You Are My Spring – Full Review

December 8, 2021

You Are My Spring - Unspoiled Review

You Are My Spring - Full Review

 

Welcome to You Are My Spring - Full Review.   A  hard-working hotel manager and a perceptive psychiatrist trying to solve a puzzling mystery that  links back to their own past.  If you haven't watched this drama yet, I recommend checking out my unspoiled review here.

You Are My Spring

Aired:  July 5 - August 24, 2021

# of Episodes:  16

Where to Watch:  Netflix

Genre:  Romantic Psychological Thriller

Starring: Seo Hyun Jin  and Kim Dong Wook

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Mouse -Unspoiled Review

The Story

 

You Are My Spring - Full Review

Kang Da Jung is a capable, hard-working manager for a luxury hotel whose traumatic childhood makes her shy away from serious relationships.  When a handsome stranger takes an interest in her, she considers giving him a chance.  But a tragic event leaves her with more questions and trauma.  In search of healing and friendship, she meets a psychiatrist who has an office in the building where she lives, but he carries wounds of his own.  As the two of them search for answers to a mysterious crime, they find an emotional connection that may help them both make peace with their pasts.

You Are My Spring - Unspoiled Review

The Leads

 

You Are My Spring - Full Review
You Are My Spring - Full Review

Seo Hyun Jin  as Kang Da Jung

Working as a manager for a big-name hotel, Kang Da Jung doesn't have much time for a social life.  One day a mysterious stranger takes an unexpected interest in her, but then just as suddenly dies, leaving her a final present that ties back to her own painful past.  As she tries to move on from this confusing and painful event, she befriends a psychiatrist who has an office in the building where she lives.  Together they try to uncover the truth behind the stranger's death and find that it links to both of their childhoods.  

 

You Are My Spring - Full Review

Kang Da Jung is quiet and reserved.  Watching her father abuse her mother for years when she was a child has made her distrust love and marriage.  But as she grows closer to Joo Young Do, his willingness to listen and give heartfelt advise helps her finally put all of her past doubts behind her and embrace life and love.  Seo Hyun Jin plays these kinds of vulnerable and emotion roles well, and I always enjoy her depth of character.  The subtle, natural chemistry she has with Kim Dong Wook made this couple so pleasant to watch and I appreciated their innocent relationship.

Kim Dong Wook as Joo Young Do

As a psychiatrist with his own private clinic, Joo Young Do is plenty busy, but he keeps finding himself crossing paths with the woman who lives above his office.  He is instantly attracted to her, and when a strange man begins to follow her around he is both jealous and concerned for her well-being.  The man's sudden suicide is strangely suspicous and Young Do can't help questioning what really happened to him.  He and Da Jung have an opportunity to grow closer as they try to piece together the life and death of  Chae Jun, but Young Do has a secret that could make any long-term relationships impossible.  

You Are My Spring - Full Review

Joo Young Do takes pride in being a caring doctor who listens to patients and helps them forgive themselves for their past mistakes.  But he carries his own guilt of not being able to save his sick brother's life or comfort his mother in her grief.  As he spends time with Da Jung, she helps him learn to forgive himself and find peace and healing.   Kim Dong Wook was wonderful as the kind-hearted doctor with a wounded heart, both literally and figuratively.  He handled the role with a quiet dignity that made his character sweet and likeable.

You Are My Spring - Full Review

Supporting Characters

 

You Are My Spring - Full Review
You Are My Spring - Full Review

Yoon Park as Chae Jun/Choi Jung Min

Chae Jun and Choi Jung Min are twins who were given up for adoption as children.  While Chae Jun stayed in Korea and lived a difficult and troubled life, Choi Jung was sent to American where he became Dr. Ian Chase.  Following Jun's suicide, Ian Chase shows up back in Korea to operate on a rich, influential patient.  But we soon find out that the lives of Jun and Ian are so tightly intertwined that no one really knows who did what.

Nam Gyu Ri as Ahn Ga Young

Ahn Ga Young is a beautiful, young actress who was once married to Young Do.  She pushes her way into Da Jung's house and declares them best friends.  Secretly, she is dating a famous idol, but she doesn't want it to interfere with either of their careers, although he would like to go public with their relationship.  

You Are My Spring - Full Review
You Are My Spring - Full Review

Kim Ye Won as Park Eun Ha

Park Eun Ha has been friends with Da Jung since they were young.  Eun Ha's father is the owner of the building where Da Jung lives, and Eun Ha runs a coffee shop on the first floor with her twin brother.  Things between Da Jung and Eun Ha become complicated when Eun Ha starts dating Da Jung's brother.  

