English Dub Review: Tamon’s B-Side Episodes 1-5

OVERVIEW (SPOILERS)

Utage Kinoshita finds herself housekeeping for her favorite idol, Tamon Fukuhara, finding him to be a much less put together person than she sees on stage. Nonetheless, she supports him with all her heart, even as the line blurs between being a fan and something more…

OUR TAKE

This is actually a really charming show so far. I’m not really into the whole “idol” subculture, though I do know a few people who are, and I think they would probably see a lot of themselves in Utage…and then launch themselves off the nearest high rise out of sheer cringe. Speaking of cringe, one could expect this kind of story of a desperate fan meeting their favorite celebrity to become total Wattpad wish fulfillment, and it might still end up being that, but five episodes in and it feels pretty grounded. For one, Tamon’s private side isn’t some secret devious seducer, but a socially isolated recluse who is anxious about disappointing his many fans, and Utage is just well adjusted enough to accept him for that and encourage him to do his best while also cleaning up all of his shit (which is her actual job so at least she’s paid for that).

As for why she’s not pushing to be his girlfriend right away, she’s also head and shoulders above most real life fans of things by understanding the difference between parasocial and real relationships…or maybe she just knows that this would be a huge scandal if she tried and her friends, fellow Tamon fans, would burn her at the stake. Still, it makes for a fun dynamic as she gives her all to help him and slowly gets him to come out of his shell. But of course there must be a romantic rival, which comes in the form of Tamon’s fellow bandmate Ori, who was apparently groomed from childhood (possibly in a lab) to become an idol, but can’t fathom why this ordinary housekeeper isn’t taken by HIM like everyone else, especially since Tamon’s star seems to be falling. All this to say that this is a solid and surprisingly funny show so far, with seven episodes left to dub, so don’t be like me or Crunchyroll and try to give this one a shot while it’s hot!