Spirit Fingers

This should have been 16 episodes

I'm overall being a tiny bit generous with my rating because I think we need more romcoms like this, that have some unique elements that set them apart from other more straightforward and simple ones. But as someone that has read the webtoon, I can only say that it was close to there, but not quite.

Overall this show is a very good adaptation of the webtoon and everything is more or less there, including a rushed ending, what was the most disappointing aspect of the webtoon.
Characters are pretty close and all the actors did a very good job in their portrayals. I think my only complaint in this matter when it comes to the main characters is the change of Seon Ho to more possessive and jealous towards the end, what even themselves point out in the last episode how out of character it was for him to do that, what it totally was, and it's not how he develops in the original material (or their whole relationship for that matter, not necessarily bad here but much better in the webtoon in my opinion, it's different).

When it comes to secondary characters I do have a few more complaints. I think that overall everything is there once again, but the problem is that they didn't develop most of the side characters much, what I can understand being 12 episodes and reason why it should have been 16 ideally. All Spirit Finger's members have their backstories developed and followed (to varying degrees). I knew from the start they would butcher Black Finger's character because kdramas need to be mainstream and gods forbid you have a punk/kuro lolita on a TV series *cry*.
This actually leads me overall to the aesthetic changes of the overall drama. I understand it from mainstream society standards, don't get me wrong, but it's still disappointing nonetheless. I'm glad they half kept Ji Geong's like for pink and his sleeping bag, but I also wanted way more edgy alternative clothing when he's modelling than what he wore, he could be sooo cool and edgy, it was a MOOD!!! (in fact I missed this of his whole personality, a stronger duality between being cool and edgy at times and so dumb and lost at others). Them trying to sell me "wow look what a model" while wearing a plain suit was extremely boring. I really need some kdramas that start showing more unsanitised and alternative fashion and surroundings. I know it exists in Korea so why are we always presented with the same old same... (even more so in romcoms).

For me though, probably one of the most frustrating aspects of the adaption of this series is FL's mother, and especially what they did there at the end. Her essence is there, but they tried so hard to redeem her and show once again this filial piety thing and I absolutely despise it. Yes, FL's parents do change a tiny bit at the end of the webtoon (more like they surrender a bit), making a bit of effort, but it's not by any means in the way it's portrayed here, especially when it comes to the mother. She's a massive covert narcissist that uses FL as the scapegoat while considers her sons the golden children. She lives off of using their praise as food for her ego (let's remember here that, despite her complaints, FL is second in class, and in the webtoon she was happy when FL's friend moves to Germany so she can finally be first). It's a quite classic narcissistic family dynamic they have and it's one of the things I found interesting from the webtoon for being quite accurate in its representation. Trying to change the mother to being more attached, more emotional and more understanding to try and redeem her misses the point on so many levels and it doesn't give the best of examples if someone relates to FL because of her situation. Yes, the portrayal is quite good, but they changed some things that basically contradict her personality and the way she does things.
This also brings me to the fact that while I understand choosing not to portray the younger brother's obsessive struggle that develops throughout the series, it does also tie to the mother and the family dynamics. And why did they decide to make the older brother interested in photography? They wanted FL to relate to him and it's fair, but I like more the original idea of them not relating and showing the struggle from both parts wanting to be closer to one another but not being able to because of the family dynamics and the barrier that it's the mother.

There are other details related to the story that were changed from the webtoon that well, I can give a pass and I understand because of constraints, but some others did rub me the wrong way simply because they were only changed to follow certain mainstream Korean standards, like for example the fact the talk about makeup and not needing it was changed to show them being way more lenient to the beauty standards and have a scene of them looking at makeup. It's the little things that were changed to follow the mainstream ideals instead of what the webtoon was trying to communicate.
As is, if compared with other kdramas, this is great, but it's difficult to not compare it to the source material when that went the extra mile to show and portray certain things in better ways (in my opinion).

I liked they kept the magic realism as is when it comes to the rooms and the mystery of the café, that I'm very thankful for, as well as the overall dynamics of the club and them dressing in different clothes and, even if left more superficial, that all Spirit Fingers characters are there and the same in essence.

Overall it's a good adaptation, very entertaining, funny, unique, the development of FL as a central point in the story is there and all the elements worked in cohesion and with coherence. I would recommend watching this if you like romcom and whimsical and a FL that is not a damsel in distress and that grows and learns throughout the series paired with not your typical ML and interesting secondary characters.
The webtoon is still better, but this is very good too.

