WATCHED: IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY - My Commentary & Spoiler Impressions for Episodes 1-8
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD, with multiple mentions but not specifics, featuring my personal impressions and commentary, and not necessarily a specific breakdown of episodic plots ... and as well I have chosen to not feature specific video clips (of which there are plenty to be found on youtube :p), for the time being, until maybe after the series has ended..., cheers :)
Meanwhile, the series continues on tvN and on Netflix - Rated "NC16", and airs on two days per week: Saturdays and Sundays.
Having reached the half-way point of this 16-episode first season, with Episode 9 waiting around the corner, I'd thought to attempt to dive into IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY, with some of my impressions and trying not to spoil (too much of) the story.
In the bare essence of what I have watched thus far, and also revealed by the actors in their pre-show interviews, is that the show is about "healing", and in that respect, a whole lot of impressions each character showcased in the beginning episodes, slowly but surely gains depth and a emotional investment paying off with roller-coaster rides of alternating waves of heartwarming humour and devastating heartaches, with each character going thru symbolic and physical changes, and developing further understanding of whom we were presented with at the beginning of the series.
I personally am left emotionally drained at the end of every episode, to be honest. Reaching 50 years and probably achieve mid-life crisis-tom, I have since become a sentimental sap and emotional bag, and watching these fictionalised tale tags at my heartstrings quite intensely, I admit. Look, even watching anime can wet my tear-ducts, so... :p
"Mental Health" might be "trending" now in social circles (for lack of a better term, but not diminishing its potency in any way, shape or form), and it is faced head-on here, with the main protagonists - beyond the character of Sang-tae, who is autistic, and as well Kang-tae is a care-taker in the "OK Psychiatric Hospital". All the show's main protagonists have mental traumas, some more obvious to the naked eyes, while others via selective societal "blindness".
Each episode has a distinct "moral of the day", framed by storybook tales (which are written by "Mun-yeong"), and as well revolve around the patients in said "Psychiatric Hospital".
This series is predominantly "character led", with their current characteristics and circumstance a direct result of their past experiences, traumas, leading to current actions, both physically and mentally. We jump into the series in the middle of their individual lives, and we follow along when their paths cross, and journey with them on their path forwards together.
I will be commenting on only THREE of the main characters (in this blogpost):
- "Ko Mun-yeong" (played by Seo Ye-ji) whom I'll refer to as "KMY".
- "Moon Gang-tae" (played by Kim Soo-hyun) whom I'll refer to as "MGT".
- "Moon Sang-tae" (played by Oh Jung-se) whom I'll refer to as "MST".
IN A SPAN OF EIGHT EPISODES THE CHARACTER OF MOON GANG-TAE (MGT) has grown from a stoic, constantly self-controlled career caregiver, and brother of "Moon Sang-tae" ("MST"), to being smitten with "Ko Mun-yeong" ("KMY"), and resisting her blatant seduction attempts, to falling for the author.
We see his past and how and why he reacts to his brother, and as importantly his relationship with his mother, in a parallel of how KMY's relationship with her mother has affected her psyche. We get to see his carefully built-up walls breaking down, and seeing him in pure jealously was a delicious delight. He is reduced to goofy boy-crush smiles at the end of Ep8.
The bulk of crying in this series is from MGT, and each time is a heart-aching revelation of how he actually feels/felt, juxtaposed against his constantly stoic demeanour at work and with people around him.
KMY calls him her "safety pin" (to her volatile character), when instead KMY has become his breathing valve to enjoy "life"
The word "anti-social" has been used a lot in pre-show launch promotion, for the CHARACTER OF KO MUN-YEONG (KMY), and quite perfectly fits the cliches of this seemingly "entitled spoiled brat of a celebrated children's book author", who is constantly spoilt by her publishing company and most importantly her "publisher boss", and we see all manners of borderline-psychopathic behaviour from this utterly gorgeous woman, dressed to the nines and presented as this otherworldly divine creature, with a macabre somewhat kleptomanic fascination with bladed items. But behind the facade of straightforwardness (which the general docile public would deem "rude"), hides an intense history of personal demons and wretched dreams.
