It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)

Heart Warming Stories on Mental Health

I don't want to say much or spoil much so I'll continue with as little spoilers as possible. I hope that with this drama, mental health could be more accepted everywhere in the world where it can come off as a taboo topic.

OVERALL
I wished that I would have written this review right after I finished it, instead of waiting a couple of months. However, that would have been an even more biased review. This drama teared me up until the very last minute. I love how they didn’t try to make everything seem like it was okay and beautiful in the end. What made it beautiful was that they knew they could never get over it, but they can grow from it, move on, and be better. They spread their wings to leave what was always holding them back!

STORY
This is a drama that is told using fairy tales. Unlike other dramas where it uses one fairy tale, like “The Little Mermaid” to foreshadow the story, they made up their own for the show. All these stories that are read in the drama are as deep as the drama itself.

The concept of love in this drama was beautiful and so unique. It captivated me because it was not about romanticizing love stories and because it did not solely focus on the main lead’s love. It was a story of love stories. It showed different types of love and told the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of love. It showed that love came in different forms and can evolve in different ways. The writers allowed us to see the raw aspects of a relationship such as the baggage we carry and how the people that surround us are a part of it too. The story isn’t just focused on one person. It shows you the support system in a relationship and how it’s not always involving two people. They made all the supporting casts and minor characters’ relationships to be intermingled in a way that made sense and worthwhile to watch. We fall in love with all of them in different ways and they become more than just side characters.

It was an inspiring drama amidst the 2020 crap we were thrown. It was an inspiring drama that showed that we can overcome these psychological issues that have only started to come to light as of lately. It shows hope of finding yourself through the help of people around you. It speaks so much to those that fantasize about that light and not about the love story of finding that Mr. Right. Moon Young was just lucky to have found both.

ACTING/CAST/CHARACTERS
I have always enjoyed Seo Ye Ji’s acting and she is still able to blow me away as Ko Moon Young. Her character was hilarious at the beginning. I loved the little “psycho psycho” that was thrown in the background when she does something overboard. Sometimes I feel like Moon Young was the most “normal” one out of all of the characters. She has moments where she expresses weird habits and mood swings, but that was about it. I feel like they could have done more with her character or one that has a personality disorder, I don’t expect something dramatic, but I wished they showed more ways of how she treats it.

I have seen one of Kim Soo Hyun’s work, but as Moon Gang Tae, I am sold on the hype on this actor! Kim Soo Hyun is so good at crying. I cried at least 70% of the time that he cried on screen. The way he executes his scenes is so great. The way he breathes between words, how his eyes waver, and how he acts helpless and lost. All of it was delivered so well. He has improved, or this character allowed him to show his skills.

Oh Jung Se was phenomenal as Moon Sang Tae. He deserves so much attention was the lead in my heart for his performance and the way he moved me. Do I even need to say anything more? Without his character and the relationship of the brothers in here, it would not have held my attention for so long. So many of my favorite scenes involved the two brothers. I love how Sang Tae grew so much with the number of people that were willing to help him. It warmed my heart so much!

Honorable mentions to the directors, writers, all staff, casts, singers, and the special guest cast!

MUSIC
Guys… this had such a stud list of OST singers. Kim Feel, Park Won, Lee Suhyun, Sam Kim, Heize, and Cheeze. The timing of the soundtracks and when they came in really aid in the feel of the drama. For example, Kwak Dong Yeon showed up in episode 3 and was imagining himself as being so free from his true reality. The way he smiled and laughed and then Kim Feel’s Hallelujah came on. Such a fitting song for a fitting moment in the drama. I realized I got the most emotional whenever Kim Feel’s song came on. It was like a key to unlock my tears.

RE-WATCH VALUE
I would re-watch this if I have the time to in the future. I do feel like it was a few episodes dragged out/included unnecessary fillers. They could have utilized those few moments to explain more of the mom’s story or Moon Young’s. There were some loopholes but none that I was too stressed out on.

Lire davantage

A Wonderful Story

I followed this drama a while back, and was thoroughly moved every episode until the last.

I watched this drama without any idea of the hype around it. Scrolling through Netflix, and it just released a few episodes back then. Kim Soo Hyun of course, was one of the more notable names when I saw it, and from the moment I heard the soundtrack, I was hooked.

I will try to make this review as vague as possible. Only to highlight the parts where it felt most alive.

PROS:

1. All the characters had an arc and one way or another, were interconnected. They were also with flaws. Very human. And I appreciate the moments where you are reminded that it takes time for a person to change. When their individual stories moved on to their next chapter, you feel wonderful knowing what they went through to get there.

