Spirit Fingers

Presentation

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Overview

Synopsis

Song Woo Yeon is an ordinary high school student. She has low self-esteem and rarely expresses herself. One day, Koo Sun Ho asks her to pose as a model for a group of people who are members of the sketch club Spirit Fingers. Woo Yeon enjoys the company of the group and so decides to join them. She starts to grow as a person.

My Opinion (No Spoiler)

Spirit Fingers is probably one of the best webtoon adaptations I’ve seen! The drama has this magical, colorful vibe, while tackling more serious themes. Characters are so moving from the leads to the secondary protagonists. Woo Yeon, Gi Jeong, and even Sun Ho and Geu Rin learn how to grow more mature to become actual adults. It’s a coming-of-age drama that highlights the struggles of youth to find their way, connect with others, fit in or open up about their most inner feelings. The adults of the sketch club are wise guides whose experience is always useful to others. The show is full of romances (like 5 of them), extremely funny (especially Gi Jeong) and quite educational in the end. I laughed so hard, felt transported to a magical wonderful world and went through characters’ ups and downs with them. I was so satisfied to see them grow and become better versions of themselves at the end of the drama, like a proud mother looking at her kids. Hopefully, they will bring a second season, though it’s not necessary. The drama is already perfect as it is now!

Analysis

• Spirit Fingers, the sketch club
  The magical coffee shop
• Song Woo Yeon, Baby Blue
  Family dynamics
  ‘Delulu’
  Her romance
• Nam Gi Jeong, Red
• Nam Geu Rin, Mint
• Ku Sun Ho, Blue
• Ko Taeng Ja, Black
• Kwon Hyuk, Khaki
• Jin Bun Hong, Pink
• Jang Dong Geon, Brown
• Authentic depictions

Spirit Fingers, the sketch club: ‘Spirit Fingers’ is a safe welcoming club with no judgement or criticism. The group is essentially made up of quirky lonely ‘outcasts’ who find solace in drawing and comfort in each other. Despite their different ages, backgrounds and past experiences, they share one core value: tolerance. It doesn’t matter if you draw well or if you’re struggling; what matters is that you can talk about it. ‘Spirit Fingers’ is a place where you feel included, listened to and cared for. What I loved most is that each individual has a unique perspective on life, and together they create a vibrant, multicolored prism through which reality feels richer.

The magical coffee shop: The club reunites every week at an underground coffee shop owned by a certain Jonathan. He’s a mysterious figure with an uncanny magical vibe. And I’m almost convinced he’s a wizard or something! The coffee shop is like the rabbit hole from Alice in Worderland. It’s filled with colorful rooms and shifting atmospheres that whisk you into another world for the length of each drawing session. Symbolically, I think the location mirrors the imaginary realm characters step into when they start drawing. The coffee shop is a place of wonder and possibilities, a safe bubble removed from the rest of the world.

Song Woo Yeon, Baby Blue: Song Woo Yeon (Park Ji Hu) is a shy, introverted and reserved high school girl. From the get-go, it’s clear that she has low-self esteem, as well as difficulties to express her feelings. However, she gradually asserts herself and her opinions.

