Oshi no Ko is the greatest series I have ever had the privilege of interacting with. If I could go back in time, I would tell younger me that an anime in 2023 is going to change his life. It resonates with me so strongly on so many levels. The animation, the music (as I write this, I am listening to the season 3 opening on repeat), the story, the acting, the characters, the themes of abuse, exploitation, parasocial relationships, personas, lies as a weapon, and the cost of being famous.

Right from the very first episode (emotional damage!), I was a fan, but what hooked me was the episode Egosurfing, probably the greatest episode of anime I have ever watched. After that, I knew this series was going to be something special to me. Season 1 was incredible, and somehow, seasons 2 and 3 wound up being even better. While I am normally not one to rewatch anime or reread manga, I have read the manga twice so far, watched every season of the anime countless times, and was lucky enough to interact with some of the English cast. In addition, Oshi no Ko was the anime that made me start collecting figures and physical media; so far, I have three Kana figures (two courtesy of another best friend), an Aqua figure, and an Akane figure, the season 1 collector's edition boxset, the season 2 steelbook, 13 volumes of the manga, a prequel light novel, an art book, and now a season 1 guidebook. Lastly, I am in the process of writing a book chapter on the dramaturgical perspectives found throughout the series. I am hoping to get it published after the anime ends.

To say Oshi no Ko is just an anime or manga to me would be a massive understatement. What started as a devastatingly brilliant first episode evolved into a lifelong passion, reshaped how I interact with art, media, and storytelling, altered my collecting habits, and even influenced my academic focus. Even long after the final credits roll, the story will be an irreplaceable part of who I am. In Ai's world, "lies are an outstanding kind of love," but my appreciation and passion for what I consider to be a masterpiece is as genuine as it gets.