It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)

I enjoyed, the casts were amazing with their roles.

I hyped this drama too much? I really looked forward to this since it's been a while after YeJi's last drama. I was really okay with writer MunYoung, I love the side stories in every episode (especially the early ones). But I guess they lost track with the real plot of MunYoung's mom towards the end? I can't really say that it was rushed, but definitely not the Mom story I was expecting. I mean the depth, I was looking for something in depth with MunYoung's mom and how she turned out to be such.
Anyway, I guess they decided to focus more on the 'lovestory arc' with GangTae. With such, I guess that's where some 'explanatory time' for MunYoung's mom were lost. If everyone's gotten into the ship with MunYoung and GangTae, I'm totally fine with it. Just that I'm the type who wouldn't expect much from MunYoung-GangTae cause it was really established since the start that they will end up with each other no matter what. I was just really curious with the plot and circumstances leading to their healing. Saying that, I looked for much more meat in the psychology part of the plot.
But don't get me wrong, everyone did amazing, especially SangTae (Oh Jung Se)!

Lire davantage

It's OK - or not - to be all over the place

Park JinJoo's character made an ominous statement: "a developmentally challenged illustrator working with an emotionally challenged writer will either be a huge success or a colossal fiasco".
The latter turned out to materialize.
The plot is a mess, and I highly praise the actors for being able to survive it.
Personally I hated the clothing of the FL, though I understand that other people may have loved it (apparently it's expen$ive stuff).
Not everything is a disaster, though. Here and there the author shows that she can - perhaps if she wants and/or perhaps with more experience - do good stuff. For instance, in the early episodes there were some interesting events, like the woman wanting the guy and thinking she is holding him in her hand. It was very well done.

Lire davantage

I can't go on enough about how much I adored this drama. The premise, an autistic older brother being taken care of by his younger brother and their connection to a troubled author, had me curious.
Not only was the story beautiful, watching each character grow, mature, and *heal* but the actors were spectacular. I think that the drama would not have been nearly as fantastic without this cast - their dynamics and chemistry really perfected the scenes.
Seo Ye Ji was just as incredible as she has been in all the other dramas I've seen her in, but I was still very impressed by her wholehearted performance. Playing such an initially cold-hearted and stoic character is no easy feat that she pulled off perfectly.
Kim Soo Hyun made an exceptionally strong comeback with this drama being his first since coming back from the military. His acting brought tears to my eyes and induced goosebumps. He's also particularly beautiful, so win-win! :D
Oh Jung Se was also spectacular in his own right, though it was very odd to see him play such a unique character. Having 1st hand experience with autistic individuals, I can confidently say that he portrayed Moon Sang Tae masterfully. And he portrayed his growth in such a realistic and raw fashion - he too brought tears to my eyes numerous times.
Honestly, all the actors were absolute perfection, elevating this drama to the level of "masterpiece."

While the OST is really exquisite and the song placement is perfectly executed, the songs themselves are not my absolute, hands down, favorite ever. The songs are a bit eerie and sad, yet harmonious and calm (for the most part) - there's nothing objectively wrong with any of them, and the OST really is beautiful, but it's just not my 100% #1 favorite. Still exquisite though! ^-^

***SPOILER BELOW***
The only thing I do have a gripe about was how Ko Mun Young's mother survived that fall AND drowning to continue to terrorize Ko Mun Young 20 years later. I just have a really hard time buying this part of the plot. I think the writers were trying to mislead viewers to think the mother *couldn't* have survived for greater impact when we found out that indeed she did survive and she was right under their nose the whole time. But the medical and logical side of my brain is twitching at this plot device. :P
***END SPOILER****

Fortunately, the above-mentioned plot issue I have does not bring down the overall drama because everything else was so perfect. I will say though, be prepared for your mind to run wild with plot theories while watching the drama. There are so many clues, many of which are purposefully misleading where you'll drive yourself crazy trying to figure it all out. Now that all the episodes are released, do yourself a favor and go ahead and dedicate about 18.5 hours to binge watch the entire thing!