Family dynamics: Woo Yeon is the middle child, stuck between two genius brothers who excel academically. Her older brother learns science at university. He’s quiet and discreet, just like his sister. Woo Yeon’s younger brother, Woo Dol (Ki Eun Yoo), is an adult stuck in the body of a 10-year old who’s outspoken and expressive. At home, Woo Yeon sees herself as the loser of the family. Though she studies, her results are never satisfying enough to make her parents proud. She feels unworthy and invisible. Her mother constantly compares her to her siblings and favors them. She suffocates her with studies and belittles her when she doesn’t live up to expectations. Meanwhile, her father is rarely home. When he is, it’s only to impose strict rules, making everyone walk on eggshells. However, each family member hides his insecurities. As the sole breadwinner of the family, her father is stressed. Not to mention that he’s struggling to advance in his career. So, he unconsciously projects his resentment and negativity onto his family. Woo Yeon’s mother lives vicariously through her children. She wanted to be a dancer, but never succeeded nor achieved anything great in life. Her only pride resides in her children. Hence, the pressure she puts on them to perform. At the end of the drama, Wu Dol finally makes the tension explode. He can’t bear to see his sister suffer in silence. So, he confronts his parents. This sparkles a huge fight that reconciles everyone. Turns out Woo Yeon was not the only one struggling. Her older brother dreamed of studying photography, but was forced to learn science. Her younger brother wants to be a ‘normal’ 10-year old. Her father admits he’s not been involved in his kids’ life. Her mother understands that she’s been horrible to her daughter. Everyone grows with this experience and the entire family can start anew. Her parents even acknowledge her love for drawing and let her take classes.

‘Delulu’: ‘Delulu’ is Woo Yeon’s alter ego. She’s the more confident and asserted version of herself who only appears when her self-esteem hits rock bottom. That projection is a way for the female lead to express her inner feelings, discuss her insecurities and voice out her doubts. Interestingly, that part disappears at some point in the drama. This symbolizes Woo Yeon’s newly-found self-confidence. I really loved ‘Delulu’. It was like a demon on Woo Yeon’s shoulder helping her make decisions. Plus, it added this fantasy touch that goes so well with the webtoon.

Her romance: Her romance with Nam Gi Jeong (Jo Joon Young) was so cute, yet so hectic. They’re polar opposites. On the one hand, Woo Yeon doesn’t believe a handsome guy like Gi Jeong could ever be interested in an ‘ordinary’ girl like her. So, she constantly doubts him, distrusts his words and pushes him away. Yet, Gi Jeong shows unconditional love for Woo Yeon. He never overthinks the situation nor cares about what others may say. In his presence, Woo Yeon feels reassured, comforted, proud of herself, confident and free to express herself (cry, scream, be mad,…). On the other hand, Nam Gi Jeong becomes more serious about his future because of Woo Yeon. He feels he doesn’t deserve this cute, intelligent girl. Therefore, he thrives to become someone she could be proud of. Their love makes them grow, which makes their relationship so compelling.

Nam Gi Jeong, Red: Nam Gi Jeong is a handsome, straightforward and simple teenager who lives in the present. He doesn’t overthink – he actually doesn’t think at all – preferring instead to listen to his feelings and confess them with honesty and authenticity. Though he seems impulsive and petty, he’s surprisingly patient, intuitive, and empathetic towards Woo Yeon. Beneath his childish, sometimes immature exterior lies someone who also knows when to be serious. Early on in the drama, he realizes he has a crush on Woo Yeon. So, he pursues her as if his life depends on it. His truthful, down-to-earth and loyal nature eventually conquers Woo Yeon’s heart. His development is heartwarming, as we see him becoming more mature and plan his future as an actor/model. He may not be book-smart, but his understanding of life, people and feelings is unmatched.

Nam Geu Rin, Mint: Nam Geu Rin (Park Yoo Na) is an expressive, impulsive, and overly-confident college student. She’s been best friends with Ku Sun Ho (Choi Bo Min) since middle school synonymous with hardship for Geu Rin, as she struggled with her weight. Now more than ever, she relies on his comfortable presence, whether it is when she needs a shoulder to cry on after a break-up or when she’s drunk and someone has to take her home safely. Mid-drama, Sun Ho suddenly confesses he’s had a crush on her for years. Afraid to lose the most important pillar in her life, Geu Rin initially pushes him away, but eventually realizes that Sun Ho has always been her priority. She just can’t live without him. Apart from that, Geu Rin plays her role of older sister extremely well. Though she constantly bickers with Gi Jeong, she also gives him relevant advice and watches over him.