Her past relationship with her mother, is presented here as a source of quite literally "horror", which exceedingly stands out in this rom-com, making it an interesting hybrid which is screaming for a resolution and explanation.
As with notable KDramas, the main protagonists' pasts are always entwined, and this is no exception here, as both KMY and MGT (and by extension MST) have a shared past, that is revealed throughout the 8 episodes, enough to tantalise and keep you waiting for more to be revealed, and believe me, there is more to come.
More than just physically, they were also connected emotionally, some more than others.
KMY has grown from a cold and detached persona, to experience warmth, love and family, thanks to MGT. In a lifetime before filled with emptiness and severe "controlling-mother" issues, the foul mouthed with a sly calculated smiling KMY has grown to a joyous adorable smiling mess at the end of Episode 7 ... which of course it doesn't last longer, of which I am appreciative of, because someone's life is not as easily "cured" as they would in a fictional "romance comedy", innit?
In comparison to MGT's constant tears, KMY's tears happen as she dreams, where her nightmares rip apart her soul, and leaves her devastated and trying to survive throughout the day with her built-up armor of defiance and contempt.
In more ways than one, both MGT and KMY have their own armours torn down by each other, and thus the process of "healing" continues.
I have a feeling that at the mid-way mark, is where their self-defenses have been torn down, but NOW is the time the actual "process of healing" begins ... and more the subsequent 8 more episodes to come before the end of season 1 in Ep16, there's going to be a hella bumpy road to redemption and self-love.
IN A SPAN OF EIGHT EPISODES THE CHARACTER OF MOON SANG-TAE (MST) is somewhat of an emotional bridge between both MGT and KMY.
To MGT, his brother is his immediate link ("Ball and chain"?) to the past and as well his current, having taken care of him since childhood ("15 years" ago?), when their mother was MURDERED BY A SERIAL KILLER (this is something no doubt is screaming to be resolved by series end, and without a doubt connected to KMY and her family).
At the same time, what MST experiences, is a mirror to KMY's current life - be it from nightmares (which MGT has mentioned in Ep7 to be similar to his brother's - but "Butterflies" were not mentioned ... and we all know what KMY did to butterfly wings as a young girl...!!!!), or the loneliness of his/her own personalities in relation to people around them.
For KMY is her celebrity status, while MST is in a world of his own, embolden by his brother MGT's micro-care, who caters to his whims and quirks, as do the book publisher to KMY's.
With his talent in illustration, and KMY in writing children's books, their style and genre is inexplicably intertwined. I have no doubt MST feels romantically for KMY, more likely thinking her as his mirror, even though they fought over "Mang-tae The Nightmare Catcher" doll (in Ep8) LOL
MST has shown himself to be an intelligent character, who has thoughts of his own, and with an intense artistic flair. From sketching in KMY's books, to freebie portraits with the purchase of pizza, to painting a wall mural at the asylum where MGT works, he is not necessarily led by the nose all the time. He does exert his own thoughts given the opportunity. Actually he does so everytime! It's just that we (the viewers) might have taken his words for granted ... but also in the asylum, the caregivers tend to actually listen to the patients, moreso than folks "outside", IMHO.
We are also shown MST's independence, where he can travel by himself,
his (limited) interaction with public and the masses remain a crutch tho (book signing in the earlier episode, but he does not need to be babied constantly, and can independently assert himself and his thoughts, ironically something MGT could not do.
MST's issue is being able to effectively communicate his intentions as clear as would you and I, and that in turn is somewhat a mirror to KMY as well.
Both MGT and MST carry their own levels of feelings of guilt, manifested as "responsibility" .... and now, MGT has taken on the responsibility of KMY, and her "success" in unshackling her "leash", perhaps left a triumphant feeling with MGT, that he could not have achieved all these years with his own brother MST...?