Overall, It's Okay to Not Be Okay is not your typical drama - it's super quirky and the character's and their lives are very unique to this story. But it has so many things that the average viewer can sympathize with and it just overall pulls at your heartstrings (and the chemistry is ON POINT) - not just the main characters, but the equally well-written side characters and their stories too. You can't help but be enthralled by their stories and it's quirkiness. The love story between Ko Mun Young and Moon Gang Tae that developed through their own healing was real and stunning. And watching Moon Sang Tae's metamorphosis, going from being child-like to a true older brother and adult (while keeping his character true to his autism) was magnificent. And witnessing them all become a healed family was extraordinary.

I have already watched this drama about 3 times (I rewatched each episode at least twice while it was airing because I just couldn't get enough) and I will most definitely be rewatching it again. If you're not sure about watching, give the first 2 episodes a try - I'm confident that that's all it'll take to suck you in. ^-^

Lire davantage

This drama is amazing not because of the main leads but because every episode is a life lesson itself .This drama showed me that how there can be deepest secrets and moral hidden even in children books. for example how in cinderella the step sisters even go as far as to cut their foot to fit it in the glass slipper this thing totally reflects how scary greed can be . But i don't think any child might have paid any attention to this. the thing that they see is how cinderella met prince and live happily ever after . So for whom this lesson was actually ? we call these books fairy tales but in actual they are life lessons . This drama tells you that children's books can also reflect the evil desires of people out there. So, if you think this is just a normal romance drama then you are totally wrong this drama will open your eyes.

SO, STOP THINKING AND JUST WATCH IT !!!!

Lire davantage

SEMPLICEMENTE MAGNIFICO

Assolutamente da vedere. Personaggi meravigliosi (inutile dire sopratutto la protagonista), storia avvincente, mi dispiace solo un po’ per la penultima puntata che ho trovato un po’ sottotono rispetto alle altre. Chi ha Netflix deve assolutamente vedere questo capolavoro. È vero che magari non siamo abituati a vedere puntate da 80 minuti in media e la cosa all’inizio può anche spaventare ma tranquillo non li accusi per niente con questo drama! 500 parole sono troppe che altro devo scrivere mica voglio fare spoiler! Abbassate questo numero per favore voi che gestite questo sito

Lire davantage

~It's Okay to keep watching as everyone needs Healing~

Some slight/minor spoilers ahead~
Mental Health is a topic that have recently been under everyone's radar where there are many high profiled case that sparks outrage and sadness among the domestic & international community as whole without having the true method in escaping the desperation people faces increasingly. At one point in a lifetime, an experience/encounter that unfold which would make you question your entire existence including how your life are interconnected with another and to imagine getting perspective of living the life as a "mentally-troubled" individual. Now magnify that in a drama and you will get this drama which attempts to tackle this same question. But what is so unique or the standout point I notice early on for this drama?

**Summary**
A detailed summary I can brief on would involve having a male lead (Moon Kang tae) accompanied with a contrasting autistic and traumatized older brother (Moon Sang Tae) living a nomadic lifestyle where MKT is working short term as a caregiver/nurse in different psychiatric warded hospital trying to escape from a distraught past that is filled with mystery and pain for both brothers. It is until the male lead met the female lead (Ko Moon Young), whose someone with antisocial personality disorder tendencies (not knowing the true extent of love) and through this fateful meeting they had, they would faced conflicts and heal at the same time between one another on how they think and act in the future. During their meet-up, stories of other mentally-ill patient would popped up ever so slightly and give rise to awareness for us viewers. Teaching us about morals as a human and how it is okay to not be okay.

**Story Stands out and Attention to detail**
What stands out in the summary I have given are that the depiction of mental illness is very well written as the director made the choice of linking the story-line with supposed fantasy-like "fairy-tale" with morals striving to prove a point about the reason what/who/why/when people faces an issue and how they can grow out of it meaningfully. The depiction isn't always merry and is usually portrayed in a darker undertone but after going through all the struggles/obstacles would be when the dark tunnels leads to the end of a tunnel, a bright finale. The story is very much set in a realistic scenario tackling on psych-heavy theme, but it is a pleasure to see that there are fantasies/animations/exaggerations or dream/imagination sequence which would display a sense of false reality existing within patients and we as viewers can see that. Soon thereafter, the immediate sharp reality of the drama hits us with a bang and ground us on the floor, making us more relatable to the cast and scenario with very clear goals in mind.

