Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!?
Tamon's B-Side

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Tamon's B-side really works for me as a rom-com. Its definitively more of a com than a rom and i dig that.

I see some similarity to ouran highschool host club (not too much now, i treat ohshc in a similar way that utage treats tamon) - they both work on that shoujo, or in this case idol, stereotype. They are also both hilarious and work on insane exaggerations of characters and situations.

The premise is very simple, so simple that you might think it will be formulaic and similar to many idol/fan manhwas but its really not! The author takes this idea to its ... maximum and wrings out as much of it as its possible.Tamon's other side is not just a normal guy that is kinda mean while his image is kind and cute - his other personality would be strange even if he wasnt an idol with a sexy and wild persona. Utage also isnt just a fan that enjoys their music and thats it, noooo she is obsessed with tamon (its still very sweet).

The author knows the charcaters very well and really believes in her vision of them. I think that formulaic storylines like a beach episode or like someone ruining female lead's dress are fine in shoujo when the author can really imagine their characters in these positions and make them behave like themselves and not like the preconcieved notion of how a romance character should react in these situations. In tamon's b-side you really buy the characters and their actions and you can tell that they are fully fleshed out in the author's mind and i really appriciate that.

I wanted to make these two points to kinda defend this manga from sloppy manhwa accusations lol i think it reads very differently from manhwas and the artstyle doesnt have a lot of manhwa influence (not saying non but you really cant catch it a lot), its actually very pretty and really lends itself to the comedic scenes, often just the drawing and not the situation or text would make me laugh.

Tamon's b-side is a fun, light read while still being well written and thought out. Its very self-assured in its identity and im happy stuff like this is being written.

It's a pretty standard romcom with good art and a unique premise.

I was initially drawn to the series because of the promise of a distinctive male lead different to the usual perfect cold mysterious genius or playboy, and to its credit, the male lead Tamon is unique. He and the female lead Utage are caricatures, extremely exaggerated characters answering how would an idol with zero self-esteem and an obsessive fangirl interact? I think it's a decently written series, the pacing from the short amount I've read seems comfortable and like their relationship is getting some development, there's plenty of superficial comedy and romance elements ... but it does try to answer some more complex questions too like the FL's initial inability to view the ML as a genuine person and not just some untouchable artefact.

Having said all that, I'm putting mixed feelings because I personally am not compelled to read further. The characters' personas are just a bit *too* much for me. I either take a series as absurdist or realistic, and for Tamon it pushes its characters into the realm of absurdism often (the FL thinking the ML is a literal god, the ML saying he wants to die every time every time he makes the smallest "mistake") yet also wants to have the grounded romantic development of a realistic series. My problem with this is the cognitive dissonance of trying to take their romance seriously while also remembering the FL is canonically the type of person who would probably buy the ML's bath water and the ML has severe social anxiety. I can tell that the series does try to tone down their quirks for the genuine romantic development but I can't just forget those extreme moments on a whim. The comedy doesn't hit enough for me to forgive this tonal clash, and while the characters and their chemistry is cute, it's nothing particularly special, in my opinion, compared to the numerous other romcoms that come out each year.

Many people will enjoy this series. It's competently made, there's plenty of minor fanservice moments for the ML, there's "heartfluttering" moments in every chapter, the FL is strong-minded and probably relatable for any fangirl of a celebrity or idol group. Unfortunately, I have never been a fan of parasocial relationships and being a "stan" of any celebrity so the FL's behaviour just isn't relatable to me. If you're not bothered by my description of their exaggerated personalities, give it a try.

A "Hallyu" Project That Killed J-Pop Aesthetics: Manga Review
Score: 1/10
Musical Identity and Cultural Erosion
The biggest problem felt while reading this manga is that, despite being a Japanese production, its spirit is completely occupied by the Korean Wave (Hallyu). If your ears are accustomed to the sincere, melody-focused, and authentic J-Pop sounds of B-Komachi, the artificial K-Pop vibe emanating from every frame of the "FUREYU" group in this manga will bother you. Instead of defending Japan's own unique idol heritage, the series copies a formula that sells more in the global market but lacks soul. Visual Style and Character Designs
The drawings resemble webtoon designs that deify ... K-Pop idols rather than the anime/manga aesthetic we know. The characters' "overly polished" and cold demeanor completely destroys the warm and human texture of J-Pop. You won't find the depth and "tragedy of being an idol" that an icon like Ai Hoshino possesses here; it's just an empty marketing product trying to attract fans (biases) with its appearance. The Artificiality of the Story
The "cool on stage, miserable at home" contrast is used not to depict the fascinating but sad reality of the J-Pop idol world, but merely as a comedic element. It serves the dangerous Hallyu culture that portrays idols as unattainable gods, rather than understanding their inner world. Conclusion
This manga is a betrayal of the J-Pop spirit. It's a fabricated production catering to audiences who deify groups like Blackpink or BTS. For true J-Pop fans, this series is simply a waste of time. With masterpieces like Oshi no Ko existing, it would be best for such "copycat" works to disappear from the market. As a J-Pop advocate and Oshi no Ko fan, my rating: 1.