I made the mistake of reading comments where spoilers for Ep9 might show MST as the "villain" in his attempt to derail MGT and KMY's romance (urgh), so I have no doubt things'll get interestingly heartbreaking as we move forward, and where MGT has to choose between his dedication to his brother (which was actually addressed somewhat in Ep8, where MGT was told to choose giving himself or Man-tae to KMY), and blossoming notion of "love" for KMY.
I mentioned "notion", because all of it could be an inexplicable expression of something neither has mentally felt for, but actions are "recognised" as "love" given anyone who sees it happening ... but I somehow feel this series tends to go much more beneath the surface of thing, so I am intrigued to see how this plays out...
Visually, this series is exceptionally pretty. The mise en scène is effective is effective, and the mood distinctly stood out with its own geography, primarily focusing on the clinical asylum, and the gothic beauty of the "Cursed Castle", with the everyday homes of MGT/MST made to bridge both reality and fantasy.
The warmth and light MGT/MST brought to KMY's castle/house was a very well executed heartwarming scene and revelation .. too bad it does not seem to last as long...
And how can you NOT address the fabulous fashion of KMY? The lady herself is naturaly and styled unbelievably pretty and effervescent (*That puts "Jang Man-wol" closet in HOTEL DEL LUNA into subtle shame - I still heart you, IU!), with her dangle earrings and hardly any necklaces twinkling amidst her sly smirks...
The two leads are so adorable, it is unnerving! The stoic beauty and cheekiness gave into gorgeous and giving full smiles at the end of Ep8, which for all intents and purposes, truly feels a tad too early to happen without a glitch ... and they cannot possibly SMILE for 8 more episodes, no?
There is this very uneasy feeling - for folks familiar with KDrama-romances - is that the "happiness" we are experiencing now, reached thus far by the end of Ep8, will somehow not last, as inevitably there'll be something thrown into the scheme of things, before the inevitable "happy ending" we all home to witness and be apart of. I cannot wait!
Meanwhile, the series continues on tvN and on Netflix - Rated "NC16", and airs on two days per week: Saturdays and Sundays.
Having reached the half-way point of this 16-episode first season, with Episode 9 waiting around the corner, I'd thought to attempt to dive into IT'S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY, with some of my impressions and trying not to spoil (too much of) the story.
In the bare essence of what I have watched thus far, and also revealed by the actors in their pre-show interviews, is that the show is about "healing", and in that respect, a whole lot of impressions each character showcased in the beginning episodes, slowly but surely gains depth and a emotional investment paying off with roller-coaster rides of alternating waves of heartwarming humour and devastating heartaches, with each character going thru symbolic and physical changes, and developing further understanding of whom we were presented with at the beginning of the series.
I personally am left emotionally drained at the end of every episode, to be honest. Reaching 50 years and probably achieve mid-life crisis-tom, I have since become a sentimental sap and emotional bag, and watching these fictionalised tale tags at my heartstrings quite intensely, I admit. Look, even watching anime can wet my tear-ducts, so... :p
"Mental Health" might be "trending" now in social circles (for lack of a better term, but not diminishing its potency in any way, shape or form), and it is faced head-on here, with the main protagonists - beyond the character of Sang-tae, who is autistic, and as well Kang-tae is a care-taker in the "OK Psychiatric Hospital". All the show's main protagonists have mental traumas, some more obvious to the naked eyes, while others via selective societal "blindness".
Each episode has a distinct "moral of the day", framed by storybook tales (which are written by "Mun-yeong"), and as well revolve around the patients in said "Psychiatric Hospital".
This series is predominantly "character led", with their current characteristics and circumstance a direct result of their past experiences, traumas, leading to current actions, both physically and mentally. We jump into the series in the middle of their individual lives, and we follow along when their paths cross, and journey with them on their path forwards together.
