I wanted to enjoy 'You Are My Spring' a lot more than just the sporadic, individually solid performances by the leads, and certain ones in the supporting cast were able to muster, barely keeping this Kdrama from flatlining.

And it's not that the characters weren't likable. They were. The chemistry between the leads Kang Da-Jeong (Seo Hyun-jin) and Ju Yeong-do (Kim Dong-Wook) was unmistakable in the early episodes but then their relationship seemed to devolve into a sort of parody of angsty teen, goo-goo eyed cringe and annoyance.

I was also upset that Ian Chase (Yoon Park) seemed to get a free pass after choking Da-Jeong. Her reasoning for not reporting him was also suspect, to say the least. The man was obviously a danger to himself and others and for Da-Jeong not to report him did not seem realistic.

And I felt that 'You Are My Spring' wanted to say something profound about mental health without significantly challenging the ongoing stigma that surrounds those who suffer from mental illness, especially in a country with extremely high suicide rates. Instead, it gets bogged down with product placement and attractive, well-dressed actors portraying underdeveloped characters who occasionally offer life-affirming advice to each other and bits of comic relief meant to counteract the brutal murders and suicide that ultimately get sacrificed for the sake of romance.

Overall, 'You Are My Spring' felt unfinished with the exception of the predictable romantic coupling. Yet, the fate of Ian Chase is left unanswered and I was never convinced that he was a brain surgeon to begin with. There were just too many moving parts in this Kdrama.