Ku Sun Ho, Blue: Ku Sun Ho is a model college student, who’s kind, helpful, loyal, patient, always smiling and not resentful. His easy-going personality and handsome features makes him very popular among his peers, especially women. Even, Song Woo Yeon has a crush on him at the beginning. Yet, he only has eyes for Geu Rin and never wavers once in the drama. He musters up his courage to confess, despite the fear of losing his best friend. When he notices Geu Rin’s resistance, he uses a different method to conquer her. He announces that he’s about to enlist, meaning that Geu Rin will not see him anymore. The idea of a potential separation is an eye-opener for Geu Rin. She now understands her own feelings and goes to Sun Ho. His hard work and efforts paid off in the end.

Ko Taeng Ja, Black: Ko Taeng Ja (Kim Seul Gi) is a confident, stylish, but also wise and intuitive 30-year old. Her interventions are always sharp and on point. She also perfectly knows who she is, what she wants, but also what she can’t tolerate. In the drama, Kwon Hyuk (Khaki) develops a crush on her, but their age gap makes her wary. She doesn’t want him to fall for an idealized version of her or misunderstand how different she is outside the sketch club, especially when dating. Hence, her reluctance to say yes. She doesn’t want to waste her time nor be hurt in the process. Interestingly, she hates it when people call her by her real name, but is more lenient when Kwon Hyuk does it. It’s unclear if she ends up giving his chance to Khaki, but I’m rather inclined to think so.

Kwon Hyuk, Khaki: Kwon Hyuk (Lee Jin Hyuk) is Sun Ho’s 22-year old university roommate. He’s very discreet, reserved and shy to the point that he barely shows his face to others. We know little about this character, but we get to witness his gradual transformation. The sketch club enables him to assert himself and express his emotions. The way he pursues Taeng Ja is the perfect example of his newly-found self-confidence. He has a crush on her and asks her out several times. Though she rejects him, he doesn’t get discouraged and keeps on wooing her. At the end of the show, it’s unclear whether they are actually in a relationship or not. However, Kwon Hyuk has changed. He stopped hiding his face behind a cap.

Jin Bun Hong, Pink: Jin Bun Hong (Kwon So Hyun) is an eccentric woman in her 40s who’s cheerful and lively like her favorite color. She’s the mother of the group, always watching over the younger ones and sensing whenever something’s going on with them. Whenever she can, she tries to reconcile everyone and uses her past experiences to guide others onto the right path. Like a parent, she protects her flock from malicious schemes, like Ye Rim’s (Kang Hye Won), who tries to drive Woo Yeon and Gi Jeong apart. She intervenes when need be, whether it is to scold teenagers with a kind tone or provide wise advice.

Jang Dong Geon, Brown: Jang Dong Geon (Im Chul Soo) is the oldest member of the group – well into his 50s – and serves as the paternal figure. Like Bun Hong, he oversees teenagers’ struggles and steps in with gentle but honest guidance. For example, he confronts Ye Rim and confesses that he sees right through her game. Apparently, he used to be an alcoholic, but the club saved him. Worn out by life and hopeless, he rediscovered affection, friendship and kindness through ‘Spirit Fingers’. This character shows us that adult life is not easier than teenagers’. On the contrary, reality hits harder and leaves deeper scars. But if you’re surrounded by the right people, you can endure it, and even find joy again.

Authentic depictions: I love Spirit Fingers for its authentic portrayals of relationships. Gi Jeong/Geu Rin and Woo Yeon/Wu Dol perfectly show how siblings love each other, despite their constant bickering. Woo Yeon’s family is a great depiction of the devastating consequences favoritism can have on children. Main and secondary leads all have a love relationship going on whether it’s unrequited love, a crush or else. The show also handles with care some other themes like the age gap in a couple, haters-to-lovers, friendship, bullying, and real-life struggles that we may all encounter one day. All in all, it just feels sincere and relatable.

P.S.: I just loved the OST ‘Halley’ by LUCY. It goes so well with the vibe of the drama!