Kana about why it could be the perfect choice for her “date.”

This sequence does a great job of having fun with Kana as we see her being a perfectly normal teenage girl. Her confidence as a performer is gone, cast aside like one of the many outfits she tries on. Her nervous energy is granted enough space in the moment to make the viewer laugh without overdoing it. When she realizes she has been debating her outfit for over two hours and will be late, she quickly leaves wearing something completely different than everything she had considered previously.

Once together, Oshi No Ko Episode 22 fully unveils the new Aqua. Unburdened by his mission, he proves to be a kind, attentive, and forward-thinking companion for Kana. He pays for coffee when they first meet up, and offers to help Kana carry her bag. After their shopping is done, Kana tries to extend their time together by suggesting dinner, only to discover that Aqua has already made reservations for them at a trendy eatery.

Needless to say, Kana is unsure of what to make of all the consideration and attentiveness Aqua is showering her with. While some of her speculations air on the wild side, like wondering if he intentionally picked luggage that is the same color as her on-stage glow sticks, her confusion about Aqua’s intentions is fair. Especially since he is still in a relationship with Akane (Manaka Iwami, Arknights: Prelude to Dawn).

When Akane’s role in Aqua’s life comes up over dinner, he admits he doesn’t know what he wants. Having until recently felt he didn’t deserve romantic attachments, he finds himself unsure now of whether or not he should pursue Akane more purposefully.

How Oshi No Ko Episode 22 handles Kana in this moment is subtle, but well-executed. Seemingly recognizing that she isn’t an unbiased observer, she simply tells him that love is a basic human right and that he should pursue it how he sees fit. While this may feel like an almost non-response to Aqua’s indecision, it’s the best one she could realistically give. As someone interested in him romantically, to dissuade him from pursuing her rival would lead to guilt. Ourightly encouraging him to look at someone else is more than one can reasonably ask of a teenage girl talking with her crush. It is a well-crafted human moment that many can relate to.

Kana gets one last emotional beat before moving on. After Aqua drops her off, Kana looks back on their night together with a smile. When she accidentally scrolls to a picture from a previous evening involving Akane, Kana’s mood instantly dims. Suspecting that Aqua intends to break up with her, Kana is visibly saddened for Akane. It would be easy for Kana to be wishful for that outcome, but rather than ruin the depth the episode breathes into her, they allow the character to be even more by letting her want Aqua single so she might pursue him, while still be able to feel bad for the person who will be hurt by that eventuality.

The back half of Oshi No Ko Episode 22 follows Aqua to his fated meeting with Akane. While Aqua isn’t able to come out and say that he needs to talk to her about their relationship, Akane is observant enough to pick up on Aqua’s discomfort. Opting to confront it head-on, Akane asks Aqua to talk to her as the couple sets out on a walk.

As Akane and Aqua talk, Akane is present, compassionate, and earnest in her presentation. Guiding the pair back to the spot where Aqua saved her in season one, she expresses her support for him, while also acknowledging her understanding that his reason for entering the show biz was vengeance and that his relationship with her was created because he saw her as useful.

These admissions would generally lead someone to wonder why Akane would love Aqua. If he has these dark motivations and a manipulative nature, how could she trust him? The answer lies in where they stand. He saved her life. He went out of his way simply to save her. That buys someone a lot of leeway. Trust me. And since then, he has continued to aid her in ways that didn’t further his personal agenda. All these reasons come together to create a complicated situation that gives Akanae the freedom to choose either path before her.

During their conversation, Aqua confides in Akane what he learned from the paternity test, careful to leave out names or other details. When Aqua presents his conclusion that his father is dead, Akane suddenly becomes disturbed and quickly excuses herself.

Akane’s reason for fleeing is sure to trouble her for some time to come. She realizes that Aqua may have made a mistake in his deductions concerning his parentage. While she suspects Aqua would want her to tell him the truth, she can see how much happier he is without the weight of his agenda upon his shoulders.

The final scene of Oshi No Ko Episode 22 sees Ruby visiting Ai’s grave, giving her an update about her and Aqua’s lives and how much happier her brother has been lately. As this charming moment fades, Ruby passes by a man with hair that is strikingly similar to her and Aqua’s. Once she passes him, the individual comments to himself about how lovely she is. His musing goes on to reason that she’d have to be as she is his and Ai’s daughter.

The reveal to the viewer that Aqua and Ruby’s dad is indeed alive makes for a solid ending. How the truth will be worked into the ongoing narrative leaves me curious and a little concerned. Hopefully, the series can find a way to bring the truth to light so it doesn’t feel like the fake out existed for nothing more than to be cruel to the series lead. Hopefully, they let Aqua cement himself in his new way of thinking long enough so the reveal can create tension and a new struggle for him, rather than just more trauma.

Oshi No Ko Episode 22 delivers an immense amount of powerful character-driven moments that continue to deepen and realize its amazing cast while ending on a note that will be sure to keep fans wondering what will come next.

Oshi No Ko Episode 22 is streaming now on HiDive.