With a perfect blend of all elements, romance, humor, friendship and melo, the plot undeniably comes as a breath of fresh air to us drama addicts.That could be attributed to the fact the writers had sketched about such realistic characters that not only had their good sides projected, but also their weaknesses and fears, and due to the story's intention to show that its alright to admit that you can be weak since we're human and all of us do need help in order to become strong again. To use the subject of mental illnesses to express this intention is very well appreciated.
PLOT: GETS A 10/10 , for making the drama so intriguing, entertaining and at the same time for trying to create awareness about mental disorders and its prejudices that we have created. Our main characters, Jang Jae Yeol , and Ji Hae Soo have been created as such refreshing and honest characters, who have been able to delve into a comfortable relationship with each other despite telling the other off frankly if they did something that bothered the other and this leading to quite a bit of arguments between the two which are nevertheless enjoyable ( most of the time). It also needs to be mentioned how no supporting character were sidelined to simply showcase the main characters, with each of them having their own stories, achievements and downfalls in their relationships and life.
Acting: Not going to give a special review for the acting since the very ensemble of the cast would give an idea. The actors had done a great job in convincing me throughout that they were not merely playing a role given to them but were indeed living it, especially EXO's D.O, who impressed me right from the start of the show and set the bar so high for idols who want to venture into acting.
Music: A drama cannot be without its OST'S , and the ones for IOTL prove just that. They intensified each and every moment in the scene, making it memorable for the audience. Specially mentioning EXO' s Chen, Davichi , and Punch for their vocals which are powerful, soothing and emotion-driven all at the same time.
Rewatch Value: Since I don't usually re-watch the dramas that I watch once, the score here would be pretty low, this might definitely not be the case for other viewers is what I feel.
Anyhow not necessarily a drama that could please everyone, but surely one that needs to be given a try!
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But it feels kind of different and quite funny yet not too ridiculously funny. The situation is very real, like in the normal world where it's not only talking about couple love r/s, it's also talking about friends r/s, family r/s, colleague r/s, it's just complete, that;s why it's not boring at all. The pace is just nice, not too slow and not too long. It's quite unpredictable too, as i didn't think that the plot will get quite serious in the middle of the series. It also explain why certain people behave that way. People always have their own story and background to begin with, so we can understand each other more.
The protagonists are not perfect too, normally in other drama, the protagonist seems very perfect and the plot is cheesy, but this drama is not like that at all, it teaches us about hard-work to love people surround us, Love is not always like in fairy tale where people will live happily ever after, we need to put effort in order to love. Sometimes we also need to priorities others in order to love. So this story is very real. That's why i like this very much.
It certainly worth your time on watching this drama. It's not too heavy until u want to scream dying thinking about the plot, nor it is too light until u feel bored. Not at all, it's just nice to watch it after workday. It will enlighten your mood with it's quirky plot and witty jokes.
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Just perfect
If you want a drama that has everything, this is the one . The chemistry between the ML and the FL is just breathtaking . The friendship between the characters is beautiful.
It is very interesting how it approach the psychological problems.
You cry, you laugh and often think what’s life about sometimes.
If you like love triangles, suspense or conflicts between the characters, this drama is NOT for you. It’s a very different from the usual dramas (and I'm a fan of those too). no doubt not to be missed
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Mental Health and it's true dangers
I'm going to start by saying I have never suffered through any significant mental issues.I am also grateful to say that none of my friends and family have experienced anything major.
But regardless of that fact, I have always been interested in mental health. I often watch YouTubers talk about their conditions and all the misinformation that has been spread around.
(Some really good channels are: DissocialDID, Johnny Benjamin 1, and EDucating Shanny)
So whenever I watch a show or movie with mental health as one of the main topics, I'm always a bit skeptical since I know how wrong the mainstream media can get things.
But with this show, I was pleasantly surprised by all the truths it brought.
