It's Okay, That's Love (2014)

OVERALL
Watch this fun, romantic and innovative drama, if not for the story, for the change in perspective that it generates in its viewers. Do it soon if 1) You're looking for something different, not really explored in dramas yet, 2) You want to see a real adult romance. Maybe keep it for later if 1) You have low tolerance for relational conflicts, 3) Mental illness issues make you uncomfortable.

THE STORY
It's okay is a manifesto against discrimination and stigmatization of mental illness. It shows that everyone struggles with some mental issue; that there aren't two categories, the normal people and the mentally ill, we are all on a continuum. It reminds people that mental illness does not mean the end of someone's ability to live, work and love; and that if one cannot overcome it, one can learn to live with it. Basically, it's what anyone studying psychology or psychiatry, such as myself, preaches everyday, and seeing that in a drama was awsome! Apart from its premise, what also makes this show great are the amazing interactions between all characters, who seriously care for one another and help each other work on their issues (which everyone have, no one is spared), and the perfect blend of comedy, romance and a little intrigue, surrounding the story of the male lead and his family. The main love story is mature and real, and so are the characters. The ending is amazing too. On the down side, the characters were too real, sometimes getting on your nerves, and working in a psychiatric hospital myself, I knew that the problems of the main characters were delt with too much optimism, too easily. But that's nothing to challenge all the good that the drama has, and all that it represents. I wish more similar shows come out.

THE ACTING
Well, I was in love with Jo In Sung since That Winter and dying to see him again. This new appearance was fabulous, even better than in his previous drama. Gong Hyo Jin I knew could act well, but I hadn't been able to like any of her dramas before. Now I feel like I can do her justice. Both of them had a crazy amount of chemistry - I guess that was a must, giving all the 'sexy' scenes they had to do - but really, all actors (who were all great) had lots of chemistry, as if they had been friends for years. The cast was well chosen.

THE MUSIC
Perfect for the show, and somewhat innovative. It was giving it a vibe that was quite different from other dramas. Several songs were in English, and though independently from the drama I didn't like many of them, I know at least one will find its way to my mp3 - I just need to google it first.

REWATCH VALUE
I give myself a month. By mid-October, this will be rewatched. And by next September, maybe twice?

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It's Okay, That's Love is not what it looks like. Or sounds like, for that matter. Ji Hae Soo (Gong Hyo Jin) is a psychiatric doctor in training. She's extremely familiar with mental disorders, as she herself has one. She's terrified of physical intimacy thanks to a trauma from her past involving her mother, and has never had sex, not even with the guy she's been dating for 300 days. This sounds like a challenge to player/writer Jang Jae Yul (Jo In-Sung), who has moved into Hae Soo's boarding house, which he owns, while his own apartment complex is under construction. Also living in the house is fellow psychiatrist Jo Dong Min (Sung Dong-Il), and Tourette's patient Park Soo-Kwang (Lee Kwang-Soo). Jae Yul figures living with this strange bunch of weirdos might help him write his newest crime novel.


That's the surface story, and it's the one you think is going on for a good chunk of the first third of this drama. But it's not all their is to it. Jang Jae Yul is hiding an extremely traumatic past: his older brother Jang Jae Beom has been in prison for 14 years for killing their abusive stepfather, and three years earlier Jae Beom escaped from prison and attacked Jae Yul, stabbing him, at a public event. Jae Beom claims Jae Yul is the real murderer, and vows to get his revenge on Jae Yul - who is shockingly blasé about the whole affair, and doesn't blame Jae Beom for anything.


This subplot is introduced very early on in the story, and left me feeling kind of twisted as I watched. I enjoyed the housemate bonding adorableness, Jae Yul taking no shit from holier-than-thou Hae Soo, all of that, but it was all covered in a kind of murky darkness because of Jae Yul's past. I couldn't figure out, upon beginning to watch, how two radically different stories were going to have to do with each other.


But sticking it out is so worth it. I won't get into everything that happens, of course, but I deeply appreciate this drama on so many levels. It is worth all of the hype for its cute and its maturity, all rolled into one.


Mental illness is a big part of this story, and the way it is handled is very different from how we see it in American television and film. As the drama advertises, most of the treatments shown in the drama are fictional, but based in real medicine. Still, the moral concepts that the drama brings up about people with mental illnesses was so refreshing. For example, one of Hae Soo's old crushes is now married to a woman with schizophrenia. Their relationship, while troubled by the illness, is nevertheless one of love, support and happiness. Though side characters, they're used to represent what is possible in terms of mental health, and how love can do wonders as a support for (and not instead of) treatment.


Similarly, Soo Kwang's Tourette's is never played for gimmicks - he has an illness, he's matter-of-fact about it, but it isn't part of his story line - it's just the reason he lives with two psychiatrists. Instead, he gets to be bros with Jae Yul, and asks him often about dating advice, and is just generally my favorite character of the bunch with how positive he is.