As of now, the story have shown great pacing without delaying the lead's interaction and showing progress at how the leads are dealing with their owns emotional and psychological problems. Each episode reveals some clues for viewers to guess the final outcome, making the story a great discussion topic to have between viewers. The fact that some reviewers (who worked as caregivers) also praise the effort of production in showing an accurate representation of how a treatment to patient should be and how the patient normally react to stimulus in daily life is an amazing feat itself to show that the story is reality-based with good intentions. There is a recurring theme of "therapy" session where the story progresses with one core solution to solve different problems. I can safely say that the story element is well-written with intentions and nuances. The writer have made sure that the morals we have learnt from previous episodes is still ever present in future episodes, emphasizing the fact that everything is linked with nothing being thrown out. There is a mystery element to it which was good but wasn't the stand out point and has minor plot holes. 9.5 stars for the story.

**Character designs**
The female lead (Ko Moon Young played by Seo Ye Ji) is designed as having a cranky, headstrong, somewhat psychotic exterior with hints of having a softhearted interior female beauty with similarity to Jang Man Wol from Hotel Del Luna. I have seen a title given to her "A matured, crazier version of JMW" to which I fully agreed. KMY is a trendy fashion icon with stunning dresses and gorgeous accessories where I can imagine people trying to imitate her high-class style during this period of time. And what is more significant are her acting is true to the character without any big faults. Just a tear droplet or a slight smile can speak a thousands more words that if actual words were spoken. Reversing the cliche where the male lead is usually the wealthy and the more dominant counterpart, the female lead here does not follow this cliche and is quite dominant in ways where she is equal to the male in levels. Her acting is perfect for her role.

The male lead ( Moon Kang tae played by Kim Soo Hyun) is designed as having a more introverted personality that is more rooted to a normal male with some traits that aligns with being a lead. Traits such as not placing much importance in wealth, status or fame but rather on taking care of his family and patients first. Kim Soo Hyun doesn't exactly need confirmation for his acting because other than his flopped movie, Real. Every single drama/movie production of his is a success and his acting here is stellar. Not only is he very handsome, he can display emotions very well where I would cry for him every time he cries too.

The other leads I consider such as MKT's older autistic brother, Sang Tae are phenomenal in his acting which largely prove he deserved his 2020 Baeksang award as one the best actor. Just the expression, the way he talks and action. His character showed great development over the 16 episodes, showing a believable yet empowering role as an autistic individual which I would love to share with anyone facing a similar situation to his. Amazing... In contrast, Juri gives me the feeling that she isn't the typical second female lead either because it is shown that she is just as pretty in her own right where she is not as invasive to forcing MKT into a relationship. Though she is jealous and can be petty at times, I am certain I would not hate her but rather like her enough to follow her own plot as their past unravels. Moreover, she has consistently proves in the latter half of the drama as being more than a "side character" and is quite rich in backstory. She acted really perfectly.

There is also moments when the female lead would be doing something inappropriate due to her disorder and the lack of understanding she has over the world create a stark contrast as to how a normal human would have perform the action. This stark contrast isn't as romanticize as many would assume because slowly but surely, the male lead is correcting her action in a gentler way possible. On the other hand, the male lead who seems normal on the outside faces a pressure that created anger and sadness which cannot be diagnosed easily until the female leads notices it. The female lead with her keen observation would also correct his behavior but letting him unleash more of himself rather than just pure suppression. The topic of how you shouldn't just bury yourself with work/responsibilities but rather take a time off to have fun and enjoy what life has to offer. The end result is a "BALANCE" between the cast where male lead preach for control and female lead preach for freedom. Together they can heal each others weakness and compliment one another for their future lifestyle.

My verdict is that their chemistry is overflowing with tension at every corner. Perfect casting 10/10.