Stuff like how hard it can be for the family, the harm it can bring the patient, and all the changes that can happen in a person's life were all portrayed nicely.
So looking at the medical part of this show, I am delighted with it. But some things ruined the experience...
So let's move on from this long introduction and get on with the details...
Story 〆(・∀・＠): I was really excited about the medical parts of this drama as well as all the romantic ones. Two of my favorite genres were put together; how could I not be ecstatic!? So I went into this show with a very positive mindset, and the beginning seemed to support it immensely. You get a good look at the characters, their relationships, and a hint on their upcoming development. So even though it wasn't the most exciting beginning, you never felt bored since it was like getting an appetizer before the main course...
Unfortunately, that main course took a bit too long to come to the table...
Hints of the main issue were dropped throughout the show, but it seemed to take forever to actually get there. I'm not going to lie; I enjoyed seeing our psychiatrists help mentally struggling patients, but other than that, the story seemed extremely repetitive.
The main couple got into a fight ---> They make up for a short amount of time ----> They get into another fight.
Yeah yeah yeah, I know couples fight, but our main one just kept doing it over the stupidest things. Even the main female protagonist, Ji Hae-soo, admits that she tends to act like a bish. Sure she had her "reasons," but it was irritating as a watcher and something I don't want to have to sit through again.
What saved the show for me was the ending. Things were wrapped up nicely, and the final few episodes were interesting for their entirety. Ji Hae-soo became somewhat likable only for her family to become the new bishes.
Like seriously!!!! Why can't there be a time where I like everyone!?
As for the side couples, I didn't really care about them. The second main duo's relationship kinda sprung out of nowhere. They kept arguing and after one big fight... BOOM.... they just got together.....
I mean... sorry if I missed something... but what???
So all in all, the romance was very meh for me.
I'd say this show's strongest points was in friendship and the realities of mental health. You see people break down and hit the lowest point in their lives but are helped out of it by those close to them. You see people fighting to have normal lives and can't help but cheer them on through it all!!!!
Acting ｡゜(｀Д')゜｡: Acting was phenomenal!!!!! That's really all I need to say.
I mentioned that the characters had a tendency to get on my nerves, but that is solely due to the writing and not the actors themselves. When needed, they can tug at all the heartstrings and make you want to cry along with them. Jo In-sung is a fantastic example of how much talent these people have.
He appeared as such a happy go lucky guy all while showing how damaging it can be to force out a fake persona. His ability to show a character at the highest and lowest point in their life was breathtaking.
I could fully believe his struggles through his rough mental state and cheered him on with every step he made towards recovery!
Besides him, everyone had their moments to shine. There was not one particular actor that was carrying everything, and everybody seemed to work well together. The couples' chemistry may not have been the best due to writing, but the actors all seemed comfortable with each other and showed how important friendship can be.
So fantastic job everyone!! I hope to see you all again!!
Music ヾ(⌐■_■)ノ♪: This part of the show was absolutely hilarious.
I liked a lot of the music and always found myself paying attention to the translated lyrics (even though surprisingly, some of the songs were entirely in English). So music, in my eyes, was exceptional this time around.
What I think is funny is where the editors decided to put some of the songs.
Usually, you'd play a sad song during a sad scene and a happy one during a happy scene, but oh boy, these editors wanted to change things up. I loved watching a young boy get beat by his father to a cheery tune of someone singing about sunflowers or happiness (I don't remember the topic exactly). It really fit the scene of a suffering child
* sarcasm *
I don't know why they were added at such times, but it was interesting, nonetheless.
I don't know if I should hate it or love it, so I'll stay safe and neutral by saying it was definitely an experience...
Other (ง°ل͜°)ง: Since I, along with all my close ones, have never experienced anything significant in the mental department, I can't confirm or deny the legitimacy of some things.
From what I learned on my own, the show did seem true to many of the patients' conditions, and the writers didn't seem to add any un-needed dramatic flairs. Conditions seemed more severe and real in that sense.