Things I Liked

 

♥ Ahn Ga Young 

I loved the character of Ahn Ga Young.  She manages to be totally self absorbed and yet innocent enough to still be likeable.   Her desire to be loved and understood showed a sweet vulnerablility and I loved how she just decided Da Jung and Eun Ha were her new besties.  I also thought her romance with Patrick was very cute.  They made a perfect couple and it made sense that he is younger since she is still finding herself.  

♥ Da Jung's Reaction

The scenes where Da Jung found out that Eun Ha and Tae Jung were dating and confronted them were the best part of the finale.  As someone who considers both of them like siblings, it's easy to understand her speechless disapproval, but it was also obvious that she understood, on some level, how good they could be for each other.  It was a fun way to round out Eun Ha and Tae Jung's story, and it only made me sad that we didn't get to enjoy a similar reaction from Da Jungs mom!

♥ Heo Yu Kyung

Heo Yu Kyung provides some wonderful moments of humor in this drama.  From cussing out the guests on the telephone to her silly English mistakes, I found her character endearing and fun.  It's true that her character has no real impact on the story at all, but her character brought me plenty of giggles and I appreciate her for that.  

You Are My Spring - Full Review

Things I Didn't Like

 

Twin Story

Initially I was intrigued with the idea of combining a slow burn romance with a mystery thriller, but in the end it didn't really work for me.  The mystery elements were sporadic at best, and the lack of context made it really hard to keep track of which twin did what.  I actually think the foundation of a really cool mystery drama where there, but it should have had it's own show where they could have more story development.  There was so little crossover between the two plots that it made it feel very disjointed, and truthfully I would have rather used the time spent on the crime plot to develop some of the supporting character stories more.  

Dropped Romances

It's not uncommon for a drama to leave a potential romance on the table, but I count no less than three relationships in this series that are at least hinted at but never materialize.  First is Da Jung's mother, Mi Ran and her sweet mystery man.  It seemed like she had finally met the kind of guy she deserved, with his thoughtful presents and caring attention.  And then he is never mentioned again.  Second is Ha Neul and Jin Ho, the trainer.  At some point, Ha Neul needs to give up on Eun Ha, who obviously has given her heart to someone else.  And Jin Ho was so honest about her interest in him.  He could have at least given her a chance.  And lastly, was the more suble interest Ah Ri showed in her boss Chul Do.  All of these storyline showed some promise and it's too bad none were explored.  

Vice Chairwoman

Building on my complaint about the mystery crime story development, they built up the story about the Vice Chairwoman threatening Dr. Chase like it was going to have some significant consequences.  But despite her ominous threat, we don't see anything happen.  She seems to have had something on Dr. Chase to make him do what she wants but we never really find out anything about their connection, their history, or if she takes revenge.  Her whole story seems patchy and irrelevant.

You Are My Spring - Full Review

The Ending

 

"You Are My Spring" bows out quietly with an understated ending that manages to wrap up most of the main stories but leaves plenty of loose ends along the way.  Ian finally confesses all his crimes to the police, but since none of them can actually be tried, he is set free.  Unfortunately for him, his own guilt doesn't let him off quite so easily.  In one final scene of him, we see that he is receiving therapy because he is tormented by nightmares and unable to work.  Da Jung finds out that Eun Ha and Tae Jung are dating and is slowly coming to terms with it.  Da Jung and Young Do have committed to staying together, regardless of what the future might hold.  And after a bit of hazing, Da Jung's mother also gave them her blessing.  The last scene of the drama shows Da Jung waiting for Young Do to finish work.  She walks to the place directly above his desk and begins jumping to get his attention, which works well.  He closes the office and walks up to the roof where the two of them talk about their day.  A voice over talks about the importance of love and healing as the couple giggle suggestively and run inside.

You Are My Spring - Full Review

Should I Watch

 

You Are My Spring - Unspoiled Review

"You Are My Spring" is a unique combination of slow burn romance and psychological crime.  If you are looking for an emotional romance with some interesting mystery on the side, this is a good fit.  But if you want an exciting crime thriller, you will probably be bored with this. There are times, especially toward the middle of the series, where the detective story is all but forgotten.  In the end, this is a beautiful love story that is heavily conversation driven and focuses on overcoming the pain of the past.   I give "You Are My Spring" an 8 out of 10 ramen.

🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜🍜

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