**Music**
Regarding this aspects, 10/10 for me due to how perfect the song fits the eerie vibe and fairy tale-esque feels. Once I heard the OST, it became an insta-download from me as I could imagine the scene in my head of when the song is played. The music being this captivating makes every scene flow so well along with the music. My favorite would be Breathe by Sam Kim. The ethereal feeling it invoke right at the start and then giving you that hopefulness in lyrics and vocals. The 2nd favorite would be "In Silence" which invoke a desperation and loneliness in me where I wish someone would "heal" me. As more songs unveil, I began to love the very wacky sounds present in other OST like Wake Up and Got You. Since it was a Netflix original, there is a number of English songs available and it is why international viewers can sing along to the song. Little by Little - Cheeze is also one of my favorites!

**Rewatch value**
This is super high as I have re-watched the drama a few times myself in anticipation for the next few episodes. I discover that there is so many Easter eggs hidden and foreshadowing so a re-watch is must to uncover the secrets the director hidden meticulously. An example would be in episode 1 where Sang tae mouthed the conversation between two animated characters, that is a major foreshadow to KMY and MKT future relationship and I highly recommend you keep this in mind as you watch.

**Cinematography**
Rather than the freeze shot or the abrupt change in sequence to a scene, this drama have moving-action shots that is relevant and interesting to view to my pleasure. There are so many scenes I could talk about so to focus on one scene as an example, the were able to transitioned from a miniature bus in a miniature city landscape into an actual bus ridden by the male lead in one scene smoothly. There is more scenes you will notice when you start to watch. The color palette too leans towards beige and black so when any other color appears, it becomes shocking. In this case, the female lead's dresses would usually have a popped out color highlighting her "uniqueness" and show-off persona. The "Tim Burton" like animation is a treat to watch and is very suited for any age group to view.

**Final Judgement**
Overall, the drama is a masterful work that tackles the topic of mental health issues and heal it in a way rarely seen in a drama of this capacity. Being the small screen return of Kim Soo Hyun and having Seo Ye Ji who naturally exudes charm through her deeper, lower voice, the casting is perfect and that is factoring in Oh Jung Se who I have been seeing in top drama lately like When My Camellia Bloom. The music and cinematography creates this flow that brings you visions and run downs in our journey of healing. As I was watching it airing, I had this hope of the drama maintaining their excellence and quality to which I will say that it did. The quality have just rise without a big dip. There could be some bumps along the way but for sure as I was watching the drama, I became emotionally invested and knowing all the references in fairy tales helped. Spotting the hidden details and theorizing with fellow fans. This drama is a personal masterpiece that I have placed up there with My mister. Whilst I am not sure if you will enjoy it as I do, for you to reach this point in my review shows that you are intrigue and I am thankful for your reading. The ending is satisfying and perfect too. Happy Watching!! 10/10

Lire davantage

Great first half

The first half of the series was interesting and addictive but the second half of the story was lazy and the writers tried to squeeze in as many tropes as possible. I assume the writers are trying to normalise mental health and encourage mental health discussions by making it as palatable to the general public as possible. Nevertheless, I enjoyed binge watching the series over the weekend and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a decent series to watch.
Pros
- Sang Tae. My favourite character in this series. A fully realised and inspiring character played with sensitivity.
- Seo Ye Ji and Kim Soo Hyun. They really immersed themselves into their characters and I cried for their characters several times. And they are very good looking which enhanced my viewing experience. Good chemistry. Would have loved a few more kissing scenes.
- The OST.

Cons
- The villain. Unnecessary.
- side characters were more like plot devices. I want backstory.
- the unoriginal weepy mess in the second half. Why do Korean melodramas all have the same storyline?
- the depiction of KMY and MGT’s relationship/courtship is problematic to me. I say this based on my experience with someone with a personality disorder.