Disability also comes up in this story. Part of the reason Hae Soo is so hesitant to have physical intimacy with another person is because of her parents' relationship. Her father's unidentified illness has left him in a wheelchair and mentally disabled. Though the entire family is positive about it, treats him well, and generally love him a lot, Hae Soo knows her mother had an affair, and that has affected how she thinks relationships can or cannot work when one partner is otherwise abled, or mentally ill. Seeing the way Hae Soo's relationship to this belief develop and change over the course of the drama was a definite highlight.


I was very worried going into this drama, as someone with a mental illness, how they would portray the struggles to get well and stay well. I was not disappointed in the least. Though some of their treatments aren't exactly real (there's a patient-of-the-week format in each episode where we see someone that one of the psychiatrists is treating), they're nevertheless overflowing with positivity in an attempt to change the way people look at mental illness, and the mentally ill.


And then there's Hae Soo and Jae Yul, who are adorable. I was on board with Jae Yul (despite him seeing Hae Soo as a kind of challenge at first, which was icky) when, after Hae Soo splashes him in the face with wine, he does it right back. It's such an unusual thing to have such equality in the lead male-lead female dynamic, and just that on scene completely hooked me. Jae Yul is such a mess, but such a lovely mess, and Hae Soo pretends she's got her shit together, but she's hiding her own mess, and I love them to bits.


It's also got a killer catchy soundtrack. I found myself whipping out my phone to Shazam a song that was playing many, many times. So good!


I definitely think this drama is worth watching, though it does come with plenty of obvious trigger warnings. I loved everything about it. The cast is wonderful, the storyline a mix of cute and heartbreaking, but nevertheless filled with a hopefulness that was so completely refreshing to see. A+.

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Its so easy to give this drama a high rating. Speaking of a unique, new & fresh story. It was well-written and well-executed by the actors. Since I have been watching kdramas for many years now, I guess it gets a little boring when stories sometimes were just recycled and give you same old story so I'm a sucker of a drama that is a breath of fresh air.

At first, I have a lot of confusion maybe because I don't have any medical background so I don't expect myself to understand all these medical conditions but as you go along every episode, it all make sense and it all come together that you'll tell yourself: "Ah, that's why." That makes the writer a genius. To be able to make the viewers understand something that is unfamiliar and make them relate to it is pure genius.

The actors were the best. I love them all. Gong Hyu Jin has made it to one of my all time favorite female celebs. Talking about chemistry, this two makes all the actors and couples a run of their money. So natural, so realistic you'd think they're a real couple. They are just the real deal. IF they have another drama together, I will definitely won't think twice.

The best part of the story ~ the end. You won't ask for a better ending of this story. Just simple but it was fit perfect.

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Hm... how should I word this....

I'm not going to say it's the best drama ever. I'm not going to say that nothing else will ever be able to compare to it. But I will say this: I certainly won't forget it.

A lot of kdramas have this otherworldly feel to them. More often that not they've got these fantastic storylines and plot twists, and though I can easily relate to the characters in those situations it's just...not the same as with It's Okay, That's Love. There's something about this drama which is really REAL. There's no big-short CEOs or vindictive mothers or Cinderella stories. It's just genuine.

The Plot:
- Really develops into something I never realised would happen
- It's believable
- It ropes you in

The Characters:
- Are very easy to relate to
- There's no-one who felt two-dimensional
- Each one of them is interesting in their own unique way making them a joy to watch as the plot unfolds!
- They grow!

The Music:
- Isn't the greatest but it matches the moods very well
- There's quite a range of different songs (I'm pretty sure a few of them were sung completely in English)

Rewatch Value:
- Hm...I probably would rewatch it in a year or two.
- I personally don't often like rewatching things too recently and with this drama in particular what mattered the most to me was knowing where all the characters ended up. I know that now, so I need a bit of time to let it all fade somewhat! I'm sure it'll make me laugh to remember where they all were and what they all were like right at the start though.

So WATCH IT!!!!!!!

Honestly I dragged this drama out far too long and I regret that - I kept getting distracted by newer, sparkly dramas... However I will certainly never forget this little jewel no matter how long it took me to complete it.

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It's Okay It's Love is one of those dramas which totally seems like my type of a drama upon first look. The main reason to watch this drama was Jo In Sung (aka the HOTTEST Korean on the planet). It's been years and Jo In Sung has the same effect on me as ever. His looks mesmerize me and it helps when he is trying to break away from his earlier stereotypical image to venture into more challenging roles. Nothing makes me happier more than seeing this handsome actor exploring newer roles and growing as an actor. Plus he had never done a rom-com before. So of course I had to watch it and love it!

