I have never written a review before, but I was so impressed with this drama that I felt I had to. Please forgive me for my lack of eloquence. If only I was as talented as the screenwriter;')
I came into this drama for the cast alone, but I got much more than I was expecting.   If you are expecting a great romance, you may be disappointed. There are some romantic feelings, but it is not the main point. The quartet of flawed but likable individuals find friendship and support at a time when they all have a deep need for it. As a hardcore romantic, I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship and didn't feel any lack due to the barely there romance.  

The best things about this drama:
1) the acting- the casting could not have been more perfect. Each actor seemed fitted to the role, bringing out the best in their character.
2) the characters- perfectly imperfect, and quirky. Their interactions with each other made each episode special.
3) the witty banter- I applaud the writer. So very clever. This truly made the drama a joy to watch.
4) the music- brilliant!

Quartet may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for me, this is the best drama of the year.

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The reason I can't sleep: writing a review at 2 am, among other things.

I recently stumbled upon this special and having battled insomnia for years I thought, "ah! These are my people. Let's see what they are up to." I then stepped into a nice little story about two neighbors who are both troubled with their own sleep problems and life problems. These two individuals naturally keep crossing paths and offer each other understanding...and perhaps something more.

This sweet but predictable little gem was more than just a short cliche romance. It touched on some hardships that most people have faced but don't talk much about. This is a story about having dreams that have amounted to nothing. It's about being unappreciated no matter how hard you have worked. It's a story about dealing with feelings of failure and being lost in life. Having felt these types of feelings deeply at one time or another, this story really resonated with me. If I could use two words to describe it, I would say it was comforting, and hopeful.

I would recommend this drama to anyone who has ever had their heart broken by a dream lost, and to anyone who wants to find it again. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to watch a special that is a little more special than all the rest. Lastly, I would recommend it to anyone who, like me, can't sleep and has nothing better to do than watch drama specials at 1 am.

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What a beautiful mess.

I didn't come into this drama expecting much. I still left feeling disappointed, mostly in myself for wasting 16 hours of my life watching this commercial...I mean drama.
Yes, the product placement is that bad. It is everywhere, and it is jarring.

Let's move on to the acting. Woo Do Hwan kills it. His shoulders must hurt from trying to carry this show. He has the best chemistry with everyone, including himself.
Most of the actors did a pretty decent job, besides the main leads. The chemistry between Lee Min Ho and Kim Go Eun was almost non-existent. Kim Go Eun brought everything including the kitchen sink, and it was too much. Lee Min Ho's underacting did not mesh well. He does not emote well, but seeing him in a uniform with his beautiful eyes and warm gaze might be enough to save some fangirl's poor soul.

The characters were pretty one-dimensional and way too abundant. Even the ones I wanted to know better didn't get enough of our time, because that time was spent on side characters that wouldn't even matter if the writer didn't love taking us off on a tangent with all the sub- plotting. The main characters were yata yata I'm not even impressed enough to describe them coherently. Woo Do Hwan's character(s) made for good comic relief. The hot ahjussi...I mean villain was a joke.

The biggest failure in the drama has to be the writing. The romance was big in this drama, and it was totally rushed and stilted. It left me completely unconvinced. Why do they love each other? Does anybody know? Anyone? Bueller??
Let's talk about the plot. The initial idea for the drama had potential but it wasn't executed properly. There were too many sub-plots and crater-sized plot holes. Even some questions the characters asked never got answered, let alone the audience's questions. The drama goes here, there and everywhere, and rather quickly too. With too much going on, it becomes very chaotic nonsense. I am not going to get into the details as it was confusing as heck and hello spoilers. Good writing can make sense of complicated plots, but that doesn't happen here. Just believe me that if you can make any sense of this mess, then I must be one dumb bunny and you should never trust me or my reviews again.

The best thing about TKEM, besides Woo Do Hwan, was the visual. Everything was so very pretty. So there is that.

I wanted this to be a short review, but somehow it didn't work out that way.
Here's the main point: This drama stinks worse than my BO, so if you like stuff that stinks you should totally watch it.

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Oh dear, I am missing this show already...

Healing dramas are slow-moving and can sometimes seem boring. After watching a number of this type of drama, I have really come to appreciate the leisurely pace and find them relaxing, and well…healing. It is a nice change after watching intense dramas with numerous plot twists or stressful situations that keep me on edge. Having said that, this one has a bit of both. This may be the first time I have seen a romantic healing/slice of life drama that tries to be a thriller too. I really enjoyed both aspects, though there were some definite flaws caused by this ambition in the latter half of the drama.

"You Are My Spring" brings its A-game in the first few episodes. They really grabbed my attention, left me intrigued, and I was on tenterhooks waiting for the next episodes. Healing dramas can be hard to get into if I am not in the right mood, so I appreciated the exciting beginning that had me immersed in the drama immediately. For the first half of the drama, the thriller aspect was pretty well balanced with the melodrama, slice of life, and budding romance. Somehow in the last half, it became more and more unbalanced, less thrilling, and a bit messy. The transitions between genres were awkward, and eventually, it fizzled out and died. It’s a shame because one of the most interesting characters was also the focus of this thriller plot.

That leads me to the best thing about this drama- its characters. This drama has some of the best-supporting characters. Ian, the vet friend, the ex-wife, Da Jung’s lovably quirky colleague (this girl is sooo funny), and one of the best drama moms I have seen. It was touching to see how all the friends take care of each other. They are so loyal. Some people have said they didn’t feel the chemistry between the main couple, but I disagree. While it’s not a passionate romance, it is more of a deep connection and understanding. I was truly moved by Da Jung and Young Do’s beautiful (and healthy) relationship, and how much respect they had for one another. The characters were well-written, and their motivations were clear. The actors did a great job portraying their characters.

There were a few cliches, but I thought they made sense within this story and because of who the characters are as people. There was one trope that did make me roll my eyes, as I am just so sick of it, but it didn’t affect the story that much. The dialogue was deep and meaningful, and sometimes hilarious. There were so many precious moments that made me feel for the characters, and amidst all the drama and heartache there was a lot of joy and unexpected humor. I think that is what makes this drama extra special to me.

Throughout the course of the show, I grew very attached to these wonderful characters and their lovely story. I am happy to have spent these moments on their journey with them and I am a bit sad to bid them goodbye. I will keep them in my memory and wish them well, and maybe take a long vacation with them again someday.

“If people did not love one another, I really don't see what use there would be in having any spring.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

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