Who could’ve guessed the ending of Oshi no Ko Season 3 would play out like this? At least I couldn’t. It went the opposite of my expectations and was a little anticlimactic. But oh boy, wasn’t it still so freaking good? There were multiple moments in this one-hour-long finale that caught my attention, and some almost even broke me into pieces.
While it’s true that I wanted the episode to focus more on Kamiki and was expecting to see Aqua confront him directly, the author had other plans. Instead, it shed further light on the characters involved and showcased one of the series’ hardest-hitting confrontations. Well, let me get into detail about what exactly I’m talking about, shall I?
Ruby’s Tragic Backstory Almost Had Me in Tears
Sarina-chan in a still from Oshi no Ko Season 3 | Credits: Studio Doga Kobo
The episode started off quite strongly from the very beginning. Ruby’s real mother, or you could say Sarina’s mother, Marina Tendouji’s revelation wasn’t on my bingo list. Well, I did assume she might be the one, given their last names matched, but I couldn’t predict how well the narrative handled her part. It tied into Ruby’s past masterfully.
Like, seriously. Even Aqua showed such hatred toward Marina, and I could totally feel his rage. It was justified. Sarina’s (Ruby’s) past was truly hell. Just imagine how you would feel if you found out that your mother left you to die simply because she wanted to run away from her sick child! Poor Sarina had to endure all that by herself.
Well, not quite actually, because her Amamiya-sensei was right there with her all along. Still, the pain in Ruby’s voice stirred all kinds of emotions within me. She had to endure a lot more in the episode. But upon seeing Ruby break down in her room, Aqua could not take it anymore, which actually made me cheer for him (Aqua).
Isn’t Ruby a Bit Too Chill After Learning Aqua’s Truth
The emotional reconciliation between Amamiya-sensei and Sarina-chan did melt my heart, not gonna lie. So much so that it almost brought me to tears. The animation, presentation, the soundtracks, everything was godly in that scene. Also, hats off to Ruby’s Japanese VA. She nailed her performance to the highest level.
The moment the two realized who they really are, it felt like the turning point of the anime. For much of it, I have to thank that mysterious white-haired girl. Her narration of the entire story and pushing Ruby onto the right path really helped them and me a lot.
Also, Aqua forcing Ruby to stop thinking about revenge was so real. Not just as her brother now, Aqua would deeply care about Ruby after knowing her secret. So all the revenge stuff is now on Aqua’s shoulders. First, he saved Kana, then Akane, and now Ruby. He truly has that protagonist energy in him. But the consequence? He has to suffer alone.
But now I see what the internet was talking about regarding all that Oshi no Ko controversy. It even made me feel a little uneasy seeing Ruby act all lovey-dovey with Aqua, even though they are technically siblings now. I mean, I can understand where they are coming from. But still, wasn’t it a little weird? Just a little! What do you say?
Miyako & Ichigo’s Reunion Brought the Team Together
Miyako-san in a still from Oshi no Ko Season 3 | Credits: Studio Doga Kobo
The final stretch of this one-hour-long episode focused on bringing Saitou back into the game, I mean, back to Ichigo Production. And again, it turns out: it was all set up by Aqua! He arranged Saitou and Miyako’s reunion at that bar so that the two could reconcile.
And guess what? It worked out really well for them. We even got to see Miyako and Ichigo’s ambitious past and the promises they made in their early days, taking their idol group to perform at the Tokyo Dome. That dream still lives rent-free in both Saitou and Miyako’s minds.
Even after being separated for so long, when the two do meet, their goals align once again. Though Miyako, on the surface, forced Saitou to join back, I’m sure even he wasn’t too opposed to the idea. He just didn’t want to commit. Now, with them reunited, the production for “The 15-Year Lie” movie is about to begin in only one week.
Oshi no Ko Season 3 Final Episode: Final Verdict
The mysterious girl in a still from Oshi no Ko Season 3 | Credits: Studio Doga Kobo
Ending the season with Saitou and Miyako’s reunion, as the production for Ai’s biopic starts, didn’t exactly generate all the hype I expected it to. Even if they had shown some cameo or anything about Kamiki in the episode, then it would’ve been absolute cinema. But as things stand now, Episode 11 of Season 3 simply delivered a buildup ending.
Still, based on its insane animation, the inserted song during the Aqua and Ruby scene, and the overall direction, the episode easily deserves a high rating. But I wouldn’t say it was quite perfect. Anyway, now that Season 4 is officially announced, one thing is for sure: the Oshi no Ko finale will go down in history. I’m so hyped and can’t wait to see what’s next.
Oshi no Ko Season 3 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
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