E Nebună, Dar E-a Mea (2020)

A Wonderful Story

I followed this drama a while back, and was thoroughly moved every episode until the last.

I watched this drama without any idea of the hype around it. Scrolling through Netflix, and it just released a few episodes back then. Kim Soo Hyun of course, was one of the more notable names when I saw it, and from the moment I heard the soundtrack, I was hooked.

I will try to make this review as vague as possible. Only to highlight the parts where it felt most alive.

PROS:

1. All the characters had an arc and one way or another, were interconnected. They were also with flaws. Very human. And I appreciate the moments where you are reminded that it takes time for a person to change. When their individual stories moved on to their next chapter, you feel wonderful knowing what they went through to get there.

2. The acting. I can not stress enough how wonderful the portrayal of the characters were. Especially on the part of Moon Sang-Tae. Others would argue otherwise, but I have watched a lot of shows and movies where they portrayed people who are mentally challenged and one of the more admirable portrayals was done by Oh Jung-Se. Kudos to him. And to Seo Ye-ji and Kim Soo Hyun who remained consistent and careful with their characters throughout the series.

3. The lessons. They use stories and weave them with the lessons each episode has. It is subtle in a way, and gives viewers a different perspective in an otherwise definite idea of what it is in every episode.

4. The OST. I loved it. It fit the series perfectly. From the low, melancholic tunes to the more upbeat and lovely sounds. The OST was well used, and set the tone of the series well. Kudos.

5. The relationships. You can't really hate one character. How they are related, how they interact, it's so beautifully human that you feel for each of them. You might get annoyed with one, but after taking a moment to understand their character, you begin to grow with them. As they mature, your view of them does too, and I find that an admirable trait of this series.

CONS:
1. Near the end, there were some lapses and events where you would double think, and say "Huh"? But the overall show is wonderful in itself that you can overlook that.

It may not be the same for all, but this is the kind of series that you go through once and completely immerse yourself to have all the feelings. The story may sometimes appear absurd, but the way it was portrayed and the interaction between characters is wonderful to note. The acting made the story more lively, despite its dark undertones.

When I rewatched it, I focused more on other production related decisions that took away the magic of watching it for the first time. Some may find this series a go to whenever they feel like it, but for me, this series is an emotional experience. It's a one time immersion thing. You can go back, but the first impact will not be the same.

However, the love you will have for the characters and their stories will remain. And hopefully, the lessons that they do to. If one should watch this story, yes, you should, but be prepared for a ride of feels.

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It's Okay Not to be Okay <3

I honestly loved this drama from the get go to the end. It's not often that dramas will show everything, the good and the bad and still make you understand that the bad moments or bad circunstances also bring growth! Every episode taught a lesson with a very heart aching touch in such a tender way that was very healing. I had written many words for this review, I wrote in depth about every character and I could just press down send to all of that, but I really think that the sensibility behind the drama deserves not for me to tell everybody in full disclosure, it needs to be seen regardless and with no heads up, so watch it! It's more than worth it!

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This drama is a gem!

Despite there being some inconsistencies( *spoiler*:
moon young's mother was shown being dumped into a river while in a zipped up bag,how did she manage to get out? The actress who played younger ko moon young's mother and head nurse seem to be of different builds/heights so it doesn't reallymake sense for them to be the same person*spoiler*) IOTNBO totally delivered on the emotional front and teaching life lessons so well that I'm willing to overlook all of that stuff. The acting was also top notch, the characters felt so real and endearing.The osts are all such gems I'm totally gonna be replaying them for the next few weeks.I also really loved the way mental health and it's importance were treated /portrayed in such a positive light.

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Bewitching and Moody

I'm not sure I can express the amount of love I have for these characters and this story, but I'll give it a try.

❤ The main trio - Moon Kang Tae, Moon Sang Tae, and Go Mu Young - are utterly fascinating, multifaceted, and dynamic characters. Each of their character arcs were meaningful and satisfying. The actors deserve every single award in the universe for their performances.

❤ This had one of the most satisfying conclusions I can think of in k-drama history. I felt the story came full circle with each character earning their ending.

❤ Mental health, trauma, and disabilities are a large part of this drama. While it can make for some uncomfortable and exhausting moments watching these characters grow, their journeys felt authentic and realistic.

❤ The vibe of the show - from the OST to the cinematography - is moody and bewitching. It was like watching a twenty hour gothic novel come to life.

❤ It certainly has some campy storylines and characters that could prove too much for some, but it did not take away from my enjoyment.

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Healing drama doesn’t have to be this gloomy !

It’s okay to not be okay is often reviewed as a healing drama but is healing soo dark and depressing? I can’t say thou.
I keep trying to find a healing element in the show but all I could find was gloominess and some redemption. The main lead couple shared a dark past and it is too messy for them to fall in love .. like hey my mother killed your mother but let’s get past that and become a family !!! Something soo unsettling about their bond.
Even thou it wasn’t FL’s fault what her mother did but her aura was quite similar to her mother.