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I had a really great time watching this drama. Above all, it’s heavily exaggerated in many aspects, which often made me laugh, but in contrast to that it also tackled more difficult topics such as the female lead’s struggles with self-acceptance, bullying, and unhealthy family relationships. A huge strength of this series is also its cast of characters. Everyone felt different and interesting, which also applies to the couples and potential couples. I watched almost all of them with genuine interest, and in the end I feel a sense of dissatisfaction that some storylines weren’t further developed, because they had enormous potential for spin-offs centered entirely around them.

Starting with the first main couple - Song U Yeon and Nam Gi Jeong. They were complete opposites. She was introverted, withdrawn, and struggled with self-acceptance. He was overly confident, energetic, and didn’t think about the future, living entirely in the moment (his character was strongly exaggerated and made me laugh many times). Through each other, they both began to change for the better. She slowly opened up, gained confidence, and started to accept herself, while he began thinking about another person and about his own future. This is a first-love, high school relationship, and it shows - which isn’t a flaw. They experience their first kiss, holding hands, but also their first conflicts. In reality, they’re both learning how to be in a relationship. However, I did have one issue with them. I understand the female lead. I know how hard it is to deal with self-acceptance issues and how that can affect relationships, BUT I didn’t like that she was portrayed as innocent in these situations. It was always the male lead who apologized and took the blame every time. The same thing happened in the Ahn Ye Rim situation - she didn’t trust him and instead trusted a girl she had seen for the second time in her life, yet the drama still tried to portray her as the victim.

A perfect contrast to them was the second main couple - Koo Seon Ho and Nam Geu Rin. It was clear that they were older, and as a result their relationship felt more mature, though obviously not fully. This also fit well with the fact that they were both in college - for example, their argument stemming from poor communication. Here we had a long-standing friendship and “sudden” feelings that the female lead tried to resist.

For both of these couples, I would have loved to see what happened next. Dramas are rarely continued, but in this case I see huge potential. The first couple, where she goes to college and he develops his acting/modeling career, and the second couple, where she starts working and he goes off to the military. In my head, it all looks very promising.

On top of that, there were two more potential couples, and I really regret that their stories weren’t developed further. Ko Taeng Ja (Black) and Kwon Hyeok (Khaki) - there was a specific vibe between them that I personally found intriguing. And Byeon Tae Seon and Yeom Se Ra - her departure complicated things, and I’m insanely curious how their story unfolded after her return (in my head they’re together, but I would’ve loved to see it on screen).

Now let’s move on to the family aspect. First, the female lead’s brothers. The younger brother - a genius - whom I really grew to like and who, alongside the female lead, was the character I felt the most sympathy for. That’s why I was happy watching his budding friendship with Moon Bong Gu, because he was finally starting to discover that he, too, could be happy. The older brother was less developed, but I’m mentioning him because his character also intrigued me, and I would’ve gladly learned more about his story.

I won’t touch on the father, since he was absent for most of the series - but the MOTHER. This is the second drama I’ve seen where this actress plays a mother, and for the second time I hated her with all my heart. A mother who failed in life and pours her frustration and incompetence onto her children, forcing them to study and denying them any personal interests. Yes, by the end we get her “redemption” and a tearful backstory from years ago, but that didn’t change how I felt. Throughout the entire series, she was the worst kind of mother imaginable, and that can’t be erased with a single scene.

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A very short but emotional coming of age drama

The drama being 12 episodes was wise. I do think they could have maybe made one of two more episodes to dwell more into few characters but it's way better than dragging the drama with useless plot twists and stuff.
Overall a coming of age drama about a teenager who's finding herself not only through romance but through her friendship and her newly aspirations towards art.
The casting was on point. As someone that read the webtoon way before this drama, I was shocked by how accurate the cast looked compared to the webtoon. Even the child actors were really good.
Music was okay. Average at best. Rewatch value is also very average for me.
Some parts were a bit rushed but it doesn't ruin the drama for me.
And I like that we focus on almost all characters and not just the main duo. It makes the drama less boring.
Since I cannot speak on spoilers i am ending my review here.

So on short sentences: Feel good drama that doesn't make you feel bored or dragged. And it's about coming of age more than romance.

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Art + Decent Messeage + Teen Angst That Hits… But Trips on Its Own Stylus.

✨ THE GOOD (THE MOMENTS THAT SLAP):
The concept is fresh , art club hijinks with personal drama woven in like paint on canvas.
Characters actually have personalities. Some even grow! (relatively rare lately)
There are legit heartfelt scenes that sneak up on you , you’ll feel more than you expect.
I get the damn message too althghought they milk the sh*t out of it.

