Bedtime stories that turn into nightmares and hallucinations that morph into reality - the latest K-drama blockbuster 'It's Okay To Not Be Okay' brings one through a journey of healing, learning, and respect.
The recent craze surrounding the Netflix series needs no introduction. Starring actor Kim Soo Hyun who plays a psychiatric caregiver Moon Gang Tae and actress Seo Ye Ji as a children's book author Ko Mun Young, the highly-anticipated series boasts stunning visuals right from its beginning.
Bedtime stories that turn into nightmares and hallucinations that morph into reality - the latest K-drama blockbuster 'It's Okay To Not Be Okay' brings one through a journey of healing, learning, and respect.
The recent craze surrounding the Netflix series needs no introduction. Starring actor Kim Soo Hyun who plays a psychiatric caregiver Moon Gang Tae and actress Seo Ye Ji as a children's book author Ko Mun Young, the highly-anticipated series boasts stunning visuals right from its beginning.
Using symbolism to outline pertinent issues such as mental health issues and developmental disorders, and making references to fairy tales and children's literature, each episode leaves viewers with a puzzle that is waiting to be pieced together. While 'It's Okay To Not Be Okay' is an emotional rollercoaster for both the viewers and the characters, the darker undertones of the series make it far from being a romantic cliche.
Aside from the protagonists' unexpected romance taking the center stage of the plot, Oh Jung Se, who plays Moon Sang Tae, Kim's older brother diagnosed with autism, is a lovable character who also highlights several topics which are left untouched in our society.
Not only does 'It's Okay To Not Be Okay' tell a story that warms the hearts of readers, the original soundtrack that accompanies the series is seamlessly woven into the ups and downs of the plotline. The ending theme 'You're Cold' by HEIZE is by far the most iconic song from the show
At the beginning of the show, Ko Mun Young bared her cold personality as someone who acts on impulse and often uses violence to solve problems. As a children's book writer, she drew flak from parents of the children who read her books and caused mayhem at two press conferences - both situations of which Moon Sang Tae happened to find himself in.
As a psychiatric caregiver, Gang Tae had a soft spot for Mun Young since their first meeting, as she reminded him of a girl from his childhood days. In the moments where their gaze happened to meet, 'Breath' by Sam Kim enters the scene as the lovers are starstruck by each other's presence.
At the end of episode five, viewers are introduced to the cursed castle which Mun Young grew up in since her childhood, together with a nostalgic flashback to when Gang Tae delivered flowers to her doorstep as a child. As they found themselves in a parallel situation years later, 'In Your Time' by AKMU's Lee Su Hyun floods the scene.
While Gang Tae calms Mun Young down from a nightmare of her mother haunting her in her sleep, Park Won's 'My Tale' puts an end to her misery as she sobs into the arms of Gang Tae.
At certain junctures, Janet Suhh's 'In Silence' enters to fill the gaps when the Gang Tae is at a loss for how to resolve problems, especially when his brother is in a position of emotional pain which he is unable to relate with.
After being around Sang Tae, Mun Young starts to accept him for his personality flaws, despite society labeling him for being socially inept as an adult diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder. Across the episodes, we start to see the shift in Mun Young's personality and how the brothers have shaped her into a kinder person who learns to understand emotions.
Episode 11 ends on a light-hearted note, as Sang Tae tells the story of The Ugly Duckling. Sharp-eyed viewers may draw a parallel to his personal life, however, the ending scene depicts them linking arms and walking together without anyone being left out. The scene is joined by CHEEZE's 'Little By Little'.
It is at the end of episode 12 where viewers see the most radiant smile on Mun Young's face as she posed alongside Sang Tae and Gang Tae in their family portrait. Gang Tae's tear-jerking line "I'm not too late, right?" as he walks into the photo studio dressed up in a tuxedo is then followed by YONGZOO's 'Puzzle', a light-hearted song which symbolises the temporal happiness of their reunion.
As the finale of episode 16 unveils itself tonight, 'It's Okay To Not Be Okay' will live on in our hearts with its spectacular OST that reminds us that emotional pain, love, and longing is all part of our journeys.