The thing is, I expected to love it as much as I love Jo In Sung but... it wasn't LOVE love that I felt for this drama. I loved it but I wish I loved it more. There were a few issues with the characters and the storyline at times. Some parts were dragged on while others felt too easily handled. It's hard to explain the issues without spoiling it so I won't go into the details.

For me the weakest part of the drama was its execution of psychological problem of the main heroine. She is broken is what we understand but her struggle seems poorly handled after half the drama was done. They should have devoted equal amounts of time for the male and female leads instead of focusing entirely on the male. However, since Gong Hyo Jin played her character well I cannot complain any further. Guess who else shined in this drama? None other than D.O.!! I love Exo and I was thrilled to see him as a cute fan of Jo In Sung but after a few episodes- just wow. He was so important to the entire story!

The relationships between all the characters are handled well in the drama. I loved them all staying as roomies and what happens while they inhabit the same place. The sunbae, the two brothers, the guy pining for a young girl, the family relations- were all wonderful to watch plus the cast did justice to their roles.

The OST of the drama is a must-listen. The songs are so wonderful to listen to. I highly recommend listening to the tracks by Davichi and Chen even if you want to pass up this drama. In the recent times it is the most memorable soundtrack so far.

When it comes to rewatching, I believe this drama is fine. Not the best for a rewatch but maybe a few years down the line I won't mind watching it again. This drama is recommend for fans of psychological dramas.

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I went into this without really reading much about it - it was recommended by many people on my feed, for numerous reasons - so I had to get it watched, clearly. Once I got started, I had to continue, and have basically ended up watching the entire thing in one sitting. :)

First major thing I noticed is that while this is a somewhat-medical drama, it focuses on a branch of medicine that is rarely covered anywhere - Psychiatry. Dealing with a range of characters that have a variety of different challenges to face in their lives, getting help is a key part of the message. You're never alone, no matter what, you can always ask for help, and the amazing people in Psychiatry are the ones to provide it.

The pacing on this one is absolutely perfect. The main lead couple is amazing, the chemistry between them is spot on. They have their disagreements and even misunderstandings - but there's not a stupid breakup in sight. They solve their problems by talking to each other, being straight forward and honest. On the one or two occasions they don't, a character is nearby to smack them upside the head and get them to deal with it right away and be honest. It was refreshing and allowed the author time to go into other more interesting areas.

One of the second couples - which had Lee Sung Kyung (whom I seem to be watching an awful lot of lately) was really good too, showed some good development in both the characters particularly hers as she moves from school girl to young woman and decides what she wants out of life.

Various mental issues are covered but primarily the topic of the show is the highly misunderstood Schizophrenia (which is NOT the same as Multiple Personality Disorder). Much like any medical drama, various patients will come by our characters and their stories will unfold over two or three episodes as the doctors help them to work through problems and open up their emotions.

There's a large message throughout this story about clearing up misunderstandings about mental illness and how Psychiatrists can help. One of the characters has Tourette's Syndrome and there's an exceptionally touching moment when Lee Sung Kyoung's character kisses him first - something that always triggers an attack - and where you're expecting the youthful and barely mature girl to freak out at what looks like a "eww" type response, she places her headphones on his head with some soft music and holds him - and he calms down in no time.

Haven't listened to the OST yet but the music throughout sounded great so I'm looking forward to having a proper listen.

Overall, I can only recommend this as something that must be on your "must watch" list somewhere near the top.

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This drama is amazing. I've watched many dramas(too many in fact) and this one takes the cake so far. I cannot say enough good things about it.

First of all the cast is fantastic. The leads play their roles perfectly and every bit of emotion can be felt. They also have amazing chemistry(which tends to fail in many romantic dramas). The supporting cast is also very good. Each of their individual side plots are just as interesting and it's easy to grow fond of each and every one of them.

The plot is amazing. Each episode brought something new. There was a perfect balance between comedy, romance, and drama. In many romantic comedies, the drama can lack specific aspects and leave the watcher feeling empty in specific areas, but this did not. One moment you could be the happiest and laughing at the great moments, but then in tears in a matter of seconds. There are also plot twists that keep you on your toes and keep you guessing. It was hard to predict where the writers would go and what they'd throw at the audience, which is very refreshing because many dramas follow the same flow.

I cannot say enough about the fact that this drama brings mental illness to the forefront. This drama does a great job in showing that an illness doesn't define or make a person. That even people with illnesses can live daily lives, just like the rest of us and that people are there to help when you need it. I just love that they took a difficult plot line and made it work flawlessly.

Ten out of ten for this one.

