Titled Manga-Based TV drama, the third episode of Oshi no Ko sheds light on Kana and Aqua’s relationship. As the former gets Aqua an acting gig, he comes across a mysterious producer who apparently had connection to his deceased mother. Considering him as a primary suspect, Oshi no Ko episode 3 embarks on a journey to see Aqua stepping back into the world of acting.
Oshi no Ko episode 3 highlights
Kana gets invited to director Gotanda’s house
Following the Hoshino siblings’ meetup with Kana Arima, the latter asks Aqua if he applied for the performing arts department. Aqua replies that he joined the general course out of his concern for his sister, who applied for the performing arts department. As the siblings whisper among themselves about Kana, the latter exclaims that she can hear them. After this, Aqua bids his sister goodbye.
Kana follows Aqua and asks him personal question like, “Where he is going?” or “Who is the director?,” but Aqua keeps on ignoring her. As he finally confronts her, she replies that she is going to follow him unless he answers her. As seen in earlier episodes, the duo had met during their childhood on a film set. Back then, Kana developed an anger issue as she felt inferior while acting besides Aqua. However, years later, her disdain for him turned into an interest, which is why she keeps on prying about his personal and professional life. Unfortunately for her, Aqua says that he doesn’t act anymore.
Yet, Kana keeps on following him and asks him to hang out with her. Ultimately, Aqua takes her with him to director Taishi Gotanda’s place, who greets her remarking that he hasn’t seen in a long, even though she’s still an actress. As Kana and Aqua chat, the latter reveals to her that although he doesn’t act anymore, he still works as an assistant to the director, to which Kana replies that she is glad he is still in the entertainment industry.
The scene cuts to the lunch table, where Kana takes a dig at the director still living with his mother. She then describes how her parents have retired to the countryside while she still lives in a dorm in Tokyo and relies on food deliveries services for her regular meals. The conversation once again steers back to Aqua and his acting, who says that he “was under the false impression” that he had talent for acting, but the movies in which he starred in turned out to be unsuccessful projects. To this, the director says to Kana that if she ever wants to see him on the big screen, she would’ve to talk him into doing it again. Kana tries to persuade Aqua for a role in a film she’s currently acting in, but he flatly refuses. When she reveals the name of the producer (Masaya Kaburagi) for the project, Aqua’s face darkens as he recalls how his mother, Ai, had three phones before her death. Among them was a phone that only had communications logs with her group members and agency staff.
The scene then shows a young Aqua working with the phone’s mechanics, remarking how this was the phone Ai used before she became pregnant. Even though he becomes successful in changing the battery, it takes over half a day for him to try 100 passcodes, and one month for 100 passcodes. After four long years, on the 45, 510th attempt, he was finally able to unlock Ai’s phone, where he came across Kaburagi’s name.
The scene then transitions to the present, where Aqua accepts Kana’s offer to star in the movie. Following this, Masaya Kaburagi is seen talking on phone with Kana and assures her that Aqua would be considered for a role. Back at home, when Ruby comes across Aqua’s new project, she expresses happiness about how their mother would be happy to know the same. However, the latter monolgs the real purpose behind accepting the role, which is to collect a strand of hair for DNA testing. After this, it is revealed that Aqua will star as a villain in the final episode. Miyako and Ruby then watch the drama, but are utterly disappointed by the premise.
Aqua and Kana hangout in a karaoke room
Aqua and Kana meet at a karaoke place and the former mentions how his sister didn’t like the drama. But then Kana reveals how the purpose of the drama is to promote male models to appease a larger audience, making acting a secondary concern. However, Kana adds how she is the only one among the cast members with refined acting skills, which is why she is unable to show her best self amidst a bunch of amateurs. She also reveals when the manga author of the series had visited the set, she was disappointed, yet Kana provides an idealistic commentary on how good acting and a success of a good show are different from each other.
Kana then tells how, as a child actor, she liked to flaunt her acting skills and undermined others – an attitude that took a dip for her acting offers. Prioritising the need for communication, she further reveals how her change in behavior has helped her professionally. Kana jokes about growing out of her “despicable” nature to give Aqua a new role in her role, but then she becomes serious and asks him to work with her so that the drama could be a success.
Aqua starts filming; meets Masaya Kaburagi
The day of filming arrives, but the terrible weather turns everyone’s mood glum. After a rundown of the rehearsal and filming process, Kana introduces Aqua to Melt Narushima, who shows a haughty attitude and ignore him. After this, Aqua finally meets Masaya Kaburagi, who he suspects could be the Hoshino siblings’ biological father and has part in Ai’s murder.
The filming resumes and Aqua is seen playing a stalker – a role he thinks is ironical since his mother was killed by a stalker as well. When Kana compliments his acting during the break, Aqua muses how Kana’s bafflement with his acting on their first meetup was because of the disparity in his mental age and body, but now that he has grown up, the shock of the supposed acting talent seems ordinary. Still, Kana compliments the intricacies of his role and how meticulous his execution was.
Kana then shares how she had gone through a phase in life when netizens thought that her career was on the verge of being over, but she continued her training, which ultimately benefited her. She takes pride in the fact that she recognizes her abilities and is thankful to herself for not quitting. Thus, even though Aqua gave a mediocre performance, Kana is happy knowing that he is continuing to work in the film industry. She further stresses on how she is not alone with her struggles, so the knowledge of others having the same problem as hers validates her concerns.
The scene cuts to Kaburagi commenting how affording Kana was a cheap option that benefits the cast as well as the crew. However, the young actress remains idealistic about her acting choices. The conversation is heard by Aqua, who picks up Kaburagi’s discarded cigarette after the producer leaves. Here, Aqua comments on Kana’s ignorance about her acting recognition in the industry. The last scene of the episode sees Aqua remarking that even though his task (collecting the cigarette for DNA testing) is done, he might as well finish the role that he was meant to play.
