kdrama

Review – Spirit Fingers

/ Lady Divine / 1 Comment

I finished a rewatch of Six Flying Dragons and after that magnificent emotional rollercoaster (it’s still my favorite historical kdrama of all time, btw), I knew I wanted something light and fluffy to clear my mind, so I randomly picked Spirit Fingers thinking it would be a drama about cheerleaders (I blame the movie Bring It On for this and it’s running gag about spirit fingers).

Spirit Fingers is not about cheerleaders. It is about a group of individuals who get together every weekend and practice art. Specifically, they practice quick figure sketching.

And it was one of the best kdramas I have seen in years.

This drama is based on a very popular webnovel of the same name by Han Kyoung Chal (한경찰) – which I read after I watched the drama and also highly enjoyed (there’s definitely enough material for a second season if they wanted to make one). It’s a story that just proves you can have a simple plot and even some well-worn tropes and still create an absolutely amazing, immersive, unique tale that will capture your attention and steal your heart.

It’s basically a coming of age story about a young lady who has just been going with the flow, overwhelmed with school work and trying to please her parents and just get by in life. One day she accidentally stumbles across this small group of artists and is asked to stand in as a model for them – something she never would have volunteered to do but agreed since a handsome man asked her (you are real for that, my dear). From there she is charmed by this random group of artists and decides to join the crew which they call Spirit Fingers.

The Spirit Fingers art group is the core of the drama. There are members in their 40s, their 30s, and their 20s – and each has a moniker, or nickname, in the group. Blue Finger, Mint Finger, Black Finger, and so on. Our protagonist becomes the youngest member, Baby Blue Finger. This eccentric small group of artists will absolutely win you over within a very short amount of time. They each have their own lives and stories outside of the sketch group, but come together each week to have a moment to shine – to be creative, wear costumes, escape the stresses of their lives, and draw (however they want to – their drawing styles are all uniquely different).

Our wallflower girl slowly gains confidence and new experiences as she becomes involved with this group. In particular, with the other teenager who starts out as one of their models but decides to join the group after he becomes fixated on the female lead.

The romance is spectacular. It’s the classic opposite’s attract pairing. He’s the super tall, super confident, super outgoing youth who doesn’t care too much about studying as he’s already successfully pursuing a career in modeling. She’s the short, shy, introverted one who is too flustered by him to take him seriously. They’re such a cute pair and their love story was genuine, with believable set backs and obstacles between them.

All the characters are grounded in realism and we are shown aspects of their personal lives outside of the drawing group. We get glimpses of where they work and live. They all have such distinctive personalities too, which really add to the group dynamics as you have all these perspectives and voices on whatever they are talking about together. The older members act as mentors but also as they are not parents or coworkers they are more casual with the younger members, able to joke with them and give them space to make their own mistakes without being overbearing or overly concerned.

Both the male and female leads have their own groups of friends, too, who have their own story lines. We are treated to many enjoyable scenes of teenagers stressing out and slacking off and just doing all the things that teenagers do together.

We also get to follow the storyline of the female lead’s family, which includes her parents and two siblings.

Though this sounds like a lot going on, it’s so perfectly integrated that it’s never overwhelming or confusing to have all these different people popping up.

The entire show is only 12 episodes and I was thoroughly engaged throughout it’s runtime. Sure, there were aspects that seemed implausible. Sure, some of it was a little too perfect. But it’s a romance, not social commentary, so I don’t expect 100 percent realism. Give me the impossibly large and always empty cafe with its multiple themed rooms for our artists to draw in. Give me a group of people who always fully commit to their costumes each week and show up in elaborately cool outfits to sketch. Give me that earnestly cute love story of the super hot guy who becomes impossibly smitten by the shy wallflower. I want all of that! I have zero complaints.

Watch it if you just want to be happy.

Rating: 10/10. A Feel-Good Story About Coloring Outside the Lines.

K-Drama Short Reviews – 2024

/ Lady Divine / 2 Comments

Here are some other K-Dramas I watched this year (most of them from 2024) that were good, decent, or I dropped. None of these were worth a full review, in my opinion, but there were quite a few that I truly enjoyed this year.

Dramas listed in alphabetical order.

The Atypical Family (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

I’m popping this up to a 7 only because the plot line was truly unique. I’m not interested in super hero stories, but I liked this drama as it showed how super powers would most likely be used by more “average” people. You know, basically for self-serving reasons only, which seemed pretty honest. The romance was below-average, but the familial relationships made up for it – in particular the father-daughter relationship and the unusual relationship between the leading lady and her thug mother.

Black Out (2024) – Overall Rating: 9/10.

This is a dark themed show that does not let the light in. If you like dark crime shows or intense murder mysteries, then this one is for you! I loved it, even though it was depressing as hell. Reminded me of a Nordic murder mystery… cold… bleak… and compelling.

