I have existed in a whirlwind for the past few months while watching this series, and I’ve just landed on solid ground. So to speak, I’ve been on a journey with this series, and needless to say, It’s Okay, That’s Love (IOTL) deserves nothing but the highest recognition and commendation as possible. I hope this show is commemorated for not just being popular or well liked, but also because it is a meaningful piece of work, and I haven’t fallen in love this hard with a drama’s premise and writing since Secret Garden. This will be a long review, so just a heads up! I was glued to this series immediately. This one was just too fantastical; lots of motion and commotion right from the beginning of the series to the end. I liked the flow of events, and it didn’t feel like anything in particular was dragging on. I can imagine people thinking differently, and you’re entitled to your opinion, but this series to me is just like winning the lottery in drama heaven (and I will detail why). At the risk of gushing about this romcom, I will attempt to keep a review compact. From my point of view, IOTL is a brilliant piece of work, from script writing to directing, acting and music; I just loved it, and I will attempt to convince anyone to give this drama a try because it certainly doesn’t disappoint. STORY: Tragic. Hilarious. Endearing. One of a kind. Honestly, I cannot begin to put into words how versatile this story is. What I can say is that is it multifaceted. In those moments, the story becomes an enriching journey for the audience into the lives of those living their day to day life with an impact from mental illness or working within the field of mental health. What I enjoyed the most about this story is that it wasn’t a solely medical drama that pathologized its patients. This series exposed, explored, and discussed the often stigmatization of patients with mental illness. There were lived experiences and individuality in this story, and it made the series wholesome, often challenging social norms. I found myself more connected to it within the “meat” of the story because the characters are involved in the main premise, which is dealing with/coping with/understanding/healing from emotional/psychological pains. Within this drama, the romance and comedy are embedded in ways that the story manages to progress between leads by conveying serious social issues with a serene and genuine feel for caring about those in your life. CHARACTERS: Jang Jae Yeol: What a charismatic, multidimensional one. It does help that Jo In Sung gave an award winning performance consistently. But Jae Yeol, as a character, is complex: you love him some moments; question him in others, worry about him, and viscerally his own conflicting emotions with the relationship to his family, in particular, the complicated relationship he has with his brother. The hostility, and painfully evident wounds of his past of violence is something that makes Jae Yeol a person that evokes major ethos on the audience’s minds. I do think Jae Yeol’s unraveling and mysterious past (as it unveils) makes one feel, as Hae Soo would, a part of his world. Sharing a piece of his identity, and understanding how mental health and violence have impacted him; and how the two are linked and unfortunate. Ji Hae Soo: IOTL had me at Gong Hyo Jin. I am her bias, and the reason why I watched IOTL was because 1) it was her first drama after the Master’s Sun; one of my favourite drama’s, and 2) because GHJ is arguably one of the most talented actresses in South Korea (and I would personally argue from my perspective, much deserving of global recognition). That being said, if you seen her in other drama’s, regardless of your feelings towards her, one of the reasons that drew me to the story line was because her work involves picking series that matter, that have meaning and controversy, or at least from what I know about GHJ is the ingenuity of the role. She, as far as I’m concerned, I knew this was going to be amazing before it started because she only involves herself in projects that are insightful, eye opening, and unique. Hae Soo was such a delight on screen, and GHJ was cast perfectly for this role. She was bright, independent, and not easily swayed by stereotypical male lead romancing. She has a good head on her shoulders, and given the fact that she’s flawed in this series, just like everyone else, I felt like she was quite a humane person. The secondary characters were in no way “secondary” to this series because they were wonderfully emotionally and psychological a part of this series, and contained a lot of depth. Ohh the feels for these characters, overall just… amazing. A memorable, unforgettable cast. I can’t deny this the reason what makes this series so special, and it’s because everyone has their own story to tell. Each and every actor playing their role fit it perfectly. SOUND/OST: It had a charming flare to it; the opening jazzy but fun opening; it made the series feel fun and intuitive. The music in the series, especially the “I don’t wanna be a hero” themed song really tied into the metaphoric element into the series. Overall, the music was conveyed well by the ocean of emotions in this series. Indefinitely, it’s heart wrenching. I do think the OST reflects the overall feel and mood of the characters, and I respect the fact that the series wasn’t overwhelmed by music; it was a nice addition to it. OVERALL IMPRESSION: It’s just such a story that is so open minded to the point where you feel welcomed into the story. You’re invited into these people’s lives which are far from being perfect, but that’s what makes it worthwhile. This drama offers such a refreshing feel to it in the sense that the plot development is often quirky and fun, yet it can be serious and heart breaking. All the same, I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys great script writing. Because what you get in IOTL is the whole package. Well articulated thoughts and ideas, and the strong sentimentality behind the screen of what we view socially and culturally as mental health, which I think is truly important. Aside from the gorgeous camera work; the skinship in this series and romance just oozed appeal. Fireworks and screen chemistry galore between the two main leads; it was, dare I say, sometimes just too sexy (if that’s even possible), yet also very beautiful in others. Needless to say, the leads connection was not only convincing but it was definitely heated. I loved that this series has characters close and engaged with one another; there were many life lessons to learn and understand from the simplistic ways in which the world spins. In particular, how easy it is to judge as much as it is easy to accept, how much courage it takes to love or try to love, and how much will one forgive a person or the world for such pains they/it cause you. Therein lies the ability and question of forgiveness, and forgiving yourself and others. Yes, you don't want to miss this one folks!