It’s Okay to Not Be Okay Episode 2 Recap
Writer Ko Moon Young (Seo Ye Ji) asks why he came. Moon Kang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun) steps close and states he wanted to see her again. Kang Tae says he wanted to see her eyes again. This surprises Moon Young. Kang Tae says her eyes remind him of someone he used to know. Moon Young wants to know who.
Flashback…A young Kang Tae struggles in the cold water he fell into when the ice broke. A young Moon Young plucks petal from flowers to determine if she should help him or not. Kang Tae sinks below the surface. Luckily the petal plucking ends on help him. She tosses something floatable. Kang Tae spots it, comes to the surface, grabs it and watches her stride away.
Kang Tae says someone that is messed up and without conscience. A woman whose eyes had no warmth. Moon Young asks if he was afraid of that woman. Kang Tae admits it was the opposite of that.
Flashback…a young Kang Tae devotedly follows Moon Young, he offers flowers, etc.
Kang Tae declares he liked that woman. They can’t take their eyes off each other in the heated moment.
Chapter 2: The Lady in Red Shores
Moon Young asks if he’s making a move on her because she reminds him the other woman. Kang Tae counters that the memories weren’t necessarily positive.
Flashback…a young Moon Young rips a butterfly in half, she drops it on a pile of other torn butterflies. She asks young Kang Tae if he still likes her.
Moon Young believes negative memories last longer.
Publisher Lee arrives at the publishing house. He rails at Seung Jae for letting Moon Young and Kang Tae meet.
Kang Tae tells Moon Young to inform Publisher Lee that he doesn’t need to contact him again. Publisher Lee stops him as he leaves the office. Seung Jae reminds Kang Tae that he wanted Moon Young’s autograph. Moon Young seizes the advantage though she agrees to sign the book. Kang Tae reluctantly offers his brother’s name. Publisher Lee is thrilled to learn Kang Tae’s brother is fan. Moon Young hands him the signed book. Moon Young says they’ll see each other again. Kang Tae retorts he doesn’t believe so.
Publisher Lee follows Kang Tae and offers a box of money. Kang Tae refuses and returns the box. He tells Publisher Lee not to contact him again. Publisher Lee can’t believe it. No one has rejected the money before.
Moon Young watches Kang Tae walk away book in hand. She decides she wants him. She imagines herself a giant holding Kang Tae up. Seung Jae arrives. Moon Young directs her to find out everything about Kang Tae and NOT tell Publisher Lee.
The cut from the model bus to the real bus, nice production work.
Kang Tae stares at the book. Jo Jae Soo (Kang Tae’s friend) calls him to tell him he’s eating with Moon Sang Tae (Oh Jung Se) (Kang Tae’s brother) and the landlady wasn’t happy. Jae Soo learns Kang Tae got Writer Ko’s autograph. Sang Tae is off like a shot, leaving the food behind. Kang Tae reads the inscription “Dear Sang Tae, I hope you can come to my book launch party. You can get my autograph and take picture with me. We’ll have fun. I’ll be waiting for you.” Kang Tae isn’t happy with the invitation.
Kang Tae asks Jae Soo to take Sang Tae to the book launch party. Jae Soo agrees.
LOL, who is your favorite?
Jae Soo is pleased when Nurse Nam Joo Ri arrives at his eatery. She teases him about opening another chicken eatery.
Sang Tae goes through all the possible outfits. He is adorably excited. Kang Tae can’t help but smile. Sang Tae tries different expressions to look cool.
Joo Ri and Jae Soo catch up. She asks if he’s moving. Jae Soo jokes he’s a nomad. She finally asks how Kang Tae is doing. Jae Soo tells him Kang Tae works too hard.
Kang Tae reinjures his hand on the job.
At the publishing house, Publisher Lee calls the meeting to order. The team shares the negative feedback on the grisly illustrations. Moon Young won’t alter them. Publisher Lee agrees. Next an animation company wants to change animals. Moon Young refuses. Publisher Lee agrees. Moon Young tells Publisher Lee not to make the book launch more than an hour. As she leaves the meeting, she holds Seung Jae’s badge and urges her to work hard.
Seung Jae tries to get a background test done on Kang Tae. It isn’t easy.
Kang Tae turns in his notice at the job. He learns someone is outside. It’s Joo Ri.
Kang Tae and Joo Ri sit side by side on a bench. She moves closer to Kang Tae. He moves away claiming he’s sweaty. She suggests the psychiatric hospital she works out as his next job. She brags their hometown has expanded since he lived there.
Flashback…Kang Tae’s mother is found murdered in a sewer pipe. Kang Tae identifies his mother at the morgue. He sobs. Sang Tae murmurs it was the butterflies that killed his mother. At the police station, Sang Tae says it was the butterflies that killed. Kang Tae demands to know what Sang Tae saw. Sang Tae declares that the butterfly told him to keep quiet or he’d die. Sang Tae sobs the butterflies will hunt him and kill him. The social worker tells the police that Kang Tae should go to an orphanage and Sang Tae to a home for special needs children. Kang Tae overhears and leads Sang Tae away. Kang Tae tells his brother they are going far away where the butterflies can’t find them. They get on a bus leaving town.