Blood Free (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

Probably deserves a lower score, but the concept was amazing. Set in the near future, when scientists have perfected creating meat and fish products in a laboratory and are about to start tackling manufacturing grains. It dived into the inevitable backlash of such a breakthrough: the protesting farmers, the suspicious consumers, the fight to keep the science proprietary. Ya’ll know mad science is one of my all time favorite genres, so I was having a ball! A stoic bodyguard lurking around all sexy in his tailored suit and a hardened business woman with a secret laboratory? The K-2, anyone? Sigh. The side characters had more personality than the two leads, unfortunately, and the plot didn’t really pick up the pace until the final episodes, but I still enjoyed this short drama and hope there will be a second installment.

Call It Love (2023) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

This should have been one of my favorites, as I love stories exactly like this, but somehow it just didn’t climb to the top of the ladder for me. I’d still definitely recommend it if you are a fan of slow-burn romances and complicated family melodramas. I admit I enjoyed watching the sad, overworked and overburdened daughter falling in love with the sad, pitiful rich boy with a terrible haircut (their chemistry was not electric, but it didn’t detract from the romance either). This drama has all the requirements for a good melodrama: selfish parents who put themselves before their families, best friends who show us different sides of main leads, side romances that are equally interesting to watch unfold, and overdramatic family situations that keep the tension high.

Connect (2022) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

It’s so weird that I loved it. More mad science! Horrah! This is a show for people who like to read comic books. Or anime. The plotline does not feel realistic in any way and seems better suited as visual storytelling. It’s got human beings that have been enhanced so that they can never die, their body parts just piece themselves back together if removed. It’s got serial killers and illegal organ harvesting and art students. It’s got eerie vibes… icky elements of science fiction body horror… and artistic serial murders in the style of the Hannibal tv series. It’s not a satisfying plot nor does it have satisfying character development or relationships. It’s just like reading a quick gory one shot manga. A fun snack. If ya like that type of thing, then you might like this.

DoDoSolSolLaLaSol (2020) – Overall Rating: N/A.

I was really enjoying this until I found out the leading man was a teenager and then it just felt too creepy to continue. I work with teenagers. It just crossed over one of my mental lines and I could no longer enjoy it.

The Frog (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

A surprise, for sure. And a must watch for thriller and mystery lovers. Two murders in two different locations within the same small town at two different times. We get to watch and discover how these separate events overlap and unfold as the tension slowly builds and escalates each episode. But I think if you’ve seen it, you know the leading female carried this entire show on her psychotic shoulders. I can’t say I will ever watch this show again, but I will confess I was spell bound by the insanity. Kim Yoon Suk deserves an Oscar for her performance. She was truly unhinged.

The Golden Spoon (2022) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

I think we all know how obsessed the Koreans are with their insanely rich people. They both love them and aspire to be them while simultaneously loathing them and imagining their lives are nothing but shallow and meaningless. This is yet another story that plays with that theme, but I had a good time watching this story of two boys from different economic classes switching places. It had a few surprises and kept me guessing how it would all end. These types of stories pop up nearly every year with varying success (The King’s Affection, The Crowned Clown, Reborn Rich, and so on).

High School Return of a Gangster (2024) – Overall Rating: 9.5/10.

I really had a blast with this show. It was shamelessly stripped of all its gay elements, which is insane as it’s based on a popular BL, but… I don’t think I mind. The original story was a bit problematic, honestly, with a man in his 50s taking over the body of a bullied high school kid and then getting romantically involved with a teenage boy. So for once I was happy to have that aspect toned down, as it just seems weird no matter how you look at it.

Age differences are okay with immortal creatures or monsters but a regular middle aged gangster dude falling in love with a teenage boy was too much for me to get behind. That’s a 30+ year age gap, people, and predatory.

I like that instead they hinted at a suppressed love between the gangster and his right-hand-man gangster dude (played by Won Tae Min who was in my favorite BL of the year The Time of Fever). And the show made it clear that the bullied boy was definitely queer, and thus the confusion of the other young male lead who now sees an old dude staring at him through the boy’s eyes instead of a besotted teenager.

It was short and fun and I was grateful to have a “lesson of the day” type storyline without the usual preachy tropes. This story kinda broke the mold a bit. Feel good but also a realistic portrayal of how a middle aged man would tackle scrappy teenagers and a second chance at life… (as realistic as you can be with the premise).

A Killer Paradox (2024) – Overall Rating: N/A. I dropped this one too, though I love the actors in it. It just felt too similar to other shows and I couldn’t make it past episode 3.

Love Next Door (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

It was cute. I enjoyed the families and the romance. But it didn’t endear itself to me like other romances have in the past. Still… a solid choice for those seeking a cozy family comedy/drama with a sweet friends to lovers romance.

Love Song for Illusion (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

It’s a messy story, but I had so much fun watching Park Ji Soon bounce between the two “personalities” of his character that I cannot complain. I will say my engagement with the story dropped significantly around the halfway mark. Thankfully it was only 16 episodes. Not much of a romance, but the story of the prince and his fractured psyche really drew me in.