Lire davantage

The best KDrama of 2020

It’s hard to write reviews about shows you love, Thats why I’ll keep it short:

What did I like about the show?
- amazing cinematography (reality & book illustrations)
- an extraordinary Cast (the casting director deserves a big raise)
- lovely characters (especially Sang Tae & Dr. Oh)
- versatile characters and their coping with own past
- well introduced patient stories
- acceptance of mental diseases
- a convincing healing story
- an exciting thriller aspect (let me speculate a lot)
- the unpatriotic dealing & respect for Korean War veterans
- the critics on society
- the symbolism of the show
- the call for acceptance
- the bonding of the brothers (the intense showdown gave me goosebumps & tears)
- perfect mix of humor, tragedy, family story, healing story & thriller
- the morals of each story inside the story
- the bonding of all characters (especially the brothers)
- the fact that you couldn’t dislike any character at all (in my case even the bad person)
- the music
- the conversations
- the slowly blooming love story
- the symbosis of a strong script & detailed director accomplishments
- the nature scenes
- the fine line between too less and too much (it felt realistic)
- the feeling to be completely satisfied after finishing each episode

What did I dislike about the show?
- nothing (that’s why I needed to rate 10/10)
- the feeling that I reached the peek of KDramaland of 2020 (it’s a strong year - who am I kidding?)

I can recommend the show whole heartily.

[MY ADVICE - SPOILER WARNING]
If you have issues with the fl think about her experiences in her most important years. Don’t believe the diagnosis of the talking people. It’s their assumption and not a medical fact. Try to understand the reasons for acting the way they do of every character and enjoy the mystical ride! Have fun, dear! ;)

Lire davantage

A Very Heart-warming Fairy Tale

I want to start my review by saying this is the very first time I’ll be rating a drama with a perfect 10. I’ve been watching dramas for 14 years and I’ve never felt invested and addicted to one before.

The story-telling was very unique and the writing is so polished. It has a typical story-line with other kdramas but it used a creative way of story-telling. The incorporation of fairy tales in each episode was what made this drama distinct from others. This drama made me felt different emotions while watching; sad and crying from one scene then, laughing out loud at the next. There are also some scenes that made me scared like watching a horror movie.

All characters are perfectly casted. Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji has the best chemistry I’ve seen from co-stars before. All their staring scenes from earlier episodes was just exploding with sexual tension (and, that’s just all from staring how much more from a kissing scene *wink*). KSH still have the power to break my heart just by crying, still showing that he’s still one of the best actors out there. SYJ showed a different side of her. I’ve watched her other dramas and I’m glad that she’s being noticed now. I empathized with Moon Young and felt for her so much. Everytime Moon Young cries, I cry as well. This is her best work yet. And of course, our Sang Tae-oppa, Oh Jung Se shined in every scene he’s in. He was able to embody a character so pure and innocent and make me laugh and cry.

The ending was so beautiful and we’re able to see all 3 of them heal and be happy. They found family, friendship, love and learned to love themselves first. I felt like I’m with them as they go on with their journey.

Overall, this drama is just perfect. I will miss this drama. This drama will go down as one of my personal favorites. And, I hope to whomever watches this drama, may you heal with the characters as they heal from their own heartaches and traumas.

Lire davantage

Relatability

It’s been almost 2 months since this show left me and it still resides deeply in me. I haven’t been able to move on to anything else. It’s not that the latest have been bad, my heart just keeps comparing them with this Kdrama and I keep thinking about whether the actors would nail the other roles.
You go through life searching for things that you can relate to so that you can form that special bond. Little did I know back in late June, when I was searching for Kdramas that deal with mental health, that I’d find one that would leave me absolute EMPTY when it left me. Back in June, I ended up having familial problems which deteriorated my mental health hence my search for one. I was pretty sad that no kdramas really fully focused on the effects parents had on a child’s mental health. I decided to randomly start IOTNBO since it had a 9.3 rating at the time. Best. Decision. Ever. The cinematography, OSTs, chemistry, acting, KO MUN YEONG <3 and more were just.... outstanding. Never have I seen a female lead so daring and honest. Never have I seen a Kdrama start off with beautiful animations. Never have I seen a Kdrama focus both on the autistic character and the sibling. I was so excited for the first time since TWOTM ended. I wasn’t fully fully hooked, but it was exciting enough to continue from the first episode. Now, what solidified it as my absolute favorite Kdrama despite flaws? Zombie kid. That story blewwwww my mind away since it described exactly what I felt. Warmth vs only fulfilling a child’s hunger. It displayed all my feelings and it got in touch with my inner child that hadn’t grown. The tears I cried ep 4-5 would’ve been enough for me to bathe in (other episodes did too). Not only did it point out a child’s desire for warmth and love, but it did show how mothers too sacrifice everything to protect their children. I got to satisfy my sadness over feeling like I didn’t receive enough warmth and also open my eyes to the fact that parents also try their hardest to keep us protected and show love in different ways. From that point on, my mental health improved and my relationship with my parents was heading towards restoration. For that, I couldn’t thank this Kdrama enough.