2. The acting. I can not stress enough how wonderful the portrayal of the characters were. Especially on the part of Moon Sang-Tae. Others would argue otherwise, but I have watched a lot of shows and movies where they portrayed people who are mentally challenged and one of the more admirable portrayals was done by Oh Jung-Se. Kudos to him. And to Seo Ye-ji and Kim Soo Hyun who remained consistent and careful with their characters throughout the series.

3. The lessons. They use stories and weave them with the lessons each episode has. It is subtle in a way, and gives viewers a different perspective in an otherwise definite idea of what it is in every episode.

4. The OST. I loved it. It fit the series perfectly. From the low, melancholic tunes to the more upbeat and lovely sounds. The OST was well used, and set the tone of the series well. Kudos.

5. The relationships. You can't really hate one character. How they are related, how they interact, it's so beautifully human that you feel for each of them. You might get annoyed with one, but after taking a moment to understand their character, you begin to grow with them. As they mature, your view of them does too, and I find that an admirable trait of this series.

CONS:
1. Near the end, there were some lapses and events where you would double think, and say "Huh"? But the overall show is wonderful in itself that you can overlook that.

It may not be the same for all, but this is the kind of series that you go through once and completely immerse yourself to have all the feelings. The story may sometimes appear absurd, but the way it was portrayed and the interaction between characters is wonderful to note. The acting made the story more lively, despite its dark undertones.

When I rewatched it, I focused more on other production related decisions that took away the magic of watching it for the first time. Some may find this series a go to whenever they feel like it, but for me, this series is an emotional experience. It's a one time immersion thing. You can go back, but the first impact will not be the same.

However, the love you will have for the characters and their stories will remain. And hopefully, the lessons that they do to. If one should watch this story, yes, you should, but be prepared for a ride of feels.

Lire davantage

It's Okay Not to be Okay <3

I honestly loved this drama from the get go to the end. It's not often that dramas will show everything, the good and the bad and still make you understand that the bad moments or bad circunstances also bring growth! Every episode taught a lesson with a very heart aching touch in such a tender way that was very healing. I had written many words for this review, I wrote in depth about every character and I could just press down send to all of that, but I really think that the sensibility behind the drama deserves not for me to tell everybody in full disclosure, it needs to be seen regardless and with no heads up, so watch it! It's more than worth it!

Lire davantage

This drama is a gem!

Despite there being some inconsistencies( *spoiler*:
moon young's mother was shown being dumped into a river while in a zipped up bag,how did she manage to get out? The actress who played younger ko moon young's mother and head nurse seem to be of different builds/heights so it doesn't reallymake sense for them to be the same person*spoiler*) IOTNBO totally delivered on the emotional front and teaching life lessons so well that I'm willing to overlook all of that stuff. The acting was also top notch, the characters felt so real and endearing.The osts are all such gems I'm totally gonna be replaying them for the next few weeks.I also really loved the way mental health and it's importance were treated /portrayed in such a positive light.

Lire davantage

Bewitching and Moody

I'm not sure I can express the amount of love I have for these characters and this story, but I'll give it a try.

❤ The main trio - Moon Kang Tae, Moon Sang Tae, and Go Mu Young - are utterly fascinating, multifaceted, and dynamic characters. Each of their character arcs were meaningful and satisfying. The actors deserve every single award in the universe for their performances.

❤ This had one of the most satisfying conclusions I can think of in k-drama history. I felt the story came full circle with each character earning their ending.

❤ Mental health, trauma, and disabilities are a large part of this drama. While it can make for some uncomfortable and exhausting moments watching these characters grow, their journeys felt authentic and realistic.

❤ The vibe of the show - from the OST to the cinematography - is moody and bewitching. It was like watching a twenty hour gothic novel come to life.

❤ It certainly has some campy storylines and characters that could prove too much for some, but it did not take away from my enjoyment.

Lire davantage

Healing drama doesn’t have to be this gloomy !

It’s okay to not be okay is often reviewed as a healing drama but is healing soo dark and depressing? I can’t say thou.
I keep trying to find a healing element in the show but all I could find was gloominess and some redemption. The main lead couple shared a dark past and it is too messy for them to fall in love .. like hey my mother killed your mother but let’s get past that and become a family !!! Something soo unsettling about their bond.
Even thou it wasn’t FL’s fault what her mother did but her aura was quite similar to her mother.

The female lead had serious anger issues the way she pushed a guy off stairs and almost stabbed someone. She either act like a 5 year old with tantrums or like a psychopath . No in between. She practically forced male lead to live with her. Almost everything about her annoyed me as a viewer.

The autistic brother was quite a special character, ML went through a lot in order to raise his brother. I felt for the ML as his struggle was realistic portrayal of someone taking care of an autistic person. And on top of that he had to take care of the crazy FL as well. His hands were full and he hardly had any life of his own. FL added more to his troubles and not less. So I don’t understand how the ML was benefiting in any way from the relationship.

