2.1 - Episode 1 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 1 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix from 2020. In this first episode, we get introduced to celebrity children’s book author Koo Meun Young (Seo Yea-ji), compassionate caregiver Moon Gang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun), the talented, autistic Moon Sang Tae (Oh Jung-se), and the long suffering nurse Nam Joo-ri (Park Gyu-young). The characters intersect when Meun Young does a book reading at the hospital where Moon Gang Tae works, and when Joo-ri travels to Seoul to get Meun Young’s signature for surgery that her father needs.We do a recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We talk about our first impressions of the show and what we loved about the first episode. We discuss:You’re Cold by Heize, one of the songs from the OSTThe 18 elements that seem to exist in most K Dramas, specifically:Beautiful actorsCrying, by both women and menGorgeous OSTs (original sound tracks)Food; there's lot of eating in K DramasAlcohol; drinking by both men and womenThe trip and catchPiggyback ridesThe back hugProduct placementsHolding handsThe wrist grabFlowersLove trianglesUmbrella sceneThe quirky best friendThe Deep LeanBeautiful or arresting clothingThe Arm RestOther possible K Drama elements, specifically:A singing or karaoke sceneA gazing at some scenery standing side by side sceneA conversation about whether it’s okay to talk casually with each otherA grandfather or chairman characterThe opening stop motion animation about the girl with no friendsWhat we know about Koo Meun YoungWhat we know about Moon Gang TaeWhat we know about Moon Sang TaeThe K Drama Elements that show up in this episodeOur favorite Meun Young outfitWe close with a discussion about how to refer to older brother or older sister in Korean.References:How to refer to older brother or sister in KoreanYou’re Cold by Heize on YouTube