The female lead had serious anger issues the way she pushed a guy off stairs and almost stabbed someone. She either act like a 5 year old with tantrums or like a psychopath . No in between. She practically forced male lead to live with her. Almost everything about her annoyed me as a viewer.

The autistic brother was quite a special character, ML went through a lot in order to raise his brother. I felt for the ML as his struggle was realistic portrayal of someone taking care of an autistic person. And on top of that he had to take care of the crazy FL as well. His hands were full and he hardly had any life of his own. FL added more to his troubles and not less. So I don’t understand how the ML was benefiting in any way from the relationship.

There were quite some boring episodes in between. I watched it till the end for the sake of finishing it not because it was very interesting.

Music was great. And gang tae is a hottie.

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A beautiful drama

I heard about KSH many years back due to his character as Do Min Joon and knew he was a sensation back then.
But it was only 6 years later that i watched MLFTS and came to know how great of an actor he was. When i knew he was returning with a new healing drama that deals with mental issues, i was worried that the show might be a dark and boring one. Thankfully i was wrong. There were so many light hearted moments, meaningful dialogue and mesmerising animations in this show that captivated me from the first episode. Just one word to describe this drama - BEAUTIFUL.

Beautiful storytelling
What i absolutely loved about the script was how the writer had a message behind each episode. Whenever MY or GT started telling the stories with their deep, raspy voices, i could not take my eyes (and ears) off the screen. The animations that accompanied their voices were simply stunning. But the story that literally blew me away was MY’s final book - finding their real faces. I was so touched by how the writer could tie everything up so wonderfully and tell the most perfect story at the end, with such soothing visuals. I will definitely buy the book if there’s an english translated version.

Beautiful acting
A highlight of this drama is most definitely the leads’ intricate acting that can tug at your heartstrings. I lost count of the number of times i felt so frustrated with GT for being too soft towards ST and not giving him a chance to grow and be more independent. Every time ST gets upset with GT, my heart just breaks thinking about how tough life must have been for him his whole life. The most memorable scene for me was when GT was at the rooftop with JS, talking about his mum when he started tearing. I remembered looking at his sorrowful eyes and wondering how anyone could have such deep and beautiful eyes. His acting at that scene made me realise he really was just a small boy who wasn’t given a chance to grow up properly. And not to forget how he had a mental breakdown at the hospital. My heart ached looking at him trembling and seeking forgiveness. All in all, KSH is such a gorgeous actor with the ability to hook you with his emotions.
ST was also brilliant at portraying a character with autism. His stuttering, facial expressions and hand gestures were all so on point. I love all his scenes with GT and MY.
Kudos to SYJ for being able to showcase MY’s warm and humane side despite having to portray her arrogance and bulldozing traits as well. The scene where she was strangled by her father was epic. That look on her face and the tears in her eyes. Brilliant.

Beautiful ending
The last episode is simply the best. I couldn’t believe how everything was wrapped up so nicely and despite having some unanswered questions, none of that mattered anymore. No words can describe how much i loved the ending. The last scene left me with buckets of tears and made me realise how far the characters have come since the first episode. I felt like i was on this healing journey with them.

Beautiful music
Lastly, the soundtracks in this drama left a deep impression on me. I love them all, especially In Your Time by Lee Suhyun.

As with every drama, there were still some parts which i hoped could have been better. I didn’t quite like that the leads met each other when they were young, and also the mother plot line. However, as this is a character driven story as many have pointed out, i still loved the main storyline that focuses on the growth of the characters.

I have learnt a lot watching this drama and you would too.

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This is a KILLER!!

OMG im done with this series im shock i want more episode but this is a killer for 2020 like ill rewatch it for sure like its so good i dont regret watching it at all. First this is really good why because its funny its so so so cute your going to be shock to find out whose the mother is and the kissing scene are magical this is really worth watching like at first i didnt know that i will like it this much and now im sad that its over and the bts are so funny when seo ye ji cough kim soo hyun dance to her cough anyway if you dont watch it you may regret and seo ye ji have so much attitude and this is the best thing in the series everytime i watch it i was so happy anyway watch it or you may regret!!! saraghai its okay to not be okay!!!

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Not Expected Something Like This !!!

Okay so this is my first review on this platform and I am so happy while writing this reviews I cannot express that . This drama has everything to offer .
It will make you laugh , teach you some important life lesson , heart touching music , outstanding performance and the most important thing this drama will make you cry.
I personally cried after a long time while watching a drama / show . It was an emotional rollercoaster ride for me and the way I connected to this drama is something which I can't express in words .
Special mention to the character Sang-tea he steals the show , the real star of the drama ,the character development was so good .
Also it focused on other supporting characters .
The best thing about this drama is that not only main plot but the sub plot got a happy ending too .
I would recommend this drama to everyone please go and watch this once .

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Best of 2020

Despite everything going on around the world in 2020, the drama community has been fortunate and blessed with dare I say one of the best dramas of 2020.

