Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 3 release date, schedule, where to watch

Major production problems.

The stage lights are dimmed, but the drama is heating up inOshi no Koseason 2 episode 3.

With tensions escalating after a heated exchange between passionate manga creator Abiko Samejima and the Tokyo Blade 2.5 stage play production, the next episode of the anime promises to shed more light on the chaotic world of the entertainment industry.

Oshi no Ko main character Akane Kurokawa seen in season 2 episode 2 of the anime

The Tokyo Blade production faces a major hurdle–can the cast and crew overcome Abiko’s last-minute script revisions and salvage the play, or will the creative clash derail the entire project?

Oshi no Ko Season 2 episode 2 recap

Oshi no Ko’s second episode this season pulled back the curtain on the drama behind adapting a hit manga for the stage.

We opened with a flashback to the initial casting call, introducing the team behind the Tokyo Blade play. Then, we met the series’ enigmatic creator, Abiko Samejima.

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Abiko wasn’t exactly a happy camper with the current script. It turned out she’d been requesting changes all along but was assured seeing the rehearsals would win her over.

As it turns out, she was more frustrated after seeing the rehearsals in person.

Oshi no Ko season 2 character Gao, the scriptwriter for Tokyo Blade 2.5D stage play

She then confronted the scriptwriter, Gao, pointing out dialogue that felt way off-character for her beloved heroes. To shed some light on the situation, Yoriko Kichijoji, a fellow mangaka and Abiko’s mentor, stepped in.

Yoriko explained that adapting a manga to a script is like a game of telephone–producers, directors, everyone has their say. Assistant editors even get involved, making it easy for the original vision to change into something entirely different.

Oshi no Ko cast in featured image for ONE Esports article “Where to read Oshi no Ko manga right now”

Abiko unloaded on her editor, who relayed the message to the manga’s rights manager. Worried about upsetting the production company, the rights manager further watered down Abiko’s feedback, leaving the revisions a pale shadow of what she wanted.

Caught in the crossfire was Gao. He knew the blame for the sudden production halt caused by the script changes would likely land on him. He pointed out the unfairness: success meant praise for Abiko, but failure meant he’d take the fall.

Aqua Hoshino and Ruby Hoshino in featured image for ONE Esports article “Where does Oshi no Ko leave off in the manga?"

With production on hold, the cast is left waiting for the revised script. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with Akane Kurokawa explaining “Stage-Around” plays to a curious Aqua Hoshino.

What is a Stage-Around play?

The cliffhanger of Oshi no Ko season 2 episode 2 left us with Akane explaining “Stage-Around,” also known as 2.5D plays. But what exactly are they?

A 2.5D play is a unique theatrical experience that utilizes a rotating auditorium. Unlike traditional theaters with a fixed stage and audience seating, 2.5D places the audience in the center, surrounded by elaborate sets. The auditorium then rotates, transporting viewers from scene to scene for a fully immersive experience.

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This innovative concept debuted with the Dutch musical “Soldier of Orange.” The production’s creators required a solution to stage a large-scale show inside a former airplane hangar. The 2.5D play design, with its rotating audience platform, allowed them to maximize the unconventional venue.

These plays often incorporate projection panels alongside the physical sets. The panels can open and close at various widths, framing each scene and adding another layer of visual storytelling.

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