“From obscurity to celebrity, Tea Party is ready for a miracle run! Maha and the girls are determined to make the best of their sudden publicity with an ambitious new album, but waiting for them at the top is none other than SHAX! The rookie upstarts vs the reigning kings—all of showbiz watches with bated breath…But little do they know, when the cameras are off, it's Ryoc who finds himself fighting an uphill battle. To undo the terrible impression he left on Maha, the star idol must pull out all his best moves!” (Ize Press)
The inaugural volume of “Imitation” presented a complex yet engaging budding love story using the world of K-pop as the backdrop. Not offering anything entirely new to the romance genre, the unique setting gave the book enough edge to entice the readers to stick around and see how Maha and Ryoc's relationship would develop. While the awkwardness of their courting still has not moved forward, the series advances in other ways, cementing KyungRan Park's ability to navigate precocious love.
The continued success of Maha and her group “Tea Party” makes up most of the drama in volume two, as the pressures put on the girls affect all aspects of the pop starlet's life, including grander scrutiny of her actions and placement in the hierarchy. KyungRan Park takes a cautious approach to the world of K-pop, with the book becoming both a love letter to the dedication, glamour, and talent involved in the industry while not shying away from the harsher realities, including forced dieting and fan pressure. This gives the story a sense of realism despite the rather sensational romance among the pop-elite.
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Thankfully, the release is not entirely bereft of romance, and Ryoc and Maha still have moments to test the waters with their feelings toward each other. The story also benefits from introducing competition for Maha and Ryoc's affection, adding a dramatic flair to their potential relationship. Still, there is much in the way of the two getting together, and the relationship remains tenuous and awkward by the second volume's conclusion.
Much of the success of the story will rely on those willing to wait things out, those interested in K-pop but agreeable to exploring its faults. Notably, moments within that would be highly problematic when taken out of the context of the industry where things like body shaming are acceptably enforced. This also extends to Maha's constant want for praise from Ryoc, which is an otherwise unhealthy dynamic that is given validity when considering the continuous battle for approval both on and behind the stage inherent in the climb toward pop stardom.
The visuals of “Imitation” leave much to be desired, with many empty backgrounds, dull expressions, and uncomplimentary color palettes. However, KyungRan Park excels at capturing the emotional reactions of her characters where they matter and has an eye for fashion when it comes to stage performances and fashion shoots. Talent that comes in spurts can be slightly frustrating, but given this is also a solo project done through the time demands of the WebToon format, it is still commendable.
“Imitation” may lack the visual flair of other romance manhwa. However, as the story progresses, KyungRan Park's writing demonstrates a certain maturity and understanding that makes for an engaging read. As long as the romance between Maha and Ryoc can develop in an equally mature and insightful way as Park's exploration of the K-pop industry, the series should cement its staying power among the already impressive manhwa catalog from Ize Press.
