It’s Okay It’s Love (IOIL) (Also translated as It’s Okay, That’s Love) is the reason why I am addicted to Korean dramas. IOIL was the first Korean show I ever saw. It was my doorway to drama-world and since then six Asian TV show streaming sites have been bookmarked on my browser. When I first read the name of the show I found it difficult to believe that it is a psychological drama. In fact, I almost decided to not watch it because the title sounded too cheesy. But I’m glad I went ahead and gave it a try as it opened a completely new world of entertainment to me. This show is a complete package of drama, comedy, romance, and tragedy. By the end of the series, I was left asking for more (explains my addiction to K-Drama).

It’s Okay, It’s Love (2014)

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Korean psychological drama, ‘It’s Okay, It’s Love’ is a 16 episode long television series (each episode about an hour long) about a famous writer, Jang Jae Yeol who is known for his romance and thriller novels. He is extremely good-looking and is popular amongst young women. He happens to meet psychiatrist Ji Hae Soo on a TV show and falls for her quick wit and intelligence. She, however, despises him for his playboy image and prefers to stay away from him by ignoring his advances for friendship. He does not give up on her easily and moves into the same home as her as a roommate. Hae Soo rents a house along with her two roommates. She argues, she fights, she pushes him away but gradually falls for his charms. This show is a psychological drama because it introduces its viewers to several types of mental ailments that people suffer from and how doctors help ease the symptoms of these ailments. Jang Jae Yeol suffers from OCD and insomnia while Ji Hae Soo suffers from anxiety and finds it difficult to get physically close to a man. There is a reason that triggers mental ailments and IOIL attempts to sensitize its audience towards these issues.

Let’s weigh It’s Okay It’s Love on our drama beam balance and see if it is worth watching or is better missed.

Good Weights

Good Story – IOIL is a medical drama with an interesting storyline for every character on the show. The show deals with several medical cases and each case has been dealt with maturely without compromising on the entertainment value. You may not belong to the medical field but the psychiatrists in the show explain each case in a simple manner for a layman to understand. Despite dealing with a serious topic, the show still makes space for comedy and romance without straying away from the central theme.      

Amazing Soundtrack – Apart from the beautifully woven storylines, the original soundtrack of the show is what stands out. All the songs in the show are just incredible. It sets the mood for a scene especially for the non-Korean audience who may initially struggle slightly to understand the nature of a scene.

This particular song is my favorite and I listen to it in a loop. Its lyrics are extremely romantic and totally suits the protagonist’s love story.

Good Acting – What’s beautiful about this show is that every character has a part to play and has a story of its own. It shows how each character deals with its own personal issues and how they manage to tackle them and go on in life. Supporting actors of the show have done an amazing job. Each of them has acted his or her part to perfection. 

Lead Couple Chemistry – Jang Jae Yeol and Ji Hae Soo’s chemistry is intense and enchanting. Their love-hate relationship is so engaging that you wait for them to come together on screen.

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Jo In Sung (Jang Jae Yeol) is not only handsome but also a good actor. He looks so vulnerable in certain scenes that you almost feel like protecting him. After a few episodes he just doesn’t look like the Casanova he was thought of being initially. He manages to shed the playboy image and comfortably fit in the role of a romantic hero.

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Gong Hyo Jin (Ji Hae Soo) is exceptionally good as the independent and highly opinionated psychiatrist. At times, you might feel annoyed with the way Hae Soo deliberately pushes Jang Jae Yeol away from herself but that is what is required for the character. Hae Soo is a difficult woman because she deals with some insecurities and guilt which is why she uses her arrogance to shield herself. 

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Bad Weights

(I found it extremely difficult to spot any flaws in the show. So the bad weights for this show are not exactly its shortcomings but a few things that bothered me slightly.)

Easy Treatments – Some of the ailments have been shown to be treated easily. An illness like schizophrenia is difficult to treat and may take years to control. But in the show, a patient is shown to contain it very easily and in a rather short period of time. I am not from a medical background but from what I have read I know that it definitely requires more time and efforts to treat it. However, since the show is only 16 hours long I cannot blame the makers for speeding up the treatment process as the audience is not really interested in seeing the detailed procedure of the treatment.

Cheesy Title – I must say that the show’s title is totally misleading. With such a strong content it should have been named differently to avoid the audience taking it to be a just a regular romantic series.

 

The show beam balance has way too many good weights than bad weights which clearly indicate that the show is a MUST MUST WATCH. I cannot elaborate enough why the show deserves the accolades it has been receiving online by several K-drama fans. All I can say is that had it not been for this show I wouldn’t have tried Korean dramas at all.

I give the show 4.5 out of 5 rating. It’s Okay It’s Love is totally worth the 16 hours of your life.

 

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