The K-Drama That Broke Every Rule Possible Is an Infinitely Rewatchable Gem
Realistic depiction of mental struggles on TV? Yes, please! And make it a love story for the ages as well.
Mental health is not an easy topic to tackle, but it is as necessary as it is difficult. A lot of shows tried it, but some end up reinforcing stereotypes or glossing over the real issues. They are either way overdramatic or painfully inaccurate (or both at the same time).
That's exactly why stumbling upon this K-drama felt so special. It dives head first into the topic with grace and honesty, the very thing that's missing in a lot of mental health-related content these days. Additionally, it manages to tell a love story that you’ll want to revisit more than once or even twice.
It's Okay, That's Love (2014): Breaking the Mental Health Stigma, One Episode at a Time
Of course, I'm talking about It's Okay, That's Love — the show that managed to break almost every conventional K-drama rule while creating something incredibly authentic and powerful.
The series follows the story of Ji Hae Soo, a psychiatrist who thinks she has life figured out, and Jang Jae Yeol, an author living with schizophrenia. It's Okay, That's Love dives deep into their lives and makes you empathize with the characters like they were your friends.
Though the main focus of the series is Jang Jae Yeol and Ji Hae Soo, the supporting cast keeps up with the leads and makes the show even more engaging.
It’s Okay, That’s Love Is Impossible to Watch Without Tearing Up
Speaking of engaging, the show's cinematography is absolutely immersive. Especially those close-up shots where you feel like you're a part of the scene.
I also love how It’s Okay, That’s Love handles relationships. Not just romantic ones, but friendships and most importantly, the relationship with oneself. The show doesn't shy away from showing how mental health affects all of these, and it does so without being preachy or melodramatic.
As Redditor crazyforcloy wrote:
“It’s one of my top 3 K-dramas for how they handled mental illness and how they showed the relationship between the leads. It’s not exactly an easy watch, but I love the ML [male lead].”
You can catch It’s Okay, That’s Love on OnDemandKorea for free with ads or stream it on Kocowa and Rakuten Viki. Watch as it becomes your comfort go-to show.
