Sora
The past few years will go down in history as having birthed some of the most popular Kdramas of all time.
One of these is It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, a 2020 Netflix production that stunned (and still is) stunning the entire globe.
This drama is perfection manifested and once you’re done with this review/recommendation post, you’ll know why.
Plot Summary
It’s Okay To Not Be Okay is a Korean drama that tells the story of a romance between a children’s book writer who has antisocial personality disorder and a psychiatric ward employee who has a traumatic past.
The writer, Ko Moon Young, meets the employee, Moon Kang Tae, at a book signing event and becomes fascinated by him.
They start a relationship that helps them heal their emotional scars and discover the truth behind their connected fates.
Characters
The main characters of the drama are:
1. Go Moon Young (played by Seo Yea Ji)
Moon Young is a successful and popular children’s book writer who suffers from antisocial personality disorder.
She is confident, charismatic, and creative, but also cold, selfish, and reckless, but I couldn’t help but love her from the very first minute.
She has a traumatic and abusive childhood that affects her, and when she falls in love with Moon Gang Tae, she starts to face her fears and discovers a deep love.
2. Moon Gang Tae (played by Kim Soo Hyun)
He’s a caregiver who works at OK Psychiatric Hospital, and he is caring, responsible, and hardworking, but also emotionally detached and lonely.
He lost his parents when he was young and has devoted his life to taking care of his autistic older brother, Moon Sang Tae.
3. Moon Sang Tae (played by Oh Jung Se)
This is Moon Kang Tae’s older brother who has autism spectrum disorder, and he is a gifted illustrator and a fan of Go Moon Young’s books.
He is naive, honest, and loving, but also fearful and traumatized by witnessing their mother’s death when he was a child.
4. Nam Joo Ri (played by Park Gyu Young)
She is a nice, sweet, and friendly nurse who also works at OK Psychiatric Hospital.
She has always had a crush on Kang Tae and a history with him from their childhood and because of this, her relationship with Moon Young isn’t the best.
My Review
I loved watching this drama because at no point did it feel like the usual romantic comedy-drama that I normally watch.
It had a dark, magical, and emotional tone that kept me interested and curious, and I love that it was well-written, well-directed, and well-acted. I could have lived without the thriller plot, but it was still a nice (if unnecessary) bonus.
Dramas about mental health and trauma oftentimes come across as somewhat heavy, but I appreciated the way it was shown realistically and respectfully in It’s Okay To Not Be Okay.
I also loved witnessing the character development and growth of all the characters (I mean, every single one had changed by the final episode) and it genuinely felt like they had all found their places in life.
For Moon Young, Sang Tae, and Gang Tae, I loved that their found family was very much a theme from the beginning till the end and it even made me teary-eyed.
This beautiful, heartwarming drama made me laugh, cry, and smile, so I just know that you’re going to love it!
Final Rating
I would give this drama a 10 out of 10.
It is one of the best dramas I have ever watched – the cast was great, OST was on point, and the production was nothing short of amazing
I highly recommend It’s Okay To Not Be Okay to anyone who likes:
- Dramas with fierce female leads who are a little damaged.
- Wholesome Kdramas about found family.
Korean Dramas Like It’s Okay To Not Be Okay To Watch next:
If you love It’s Okay To Not Be Okay”, you might want to check out these other Korean dramas that have similar themes, genres, or vibes:
1. It’s Okay, That’s Love
This drama is also about mental health, romance, and healing, and just like It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, the leads are lovable and memorable.
It follows a psychiatrist and a bestselling author who fall in love while dealing with their own psychological issues and traumas.
The drama has a realistic and sensitive portrayal of mental disorders and the chemistry between the leads was amazing.
2. Mystic Pop-Up Bar
This dark fantasy comedy-drama follows a mysterious woman who runs a pop-up bar that can travel to different realms and times.
She helps her customers resolve their problems by entering their dreams, and along the way, she meets a young man who has a special ability and a former afterlife detective who becomes her partner.
3. Healer
Healer stars a skilled and secretive night courier who takes on various illegal tasks for his clients.
He gets involved in a conspiracy that links him to a star reporter and a hacker who works for an online news agency.
4. Crash Landing On You
Arguably one of the most popular romantic Kdramas released in the past decade, Crash Landing On You comes fully loaded with laughs and emotions and you’ll love it!
CLOY follows a wealthy and successful South Korean woman who accidentally paraglides into North Korea and meets a handsome and loyal North Korean soldier who protects her and helps her return home.
Have you watched It’s Okay To Not Be Okay? What’s your favourite scene? Who’s your favourite character? Let me know in the comments below.
And, don’t forget to check out the related posts for even more drama reviews and recommendations.
Happy watching!
