Introduction
Adults watch youth romance for nostalgia, escapism, and relatability with themes that are often simpler or more intense than adult life. However, as an adult, I don’t watch teen romance anymore, because I find more connection with adult-themed romance, for example, office romance or second-chance romance. Neither do I watch youth romance as nostalgia, because the details are too different to relate to. And if I need escapism, I prefer watching Chinese historical dramas (palace politics or wuxia) or historical fantasy dramas (xianxia or xuanhuan), with their idealized ancient worlds full of lavish costumes and intricate sets.
Then, how I ended up watching Spirit Fingers when it was airing, it was a personal contemplation that I would explore in this article. I am quite sure that there are adult watchers out there who haven’t watched this cute teen drama and who probably wonder what it’s about, or even what “Spirit Fingers” is about.
This article will contain some minor spoilers, but I don’t conceal them with spoiler tags because they don’t reveal the main plot. At the end of the article, there will be major spoilers of the story ending with spoiler tags, if you’re curious what the ending will be.
Drama Info
Drama title: Spirit Fingers (Native title: 스피릿 핑거스! )
Alternative titles: Seupirit Pinggeoseu
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Youth
Aired: 29 Oct, 2025 - 26 Nov, 2025
Episodes: 12 | Duration: 55 min.
Director: Lee Chul Ha ( 이철하 )
Screenwriter: Kwon Yi Ji ( 권이지 )
Adapted from the Webtoon "Spirit Fingers" (스피릿 핑거스) by Han Kyoung Chal (한경찰).
Where to read the Webtoon in English: Webtoon
Where to watch: Viki
Trailer
OST
Most of them are audio from the official music production and distribution company. I picked some videos that have studio recordings, which show the singer singing (and acting), they are cool and cute.
Halley by Choi Sang Yeop (최상엽) (LUCY)
My Type by CHEEZE (치즈)
Chemistry by MckDaddy (맥대디)
G.O.A.T by H1-KEY
Always You by Kim Si Hyuk (김시혁) and Yeon Kyung (연경이)
넌 나의 Destiny (You Are My Destiny) by Nam Woo Hyun (남우현)
Halley (Female ver.) by Europe (유럽) (ULUV)
그대를 만나 (Then I Met You) by Haerian (해리안)
Super Color by Min Kyun (민균)(ONF) and Lee Chae Yeon (이채연)
She is Flying by Kim Soo Young (김수영)
Serendipity by Blue. D
Stand Up by Sol Hyuk (솔혁)
Stay Here by Jang Yu Jun (장유준)
Synopsis
Song U Yeon is an awkward and seemingly utterly unremarkable high school student who lives a bland and boring existence. But when she receives a mysterious smartphone message inviting her to join an art club named Spirit Fingers, her life turns upside down. She accepts the offer, only to discover that the club’s members all have their own distinct colors – which are all linked intrinsically to their personalities. This puts her on a collision course with the seemingly brash and gregarious Red Finger, as she begins to grow into her own new identity as Baby Blue Finger. Could U Yeon’s artistic journey lead her on the path to self-discovery – and maybe romance? (Source: Viki)
Characters
Main Characters
Park Ji Hu (박지후) as Song U Yeon / “Baby Blue Finger”
A typical high school sophomore girl, neither exceptionally pretty nor full of personality, just ordinary and unremarkable. She never even starts things that require courage, always giving up first, but after meeting Spirit Fingers and participating in weekly croquis activities, she begins to contemplate her dreams for the first time.
Cho Jun Young (조준영) as Nam Gi Jeong / “Red Finger”
The younger brother of Chairman Nam Green, a high school student who works part-time as a fitting model for a shopping mall, is known as a ‘face genius’. He is very aware of his own talents, but he seems as never had a romantic relationship. After meeting Song U Yeon, he begins to contemplate his dreams and love seriously.
Choi Bo Min (최보민) as Koo Seon Ho / “Blue Finger”
The vice president of Spirit Fingers, who brought Song U Yeon into the club. A guy who is at the top of everything, handsome appearance, excellent drawing skills, athletic ability, and a kind personality. The embodiment of every woman’s dream. He’s a sunflower who’s been secretly in love with Nam Green, his female friend since middle school, for seven years.
Park You Na (박유나) as Nam Geu Rin / Nam Green / “Mint Finger”
The chairman of Spirit Fingers. She is a warm person with a friendly and lively personality, who takes care of and dotes on Song U Yeon like a younger sibling.
Supporting Characters
Ko Taeng Ja / “Black Finger” (Kim Seul Gi) – The punk shop owner.
Kwon Hyeok / “Khaki Finger” (Lee Jin Hyuk) – Koo Seon Ho’s roommate and a junior in the game department. He is a quiet young guy, but is honest with his feelings.
Hwang Bun Hong / “Pink Finger” (Kwon So Hyun) – A mountaineering clothing salesperson. As the oldest female member of Spirit Fingers, she has a lively and lovely energy.
