REVIEW: ‘Oshi No Ko’ Season 3 Episode 8 — “Plan”

Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8, “Plan,” sees the fallout from Aqua’s (Takeo Otsouka, Requiem for Vengeance) choice to reveal the truth about him and Ruby’s (Yurie Igoma, Chained Soldier) lineage play out. But as the dust settles, we learn it wasn’t just for the obvious reason that Aqua did what he did. 

Opening Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8 is the inevitable confrontation between Ruby and Aqua. Clearly upset by what her brother has done, Ruby lays into Aqua, berating him for dragging their mother’s past out into the open. While Aqua’s reasoned arguments eventually check Ruby’s anger, it is clear that something she thought was unshakable has broken.

Walking away from Aqua, her shoulders are slumped, and her steps lag, swinging her from side to side lazily. As she walks away, she informs him that she no longer considers him her brother and says goodbye to her “oni-chan.”

Ruby’s evolution through this scene is fantastically handled. As she navigates her emotions through the confrontation, we see her mood shift dramatically. Even the fact that she can acknowledge why Aqua’s plan was smart, while still unable to forgive him, displays the very real complexities and conflicts that can exist between a person’s heart and head.

A confrontation between Ruby and Aqua launches an emotional storm in Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8.

This tortured moment sets an emotional stage for the rest of Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8. Following the resolution of the exchange, the episode shifts to Kana (Megumi Han, Love through a Prism), who observes what is said, as well as what is not said, over the coming days. Her story is never seen, and she witnesses an outpouring of support for the twins, as the public grabs onto the concept of them living out their mother’s dream with both hands. A true comeback story. 

While there seems to be much to be thankful for, Kana’s focus returns to Aqua and what his intent was in releasing this shocking information. While it would be easy to accept the sequence of events at face value, Kana knows Aqua far too well for that. Some ulterior motive could easily be at play, leaving her wondering what is really going on. 

Kana’s ability to see past the explanation she wants to believe and accept what she should know is an incredible moment of writing for Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8. It would be easy, even believable, for Kana to jump to conclusions. A desirable event has occurred, lifting a crushing weight from her shoulders; who wouldn’t follow up good news with a positive assumption?

Kana knows that a ball is going to drop at some point, and she ends up validated. 

But despite still being in high school, Kana’s been around the block a few times. She fully realizes that when something is too good to be true, it probably is. With even her mom failing her in the past, Kana’s personality seems like the exact type who would question what she sees, no matter how much she wants to believe it’s true. 

Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8 confirms her suspicions when she later sees Aqua. While she can’t get him to admit what he’s up to, she knows she isn’t the sole reason he acted as he did. This frustrates Kana a bit, but she once again shows her experience by knowing nothing will come of pushing him for answers. Rather, she tries to offer him support, letting him know he’s not alone. It is a sweet contrast in scenes compared to the discussion that opened the episode. 

Entering the back half of Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8, the narrative follows Aqua as he begins to set his plan in motion. Recruiting some allies, Aqua plans to ensnare his prey to punish him properly for his cruel treatment of his mother. The chill in Aqua has fully returned here. While he doesn’t clarify what he will do, he does state that death would be too good for his target, directing the imagination in a truly grisly direction. 

Aiding Aqua’s unfolding plan is a former friend of Ai’s, Taishi Gotanda (Yasuyuki Kase, The Great Pretender Razbiuto). Through his perspective, we learn about a documentary Ai (Rie Takahashi, Delicious in Dungeon) asked him to make shortly before her death. Taishi’s commitment to quality leads to an interview with Ai where he informs her that she cannot lie in front of the camera for their conversation. That if she wants him to make this film, she must, just once, be honest.

Ai’s agreement to be honest sparks curiosity and sets up future stakes.

The fact that Ai agrees to this creates a tremendous hook for Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8 to leave viewers dangling from. None of the interview is shown, but it is brought up later as reinforcement for Aqua’s next film project, which will be based on Ai’s life.

In her brief time in the series, Ai never shied away from how much of her persona was a fabrication. She even went so far as to liken her willingness to deceive audiences to a measure of her love. The prospect of getting to see who the “true” Ai really was is perhaps the most engaging tease the series could offer. 

The final moments of Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8 give us our first visit with Ai’s killer, just as he takes the life of another prominent actress. The glee and sinister energy the character bleeds into his brief time on screen leave little room for empathy, serving as an excellent tool to get the audience’s feelings squarely behind Aqua as the next leg of the narrative prepares to begin. 

Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8 brings tons of emotion and finely crafted characters into its narrative. Aqua seems prepared to finally enact his revenge; now it just remains to see if he can pull it off. 

Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 8 is streaming now on Crunchyroll. 

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