Oshi no Ko Chapter 141: The Dark Side of the Entertainment Industry through the Characters’ lens

Aqua and Ruby as Hikaru and Ai in Oshi No Ko chapter 141

Darkness has become the new normal for Oshi no Ko fans. The recent chapters have been quite unsettling and heavy to read through for fans. Keeping up with the spirit, Oshi no Ko Chapter 141 brings the darker side of the entertainment industry once again, through the experiences of our beloved characters this time around.

The chapter is titled ‘Chain’ and it focuses on the chain of exploitation. After the scene is shot, the characters break into a nuanced conversation about the past and the present of the industry; and today we’ll delve into all of that! Here’s a complete breakdown of Oshi no Ko chapter 141. 

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Oshi no Ko Chapter 141 Spoilers: Ai confronts Himekawa Airi

Miyako in Oshi no Ko Chapter 141
Miyako in Oshi no Ko | Image Courtesy via IMDb

Ai finds out about Hikaru’s situation and decides to confront Airi. During their confrontation, Airi loses her temper ending up in a frenzy. She yells and claims that Hikaru’s situation is better than her own. Her experiences in the industry have been similar and even worse than Hikaru’s, who was treated kindly by her as she loved him. 

  • Back in real time, Mem Cho calls this the chain of negativity. Akane responds and firmly states how children should never be treated in this manner. As she’s voicing her opinion, Akane gets interrupted by Miyako. 
  • Miyako recalls the history of the entertainment industry and the exploitation of young talents at the hands of influential men. She mentions how the youngsters are put in a situation with alcohol and an air of intimidation, where they give in to the whims of the powerful feeling the threat of losing their jobs. 
Taiki Himekawa in Oshi no Ko Manga
Taiki Himekawa | Image Courtesy of Yen Press
  • She shares her experience with the darkness of the multifaceted industry. Taiki chimes in by sharing how things have changed in the present, he refers to himself as the security guard of drinking parties. He emphasizes that even though the situation is better than in the past the darkness in the industry runs deep. 

The conversation gets interrupted as Frill enters the room naked. The girls engage in a brief chat regarding ‘skin-showing’ for films. Frill shares how if a role calls for it, she’ll do it. The chapter ends with her asking Ruby about her upcoming kissing scene with Aqua. 

“Hurt People, Hurt People”

Frill Shiranui as Airi in Oshi no Ko
Frill is playing Airi in 15-Year-Old Lie | Image Courtesy of Yen Press

Airi was exploited by grown men around her during her time in the industry.  She accepted the state of the industry as she was shown by the adults who were supposed to guide her, they made her believe that this is the truth of the industry and the “right” thing as well. Airi accepted it as she probably didn’t know any better. While her past is an explanation of her actions, there’s no justification for whatever she did with Kamiki. The hurt she perpetrated came from a place of her own suffering, but it ended up ruining another child. 

The Dark Side of Show Business

Ruby as Ai in Oshi no Ko
Ruby as Ai | Image Courtesy of Shueisha

The conversation between the characters is pretty heartbreaking as everyone has their own experiences with the darker side of the industry. The powerful figures of the industry with ill intentions take advantage of those who are seeking guidance in a competitive world. They don’t think twice before putting younger members of the industry in skeptical situations.

As Miyako said, those who suffer continue the cycle by exploiting the next generation. The only way to break through or stay safe is by staying vigilant and avoiding suspicious situations as mentioned by Taiki,  which just takes us back to square one, what if someone doesn’t know any better? The only way to learn is to have someone to guide you or to experience everything yourself, but then the experiences end up molding victims into perpetrators and the cycle continues. 

Conclusion 

With that, Oshi no Ko has been great fuel for some food for thought for the readers. At this point in the manga, the reality and the filming have blended seamlessly. It’s hard to determine if we’re going through flashbacks or the carefully curated past. The blend of real life and reel life will return to us once again in the upcoming chapters of Oshi no Ko manga, so stay tuned! 

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