There were quite some boring episodes in between. I watched it till the end for the sake of finishing it not because it was very interesting.

Music was great. And gang tae is a hottie.

Lire davantage

A beautiful drama

I heard about KSH many years back due to his character as Do Min Joon and knew he was a sensation back then.
But it was only 6 years later that i watched MLFTS and came to know how great of an actor he was. When i knew he was returning with a new healing drama that deals with mental issues, i was worried that the show might be a dark and boring one. Thankfully i was wrong. There were so many light hearted moments, meaningful dialogue and mesmerising animations in this show that captivated me from the first episode. Just one word to describe this drama - BEAUTIFUL.

Beautiful storytelling
What i absolutely loved about the script was how the writer had a message behind each episode. Whenever MY or GT started telling the stories with their deep, raspy voices, i could not take my eyes (and ears) off the screen. The animations that accompanied their voices were simply stunning. But the story that literally blew me away was MY’s final book - finding their real faces. I was so touched by how the writer could tie everything up so wonderfully and tell the most perfect story at the end, with such soothing visuals. I will definitely buy the book if there’s an english translated version.

Beautiful acting
A highlight of this drama is most definitely the leads’ intricate acting that can tug at your heartstrings. I lost count of the number of times i felt so frustrated with GT for being too soft towards ST and not giving him a chance to grow and be more independent. Every time ST gets upset with GT, my heart just breaks thinking about how tough life must have been for him his whole life. The most memorable scene for me was when GT was at the rooftop with JS, talking about his mum when he started tearing. I remembered looking at his sorrowful eyes and wondering how anyone could have such deep and beautiful eyes. His acting at that scene made me realise he really was just a small boy who wasn’t given a chance to grow up properly. And not to forget how he had a mental breakdown at the hospital. My heart ached looking at him trembling and seeking forgiveness. All in all, KSH is such a gorgeous actor with the ability to hook you with his emotions.
ST was also brilliant at portraying a character with autism. His stuttering, facial expressions and hand gestures were all so on point. I love all his scenes with GT and MY.
Kudos to SYJ for being able to showcase MY’s warm and humane side despite having to portray her arrogance and bulldozing traits as well. The scene where she was strangled by her father was epic. That look on her face and the tears in her eyes. Brilliant.

Beautiful ending
The last episode is simply the best. I couldn’t believe how everything was wrapped up so nicely and despite having some unanswered questions, none of that mattered anymore. No words can describe how much i loved the ending. The last scene left me with buckets of tears and made me realise how far the characters have come since the first episode. I felt like i was on this healing journey with them.

Beautiful music
Lastly, the soundtracks in this drama left a deep impression on me. I love them all, especially In Your Time by Lee Suhyun.

As with every drama, there were still some parts which i hoped could have been better. I didn’t quite like that the leads met each other when they were young, and also the mother plot line. However, as this is a character driven story as many have pointed out, i still loved the main storyline that focuses on the growth of the characters.

I have learnt a lot watching this drama and you would too.

Lire davantage

This is a KILLER!!

OMG im done with this series im shock i want more episode but this is a killer for 2020 like ill rewatch it for sure like its so good i dont regret watching it at all. First this is really good why because its funny its so so so cute your going to be shock to find out whose the mother is and the kissing scene are magical this is really worth watching like at first i didnt know that i will like it this much and now im sad that its over and the bts are so funny when seo ye ji cough kim soo hyun dance to her cough anyway if you dont watch it you may regret and seo ye ji have so much attitude and this is the best thing in the series everytime i watch it i was so happy anyway watch it or you may regret!!! saraghai its okay to not be okay!!!

Lire davantage

Not Expected Something Like This !!!

Okay so this is my first review on this platform and I am so happy while writing this reviews I cannot express that . This drama has everything to offer .
It will make you laugh , teach you some important life lesson , heart touching music , outstanding performance and the most important thing this drama will make you cry.
I personally cried after a long time while watching a drama / show . It was an emotional rollercoaster ride for me and the way I connected to this drama is something which I can't express in words .
Special mention to the character Sang-tea he steals the show , the real star of the drama ,the character development was so good .
Also it focused on other supporting characters .
The best thing about this drama is that not only main plot but the sub plot got a happy ending too .
I would recommend this drama to everyone please go and watch this once .

Lire davantage

Best of 2020

Despite everything going on around the world in 2020, the drama community has been fortunate and blessed with dare I say one of the best dramas of 2020.

This is what a good drama is, it is thrilling, engaging and explores a complex issue seamlessly. I loved how they used fairy tales to explain some really difficult and complex issues, just be sure to know you will not look at fairy tales the same way.

I am sure you may have read a lot of reviews on this drama, I will tell you to just start this drama and you will not regret it.
Go with an open mind and an open heart and most importantly have fun XD

Lire davantage