I keep casting my mind back to
the first episode of this anime. Oh spoilers by the way, you should
probably watch it now if you haven’t at least seen the first episode yet.
Where we have this very successful idol – Ai Hoshino.
She gets children out of nowhere but doesn’t seek to delete them
the way a modern and empowered woman does. Rather, she decides to still deliver
these children into the world. Then we’re introduced to the way
she builds her world around lies. Everything about her life
is
built on a foundation of lies. She’s not quite sure of herself and she’s not
confident in the sincerity of her comments. Which makes it all the more touching
when she finally and truly tells her children that she loves them.
It’s beautiful because she realises that this one expression of love is actually
truthful and one, she actually believes. Also in that episode is an after credits scene
where both Ruby and Aqua are asleep, and Ai just says that all she wants for her children
is for
them to grow up and live good lives. It’s a beautiful scene to have at
the end because Ai is simply looking for her children to grow up normally and live.
I mean, Ruby of course has gone absolutely wild with this. While she keeps her mother in
mind, there’s a sense that she has truly moved on from the tragedy of her younger years.
While she also keeps the memories of her past life in the back of her head, again it
seems that she has also moved on from that. Ruby is that person who takes the
initiative and
goes forward with the opportunities given to her. It’s something to be completely
expected considering Ruby’s background. In her previous life, no such
opportunity was granted of her. Her life was tragically cut short by
a condition that came out of nowhere. So now that she’s been given
a second chance to live life, of course she’s going to take
every new opportunity given to her. The profession which she could
not do in her past life, is now a profession which she has easy
access to.
Ruby’s able to pursue becoming an idol, with family also being very, very supportive.
Though the same cannot be said for Aqua. He contrasts Ruby quite a bit.
Instead of having moved on, instead of pursuing acting, or perhaps
pursuing a girl, he chases shadows of the past. I think the ending sequence best
exemplifies Aqua’s pursuit for revenge. He lurks in the darkness and
chases after the ghost of Ai. There is no engagement in reminiscence, but
rather he wallows in what could’ve
been, or how things could be different.
All the threads, all the leads, how Aqua chases all these different
connections as to who may be his father. I said in the last review that his quest for
vengeance was virtuous but the more I’ve reflected on it – to take justice in your own hand and not
leave it in the hands of God, is actually one of the most self-destructive things one can do.
We see in the ending that Aqua instead of enjoying his life and living a good life just
as Ai had hoped for
her children in that video, Aqua is pulled into the depths
of despair and hopelessness. He certainly has a drive to protect his sister
and hence why he’s been so against her becoming an idol, but this passion to protect isn’t
out of love for his sister, but rather it’s out of fear of what could happen again.
The desire for revenge is a dangerous thing. For it is written “vengeance is mine, I
will repay, says the LORD.” (Romans 12:19) Paul writes quite a bit in Romans 12 as to why we
should
avoid being in the posture of vengeance. He encourages instead to “live peaceably with
all” and not to “be overcome by evil” but instead “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-20).
We ought to follow that directive . “Repay no one evil for evil, but give
thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all.” (Romans 12:17)
We see some of the consequences of living in this state of vengeance in
Aqua’s behaviour throughout this series. He treats everyone in a very utilitarian
manner, with of
course the exception of Ruby. He doesn’t pursue what he is gifted in, that is
he doesn’t pursue a career in the acting industry. Instead, he settles for editing for his
director mentor for the sole reason that he just needed the connections.
Most dangerously of all of course is the way he treats his peers,
colleagues, and people around him. He’s well on his way to
really hurt a lot of people. For poor Kana who thought
she had a chance with him. For poor Akane who’s being used
by Aqua solel
y for the connections and the acting skill which she possesses.
To use people in this manner creates a genuine feeling of disgust towards this young man.
Aqua is certainly ruthless in his quest for revenge which is also paired
with a level of recklessness in his relationships with other people.
Oshi No Ko has already got its story neatly set out for us.
It’s the story of Ruby Hoshino who lives in a state of gratitude for the second chance
at life which she’s been given and now pursues her gift
ing in the entertainment industry.
Though it’s also the story of Aqua Hoshino who lives in a state of vengeance and
should he not divert from this path, it shall only lead to his self-destruction.
If that first episode of Oshi No Ko also made you cry, then I’ve got
another tearjerker just for you. It’s a slice of life anime called Clannad and
I’ve got a video explaining it right here.
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