So it's tough for me to talk about how accurate things are. If it was about physical health problems, I might have more to say, but that isn't the case.
I'm sure there are people who are much closer to the subject than I am and can give a more in-depth analysis.
So I'll end this part of the review here.
All in all, the show is a mix of love and hate.
I love how honest it is about mental conditions and how the writers don't try to add anything unnecessary for the sake of entertainment. What I hate about it is stuff like the romance and some of the character decisions that were made. I found myself bored and irritated for much longer than I'd ever want to be.
So when asked if I recommend it, I would have a different answer depending on the person.
If you're interested in medical shows, then go for it 100%!
But if that isn't your cup of tea and you are more focused on the romance, then I might be a bit more hesitant.
This show has a lot of strengths and weaknesses, so I recommend thinking a bit about it before giving it a shot.
Happy Watching <3
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And the music... I can't even begin to describe how good the OST was. Each song choice was perfect for the moment it accompanied and made me feel like buying the soundtrack CD.
To sum it up, this is a drama I strongly recommend.
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this is my first review and, the reason is that this drama is just SO AMAZING!
I did not expect it to be half as good, the actors convinced me,
I got so into the story that I honestly cried, laughed and just truly lived it!
The music is perfect, it is my fav soundtrack ever!!
IT MADE ME THINK, and that is what I like. It was not predictable, it was not simple, it got me, and that is not an easy think to do. I am a psychologist, and it made me to go to my DSM 5, and argue about some diagnoses xD, it made me really hooked and I wish that I could just unwatch and re-watch it every week.....
I must admit that it got pretty heavy at times, I sufferd from what I call PDSD (post drama stress disorder, similar to PTSD). I could not listen to the song "Hero", cause it made me cry (including flashbacks of the drama)....I could not hear the phrase "I miss you" in any other drama without getting all teary-eyed (that is actually still the case, but it got better after re-watching the whole thing).
But maybe also because of the sad parts I liked it so much, because I am not easily moved, and I rarely cry.....I would love to convince all of my friends and family to watch this!
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I understand the sensitive subject matter is something important and people appreciate it, and I did like that aspect. But it seems it's overrated for that reason. The story was incredibly slow and I couldn't stand the leads. Especially the FL who was your typical tropey drama queen getting mad at ML over every little thing as a way for the writer to create drama. The man couldn't do one thing right without her getting mad, from spending too much money on her for a nice hotel room to him having too much fun while water skiing. She always had to pout and get mad. Can't stand this kind of FL.
I finally dropped it at episode 9 when they gave up on the entire tension they were creating around FL's trauma with sex. I don't want to give away any spoilers but it was an extremely uneventful buildup. So by episode 9 they were already together and everything else seemed done...and apart from a few interesting side character arcs, not sure what could carry the story 7 more episodes.
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-=+STORY+=-
I thought the plot was great. This drama dealt with the sensitive subject of mental illnesses, which most dramas can't pull off. The story starts out with a good introduction, and you know immediately what each character is like. The rising action is great, it shows the growing chemistry of the actors/characters while at the same time giving hints here and there about present and future events. WOW! The climax! It was such a brilliant way to turn things around. The falling action was also great, as it showed how characters endured certain events. The resolution was also the perfect way to tie up the story. The one thing that slightly ticked me off was Hae Soo's short tempered personality, but that can be overlooked.
-=+ACTING/CAST+=-
OH MY GOSH. This cast was PERFECT! I could totally feel the chemistry between the characters, and the acting was so natural that I felt like I was watching them right before my eyes. Jo In Sung and Gong Hyo Jin didn't disappoint and Kwang Soo and Dong Il were great supporting characters. In this drama, we also have a newcomer, Do Kyungsoo (D.O of EXO). I was really surprised by his performance, especially for a rookie. The characters were well developed, and I liked how all of them had their flaws.