On top of that, the ending episode was by far the most satisfying ending I’ve ever seen. I felt healed despite the gross sobbing. Like I said, this Kdrama has some flaws, but it still overtook any flawless Kdrama out there for now. A 10/10 Kdrama doesn’t have to only be reserved for perfect stories. It’s also reserved for those that touched our hearts the most and made a change. I’d definitely love a special episode seeing my favorite characters. I miss them so much .

Lire davantage

“It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”…was okay

PLOT
This was very unique, the plot was really good. It has mystery, romance, mental health awareness. Felt like a Tim Burton movie, but kdrama edition and I love it. But….it wasn’t the best. The actors did an amazing job, but the script…felt like something was missing. Don’t get me wrong I loved it, just I expected a little bit more of it.
Trigger warning- child abuse
THE CHEMISTRY BETWEEN OUR MAIN COUPLE(S)?
Both of the actors did an amazing job, you could really feel the “love”! I truly enjoyed the relationship. The chemistry was there and that’s great.
HOW IT ENDS*Mild Spoilers*
I liked the ending,it was very heartwarming. The end twist was good.Yes, I figured it out, but I usually do…so not mad about it!

Lire davantage

Actual rating 11/10 .. best kdrama out of alll KDRAMA EVER

This is not just a kdrama but a journey of how the characters having their own problems big or small.. but how will each of them fight and overcome.. hence
Perfect HUMAN HEALING DRAMA
KIM SOO HYUN RETURN WITH A BANG!
It’s romcom is again another level.. with perfect comedy and SIZZLING CHEMISTRY BETWEEN LEADS TAKEN TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL!
It’s chemistry BROKE THE INTERNET!! :) :)
It’s healing— every ep has a message and a significance.. and it’s not just bluntly put.. but it shows how that message helps us in reality.. be it in forms of DIALOGE AND FAILRYTALES ( itself a unique thing in kdramaland)
Every ep was a roller coaster of emotion
You smile cry laugh shock too !smile it’s never constant.. and hence you get more engrossed
It a CHARACTER GROWTH BASED Kdrama but such a kind for sure unique from other
Touching on topics of mental illness is surely the best part of this show.. and it’s not just a doctor treating u with medication.. it’s way more
Or you could say how a person suffering with it thinks..from their perspective
Every side character is a amazing
And main cast - words aren’t enough
Every ep be it international or Korean fans.. all praising their acting
Kim soo hyun stellar performance ! The top actor of the industry for sure!

Oh Jung she acting being out of the world!, like no other ..unforgettable

And seo ye ji... well many started this kdrama for Kim soo hyun as he is already famous
But slowly all fell in love with her...one of the best actress for sure ..her vibe, sura, character and DREAMY WADROBE
The one who will either make u laugh or be like WHATTT DID SHE JUST SAY DAMNNN GURL! Best female character in kdrama
A totally new different personality kind of character you surely have never seen

In short.. after watching million Asian kdrama for 6 years and being a huge fan
This kdrama was a 1 in a million kind for me
Loved every bit
No loose ends.. can rewatch anytime as more I see more u understand more you cry laugh and love it
I have surely become too attached to this kdrama and it, sad to know good this come to an end! Best HUMAN HEALING DRAMA..
Best kdrama ever

Lire davantage