I will be commenting on only THREE of the main characters (in this blogpost):
- "Ko Mun-yeong" (played by Seo Ye-ji) whom I'll refer to as "KMY".
- "Moon Gang-tae" (played by Kim Soo-hyun) whom I'll refer to as "MGT".
- "Moon Sang-tae" (played by Oh Jung-se) whom I'll refer to as "MST".
IN A SPAN OF EIGHT EPISODES THE CHARACTER OF MOON GANG-TAE (MGT) has grown from a stoic, constantly self-controlled career caregiver, and brother of "Moon Sang-tae" ("MST"), to being smitten with "Ko Mun-yeong" ("KMY"), and resisting her blatant seduction attempts, to falling for the author.
We see his past and how and why he reacts to his brother, and as importantly his relationship with his mother, in a parallel of how KMY's relationship with her mother has affected her psyche. We get to see his carefully built-up walls breaking down, and seeing him in pure jealously was a delicious delight. He is reduced to goofy boy-crush smiles at the end of Ep8.
The bulk of crying in this series is from MGT, and each time is a heart-aching revelation of how he actually feels/felt, juxtaposed against his constantly stoic demeanour at work and with people around him.
KMY calls him her "safety pin" (to her volatile character), when instead KMY has become his breathing valve to enjoy "life"
"Anti-social behaviours are actions that harm or lack consideration for the well-being of others. It has also been defined as any type of conduct that violates the basic rights of another person and any behaviour that is considered to be disruptive to others in society." (Wiki)
The word "anti-social" has been used a lot in pre-show launch promotion, for the CHARACTER OF KO MUN-YEONG (KMY), and quite perfectly fits the cliches of this seemingly "entitled spoiled brat of a celebrated children's book author", who is constantly spoilt by her publishing company and most importantly her "publisher boss", and we see all manners of borderline-psychopathic behaviour from this utterly gorgeous woman, dressed to the nines and presented as this otherworldly divine creature, with a macabre somewhat kleptomanic fascination with bladed items. But behind the facade of straightforwardness (which the general docile public would deem "rude"), hides an intense history of personal demons and wretched dreams.
Her past relationship with her mother, is presented here as a source of quite literally "horror", which exceedingly stands out in this rom-com, making it an interesting hybrid which is screaming for a resolution and explanation.
As with notable KDramas, the main protagonists' pasts are always entwined, and this is no exception here, as both KMY and MGT (and by extension MST) have a shared past, that is revealed throughout the 8 episodes, enough to tantalise and keep you waiting for more to be revealed, and believe me, there is more to come.
More than just physically, they were also connected emotionally, some more than others.
KMY has grown from a cold and detached persona, to experience warmth, love and family, thanks to MGT. In a lifetime before filled with emptiness and severe "controlling-mother" issues, the foul mouthed with a sly calculated smiling KMY has grown to a joyous adorable smiling mess at the end of Episode 7 ... which of course it doesn't last longer, of which I am appreciative of, because someone's life is not as easily "cured" as they would in a fictional "romance comedy", innit?
In comparison to MGT's constant tears, KMY's tears happen as she dreams, where her nightmares rip apart her soul, and leaves her devastated and trying to survive throughout the day with her built-up armor of defiance and contempt.
In more ways than one, both MGT and KMY have their own armours torn down by each other, and thus the process of "healing" continues.
I have a feeling that at the mid-way mark, is where their self-defenses have been torn down, but NOW is the time the actual "process of healing" begins ... and more the subsequent 8 more episodes to come before the end of season 1 in Ep16, there's going to be a hella bumpy road to redemption and self-love.
IN A SPAN OF EIGHT EPISODES THE CHARACTER OF MOON SANG-TAE (MST) is somewhat of an emotional bridge between both MGT and KMY.
To MGT, his brother is his immediate link ("Ball and chain"?) to the past and as well his current, having taken care of him since childhood ("15 years" ago?), when their mother was MURDERED BY A SERIAL KILLER (this is something no doubt is screaming to be resolved by series end, and without a doubt connected to KMY and her family).
