

Episodes
35 episodes · 2023
When a pregnant young starlet appears in Gorou Amemiya’s countryside medical clinic, the doctor takes it upon himself to safely (and secretly) deliver Ai Hoshino’s child so she can make a scandal-free return to the stage. But no good deed goes unpunished, and on the eve of her delivery, he finds himself slain at the hands of Ai’s deluded stalker — and subsequently reborn as Ai’s child, Aquamarine Hoshino! The glitz and glamor of showbiz hide the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry, threatening to dull the shine of his favorite star. Can he help his new mother rise to the top of the charts? And what will he do when unthinkable disaster strikes? (Source: HIDIVE) Note: Episode 1【推しの子】Mother and Children was pre-screened in advance in Japanese theaters on March 17, 2023. The regular TV broadcast began on April 12, 2023. The first episode has an extended runtime of ~82 minutes.
E01Mother and Children
★9.2Stories are lies meant to entertain, and idols lie to fans eager to believe. This is Ai's story. It is a lie, but it is also true.
E02Third Option
★7.7Ruby wants to be an idol for herself and for the little girl who died from cancer. The real world, however, doesn't care about big dreams: something Aqua knows all too well.
E03Manga-Based TV Drama
★7.7Aqua agrees to Kana's request, but not for the reason she wants. There's a connection between Masaya Kaburagi and Ai, which leads Aqua to the set of a TV drama for answers.
E04Actors
★7.9Kana's resolve remains strong despite her washed up reputation. Aqua sets the stage for her with a bold move that flips the script, which leads to opportunities for them both.
E05Reality Dating Show
★7.9Despite different motivations, Aqua, Ruby and Kana’s key to success in the entertainment industry is the same; to achieve their goals, they need to play the game.
E06Egosurfing
★8.8Remember what you said in righteous outrage online? There were consequences. You never saw them, but that didn't make them any less real, nor hold you any less accountable.
E07Buzz
★9Left reeling in the immediate aftermath, Akane's costars unite in friendship and purpose: they will clear their friend's name. They owe her nothing less.
E08First Time
★8.3Focused on revenge, Aqua underestimated Akane and gave the talented actress a way to win his heart. If love is a game, Akane is playing for keeps and Kana is falling behind.
E09B Komachi
★7.6MEM-cho won't let her second chance go to waste and uses her influence to help grow B Komachi's brand. Meanwhile, Aqua's investigation into Ai's past bears fruit.
E10Pressure
★7.7B Komachi's first performance approaches, but the group still needs practice while Kana refuses to be the center. Perhaps a certain expert choreographer could help them shine?
E11Idol
★7.6MEM-cho has fans. Ruby has looks. But Kana has...? She’ll need to find the answer before she can be anyone's star. Later, a fresh opportunity sets Aqua on a new path to revenge.
E12Tokyo Blade
★8.3The stage is set. The actors are ready. And the curtain rises on the play, Tokyo Blade. However, there is another story aside from the play: that of the actors themselves.
E13Game of Telephone
★7.6The creator of Tokyo Blade isn’t happy with the unfaithful adaptation of her manga and demands a revision of the entire script. However, only twenty days remain until opening.
E14Rewriting
★7.9Time is dwindling, and a question looms: a faithful Tokyo Blade adaptation or one tailored for theater? Amidst the tension, only one person can convince Abiko to compromise.
E15Emotional Acting
★8.7Abiko and GOA collaborate on a new script and now the pressure is on the actors to bring the script to life. However, Aqua soon faces an unexpected challenge during rehearsal.
E16The Curtain Rises
★8.4Aqua confides in Akane, revealing his true motives. She vows to remain by his side, but this deepening bond causes Akane’s rivalry with Kana to intensify.
E17Growth
★8.1Melt regrets his poor acting in Sweet Today and vows to improve in Tokyo Blade. However, how can a subpar actor stand out among exceptional ones?
E18Sun
★8Akane became an actress because she idolized Kana and wanted to be like her. However, one should never meet their heroes.
E19Trigger
★8.3Their pasts shaped their acting. Kana wanted to shine as an actress, but she compromised to be useful. Meanwhile, Aqua’s childhood trauma led to a unique acting method.
E20Dream
★8.3The actors shone brilliantly, and the curtain fell on a successful play, setting the stage for the next performance as Aqua and Taiki press the director for answers.
E21Liberation
★8.5Taiki discovers a surprising connection, but reveals something Aqua wasn't expecting. Meanwhile, Ruby hopes one person in particular notices B Komachi's growing fame.
E22Freedom
★8.4Aqua doesn't have to live for revenge and can finally look towards a brighter future. But what does this mean for the relationships he's cultivated in pursuit of a killer?
E23Reunion
★8.5The past never truly disappears. Aqua and Ruby return to the place they were born… and where, in another life, they also died.
E24Wish
★8.7A gruesome discovery finally gives Aqua the closure he needs to begin a new chapter in his life. But as he steps into a brighter tomorrow, Ruby’s descent into darkness begins.
E25Down Bad
★9Six months have passed since the release of B-Komachi's music video, and lots of things have changed.
E26Calculating
★8.7Ruby starts to make her mark as reporter on Dig Deep!
E27Correctness
★8Things go horribly wrong at the Comiket shoot. Can Dig Deep come back from this?
E28Blind
★8.3Aqua confronts Ruby and starts to piece together the puzzle.
E29Casting
★9Kana's at the end of her rope and decides to try to get back into acting.
E30Idols and Relationships
★9Kana's encounter with Shima looms over her and the rest of Strawberry Productions.
E31Breakdown
★9Kana has bounced back, but the scandal still looms large.
E32Plan
★9Aqua has to face the aftermath of his decision to reveal Ai's secret.
E33Greed and Passion
★9As the movie project kicks into gear, Masaya Kaburagi goes to work, putting both sides of himself on show.
E34Private Audition
★9How will Ruby and Akane act out the theme of liar? And how will the audition end?
E35The Beginning
★10Aqua has a very surprising encounter, and Ruby is close to succumbing under all the pressure.