🙄 THE “WHY IS THIS SLOW… THEN NOT?” PACKAGE:
Pacing is a damn rollercoaster , mellow and cute one moment, then suddenly sprinting like it forgot its midterm.
Some scenes drag like they’re drying paint .
Then it rushes emotional beats like someone yelled “WRAP IT UP, WE’RE OUT OF EPISODES!”

🤦 THE “STYLE OVER STRUCTURE” ENERGY:
Visuals are fine, but sometimes it feels like the show’s attitude is:
“Look pretty and expressive… plot? Nah, we’ll find it later.”
Drama pops in and out like it’s on break. Characters go deep… then shallow… then deep again? Cool cool.

💔 THE “I LIKED IT BUT I WANNA SCREAM” DEPARTMENT:
The emotional stuff can be good , but the follow-through is awkward as fu*k.
Some arcs feel incomplete, like they sketched it but forgot to ink it , and the damn subplots ,
yes with an 's' , it can't fulfill it's fuc*ing main plot yet investes in sub ones and neither felt complete.

🎯 FINAL VERDICT:
A quirky, artsy drama with actual charm… just don’t expect it to hold your hand while it paints.

✔ Watch if: You like creative settings, character growth, and messy feelings.
❌ Skip if: You need tight plots, polished pacing, or drama that doesn’t wander.

🖌️ Best paired with: Coffee, fuzzy socks, and the willingness to enjoy vibes over structure — like a cozy sketchbook with half the pages blank.

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First half was seriously the funniest drama I watched in a WHILE

Like I said in the title, the first few episodes had me laughing OUT LOUD.
Some ideas seem a bit cringe, like the characters of Spirit Fingers, but once they explain the group and members it becomes a bit cute and even heartwarming.
The main leads are total opposites but I guess that's how their dynamic works so well. He unlocks a side of her she never would've known.
The second lead couple is also really cute, and they fit the more mature vibe while still maintaining the freshness of a college couple.
The family storyline was terrible, with terrible parents and aloof brothers. The ending made no sense, like how one can go from being the strictest parents to so understanding and even encouraging... guess it can only happen in dramas.
Other than that, the main two storylines were the only parts worth watching. Side plots either got no real resolution, or just magically disappeared lol
I don't know why the broadcast got delayed so much, and while im not familiar with how it was perceived in Korea, I do expect this type of drama to be a lot more popular overseas.
Overall, a very cute and easy watch with some laugh-til-you-cry scenes making it VERY worth watching.

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Here are my thoughts from a "I read the book(manhwa) first, will the show live up to it" perspective

The webtoon is one of my all time favorites, Ive read it at least a few times start to finish, and it holds a special place in my heart. So, I was extremely cautious to watch this, but I bit the bullet and the series turned out great! My only complaints are:

The first thing is;
they did black finger dirty with the hair style, I wish they had gone all out. The character wears a wig and it STANDS OUT! The costume designers really did the bare minimum with it. As someone who has an interest in gothic lolita and other alt fashions it was a little disappointing.

The second complaint being;
the whole "delulu" bit was weird, pretty sure it was just her inner thoughts in the comic. Sure they portrayed it as a little chibi version of herself sometimes, but it was just her, dressed exactly like she normally is. And her inner voice was far more immature then she presents on the outside. It wasn't some "prettier" version of herself she needs to out grow. I really wish they left that alone or at least made it little closer to how it was in the comics.

and finally;
the relationship "drama” at the end made babyblue seem so much more selfish and passive then I think she is. They did a much better job pacing her anxieties and lack of self esteem/self doubts, in the webcomic, which gave them time to have her go through character growth in a more natural way. (I think they may have tried to accomplish this with the "delulu" bit I mentioned above, but it failed spectacularly for me.) However I'm not sure they could have done much of a better job without throwing the flow of the rest of the story off. It would have been nice if they had at least a couple more episodes.

those were the only things keeping it from being 10/10 for me. Over all, I loved it!

*Note on the reasoning for my music rating:
I have no complaints about the music, I just honestly don't even remember it (and I just finished binge watching this last night,)
I probably skipped the OST more then not. This is not necessarily a bad thing, in some cases I might even say it's good; I don't want to be distracted by the music when I'm immersed in the story. and as far as, skipping the OST, goes-- it is just standard practice for me. So, although I can't say I personally liked, or disliked, the OST for this series, I have skipped most of OST's I genuinely loved as well (however, this might just be my AuDHD doing it's thing 😅)
All this to say, it didn't seem fair to rate music, that I can't even remember, as good or bad. So I figured right in the middle could keep it neutral.

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