If you are not doing what you love to do, then by the time your life is winding down, you may look back with regrets because of how much time was wasted. Kobe Bryant put this to his listeners once during a conference. He said, “If you aren’t doing what you love, then why are you doing it?” I think very few people in the world do what they love because of so many factors: money (usually assuming a lack of it), what people will think (family, friends, society), or even because you don’t believe in yourself enough to take the chance. Let me point out something about people like Bruce Lee, Kobe Bryant, and others. They never rested on talent alone. They put in the work so that they could be the best that they could be. And, yes, that is what it takes.

Quartet is a lovely story of four misfits. I call them “misfits” because they feel that they are outsiders who don’t seem to fit in anywhere. However, they all share one passion: the love for music. Three violinists and one cello player find themselves at a karaoke bar—seemingly by happenstance, but I think by the end of the series, we realize that it wasn’t an accident. One person sharing a joy is one thing, but it gains even greater power when four people combine their passion and talents.

Beppu is the leader of the group. He not only has a talent for the violin, but he’s someone how knows how to get things done. However, he doesn’t rule with an iron fist—unless it’s about taking out the garbage! He has no problem listening to the others and gaining their thoughts and feelings about something. His family owns the villa in the countryside where the four choose to live together and perform nightly at a local restaurant. The venue may seem small, and perhaps insignificant to some, but that’s not the point. They’re doing what they love.

Maki is the heart and soul of the group. A woman with a mysterious past. First, we’re left to wonder what happened to her husband, as her mother-in-law recruits Suzume to find out, as she believes Maki has killed him. We also find out that not is all as it seems with Maki, and will her dark past find its way into harming the group?

Iemori is easily the funniest member of the group with his quirky logic when it comes to identifying and discussing seemingly insignificant things. He’s always a source for a laugh, but make no mistake, he’s got a big heart. He’s almost childlike and in a good way.

Last, but certainly not least, we have our cellist in Suzume. A lonely young woman who loves playing her cello on the streets for whatever money she can get. She also wears her heart on her sleeve. It’s pretty clear early on that she truly loves the other members of the group, especially Maki. Perhaps this is the only true family Suzume has ever had. And when she begins to shed tears, it’s hard to hold back ourselves. She’s a little clumsy and has the propensity to sleep anywhere! Under the coffee table, slumped over chair, it really doesn’t matter. She will also do whatever she can to protect and help the other members of the group. We find out, very quickly, that she is not at all comfortable spying on Maki for Maki’s mother-in-law.

The group’s four members are endearing as they get to know each other throughout the series. Only one of them has a real job when the series begins. The other three are either unemployed or are about to leave their respective jobs. Of course, they begin to question the rationale of simply being a quartet. Even friends and family find it difficult to understand the logic of essentially doing something for very little. Toward the end of the series, it’s Suzume who answers this question when she talks about seeing the smiles on people’s faces or those rare moments when they get some feedback about how happy the listener is because of their music.

We also see the sad lives of those who are not living their passion and dreams. Arisu is a petty, vile young woman who works at the restaurant where the quartet performs. All she cares about is getting out there and finding a way to make a quick buck or perhaps find someone wealthy to take care of her. At one point, she schemes to steal Maki’s violin when she finds out how much it’s worth. She’s extremely self-centered, doesn’t care about anyone else, and it’s easy to see why she’s such a miserable woman. Even she finally finds her rich husband at the end, we also know two things: it will never last, and that type of happiness is always fleeting.

We also find a letter in the last episode from a musician who clearly didn’t make it as one. The person unloads their own frustrations and unhappiness at the group, unable to understand why they continue to play when they don’t play well. Of course, anyone who listens to this group can see that they play just fine. They may not be on par with some of the elite, but they can play! And the point is that they never gave up. They don’t let anyone or anything discourage them from doing what they love. This is showcased beautifully in the last episode when a can is thrown at them as they perform on stage, and many of the listeners get up and leave in the middle of the performance. However, what is truly magical is that none of these things prevents the quartet from continuing to play with smiles on their faces for the few who’ve remained behind.

In the end, if you are doing what you love to do, you don’t care if you’re doing it in front of a thousand people, a few people, or even none at all. You’re doing it for yourself, which is the most important thing. You don’t care if it brings you millions of dollars, a few dollars, or none at all. The joy of doing it is its own reward. And that is the beautiful message of this lovely series!