It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)

One of My Favorites

I'd heard a lot about this drama and it had been on my radar for quite a while. I loved every minute of each episode I watched. I loved seeing all the characters grow in their own way. In the first episode Mun-Yeong was cold and emotionless and seemingly didn't care about anything. In truth she was sad and lonely and suffered from a lot of darkness.

But as the series went on, she began to show her true self and in the end was able to break free from the darkness. Seo Ye-Ji gave a great performance as Mun-Yeong.

Kim Soo Hyun, one of my favorite actors also gave a wonderful performance as Gang-Tae. Gang-Tae was a young man who had spent all his time running away along with his brother Sang-Tae. He'd always prioritized his brother and shut himself out to feeling anything for anyone else. I loved seeing him let his walls down as the series went on and he realized he didn't need to live for Sang-Tae and finally started living for himself. He realized that he belonged to himself. I also loved how his relationship with Mun-Yeong grew.

I also loved Sang-Tae. Though he was autistic, he still showed he cared for and loved those around him. He protected Gang-Tae and Mun-Yeong when he needed to and I was so proud when he stopped being afraid of the things from his past and found his true calling in the end.

Another thing I loved was the implementation of Mun-Yeong's stories in the episodes. I loved seeing the illustrations and thought they were a cute touch.

The supporting cast was also wonderful. Each of them all grew in their own ways.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this drama was its theme of family. Gang-Tae and Sang-Tae had lost their mom (which Sang-Tae was witness to seeing resulting in his trauma) and Mun-Yeong had suffered her own trauma as a result of her upbringing. But the three of them were able to overcome those traumas and become their own family.

This was a show about healing and letting go of the past and learning that it's ok to not be ok.

I loved this drama and would definitely would watch it again. Definitely one of my favorites.

Read More

Masterpiece

From the first minute I knew it’ll be a 10/10 drama. It was something new and I knew that I’ll like it. It was a journey about self-discovery, healing, loving yourself, accepting you for who you are, overcoming your past and demons, loving others and helping them.

I really liked the fairy tale thingy and how it was included in everything not just because Ko Moon Young is a writer. It was more like ‘reality’ than a fairytale. I also like how KMY approached the topic of fairytales and explained the moral of them in a different perspective. I applaud the actors for their splendid work! They did a great job in portraying their part, especially OJS. I’m not really familiar of him, but his acting was impressive, whenever I saw him acting as MST I think if it was a real person who has autism spectrum disorder is acting. I had to stop and search about him cuz he wasn’t just acting, it was so real. I’m pretty sure he’ll get a lot of awards for this.

And the music/OST just hits differently, every song played was perfect for the scene they were played for. My favorite is In Silence cuz it really hits close to home. I’m addicted to it!

I learned a lot of things from this drama and it opened my eyes about thing I’ve been avoiding, there are a lot of scenes and quotes in IONTBO I enjoyed, especially the scene where MGT said “ I love you. I love you, Ko Moon Young. Yaaahh I said I love you! “ lol it was funny how he is now in her place and she’s the one receiving it.

‘Family is not about blood. ’
‘The bystander is worse than the abuser.’
‘Just because you’re the parent doesn’t mean I belong to you nor does it mean I’m obligated to give you my organ, especially after what you’ve done.’
‘Standup for yourself’
‘Fight your demons, don’t let them hold you back.’
‘Kiss, don’t fight.’ *wink wink*

Overall, every actor‘s part was breathtaking and done professionally. It’s refreshing watching a drama that’s so different from the usual dramas, especially one that talks about our society and addresses a lot of issues beside mental health. Thanks a lot to the writer, director, producer, actors ( main, support and guest) and everyone for producing this amazing drama!

Read More

Stop What You're Doing And Watch This Immediately!

Hands down the best k-dramas I've ever seen. It's the only k drama that I have ever watch where all the actors completely nail the acting! Like no one disappoints, the acting is stellar and chemistry is unparalleled. This drama is one of kind. Kim So Hyun and Seo Yi Ji have raised the bar in terms of what chemistry is. I can guarantee you find any male leads and female leads that mesh as well as they do. Can't forget Oh Jung Se either his acting will honestly blow you away. Everyone will blow you away! Legendary without a doubt, to everyone who watches k dramas and to those that don't this drama is a must watch for sure!

Read More

It was definitely different. I loved the atmosphere of this drama, the creepiness of the cursed castle, the creepiness of the fairy tales, the creepiness of the culprit. I loved the relationship among the main three, the love they had for each other, the fact that each of them had his or her own flaws, that they all made mistakes they needed to take responsibility for, it made them feel 3D. I loved the cinematography, the costumes - wow, Ko Moon Young’s dresses were really something, just wow! - and the music, too, the main song was so catchy! And I loved all the patients in the psychiatric hospital, I loved that the writers went that extra length to give them all their own personalities and stories, that they weren’t just props.