Lovely Runner (2024) – Overall Rating: 6/10.

I was soooo into this. And then I just wanted to throw myself out of a window cause it was toooo much. Too, too much. Like caricatures of caricatures. The cheesiness overwhelmed me. It took me forever to finish this one, I had to force myself to go back.

My Sweet Mobster (2024) – Overall Rating: N/A.

It started out cute. But I got bored with it quickly.

Racket Boys (2021) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

In the mood for a feel-good show about a bunch of people in a small town coming together to support a small group of boys play badminton? A wonderful slice-of-life show about friendships and family.

A Shop for Killers (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

I had a good time with this one. It’s simple and violent. A young lady discovers her uncle was an arms dealer after his death – and has to fight to protect herself as various members of the underworld try to take over the business. A perfect cat and mouse action show that filled up an afternoon. If you liked Hanna or even La Femme Nikita, you’ll probably enjoy this.

Sweet Home Season 3 (2024) – Overall Rating: 6/10.

Sigh. I still love Season 1, I think it’s one of the best horror k-dramas of all time. Honestly, one of the best horror dramas from any country. But Seasons 2 and 3… total let down.

Under the Queen’s Umbrella (2022) – Overall Rating: 7/10.

A solid historical drama and yet another one that just didn’t quite land for me personally. I think if I had not seen dozens of other historical dramas, this one would be an all time favorite. It was a unique angle for palace politics. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a drama about the problems of not preparing all your royal children to be crown prince candidates before. I enjoyed the brothers and the queen really shined with her bestie palace maid. There are no filler episodes, the story builds over the season, and the character development is quite good. Check it out.

Review – Blind (2022)

/ Lady Divine / Leave a comment

I have just discovered I did not write a review for Blind, despite it being one of my favorite dramas in 2022. It’s got everything I love. Siblings with strained relationships but a deep connection, gruesome murders, and unfolding mysteries linked to secret atrocities that are slowly revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed every episode and am gonna run you through the general set up for it – and what happens in the first episode (so spoilers for the first episode follow!)

Blind opens to a group of young boys, elementary to middle school aged, in matching dirty uniforms running through the woods as vicious dogs chase them down through the night. These boys are terrified and desperate. It’s clear they are running from more than just the dogs… but a horrible situation. 

One of the boys gets his foot caught in a bear trap. Another boy is waiving down a car for help only to be run down on the road. Savagely the drivers put the car in reverse, running over the kid a second time, ensuring his death. Those who are uninjured are quickly surrounded and trapped, their escape attempt thwarted. A man the boys call Crazy Dog narrows in on them, whistling an eerie tune.

– and the scene closes on a child’s wide eyes before it cuts away… to an equally horrifying scene in present day 2022.

A young lady is kidnapped off the streets and wakes up in a plastic lined room tied to a chair (never a good scene). She is strangled by an unknown man… who is whistling the same creepy tune as Crazy Dog. 

Back at home her parents await her return, hanging up balloons, the entire house decorated for the young lady’s birthday. She will never come home.

The stage is set.

The basic mystery presented: 

Who were the children? And where were they? Did any of them escape? Who is the person that murdered the young lady? Is he connected to the man that was hunting the children in the first scene? Is it the same man?

I was riveted and hooked after 15 minutes. 

We meet our main character, Sung Jun (Taecyeon), in the next scene. He is a cop amongst the crew called out when the girls body is discovered on the outskirts of town. 

Sung Jun’s older brother Sung Hoon (Ha Seok Jin), is a judge. But not just any judge, he’s a righteous man known for his unfailing devotion to fairness. He eats alone, he refuses to take any bribes, and won’t even help a family member who got into trouble. The law is just in his eyes. It is only people who are fallible.

We learn quickly that both parents seem to loathe their police officer son while they dote on their judge son. It is not a happy home.

We learn the two brothers live together. That the cop brother has a history of violence and was often in fights as a youth. The judge implicates maybe he became a cop to continue a life of violence, and the suggestion clearly upsets the police officer.

Big brother judge is overseeing the murder trial of the girl strangled, now nicknamed  “Joker’s Murder Case,” because of the wounds on her face. The suspect was caught in a security camera threatening the victim with a knife… but he claims another man was involved – our young police officer! Could the judge’s suspicions be true?

The show flashes back once again to the young boys hiding in fear from the opening scene. The whistling man who is hunting them is finally revealed… It is the father of the young woman who’s been murdered. And as the camera pans in on one of the young boys, it cuts back to modern day – to our police officer.

Are they same?!

Was the murder truly an act of retribution? For whatever horrible things were obviously happening with those boys???

Ya’ll. I had to know. I knew I wasn’t going anywhere until I’d burned through this entire show and binged it all over the weekend.

Overall Rating: 9/10 – A Dark Murder Mystery About the Dark Side of Humanity.

Read on for some very mild spoilers… and the connection of this show to true events

Continue reading →