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Throughout much of Oshi no Ko, Ruby Hoshino has existed in the shadow of her brother, Aqua Hoshino. Fans have come to see her as the series’ emotional heart, a vibrant idol whose positive spirit contrasts sharply with Aqua’s somber demeanor. However, this dynamic takes a dramatic turn in Oshi no Ko Season 2, during the intense Miyazaki Arc, when Ruby uncovers the grim truth behind the death of her former doctor, Gorou Amamiya.
Entering Season 3, viewers encounter a transformed Ruby Hoshino who seems almost unrecognizable to long-time fans. The once-joyful idol now maneuvers through the entertainment world with a cool, calculated demeanor. This shift from an optimistic dreamer to a cunning strategist seeking revenge marks a pivotal character evolution in the series. Gone are her aspirations for fame; instead, Ruby aims to harness the spotlight as a means to an end.
In earlier episodes, Ruby Hoshino embodied youthful exuberance and hope, providing a light-hearted counterbalance to Aqua’s darker quest for justice. Aqua, preoccupied with uncovering the mystery behind their mother’s murder, believed to be the work of their father, eventually finds some closure. His journey led him to the Lala Lai theatrical troupe, where he used his connections in the industry to compare their DNA with his own, seeking answers linked to his mother Ai’s past acting endeavors.
Oshi no Ko Quietly Plants the Seeds Ruby’s Revenge Arc
Early Oshi no Ko episodes featured Ruby Hoshino as a paragon of youthful energy and optimism, while her brother Aqua Hoshino handled the story’s darker elements by hunting for their mother’s killer, who was also supposedly the twin’s father. Eventually, Aqua reached a point of closure after investigating the Lala Lai theatrical troupe. Aqua used his position in the industry to cross-reference the DNA of members of the Lala Lai Troupe, where his mother, Ai, had previously taken acting classes, against his own DNA.
Aqua discovered a match that led him to Seijuurou Uehara, a former actor within the troupe. Upon further investigation, Aqua found out that Uehara and his wife had committed a double suicide shortly after Ai’s death. This knowledge allowed Aqua Hoshino to drop his guard for the first time in the series. Peace briefly returned to the Hoshino household as Aqua tried to find a path toward a normal future alongside his peers, prioritizing his personal acting career over the hunt for a ghost.
However, the Oshi no Ko narrative completely shifted in the Season 2 finale when the Crow Girl appeared to Ruby Hoshino. The Crow Girl provides Ruby with enough information to realize that the actual murderer of Ai Hoshino remains alive. Moreover, Ruby learns the same man was responsible for her beloved doctor Gorou Amamiya’s murder as well. This revelation ignites a dark flame within Ruby that Aqua had only recently extinguished in himself.
Oshi no Ko Season 3 Casts Ruby Hoshino in a New Light
Ruby Hoshino spent the early episodes of Oshi no Ko Season 3 embracing her role as B-Komachi’s center, only she’s not doing it for fun anymore. Ruby now seeks justice for the murders of both Ai Hoshino and Gorou Amamiya. She first tries to force Ichigo Saitou to reveal her father’s true identity, but he doesn’t have that information. Ruby then asks him to provide the contacts Ai was in touch with. When Ichigo refuses this as well, Ruby asks him to introduce her if she gets popular enough.
Fueled by her desire for justice and revenge, Ruby Hoshino utilizes Ichigo’s advice to climb the ranks of show business with terrifying speed to get to a position where she can kill her father. Ruby intentionally gets on a famous variety show called Dig Deep! One Chance where she puts on an unintelligent and bratty persona. She also strategically begins trying to get close to the show’s assistant director, Shun, a stark contrast to her personality from earlier Oshi no Ko seasons.
The biggest change in Ruby’s character is evident after the show’s director, Urushihara, insults a famous cosplayer, Mieya. Angered, the offended cosplayer goes public with her grievances, refusing to take down her post criticizing him despite Shun begging. Later, however, the story reveals that Ruby was the one who encouraged Mieya to make the post to begin with, emphasizing that she needed to speak up for cosplayers as a whole.
Despite playing a big role in starting the entire controversy, Ruby continues acting innocent and even proceeds to play the other side, approaching Shun with a pitch for an apology episode focused on the inner workings of Dig Deep. Ruby hosts this episode, a step up from her usual position as reporter, and makes Meiya delete her original post by explaining the challenges on the production side and making Urushihara apologize.
Outwardly, Ruby comes across as the one to save the reputation of the show and its director, but all that is clearly a lie when the controversy wouldn’t have gotten to that point without her to begin with. Ruby could have explained the show’s struggles to Meiya right after the incident and the cosplayer would never have chosen to criticize everything publicly. Instead, Ruby encouraged Meiya to try to destroy the show, only to swoop in at the last minute to act as their savior.
Oshi no Ko now streaming on Crunchyroll.
- Release Date
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April 12, 2023
- Network
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Tokyo MX
- Directors
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Kim Seong-min, Kouki Uchinomiya
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Takeo Otsuka
Aqua (voice)
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