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I love this so much... at first i thought that this would be a senseless RomCom that i'll drop within 3 episodes but the truth was that i was really addicted to this couple so much... their chimestry is so good! so perfect for each other...! The cast was fantastic i never watched a drama with Jo In Sung but his smile just melted and melted my heart!
The Ost's? oh boy... are amazing and perfect for the time! "Best Luck" by Chen (from EXO) and "Ifeel you" by Hong Dae Kwang are so addicting... it makes you sing even if you don't know what the hell are you singing!

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First of all, I want to say that I enjoyed this drama. I watched it right after finishing Kill Me, Heal Me, because they are both Psychological, with a psychiatrist as the main lead.
The story was nice, and I really like the way that it went. It went smoothly, even if at some points it was a little bit slow for me. I felt that for a few episodes, nothing happened, and I even thought of cheating and skipping some episodes, because I thought that I had nothing to miss out. But I managed to watch every episode, and I don't regret it. The story wasn't unnecessarily complicated, and I came to love every character.
I liked the main couple, even if in the beginning I was really confused whether I like it or not. At first, I thought that the actors had a great chemistry, but the plot wasn't helping them that much. It felt rushed between them, and I didn't really see why they fell for each other. Later on, I found out what actually happened, so if you feel the same thing as I did, don't give up, just keep watching, because it gets better!

The cast was amazing, I really liked Gong Hyo Jin in The Greatest Love. It was my first time watching Jo In Sung, and I liked him a lot, and I look forward to watch another dramas with him. As I said, I felt that they really have had chemistry.

The OST was great, and I really enjoyed the music.

If I will rewatch it? Hmmm, maybe, but not in the near future, because I intend to watch other dramas first,

Overall, it was a really nice drama, with a nice twist and story. I gave it an 8.
So, if you want to watch something fun, with a lot of hilarious moments, but also with some serious moments, you should give it a try.

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One word to conclude this whole drama - touching. And when I say touching, it is truly touching that it can really tingle deep in your heart.
What I like about the drama: Firstly, the plot, the concept. This drama is absolutely different from other dramas because it is realistic. What do I mean by realistic is that there are many mental patients in this world, and this show is trying to interpret how these patients feel for their loved ones and how their loved ones wanted to help the patients to not feel outcasted in their worlds. In conclusion, it deliberately shows that love is the best cure to patients, the strongest motivation that drives their will to recover. (':
Secondly, the acting skills! Homaigawd I totally didn't expect that Jo In Sung and Gong Hyojin's acting skills are totally daebakkkkk, no joke. Okay I have been admiring their acting skills from their previous dramas, but this drama really showed them their best acting among their other dramas. I can totally feel their pain, their sadness, their joy, their feelings to each other especially those crying scenes. I can't believe I cried for the last five episodes straight. The other casts were good too, and I am loving their friendship and bromance too! I felt comforted whenever Soo Kwang gave a comfort hug to his Hye Soo noona. (':
Thirdly, their OSTS. Like wow seriously, every single soundtrack is damn perfect and it really suits the scene whenever it is played. Their music soundtracks were one of the biggest reasons to this moving drama.
What I didn't like about the drama: To be honest, I kept dozing off when watching the first few episodes. Initially, I was really looking forward to the show because of the perfect casts, but everything was so confusing and in a mess from the start. But it was cool of how the writer managed to solve each jigsaw piece one by one as the drama goes on, so I guess this is the concept of how the writer wanted to amaze us.
I wasn't really impressed by D.O's acting also. He is my biased in EXO so which was why I was really expecting much of him when he is debuted as a singer and not an actor. His acting in the first few episodes was quite awkward though. But during the last episode, he really pulled off very well so I guess it wasn't bad after all.
Overall, this is a must-watch-drama and I should say it will be one of my best dramas. Really learnt much about this inspiring love story. Hats off to the production crew and the casts for making this drama perfect and inspiring! (:

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I watched this for Gong Hyo Jin and found myself really liking Jo In Sung as well. There is a great chemistry with all the actors in this ensemble. The story is fresh (if a little laggy in some spots) and interesting. There's a bit of a mystery to work out with the main lead and his past, and a great twist in there. The leads did an excellent job.

I like that neither of the two leads is "perfect". They are both broken people, and yet they find a way to love each other in spite of their internal struggles and pasts. Because GHJ's character is a psychiatrist, we get to see a little bit of her treating patients. While you may think this bit doesn't add to the story, each diagnosis we see helps her character understand a bit more about either herself or JIS's character and furthers their relationship. There will be some tears shed, but I think this was an enjoyable drama.

Sung Dong Il can be annoyingly loud at times, but he still acts his scenes well. There is a bit of a secondary romance that goes on in this, but you'll have to be your own judge about how you feel about it. The relationships between the housemates and friends is a bit confusing at first, but sort of sorts itself out shortly. This story focuses a lot on mental health and humanizes people with mental health issues. This is a subject that I feel is very misunderstood by most people, so I like the way they handled this aspect of the show.

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