Hibana: Spark Season 1

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Hibana: Spark Season 1 is available on and right now. A compact run that never overstays its welcome. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Kento Hayashi — one of the stronger performances out there right now. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Hibana: Spark Season 1 earns its spot. The writing in Hibana: Spark Season 1 treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. Season 1 of Hibana: Spark includes 10 episodes. It premiered in June 2016. This season stars Kento Hayashi, Kazuki Namioka and Masao Yoshii. Kento Hayashi and Kazuki Namioka lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2016. The performances in Hibana: Spark Season 1 do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, Hibana: Spark Season 1 delivers. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Kento Hayashi carries the material with a performance that rewards close attention. Worth starting sooner rather than later.