What I cared little about was the relationship between Ko Moon Young’s publisher and the young nurse, that one didn’t really click with me. I also didn’t like how the publisher treated his assistant. Sure, the girl knew how to use her young looks to her advantage but that didn’t justify his behavior towards her.

Overall, an excellent drama that I can highly recommend.

Read More

Simple yet beautiful.

Not your typical complicated storyline, this show showed us how things can get so beautiful when you don't expect it at all.
One thing that I think is so important is how to accept yourself how you are and try not to change it for others. Kangtae fell for Moonyoung when she was the most antisocial person he had known, but still, he fell for her. Why? Because he saw her scars and how she suffers when she's alone. He didn't fall in love with her money or her fashion. He loved how Moonyoung was fragile despite acting so strong.
The dialogues were so precious. I guess every episode of this show had a different message.
The acting was 1000/10. I mean, just by looking at their eyes you could easily understand how they felt at that moment.
The only thing that made me score the story 9.5, was Moonyoung's mother that I think it was kinda illogical but I'm glad they weren't too sticked on that storyline.
Overall, enjoyed it so much.

Read More

Near perfect drama

It's quite hard to put into words just how excellent in every way, this drama is.
Screen writer Jo Yong and director Park Shin Woo really nailed it, together with a cast who so eloquently brought their characters to life.
Gang-tae, who becomes a care giver at the OK Psychiatric Hospital, seems completely balanced and together, but has closed off the life he shares with his autistic older brother, Sang-tae. Moon-young, a children's author, is totally self absorbed, feisty and used to getting what she wants.
The meeting of these characters and the journey they embark on, played out in the drama, to understanding themselves and others, feels like a dark fairy tale at times, however it is very real. Their emotional stories and those of the hospital patients, are both very funny and moving.
I especially liked a guest appearance by Kwak Dong Yeon as patient Kwon Gi Do, who had me reaching for tissues.
A favourite actress, Kim Mi Kyung, plays Kang Soon Deok (Joo-ri's mother) so well; she was actually a linchpin, to me.
There were no clichés that  I can think of at all and no overly sentimental scenes either. It was actually adult in its presentation and very honest.
A scene in the final episode, shows how grown ups should be portrayed in a relationship... it can be done.
Every actor was great, but for me, Oh Jung-se deserves an award for his perfect portrayal of Sang-tae. He made the character very central, important and one that evolved possibly more than any other.
This is one of those rare dramas that I cannot imagine anyone saying they did not like it at all.
I am going to miss this so much and will definitely watch again.

Read More

Beautiful Heartache

AMAZING!!!!!! Incredible plotline and actors!! Each character had his/her own role in the story that was critical. It was such a pleasure to see all the characters grow and develop to their best self. It is rare to see the lead characters so dynamic. Typically, it's one character healing another. My favorite aspect is that they all healed and loved each other. It's so amazing how another broken person is able to be fixed by someone else who is also weak and damaged. I also really really love the depth this drama went into mental health. This is a touchy topic especially in Asian country. For a Korean drama to really explore the consequences of mental issues, it is really touching and beautiful. I can guarantee smiles as well as teary eyes. This drama does not disappoint. HIGHLY recommend.

Read More

Something different from the usual

It’s okay to not be okay goes beyond what’s “ normal ” and accepted by society, it shows characters developments and human ignorance to an educated level I never seen before in a kdrama, I’ve watched a lot of kdramas and they somehow just don’t show mental health problems as they should be and that’s where it’s okay not to be okay stray from it and actually shows a more realistic side of it, in simple words I think this is the best serie I’ve ever watched so far.... The episodes were so charming till the point it made me want for the episode to never end, it’s okay to not be okay indeed exceeded my expectations.

note to self: you know the serie is good when 1 hour feels like 10 minutes

080920

Read More

Give this a try!!You won't regret it.

I know that this drama is not your cup of tea, this is a "HEALING DRAMA" so please do not compare it to other Korean series with different concept/genre.

What convinces me to watch this is because of the title, In this world, we pretend to be ok although deep inside we are not OK, sometimes as we seek help other might think we are just exaggerating things, another reason is the storyline, this is a healing drama so I just give it try. I also watched this because of Kim Soo Hyun, but I ended up being a fan of the other main lead Seo YeJi and Oh Jung-Se because their acting is really out of this world. I am going to miss the Trio!!

The moral lesson here is to accept to ourself that sometimes we weak and we need to lean each other to become stronger, another thing is to be polite to other people we deal every day because you never know what are they going through, this drama also tackles mental health and about autism awareness.

Overall this drama is beyond my expectation 100/10, although the plot is simple, not all about the romance about the female and male lead, it is well balanced from the romance of the 2 main lead, family-oriented(blood-related or not), comedy, suspense, and thriller could also be here, also there is a life lesson that we can carry on forever.

Read More