It's Okay, That's Love 괜찮아, 사랑이야 stars Jo In Sung and Gong Hyo Jin and is also my forty-fourth drama. The drama received good ratings during its original airing in 2014. Although I didn't start watching this series until 2015, It's Okay, That's Love was still one I wanted to see. I am a fan of Sung Dong Il and Lee Kwang Soo. Jo In Sung and Gong Hyo Jin are both very popular actors whom I haven't seen any of their work but know that they are very talented.
Jang Jaeyeol (Jo In Sung) is a radio DJ and a best-selling author who meets psychiatrist Ji Haesoo (Gong Hyo Jin) on a televised talk show panel. Both of them are strong-minded individuals and start bickering from their stubbornness. One day, Jaeyeol temporarily moves out due to ongoing construction taking place near his home. When he moves to the building he owns, Jaeyeol finds out Haesoo and her housemates are the current tenants. Nonetheless, he pushily proceeds to move into the house, much to Haesoo's dislike and her housemates' delight. Their constant arguments slowly turn into love as Jaeyeol and Haesoo help one another help resolve their deep emotional problems.
Much of the drama highlights Haesoo's work as a psychiatrist and her patients. As a result, the drama can feel challenging at times to watch. I expected this drama to be a simple romantic comedy, but the series feels like a mix of a melodrama, a medical drama and a romantic comedy. It's Okay, That's Love finds a great way to blend the subgenres together and doesn't feel too overwhelming. The drama does a great job of normalizing the idea of people with mental illnesses. Everyone has their quirks and personality traits stemming from events in their past, even if they aren't medically described as mental illnesses. It's Okay, That's Love is pretty good at creating a story that captures a wide audience as well as introducing a drama that depicts an unique kind of romantic relationship.
The soundtrack contains several upbeat songs which give It's Okay, That's Love an unique feel. For a drama with heavy issues, the music helps remind that this drama is a romantic comedy. My favorite tracks are The Once's "You're My Best Friend", Twin Forks' "Cross My Mind" and EXO Chen's "Best Luck".
It's Okay, That's Love provides a platform for challenging public perceptions of individuals with mental illnesses, typically seen as a social stigma. It's Okay, That's Love isn't one of my all-time high favorites, nor is it a drama I would highly recommend. Although I enjoyed the beginning of the series, I lost interest in the main characters nearing the ending and was more interested in just watching the storyline for Sookwang and Sonyeo. The acting abilities of all the actors is amazing, but perhaps It's Okay, That's Love wasn't quite up to my tastes in dramas.
