Seijú radio no uraomote

I expected a series about two students with completely different personalities who meet on a radio show and gradually transform their hatred into an interesting friendship. I thought I'd get a peek into the world of voice actors, their joys, and struggles. And yes, I got all of that, so kudos for delivering on that front. But then came the second part, which can be summarized with Gigguk’s words: “It’s just another idol show!” I shouldn't be surprised, given how pervasive idols are in Japanese showbiz. Many voice actresses are also idols, and obsessive Japanese fans can latch onto anyone with a cute voice or face, turning even a weather forecaster into their "Oshi." Personally, I’m not a fan of the idol industry. I see it as a facade masking falsehood, and some of the fans as parasocial maniacs. What’s worse is that the idol industry deliberately fosters these parasocial bonds and builds its image and rules around them. Because of this, I struggled with certain parts of the series. The whole bet about walking through a corridor full of fans felt incredibly cringe-worthy, and I kept expecting someone to start shouting “Shame!” like in Game of Thrones. The show did acknowledge that the idol world is full of pretense and toyed with the idea of whether it would be better if the girls were just themselves, but it leaves the answer up to the viewer. So, while I enjoyed the segments about the radio and voice acting, I could've done without the idol concerts and public image dilemmas. I know there’s a significant audience who probably loved every aspect of this "voice actor radio" show, and some might even prefer the idol content over the rest. But for me, it detracted from the experience, so I’m giving it a 6/10. (27.06.2024)