Tenka’s first day as an idol trainee at LJH gets off to a rough start when her nemesis, Jiwoo Jang, turns up, and the two of them have to form a search party to find the third and final new trainee, Minchae. When the three newbies finally make it back to the training facility, they’re told that they have thirty days to figure out how to work together as a group and come up with a performance that proves they are worthy to stay on at the agency. Even worse, Tenka, who turns out to be the eldest of the trio, is appointed their leader. How on Earth is she going to bring together Jiwoo, who’s as much the Queen of Snark as she is the Dancing Queen, with Minchae, the shy little girl with the huge emotions that never dial down, regardless of whether or not she’s holding the mic? Can Tenka find her place in an environment where she’s no longer the envy of those around her, and when she’s surrounded by girls who outrank her in both singing and dance? But this is Tenka we’re talking about, the girl whose superpower is having the grit and perseverance to learn quickly. It’s time to get to work!
TL;DR: This is the volume we’ve been waiting for! Tenka’s growth in this volume is beautiful to behold. Also, Tayama’s writing once again proves skillful as the story manages not to succumb to the usual tropes, despite setting up the kind of frenemy dynamic that is a given for idol stories. Instead, each character is given the chance to surprise us with her reactions, revealing unexpected facets in all three. From strength to strength!
Ok, let’s dive into the spoiler-filled review…
Favorite Moments
There are so many great moments in this volume, like when Tenka learns that she’s considered to be 17 years old according to the Korean system (rather than 15) and is therefore the unni (or nee-san) of her group! (Hilarious!) But the one that stands out the most for me comes quite early on, when Tenka is feeling the pressure of searching for the missing trainee, and an agitated girl bumps into her on the street. In that instant, Tenka picks up the atmosphere of negativity that the stranger was carrying, and her anxiety amplifies. But then this powerful thing happens: Tenka catches herself on the verge of plunging down that rabbit hole, and instead of spiralling, she gives herself a little pep talk, encourages herself, and gets back to the task at hand.
This is such an evocative picture to me of what scripture tells us that King David used to do, when he would “strengthen himself in the Lord,” checking in with himself and talking to his soul, giving himself a pep talk so that he didn’t take on other people’s negativity, or fears instigated by the circumstances around him (like in Psalm 42). What Tenka does here is also an illustration of what it’s like to “take every thought captive to Christ,” rather than being swayed this way and that by the winds of the world and all the drama in it. I was so proud of Tenka for catching herself and staying focused on hope instead of slipping into discouragement here.
Tenka’s Growing Leadership Skills
Until now, Tenka’s approach to leadership has been pretty shallow, largely because, once she set her mind to embodying the ideal of girlhood, opportunities to lead came very easily to her. Tenka’s looks and confident persona won her followers from among her schoolmates, while the dance club followed her leadership out of admiration for her skills and cool girl aura. But the things that won her easy leadership at home are not going to work in an idol agency where the only thing Tenka really stands out for is her inexperience. So when she’s put in the position of leading the ad hoc trio of newbies, we see Tenka begin to figure out genuine leadership and people skills.
Before, Tenka excelled because she knew her own strengths and leveraged them to the nth degree. Now, she needs to turn that skill outward, pay attention to others, and see and hear them in order to begin to figure out how they can best work together. We see Tenka make a few key mistakes, but we also see her begin to listen more actively, adapt in response to critical feedback, assess the talents, skills, and potential of each group member, and develop a clear and appropriate strategy that also inspires her team.
And she really is a strong strategist! (I was really impressed with the solution she came up with for the performance piece!) Through all this, Tenka is starting to gain a perspective on the world that doesn’t just have her at the centre. Her previous leadership made her arrogant and untouchable. But this new context, along with her determination to learn and grow, is really giving her the chance to shine with others, and not just at them.
Supporting Characters, New and Old, Help Carry the Show!
I mentioned this already, but I really appreciate how mangaka Midori Tayama is giving us multi-faceted characters and not just trope-heavy “types”. So, while there’s a content warning on this volume for “mean girl behavior,” I really loved how, actually, Jiwoo does not at all fall into typical “mean girl” patterns—and the fact that she doesn’t is what helps make this such a good volume. Rather than one girl being the bully, what we really see is a group of anxious teens whose sharp edges haven’t been smoothed yet through maturity, who still have room to grow, and who are actually eager to grow, and even to grow together, despite not knowing one another. They’re just young people, works in progress, and not bullies or mean girls or villainesses.
As for Minchae—what an interesting character! She’s literally just a kid who finds herself in this overwhelming situation, no doubt with overwhelming expectations riding on her, given her celebrity family, such that Tayama would’ve been excused for just playing her as a ball of anxiety and people-pleasing. But instead, Minchae takes that courageous step of standing up for herself and correcting Tenka’s misconceptions. This kid is going places!
And of course there’s also that annoying idol boy. What a piece of work! I guess he’s here to remind us of the ugly side of the entertainment business, the kind that dehumanizes idols and turns them cynical. Anyhow, I love how honest Tenka is with him—and with herself—giving him credit where it’s due, and acknowledging her weak areas in comparison with his professionalism. That really surprised him! (Hilarious!) Another delightful moment where Tenka’s growing maturity is on full display!
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this series just keeps getting better and better. I really appreciate the emphasis on character growth and the genuine drama—as opposed to superficial melodrama—that the mangaka depicts as the girls train toward excellence. In this sense, the series fills a certain demon hunter-shaped hole that much of the idol genre simply can’t touch. 😉 Looking forward to seeing these three girls find their voices together and hopefully forge a strong bond as they strive for the top!
Girl Crush is published by Viz Media.
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Wonderful review! Bummed it didn’t work out on my end to help contribute but I second everything you shared! I was especially impressed to see Tenka grow as a leader! I’m so excited volume four releases next month! EEEEPP!
Woohoo! Hopefully, we can reunite for volume 4. 😀 Looking forward to it (and to the girls’ performance)!