-=+MUSIC+=-
Wow, this may be the best OST I have ever heard in a drama! Unlike other dramas, IOTL actually had english songs in the soundtrack. Most of the music was happy and joyous, while the more mellow tracks still had a great impression. I downloaded like half the songs in this soundtrack, and I could listen to it on repeat for a long time.
-=+REWATCH VALUE+=-
10/10 I am definitely considering watching this masterpiece again. I had so many great feelings while watching this. It made me laugh, cry, squeal and so much more!
At first I had high expectations of this drama, and it surely lived up to that. If you haven't watched it already I BEG OF YOU TO PICK IT UP! IT WON'T DISAPPOINT!
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I so love this drama that it now works for me as a healing pill when I need to relax and forget of everything. I re-watch any of episodes (whichever I just feel like to) whenever I want. So I did up to 4 times already.
I didn't expect that I will like this drama (even though I'm a fan of exo and especially of KyungSoo). But I'm glad that I finally got to watch it.
It's so untypical for korean dramas - how the main characters are not stupid, but smart and extraordinary persons (not exactly but quite so). And all supporting cast just complete the main characters, so but I wouldn't delete anyone of them from the story. That's how all is balanced in this drama.
But I think Jo In Sung and Gong Hyo Jin are the reason why it's so interesting to me. Their acting skills attracted me a lot. I tried to imagine this drama without them - it would be not so interesting.
I love that this drama gives the feel of clear reality, because there is real logic, common sense in behaviors and dialogs. I felt that this drama was written by a very wise person and directed by talented one.
There are so many interesting lines and psychological dilemmas and salvations, beside of the main story, that no single episode and scene is boring, and nothing left me indifferent. They put some psychiatric cases in the drama and show how doctors solve and treat the patients. I even started to believe that psychiatry might work in real!
I also like it that this drama shows different opinions on life situations. When I watch it I don't feel that I am being forced to accept one point of view (the author's). Heroes talk openly like in real life without usual taboos (as in other dramas). They express opposite points of view, and nobody really hates them for that. (Well, actually they don't look that much open minded but I still say so because at least their boundaries don't bother me unlike in other dramas do).
I was charmed by HyeSu and JaeYeol...
Jo In Sung. This was the first time I saw this actor. And well, I was charmed and in love. Though I don't like some of his opinions on life and was shocked with his behavior. But in some dialogs I respect him alot. His acting was excellent. And he is handsome as hell.
Gong Hyo Jin. Same: This was the first time I saw this actress. And well, I was charmed and in love.
And the rest of my impression about Jo In Sung is true for HyoJin as well. And !!! she acts sooooo natural, I would never say she is pretending. She has the best natural-gifted acting skills of all cast of this drama, from my opinion.
KangWoo, my Han KangWoo... I saw the making of this drama. And d.o. was really so focused and serious on his acting, that he even rarely laugh and smile after every serious scene shoot, unlike other actors usually do. I don't know if I'm right but I think in most scenes he wasn't really acting, but he was himself, and this is awesome. But in some scenes he really acts and does it surprisingly great: the tragic scenes he played so good that it took my breath.
Lee KwangSoo. SooKwang is awwwww I enjoyed watching this weird character.
Jo Dong Min. He is so disturbingly noisy and short-tembered that I couldn't stand him is he wasn't so honest, smart and thoroughgoing as a psychiatrist to HyeSoo and other mentally sick people.
Jang Jae Bum, the brother... I can't understand him. And don't understand properly JaeYeol's caring about him.
The family bonds is so big topic in this drama. I'm irritated by that. But that's okay, that's reality of our society :) And they show the reality.
Don't like it what JyeYol did to HyeSoo in the end. They showed it as a funny and happy final. But I felt sick and pity for HyeSoo :(
After it, I tried to watch other dramas of same director, writer, actors. But I didn't like them at all. Only I loved A Frozen Flower with Jo In Sung.
So I don't know how but only this time, in It's Okay, That's Love, those people have created a masterpiece.
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