no 1 dou zhao defender

It’s honestly been so long since a K-Drama hit me like this! Although there are a few overused tropes (those typical high school bullies, 2nd leads' romance arc and the list goes on ...), Spirit Fingers feels so refreshing. Loved the concept of the art club as the backdrop for the characters’ stories.

It’s cute and a little silly, but also surprisingly relatable. I forgot when I last actually enjoyed a youth drama this much. The characters actually feel real, especially Song Uyeon with her insecurities, her low self-esteem and familial struggles hit me so hard. It was beautiful to see how she grows and learns to love herself more throughout the series.

And then there’s Nam Gijeong… the complete opposite of her! He’s loud, goofy, and totally shameless in how much he likes her. They balance each other out so perfectly. I only started watching this because of him (I’m weak for the lovesick fool type haha 😭), but I stayed because they’re just so cute together. That confession scene which basically was a proposal? I was screaming, was so unexpectedly hilarious. Love how his friends support his delusions too.

Also really liked how Uyeon’s relationship with her best friends at school developed. On the other hand, there was so much potential for emotional growth with her mom. I was hoping we would get some heartfelt mother-daughter moments later on. While we do get some closure, the conclusion of these storylines (her mother's character development and the family struggles, especially the father) felt a bit rushed and resolved too quickly.

But I still realy enjoyed the watch. If you're in for a light and quick watch, do try it!