Spark

I needed something short and quick to take up my train journeys and settled on Spark (circa 2016) as the episodes run from 11 to 18 minutes (and you can subtract out the title & credit sequences for another minute, making them even shorter). It's definitely a mini drama with all of the benefits and set backs that entails; super fast to get through but the story isn't developed nearly enough and it leaves you wanting more. But let me start with what it's about.

Ga On (played by relative newcomer Na Jong Chan) is the leader of an idol band. He's dedicated to his work but wants more--mostly more creative freedom. He was raised by his grandmother, who sadly died before his debut. He wants to break out on his own with his best friend in the band, Ji Sung (played by Yeo One, an actual Idol from the group Pentagon...this was his first acting role). Then there's his manager, who is your standard arse.

Ha Neul (played by Nam Bo Ra, who is 5 years Chan's senior and has been in a fair handful of things, though nothing I've seen before though she looks familiar) has had a hard life after the death of her parents. She's living with one friend (Ah Reum, played by Kwon Eun Soo, who is supposed to be super intelligent, as indicated mostly by her wearing glasses and writing on whiteboards) and has a job that another friend (Jin Soon, played by Park Jin Joo, who has been in tons of things, though mostly in support type roles) secured for her.

Jin Soon, you see, is a huge fan of Ga On and became a makeup artist in part so she could work with him (i.e. touch him, more like). Leaving aside the fact that I doubt if any company would hire something who is so obviously an obsessed fan girl, at least she supports her friend. Anyway.

Ha Neul isn't so much a fan and thinks Ga On is a bit of an ass, though admittedly, I'd be annoyed with her too when she literally keeps accidentally flinging sweat all over him. I mean, yuck. Once is one thing. But three times is...well, gross. Anyway, through situations, they wind up getting hit by a meteor (? seriously, not making this up) together. It supercharges them in different ways -- Ga On has an excess of electricity to the point he shocks himself and other people any time he touches them (or electronics, making it very hard to do his job) and she, on the other hand, is charged the other way. She's the only person he can touch and she, in fact, helps to disperse his charge. And through touching her he can continue to work.

So, complications -- 1) he has to keep it from his manager, who is trying to force him to sign a contract extension and is actively trying to get his best bud to turn against him, 2) there's a girl idol who is also obsessed with him and acts like a total bitch but 3) the best friend happens to love her and is feeling a bit left out and 4) of course, the fact that Ha Neul and Ga On didn't start off on the best foot but, wait, 5) they have a mysterious musical connection related to Ha Neul's dad and the song he was humming in the hospital after they got in a car accident. Really could've done without that last bit, honestly. It wasn't necessary.

Did I leave anything out? Probably. For a short little mini drama, they tried to pack a lot in. And don't get me wrong, it isn't bad. The actors all did a decent job, though the younglings were a bit obviously unseasoned every now and then. But given the length, there really wasn't time to develop the story as much as it deserved and the nicely wrapped up ending in particular (when the best friend comes through and the bitchy girl has a somewhat change of heart) came a bit out of nowhere and other things weren't really wrapped up (didn't see how Evil Manager's play was going to work anyway, but they never even showed exactly what happened after -- did they strike out on their own? what about all the other band members? what job did Ha Neul wind up with?)...BUT the two leads did have a nice amount of chemistry going on and Na Jong Chan had some particularly nice moments, especially given his lack of experience. I'd watch him in something again.

Weirdly, for a show that involved a lot of touching due to the circumstances, there was never a kiss. Would have been a nice touch at the end. Not sure why they didn't go there (instead returning back to the mysterious co-inkydink sub-plot).

SO...I guess if I had to sum up my thoughts...for what it was, it did a good job. It did leave me wanting more, but that actually shows that it had a lot of promise. Am I glad I watched it? Yeah, sure. Would I watch it again? Probably not. There weren't enough satisfying moments or even moments of great comedy to justify a re-watch. But, overall, not bad.