Jang Dong Geon / “Brown Finger” (Im Chul Soo) – An office worker and the oldest male member of Spirit Fingers.
Byeon Tae Seon (Cha Woo Min) – Nam Gi Jeong’s best friend since middle school and roommate.
An Ye Rim (Kang Hye Won) – Nam Gi Jeong’s colleague who likes him.
My Rating
My rating for this drama was based on MyDramaList’s scoring system, which is from 0.0 to 10.0. For any drama/movie/show I completed, I gave a minimum rating of 6.0 to appreciate the hard work of the production team, and to adjust to MyDramaList’s overall score base. From 6.0, this drama has additional scores of:
1.0 for the coming-of-age themes and messages.
1.0 for the characterization, the cute Female Lead and the unique Male Lead, and PARTICULARLY, the Spirit Fingers’ members.
1.0 for the unique costumes and sets the Spirit Fingers’ members wear during their croquis events.
My final rating is 9.0/10.
Why I watched Spirit Fingers as an adult
It’s a story about self-love
The character focus of this drama is the Female Lead Song U Yeon. In her family, she grew up sandwiched between two amazing brothers. We are told that they are smart. We don’t see much of her oldest brother, who is away at college, but her youngest brother, Song U Dol, is a genius. Her mother, unintentionally, makes this comparison between siblings, and is hard at her, pushing her to study. Meanwhile, U Yeon is like an ordinary character. She doesn’t excel in her studies, is not gorgeous (although she is cute, imo), and is not talented in anything. She doesn’t even have any ambition or dream for her future (post-high school). Sounds common to a lot of people, right?
From the ordinariness comes the need for self-love. Because this drama is also about the drawing club Spirit Fingers, thus, the central theme of this drama is discovering and embracing your own “color” and finding value in yourself, which is a message that resonates with all ages. The Spirit Fingers club gives a color-coded nickname to each member that reflects their distinct personality. Since U Yeon starts as a shy and self-conscious girl who wears only black or gray clothing to avoid attention, she is essentially living a “colorless” existence. She found that her color is baby blue. The color primarily symbolizes innocence, purity, and tranquility, which fit with her journey of self-discovery.
While watching this drama, I thought about my “color”, which I quickly found as forest green. The color embodies feelings of nature, stability, and renewal. I love nature and love to travel to places with great natural scenery. I’m at the life level of stability at this moment, while I still like to try new things to “renew” myself. Did you find your “color”? Let me know.
Self-love is needed in any life stage you’re in because it promotes mental and emotional resilience, builds confidence, and improves relationships. It helps individuals cope with life’s challenges by reducing negative self-talk, while also fostering a sense of self-worth and inspiring healthier decision-making and motivation at all life stages.
Relatable themes of confidence and inferiority
Spirit Fingers tackles issues of confidence and inferiority complexes in a way that feels timely and realistic, especially relevant in today’s world. As we follow U Yeon’s thoughts, even introduced to her ‘imaginary friend’, De Lulu, who represents her inner thoughts. De Lulu, physically, is the opposite of U Yeon, perfect with pretty clothes and makeup. This De Lulu is interesting, since she has a double personality, both inferior and confident. She replaces the cultural trope of the angel and the devil on someone’s shoulder, which visually represents the internal conflict between good and evil, or conscience and temptation, a person experiences when making a decision.
Besides U Yeon, the themes of confidence and inferiority also present in other characters, for examples:
- Nam Geu Rin, who used to be overweight in her teenage (middle school) years. With the emotional support of her best friend Koo Seon Ho, who loves her unconditionally, Geu Rin grew to be a confident person.
- Yeom Se Ra, U Yeon’s best friend, had a family issue with the divorce of her parents, which heavily affected her personality and behavior. However, because of U Yeon’s support, Se Ra also changed and now she is the top student.
- Jo Mi Rae, U Yeon’s other best friend, experiences inferiority and jealousy when she finds out that U Yeon has found a boyfriend and a group of friends in the Spirit Fingers club. Mi Rae, who initially felt comfort in her friendship with U Yeon, because she and U Yeon were the same ordinary kids, starts seeing that U Yeon is no longer in her league.
Confidence and inferiority can still be issues, no matter what life stage you’re in. As an adult, you can still feel inferior if you compare your work or family life with your colleagues or adult friends. As an adult, you can still feel unconfident trying new things due to physical or health challenges.
Mi Rae and Se Ra, U Yeon’s besties
A refreshing and realistic romance
There are two main romance plots and one secondary romance plot. Both romance develops realistically without unnecessary drawn-out misunderstandings.
