REVIEW: ‘Oshi No Ko’ Episode 23 — “Reunion”

Despite the awkwardness that lingered after their last talk, Oshi No Ko Episode 23 “Reunion” finds Akane (Manaka Iwami) still accompanying Aqua (Takeo Otsuka) and the members of B Komachi on their trip to shoot their music videos. But more than memories and music await the group when they return to where Aqua and Ruby’s (Yurie Igoma) story secretly began.

As a perfect opener to set up the focus of Oshi No Ko Episode 23, the episode leaps back to before Aqua and Ruby’s previous lives had expired. We get a heartwarming moment where we see the kind Doctor Aqua racing back and forth on the hospital roof, pushing his gleefully crying charge. An unexpectedly striking element of the moment is that there is no sound. While Ruby is laughing and exuberant, nothing can be heard.

This feels like a clear statement that we’re seeing one of the characters’ memories, not a flashback for the viewers alone. This is confirmed when the final shot of the moment, one of Ruby’s hands reaching towards the sun from her point of view, is cross-faded out by a modern-day shot from the same perspective. Only, now the sun is replaced with a tablet in her hands playing B Komanchi’s first original single.

The imagery in Oshi No Ko Episode 23 is powerful. The moment skillfully sets up Rudy’s feelings without ever directly stating it. How it projects her dreams into reality through her incredible circumstances is artfully done. Being an idol like her inspiration, Ai, was beyond her grasp in her previous life. But now, it is in her hands.

As the scene expands, we get all three group members’ reactions to the new song. The upbeat energy of the moment is shared by all, despite Kana’s (Megumi Han, Vampire in the Garden) concerns about how well the other two will be able to perform their parts of it. Not to be brought down, Mem-cho (Rumi Okubo, Engage Kiss) happily replies that some well-implemented auto-tuning will fix any mishaps that occur. Her unwillingness to let someone bring her down is inspiring. May we all be so dismissing of the haters.

With the final details set, Oshi No Ko Episode 23 sees the group head to the airport for their trip. Kana, however, has an unwelcome surprise in store for her when she discovers Akane waiting for them with Aqua. Her mood quickly sours, even as Ruby’s soars.

Ruby’s reaction to meeting Akane comes as a bit of a surprise. Thrilled to meet her, Ruby embraces the other girl, praising her work on camera and taking care of her brother. She even goes so far as to ask permission to call her “Big Sis” since she’s always wanted one, and she figures it’s only a matter of time before she is a real one to her.

What makes this moment so surprising is the fact that it plays out as if Ruby and Akane have never met. If nothing else, Ruby was backstage after the Tokyo Blade opener. While there isn’t a scene of their meeting, one would presume that if she was this big of a fan, she’d have made it a point to say hi. That the two have never crossed paths seems unusual, but makes for a fun moment here, especially juxtaposed with Kana pouting about Akane in the background.

Once the travelers arrive in Oshi No Ko Episode 23, we get a fun little m0ntage of tourist moments with the group as they visit some of the sights of the rural town. Once the sightseeing wraps up, the band members head off to start shooting while Aqua and Akane are left to their own devices. While Akane initially thinks of visiting some of the religious locations the town is known for, she ends up abandoning this idea, opting to accompany Aqua as he visits a series of places he explains are dear to him.

Oshi No Ko Episode 23’s journey into the past provides an interesting look into Aqua’s previous life. While some elements will only be new to Akane, others are new to both her and the viewer. As the duo journeys down memory lane, the writing shines.

Aqua talks about the various places and their meanings to him with careful precision. After all, he can’t let on to Akane about his previous life. How Aqua phrases everything smoothly gives his companion no reason to doubt the validity of his statements. Otsuka also does a great job of delivering Aqua’s emotions as they go from place to place. His sadness is felt, but always remains reserved and distant. This tone helps preserve the illusion that he is speaking about others and not himself.

The sequence ends with a visit to Aqua’s home in his previous life. Recounting his childhood and decision to be a doctor, the scene ends with him remembering how powerless he felt when his patient, “Ruby,” was dying and her family couldn’t visit. Unwilling to let her slip away alone, he stays by her side, doing his best to support her in her final moments.

While these memories deliver powerful emotions in Oshi No Ko Episode 23, they are quickly overshadowed when a new voice begins narrating. A young girl perched in a tree accompanied by a crow speaks about the circumstances surrounding Aqua and Ruby’s reincarnation and how the event may be part of a larger plan.

This moment in Oshi No Ko Episode 23 is the first hint the show has given that everything that has transpired is more than happenstance. With this many connections between Ruby, Aqua, and Ai, it makes sense that something was orchestrating events. However, we learn no more about the intentions of this mysterious figure, though they seem no longer willing to play a purely observational role.

Now finished with their travels, Aqua and Akane head to the studio to watch the girls work. Once the kids are sent home, Akane offers to escort Ruby back to their room to settle in for the night. Shortly after leaving the studio, Ruby encounters a familiar-looking crow that snatches her hotel key from her, leading the girls on a chase into the woods. While the girls search for their feathered query, Ruby tells Akane about a special person she knew during a dark time in her life and how she hopes to find them again.

Ruby’s perspective about her time with Aqua in her past life is far more positive than the previous version the audience was shown. Despite her suffering, Ruby fondly remembers her time at the hospital because that is where she felt loved. The clash in perspective creates a strong contrast and reminds the viewer how various people can remember events differently.

The search comes to an end when the duo finds the crow hiding in a small cave. To their shock, there are human remains within the cave. A white lab coat and an Ai key chain confirm they are the remains of Aqua’s old body. Not knowing he had perished, this discovery rocks Ruby as she has held out hope for finding him again.

Oshi No Ko Episode 23 delivers lots of emotion while setting up the growing story. The biggest question is what purpose is behind Aqua and Ruby’s reincarnation, followed closely by whether or not fans will learn more in the season finale.

Oshi No Ko Episode 23 is streaming on Crunchyroll.