Two decades of Hallyu dramas under the belt leaves me a bit jaded and always guarded for the other shoe to drop, namely a really crappy ending. Not that an ending is unhappy for the OTP, even happy endings have been crappy because it’s unsatisfying in tying up loose ends and giving the characters their proper conclusion. Everything about the last episode of It’s Okay to Not be Okay was perfection, from first to last frame. My heart gushed, it soared, it teared, it laughed, this was what is asked by a viewer/reader when we sit down and say “tell me a story”. Moon Young and Kang Tae got their romantic happy ending, but more importantly Sang Tae got his life happy ending, independence and agency and best of all the ability to express his emotions as he made his own decisions.
Evil mommy was a catalyst and a boogie man but the three leads conquered not just her seeds of evil but also their own limitations, ending with the ability to seek their own happiness. And that ability doesn’t guarantee everything will work out, but at least they have the courage to try and the safety of having their family unit and a greater friend unit around them. This drama was my balm in an otherwise hard year and I highly highly recommend it now that it’s over even moreso than the exciting creative beginning episodes. This is a drama that will have lasting power. As for ratings, the average is 5.425% which is just below what Arthdal Chronicles averaged last year. It’s not the hit that the quality should have gotten but for cable network tvN it’s squarely in the middle of the ratings pack. I’m thrilled Kim Soo Hyun picked this as his comeback project, his Kang Tae was nnnnnngggggg so amazing and so hot to behold, coupled with Seo Ye Ji and Oh Jung Se’s equally riveting performances and the trio brought a fairy tale to life.
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Masterpiece drama. When I watch the last episode, I felt so warm. Truly healing drama. The chemistry among the cast is superb especially the trio. It will be fun to see them in variety show since three of them are so hyper lol
Oh my gosh, Kayla. It was just so perfect! I laughed, I cried, I tingled and sizzled (guess you know which scenes ?) and I healed.
I'd love to see them in a variety show, too. Or anywhere else really. ?
This one enters my top K-drama list of all time at #2. So creative, innovative and just amazing. I hope this crew of director, writer and actors can reunite for a new project together down the line - I will watch it.
can share the number one? itching for a good drama to watch.
I don't like how her ASPD is a gimmick and at the end, this is just another story about surviving trauma and "mental health" with love and childhood connection, at least have some therapy and not use the "bizarre medical" to cure people.
The one that actually has good story is t sangtae and the supporting characters.
So true. Completely agree with you. It started out well but in the end its just another k drama where love magically cures everything.
Thank you ockoala for enjoying this masterpiece. I am a huge fan of KSH and the way he emotes is just wonderful.
However, my parallel and more illiterate version is more into LMH and I had to relay the following message from her to you: IOTNBO IS CRAPP, TVN RATIINGS ARE LOWE, BICK FLOPP ON NOETFLAX
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I hope you (literate version) is planning to stick around for a while. I’m looking forward to the inevitable showdown.
*you are
(Now I’ve become illiterate myself ??♀️)
This drama will be one of my all-time faves for a very long time! This is the gold standard for a healing drama. Loved the character development and growth of each character. Loved the cast and crew and all their hard work to make this a tight, deep, coherent, emotional, visually-pleasing drama. Loved, loved, loved how KSH acts with every cell in his body, you can just feel the sincerity and how easily he reacts to his co-stars acting, so natural. I don't think there's anyone better among his peers. Loved how the final episode shows us that they are still close but no longer co-dependent with each other. It's like they've morphed into really beautiful butterflies with their own wings. So happy KSH chose this as his comeback project, he should be very proud of his work. The rest of the cast and crew should be very proud of this drama. Congrats to all of them!
100% agree on all counts!
Kinda disappointed that all the Mom's mystery was simplified and not satisfyingly explained, considering all the stories and complexities told in earlier episodes. Sang Tae's character is the best and my most favourite. He grows up so much more than the two, becoming a fully dependent individual and a real hyung to his two dongsaengs. Too bad the focus on Mun Yeoung and Gang Tae stopped on them being a couple, not much on them as individuals finding new purposes in their life. The show had much more potentials underexplored, but I agree that the final episode is good enough in making the conclusion and sending message to wrap the story. Still very good drama with unique plotline and topic. I love the final message that what the witch stole was not their faces, but their courage to find happiness. In the end it depends on you how your destiny will be. Love the drama very much.
The story about the psycho mom was not really explored and it was so far-fetched. But the ending really gave me a warm feeling. Everybody in this drama did some growing up in their own way. And finally it was love and kindness that melted the icy heart. Love the growing up Sang Tae did and his growth frees Kang Tae to explore himself. And it's true what Kang Tae said that Moon Young will not be able to live alone again because now she knows warmth and full stomach. So good to see the 3 of them embark on their journey courageously finding happiness while having each other's back.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this drama. Could not say it enough that this tops my K-drama for the year. I didn't even mind if the evil eomma skit was short lived, since she was not really the focus of the whole story. A lot of lessons to hear and true to its meaning, it definitely was a healing drama.
It's top of my list too!
BEAUTIFUL Drama! Wonderfully nuanced and crafted - by both writer, and actors
Ep 16 = One of the best final episodes of any drama (and I have been on KDramas since 2001).
Tying up loose ends fluidly without losing steam, and so satisfyingly. Everyone, still keeping in character. It had me riveted; in tears, in laughter, cheering ... and also sad we won't be seeing Sang-tae, Kang-tae, Mun-yeong and Mang-tae anymore.
Aww, me too! These were all me during the finale:
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Ah, my heart...
I don't have enough words to describe how much I LOVE this drama. And all the beautiful ways it's broken me and healed me at the same time.
This insightful Tumblr post shed some light on why the nurse's backstory wasn't explained and I'm content with it:
https://chasehermes.tumblr.com/post/625989613310394368/i-was-thinking-about-why-the-show-did-not-discuss/amp?__twitter_impression=trueShe wasn't the focus
IOTNBO is an absolute masterpiece for many reasons, the best being the emotional impact, healing and joy it's brought to a lot of people, myself included.
I'll definitely be rewatching this one again and again.
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