Summary
Oshi no Kois a potent critique of the show business industry as a whole, but its many main and supporting characters are performers in multiple arenas. In the series' first season, one of Aqua Hoshino’s first performing gigs as a young actor was on the set of a television drama based on a hit shojo manga,Sweet Today,hampered by poor performances. One horrible actor, seen as one of the principal issues with the production, was Melt Narushima. Melt will soon see redemption inOshi no Koseason 2, with his reputation facing an uphill battle.
The featured arc in Oshi no Ko season 2is the 2.5D Stage Play Arc, where a star-studded cast, including multiple popular teen screen actors, grace the stage for an adaptation of Tokyo Blade. Aqua joins this production as a play to get closer to the Lala Lai Theatrical Company members, with whom Ai Hoshino was once affiliated, hoping to investigate her murder further.
While plenty of exciting mysteries are revealed, the arc also showcases the show’s stars' character development.Melt gets his moment in the spotlight soon inOshi no Koseason 2.
Oshi No Ko Enters Its Final Arc Ahead Of Its Second Season
Oshi No Ko’s manga has been confirmed to enter its final arc after the release of chapter #152.
Melt Gets Redemption After “Sweet Today” in Oshi no Ko
The 2.5D Stage Play Arc Reexamines the Actor in a New Light
Melt Narushima previously worked with Aqua and Kana onSweet Today,where he played the protagonist, Kanata Aono,part of a cast of largely untalented male models to appeal to the shojo audience.Aside from Aqua and Kana’s moments in the final episode, his performance is panned, and any inspired moments he has in the show are largely manipulated by Aqua, such as in season 1, episode #4. So his appearance on the cast ofTokyo Bladeas Kizami was met with a characteristically frosty response from the cast and, unfortunately,Sweet Today’screator upon a rehearsal visit.
However, Melt ruminates on this in the arc inOshi no Koseason 2, episode #1, seeing the talented cast members and wishing to capture some magic of his own, doing so between chapters #57 and #58. Taking a page from Aqua’s book inSweet Today,Melt seizes precisely one moment in his performance that will become all anybody can discusswhile playing on his anxieties about not being taken seriously as an actor. This is especially the case because, as the manga and anime constantly remind the audience, Melt is seen by everyone as a ham actor.
Oshi no Ko Season 2 Showcases Its Supporting Characters
The Series Uses Every Part of the Ham Actor
Melt is another supporting character like Akane Kurokawa, whose appearance is minor in earlier arcs, only to resurface and shine brilliantly to embody the type of performance demanded by the medium. The 2.5D stage play is a live performance so that Melt can feel the judgment of the audience and even the production staff and writers involved withTokyo Blade, seeing this as an opportunity to reinvent his image. After all,even a brief encounter with Ruby Hoshino results in him being painted as “the guy who starred inSweet Today"while being quietly considered a ham actor.
The term ‘ham actor’ comes from the acting world, and it refers to people who overact in their performance, being too dramatic to the point of not being taken seriously.
ThisOshi no Koarc is beloved by fans, and it’s easy to see why. It explores the strengths of supporting characters like Melt and repurposes them for shorter narratives while Aqua continues his quest. As Melt grows, other characters will soon follow without taking as dark a direction asAkane’s story inOshi no Ko, with even Aqua learning from these developments, empowering a uniquely emotional experience he has yet to tap into.Oshi no Ko’s2.5D Stage Play Arc is the most compelling character showcase yet, and Melt’s redemption will be a hit with the viewers.
Oshi No Ko
Cast
Oshi No Ko is a 2023 Japanese series that follows a small-town doctor’s encounter with a popular teen idol leading to an entanglement in the cutthroat entertainment industry. The narrative explores themes of ambition, identity, and the hidden realities behind fame as the characters navigate complex personal and professional challenges.