- U Yeon and Nam Gi Jeong. Their relationship starts with some friction, but eventually blossoms as they help each other grow and gain confidence. U Yeon initially felt intimidated by the tall and overly confident Gi Jeong. However, Gi Jeong is not the typical drama Male Lead, so let me tell you about him. Although he is tall, handsome, and confident, he studies in a highschool notorious for delinquent students. He also never thinks about everything necessary for his life, and is always in a playful mood (never serious). If U Yeon has De Lulu, Gi Jeong has his pink sleeping bag as his security blanket, which provides emotional comfort and a sense of safety. Lastly, the fact that he has IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), which causes him frequent stops at the bathroom, gives a unique, refreshing characteristic to a drama protagonist.
- Nam Geu Rin and Koo Seon Ho. This pairing provides a friends-to-lovers trope romance with a bit more tension, because Seon Ho has harbored a seven-year crush on Geu Rin. She is aware of his feelings, but afraid to change the friendship status. Just in case their romance fails, then she would lose a dear longtime best friend. Seon Ho’s decision to confess his long-held feelings creates an awkward but heartfelt shift in their long-standing friendship. Their romance is more mature, and of course, with better kisses than the main couple’s!
Both romances, despite being young love, are surprisingly healthy relationships, with the couples discussing their own feelings as well as the situations happen in their relationship.
The characters are compelling
Despite the majority comprising of young cast, Spirit Fingers has a great cast with excellent chemistry. This is not only for the characters who are couples in the romantic plots. The characters are well-developed, making their emotional journeys engaging to watch. These are some examples of favorite supporting characters with their great chemistry with the main protagonists:
- The trio friendship of U Yeon, Se Ra, and Mi Rae. These three have different personalities, interests, and strengths. Despite their differences, they support each other. The scene when Se Ra and Mi Rae had a girl fight with the trio of bullying bitches to defend U Yeon is funny and endearing at the same time.
Tae Son and Dae O, Gi Jeong’s besties
- The trio friendship of Gi Jeong, Byeon Tae Seon, and Oh Dae O. We not only see that his two friends are gamers, but they also support Gi Jeong’s romance.
- The sibling relationship of U Yeon and her younger brother, U Dol. U Dol is a scene stealer, especially after he gives a heartfelt backhug to his sister when he thought she would leave him. His hate and jealousy towards Gi Jeong is hilarious, with their playground duel scene. We can see, despite the confidence of his intelligence, that deep down, he craves a relationship that he fears his sister’s attention to him will shift to her boyfriend. His newfound friendship with Moon Bong Gu is cute, too.
After reading my examples, you might question, How about the Spirit Finger club members’ relationship itself? Aren’t they the best in this drama? Below are my last two points that are dedicated to the club.
You can enjoy Spirit Fingers for fun, not a side hustle
Did you notice that I wrote the subtitle above as the club name instead of the drama name (written in italics)? The drama emphasizes the importance of having hobbies and enjoying them with others, without the pressure of them needing to be a source of income or a competitive pursuit.
Although the club is established by Nam Geu Rin and Koo Seon Ho, who are arts students, the intention of the club itself is just for fun. It’s an unusual art club. Instead of focusing on traditional art, the group chooses a weekly theme, dresses up, and sketches each other in costume, fostering a sense of community and fun.
When I watched this drama, I couldn’t help to be a little jealous. I like drawing, although it’s not my main hobby. I wished there were a Spirit Fingers club at my place.
It’s a feel-good, healing drama
Finally, the reason I watched this because the drama is designed to be a comforting and positive viewing experience, despite the viewer’s age. It offers a vibrant and lighthearted escape. As you noticed with the Spirit Fingers drawing club, it’s a source of comfort and strength because the members are always positive and supportive towards each other. The members learn to gain confidence and find their true voice through art and friendship.
In my opinion, the Spirit Fingers club is the center for a story about overcoming insecurity, self-love, and the power of creative communities. And the romance is just the icing on top. While the romance plot between the main couple (and maybe the secondary couple) is a pleasant extra, the foundation of a lasting relationship is something deeper, such as love, friendship, and commitment.
I wished I had time to write another article about the Spirit Fingers drawing club itself.
Conclusion
To end my article, the reason I as an adult watches this youth romance, I summarize Spirit Fingers’ core themes of self-discovery, building self-esteem, and finding a supportive community are universally relatable, regardless of age. It offers a lighthearted yet deeply inspiring, with a comforting narrative and uplifting experience.
Spoilers
What is the ending of the drama?
A wholesome happy ending.
How does the drama end?
After an incident involving her younger brother, U Yeon’s parents found out about her relationship with Gi Jeong. She confirmed their relationship, and later, after their cute escapade, gave him a shy kiss. Eventually, the parents approve U Yeon and Gi Jeong. He also became serious with his modelling career and got a first offer for a bit part in a movie. Since U Yeon is in her last school year, she temporarily quit the club to concentrate on her studies and prepare for college entrance exam. She’ll be back. The second couple, Geu Rin and Seon Ho, also confirmed their relationship. Seon Ho is enlisted in the military, and Geu Rin would wait for his release.
