Oshi no Ko

[Kraco]

Damn, I couldn't even have imagined this kind of plot development. It was funnier because Aqua dismissed the whole idea of someone imitating Ai, yet was so shocked by the result. It's no wonder Akane has been called an excellent theater actor a couple of times now. She has the skills and dedication to really become someone else for a play, even if her own personality is just too nonexistent for a show. The way she analysed and researched Ai got some psycho vibes.

It's not necessarily a huge problem if she's quite different suddenly. After all, everybody knows she attempted suicide and was absent for an episode (or a few). The audience would rather have expected her to not come back at all or to come back with a visible difference, I'd say. Although I suppose a difference this huge might not have been expected.

I can't help but feel Kana was talking through the fourth wall a little bit by saying Akane not dropping out might not be good for Kana herself. If Akane captures Aqua's attention like nobody ever has, because of her Ai impersonation, Akane's existence next to Aqua ought to fade.

[Ryllharu]

It's no wonder Akane has been called an excellent theater actor a couple of times now. She has the skills and dedication to really become someone else for a play, even if her own personality is just too nonexistent for a show. The way she analysed and researched Ai got some psycho vibes.

They've been setting it up for a while now, but it isn't nearly as nefarious or creepy as it looks.

Akane is a Method Actor.

She took exhaustive notes on literally everything all the time. She does psychoanalysis on Ai. She burns every experience she has into fuel for her acting in the future. She's following Strasberg.

On the other hand and remarkably someone who actually respects Akane when she is coerced into admitting it, Kana is very overt this episode and previous ones that she doesn't give a shit what anyone else thinks about her. But she pays a lot of attention to people around her. That's indicative of the Meisner Technique.

The series very methodically set up the pair as polar opposites in their respective techniques and approaches to the craft. Rivals in both acting styles and as women in a personal interest in Aqua.

It's easy to forget that the real veteran of the entire cast is Kana. She's been continually acting since she was very young. The others started later (Akane) or took breaks (Aqua). They all call her senpai because she is in every aspect of the entertainment world.

MEM-cho got to shine a little with her mastery of the internets, heh. Streamers aren't all looks if they want to really be popular. She knows her shit and she invests in her equipment.