It’s Okay to Not be Okay, wasn’t really my kind of story, and that’s okay. Most of the reason I kept watching was to follow the super long reddit threads. The show didn’t do anything wrong (actually I’d argue it did very few things wrong); it just never got me. Maybe binge watching would have made me more invested, or maybe it would’ve made things 40 times worse. It’s not something that I could relate to, although I’m sure it will speak to a lot of people.

By far the most striking aspect of the show initially was the cinematography. The directing style was vivid, and the sets were beautiful. The tone is this consistent, creepy-ish, melancholy but hopeful vibe. It’s characterized by a quiet elegance that really works if you’re in the mood for it. The OST is really great and it fits well with everything else.

The slow plot movement is my real issue. The mysterious aspect of this show didn’t work for me, and I’ve learned that I need more plot-driven stories. I was never excited to watch the next episode. Every episode could have been the last one, and I wouldn’t have minded. The ending is ultimately satisfying, but it still leaves some questions unanswered.

However, what this show lacks in plot movement, it makes up for in adorable characters that I loved watching. The whole supporting cast is hilarious, and although it isn’t exactly a comedy, it makes you laugh at the right moments. And it makes you cry too. The main leads never got my heart, but I still feel like I’ve gone on a journey with these characters.

The Main Cast:

Kim Soo-hyun was the reason everybody started watching, and the man is really talented, I’ll admit. He somehow always has me on his side, even when I couldn’t relate to him. The chemistry between him and Seo Ye-ji was really great too. I don’t have a lot to say about Seo Ye-ji, but I think she was well cast for this part.

For me, Oh Jung-se was the star of this show and the reason to keep watching. I had a huge soft spot for his character, and I thought he did an amazing job bringing Moon Sang-tae to life. You could see him really becoming Sang-tae in everything from his face to the way he held himself. I’m a new fan. I’ll watch anything he does now.

Supporting Cast/Characters:

I really loved Jae-soo (Kang Gi-doong). I loved his character, and I thought the performance was great. I wish he got more of a spotlight in this story, but he stole the scenes he was in.

I always love Kim Mi-kyung, and I liked her here too. She’s the best mom.

Lee Sang-in (Kim Joo-heon) and Yoo Seung-jae (Park Jin-joo) made a great pair. Their scenes together and apart were always hilarious. I’ve got my eye on Park Jin-joo now, and I hope she gets more prominent roles in the future.

The OK Hospital people were also a nice big family. Some standouts were Kim Chang-wan as the hospital director and patients Kan Pil-wong (Kim Ki-cheon) and Joo Jung-tae (Jung Jae-kwang).

Oh also the child actors were good. Yeah I don’t have anything bad to say here really. Great cast all around.