At the same time, what MST experiences, is a mirror to KMY's current life - be it from nightmares (which MGT has mentioned in Ep7 to be similar to his brother's - but "Butterflies" were not mentioned ... and we all know what KMY did to butterfly wings as a young girl...!!!!), or the loneliness of his/her own personalities in relation to people around them.
For KMY is her celebrity status, while MST is in a world of his own, embolden by his brother MGT's micro-care, who caters to his whims and quirks, as do the book publisher to KMY's.
With his talent in illustration, and KMY in writing children's books, their style and genre is inexplicably intertwined. I have no doubt MST feels romantically for KMY, more likely thinking her as his mirror, even though they fought over "Mang-tae The Nightmare Catcher" doll (in Ep8) LOL
MST has shown himself to be an intelligent character, who has thoughts of his own, and with an intense artistic flair. From sketching in KMY's books, to freebie portraits with the purchase of pizza, to painting a wall mural at the asylum where MGT works, he is not necessarily led by the nose all the time. He does exert his own thoughts given the opportunity. Actually he does so everytime! It's just that we (the viewers) might have taken his words for granted ... but also in the asylum, the caregivers tend to actually listen to the patients, moreso than folks "outside", IMHO.
We are also shown MST's independence, where he can travel by himself,
his (limited) interaction with public and the masses remain a crutch tho (book signing in the earlier episode, but he does not need to be babied constantly, and can independently assert himself and his thoughts, ironically something MGT could not do.
MST's issue is being able to effectively communicate his intentions as clear as would you and I, and that in turn is somewhat a mirror to KMY as well.
Both MGT and MST carry their own levels of feelings of guilt, manifested as "responsibility" .... and now, MGT has taken on the responsibility of KMY, and her "success" in unshackling her "leash", perhaps left a triumphant feeling with MGT, that he could not have achieved all these years with his own brother MST...?
I made the mistake of reading comments where spoilers for Ep9 might show MST as the "villain" in his attempt to derail MGT and KMY's romance (urgh), so I have no doubt things'll get interestingly heartbreaking as we move forward, and where MGT has to choose between his dedication to his brother (which was actually addressed somewhat in Ep8, where MGT was told to choose giving himself or Man-tae to KMY), and blossoming notion of "love" for KMY.
I mentioned "notion", because all of it could be an inexplicable expression of something neither has mentally felt for, but actions are "recognised" as "love" given anyone who sees it happening ... but I somehow feel this series tends to go much more beneath the surface of thing, so I am intrigued to see how this plays out...
Visually, this series is exceptionally pretty. The mise en scène is effective is effective, and the mood distinctly stood out with its own geography, primarily focusing on the clinical asylum, and the gothic beauty of the "Cursed Castle", with the everyday homes of MGT/MST made to bridge both reality and fantasy.
The warmth and light MGT/MST brought to KMY's castle/house was a very well executed heartwarming scene and revelation .. too bad it does not seem to last as long...
And how can you NOT address the fabulous fashion of KMY? The lady herself is naturaly and styled unbelievably pretty and effervescent (*That puts "Jang Man-wol" closet in HOTEL DEL LUNA into subtle shame - I still heart you, IU!), with her dangle earrings and hardly any necklaces twinkling amidst her sly smirks...
The two leads are so adorable, it is unnerving! The stoic beauty and cheekiness gave into gorgeous and giving full smiles at the end of Ep8, which for all intents and purposes, truly feels a tad too early to happen without a glitch ... and they cannot possibly SMILE for 8 more episodes, no?
There is this very uneasy feeling - for folks familiar with KDrama-romances - is that the "happiness" we are experiencing now, reached thus far by the end of Ep8, will somehow not last, as inevitably there'll be something thrown into the scheme of things, before the inevitable "happy ending" we all home to witness and be apart of. I cannot wait!
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