REVIEW: ‘Oshi No Ko’ Season 3 Episode 9 — “Greed And Passion”

Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 9, “Greed And Passion,” sees Aqua’s (Takeo Otsouka, To Be Hero X) movie plans begin to take shape as the film is shopped to distributors and the cast is assembled. But when it comes to who will play Ai, some questions need to be answered in light of the original choice’s sudden disappearance. 

The opening sequence follows Gotanda (Yasuyuki Kase, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners) as he tries to get “The 15 Year Lie” off the ground. Seeing him pitch the project to investors and distributors gives the character ample opportunity to dive into some of the nuances of getting a film project started. In a voice-over, Gotanda expounds upon many concerns that can sway support for a project, beyond the script’s quality. 

As is always the case with this series, Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 9 brings some interesting concepts concerning the entertainment industry into its narrative in compelling ways that don’t overstay their welcome. Kase’s voice-over work delivers the information clearly, with just enough personality to keep the pace up, and the sequence of shots depicting pitch meetings and conference interviews plays out perfectly in the background, laying out the situation before the rest of the episode moves on. 

Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode debates who will play Ai in the film.

The main focus of Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 9 is on who will play Ai in the upcoming film. With their first choice missing (murdered, actually), the production must find a suitable replacement. Gotanda’s partner wants to cast popular star, Frill Shiranui (Asami Seto, Jujutsu Kaisen) for the role. However, Gotanda has his eyes set on Ruby (Yurie Igoma, Chained Soldier) to play her mom. 

This debate feels like a strange one to me. The argument over who should play Ai stems from two points of view. Frill, being the bigger name, will bring in more money, hence more return for the film’s investors. Gontanda argues that Ruby’s casting would lead to a better project that feels more real – a classic art versus business debate. However, this seems flawed.

Having headlines proclaiming that the daughter of a slain icon will portray her deceased mother in a film seems like a hype building angle that no amount of talent could match. Interviews with Ruby about how it felt to step into her mother’s shoes and whether it has helped her move past the tragedy of that night are guaranteed to capture public attention. How the debate exists at all just doesn’t make sense. Especially once they confirm in a screen test that Ruby can act.

Frill points out how she wants to get roles based on merit, not favoritism, showing us her character.

While the debate continues in Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 9, Frill decides to take a different path. Inviting Ruby and Akane (Manaka Iwami, Tougen Anki) to a private audition space, she decides the three of them will each perform, and then they alone will decide who is best for the role. The two who don’t get voted in will refuse to take the role if offered. Though neither Ruby nor Akane knows yet what the role actually is. 

That Frill is the one to come up with this idea does a lot to build up her character in a short amount of time. Just before her plan is revealed, she explains that, normally, highly regarded actors aren’t asked to audition for roles; they are simply granted them out of respect for their skill. So, Frill will get the role; it’s all but a done deal.

Having her gamble on the chance when she has nothing to lose otherwise allows Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 9 to give the character a forceful introduction to the story. A statement she makes to Ruby, talking about how she wants things through merit as opposed to favoritism, is given true weight with her decision. 

As a first-time introduction, Frill quickly becomes an intriguing character.

As Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 9 draws to a close, the three girls begin their auditions. Using the theme “liar,” each girl must improvise a short sketch to show off what they can do. If only Frill knew just how many lies Ruby and Akane have been carrying around with them. Maybe she’d have chosen the contest’s theme differently. 

Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 9 is a solid entry. Some light dives into the entertainment business serve as interesting window dressing to the setup for the competition. The strong delivery of Frill’s character further adds to the narrative’s punch, making sure there is something beyond the setup for the audience to focus on.

Oshi No Ko Season 3 Episode 9 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.

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