This is what a good drama is, it is thrilling, engaging and explores a complex issue seamlessly. I loved how they used fairy tales to explain some really difficult and complex issues, just be sure to know you will not look at fairy tales the same way.

I am sure you may have read a lot of reviews on this drama, I will tell you to just start this drama and you will not regret it.
Go with an open mind and an open heart and most importantly have fun XD

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The 2020 Drama we've been waiting for

I think this is maybe my favorite drama that aired in 2020 so far. It's rad because there actually are a bunch of great dramas this year. Typically I wouldn't even hesitate to say any drama with KSH is my fave, but just all around this drama really hit the marks for me.

Story: Okay, so the plot really isn't anything special. There are a lot of common KDrama tropes and I would be amiss to not acknowledge that. BUT I think the writing was really good. For me, story is broken down into two categories: plot and dialogue/character interactions. So in this regard, IOTNBO is pretty meh plot wise but has FANTASTIC dialogue (which really relies on how well the actors pull it off and they totally did so it works). The story for me really revolves around character interactions and character development. The one thing that makes the plot go from boring to meh for me is that everything seems to have a purpose. Also, I really loved the three main characters. While the romance is good, that's not what had me coming back every week. I came back to watch Sang Tae and Gang Tae and Mun Yeong grow and develop as a family. I don't think anyone was really 'cured', which a lot of people were concerned about. Mun Yeong was kind of a b***h before, and at the end she's still a b***h, just a happier b***h. Same goes for the other two; they're always going to be some level of f***ked up. They fight and argue like a real family too! Not some perfect 2012 drama ending here where everyone is all lovey dovey and dusted with morning dew.

Acting/Cast: Over the last few years, I honestly kind of forgot why KSH was my o.g. drama daddy. But lordy, lordy he's back and all those emotions I had are resurfacing. Tbh, it's not even because he's physically that attractive to me personally, but his acting skills just get me going. So much talent in one person should be illegal. Honestly the highlight of my weekend is when he ugly cries so that I can also ugly cry and release all the emotions I've pent up during quarantine. I've never finished a drama with SYJ as a lead (I dropped Moorim School) but now with getting introduced to Woo Do Hwan, I'm all hyped to watch Save Me. Also, my bisexual ass was in love with her this whole drama. Most of the time I fall for the male leads cause they do be a snacc, but honestly if I had to choose between KSH and SYJ in this drama you'd really be tearing at my heart strings. But hands down, Oh Jung Se was my unexpected star of the show. My mom has worked with kids on the spectrum my whole life. It is so fantastic to see a good representation of someone and e honestly did such a great job. I'm a really big pusher for LGBT actors playing LGBT character, or asian actors playing asian characters, etc. The same holds true I think for characters on the spectrum, BUT I'm really grateful for his fantastic portrayal. He it the glue in the story. Without Sang Tae Oppa, or Oh Jung Se really, I think I would rate this drama an 8.5.

Music: The OSTs fit the theme but none were really my taste in music.

Rewatch: I've already started rewatching T_T I'm not ready to say goodbye...

TLDR; I've stopped rating dramas quite as high the more I watch. The acting is great, the writing is great, it has great cinematography, the production value is great, it just hits in all of the right places. I know that romcoms or hyped dramas with big name actors are not for everyone. But this drama is honestly top tier for my personal preferences, which is why I'm rating it so high.

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A TRUE MASTERPIECE !

(I'm a year late in writing this review but, I had to do it. So bear with me)
It's Okay To Not Be Okay is a drama that will stick with you for a long time even after you've finished watching it. Sure it's not our typical boy meets girl, fall in love, etc. kinda story. It is more than that, and there lies its beauty. It involves themes we often don't come across in many dramas and mainly focuses on the development of the main characters. They are people that have been through hell. (So much that we wish nobody goes through.) But that's what makes them what they are. The best part? They're all in it together as a team.
A very special shout-out to my most favorite character, Sang Tae, played by Oh Jung Se- he was outstanding. Kim Soo Hyun was wonderful as always and nailed his role. The only other drama I watched of Seo Ye Ji was Hwarang but, I don't remember her so well from it. Here, I can't think of a better actress to play Ko Mun Young. She slayed it. The way she brought out the many shades in her character was impressive. The rest were just as great.
My most favorite part of the drama was the stories written by Mun Young. They may come off as just normal fairy tales but the morals behind each of them were so touching and, they were in some way related to the characters.
It's Okay To Not Be Okay is one of its kind but, there is a teeny tiny possibility that not everyone will appreciate it because it is not a light-hearted drama that everybody can enjoy. But that shouldn't stop you from exploring it. If you're hesitating to watch it, go for it. I'm sure you'll be hooked in no time.

P.S. - Initially, I started watching this drama when it was airing but got invested in another that I failed to keep up with this and eventually put it on hold for more than a year. I feel so guilty for doing that because this gem was right under my nose and, I failed to see it. (Don't be like me)

Happy Viewing! :)

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