Kang Tae walks Joo Ri to the bus back to their hometown. She offers that she has an extra room at the house with her mother so Kang Tae wouldn’t have to find lodging. Kang Tae thanks her but says he won’t be coming back. Hiding her disappointment, Joo Ri fake smiles and gets on the bus.
Flashback…Jae Soo tells Joo Ri that Kang Tae never makes deep relationship with others because he moves so often. Joo Ri asks why he moves so often. Jae Soo declares it is because of the butterfly. He passes out.
Joo Ri wonders what a butterfly has to do with Kang Tae moving.
Moon Young thinks of Kang Tae.
Kang Tae looks for a job online. Sang Tae sleeps peacefully. Then he looks up the hospital that Joo Ri works out. He sees there is a PTSD expert on staff who declares that one can overcome trauma if you face it. That piques his interest.
The next morning, Sang Tae gets ready for the book launch event. Jae Soo doesn’t answer Kang Tae’s phone calls sleeping off the alcohol from the previous evening. Sang Tae asks where Jae Soo is. Kang Tae has no choice but to take Sang Tae to the book launch event. Sang Tae is thrilled, the day is a great one.
There is a mob of people at the book signing event. Moon Young is bored but does her duty. Sang Tae and Kang Tae arrive. They are dismayed at the length of the line. They get in the back of the line. Kang Tae tells his brother he’ll wait for him at the side. Moon Young spots him and smiles.
Publisher Lee sees a book critic at the event. The critic notes that Moon Young’s mother was the queen of crime mysteries while her daughter is the queen of children’s fiction. The critic admits that Moon Young’s success in book is impressive. Publisher Lee leads him away.
Jae Soo wakes. He grabs his phone and realizes he overslept. He calls Kang Tae who tells Sang Tae he’s stepping out of the store to take a phone call. Fascinated by a child in a dinosaur costume, Sang Tae approaches. The father throws Sang Tae to the ground. He pulls Sang Tae’s hair which sends him into a frenzy. Kang Tae rushes to his brother and covers his head. Everyone stares. Moon Young wonders if she should help him or not.
Full circle moment.
Kang Tae stares at the father in anger. Moon Young approaches and tells the father to apologize. The father refuses. Moon Young grabs the father’s hair. He screams. She notes that anyone would scream when their hair is grabbed. The mother declares the man that approached her son was crazy because he babbled. Moon Young calls her crazy. The crowd reacts. Seung Jae sighs. The mother goes ballistic yelling that everyone recording this moment heard the slanderous statement. Moon Young smiles at Kang Tae. He stares silently at Moon Young.
In a closet Sang Tae tells himself he’s not a bad person. Moon Young and Kang Tae sit on a bench outside the closet. She asks if Kang Tae should check on his brother. Kang Tae replies his will let him enter in a day or two. Moon Young stands to approach the closet. Kang Tae grabs her wrist and tells her she doesn’t have to get involved. Moon Young asks how Sang Tae manages to get haircuts. Irked, Kang Tae grabs her as he stands. Moon Young smiles and says he’s looking at her. She leans close and pulls off his hat. Kang Tae is not happy. She tells him not to wear hats that hide his face. She chuckles at his embarrassment. Kang Tae puts his hat on. The critic interrupts and declares Publisher Lee is going crazy.
Publisher Lee rails at Seung Jae for the current mess they are in. Publisher Lee takes a call from a reporter. Publisher Lee downplays the event.
The critic asks Moon Young if this is her boyfriend. Moon Young sees the bribe boxes. She notes he got the money; he can leave. The critic states Moon Young looks just like her mother in this moment. He stares at Moon Young’s body and says her mother was sexy too. Before Moon Young can respond, Kang Tae grabs her hand and tells the critic to leave. The critic advises Kang Tae to be careful. Moon Young’s mother suddenly died and Moon Young’s father suddenly went crazy and is locked up in a psychiatric hospital. He warns the same could happen to anyone involved with Moon Young. He walks away. Moon Young tells Kang Tae to release her. She starts to walk away. He grabs her wrist and tells her to stay. Angry, Moon Young asks if he’s going to take responsibility for her. Can he handle what that entails? She strides away. Kang Tae follows her.
The critic meets Moon Young on the stairway. He smiles stating he knew she’d follow him. Moon Young says he must know what she’s going to do next. The critic warns her that he’ll sink her and Publisher Lee. He promises to destroy her career with his power of his pen. She stares at his pen while he states revealing her antisocial personality disorder would disenfranchise her readers. She asks what he wants. He suggests she share her body. Moon Young takes the pen out of his pocket and notes she can have power with his pen too. Kang Tae spots them. Moon Young makes a move to stab the critic in the eye. He pulls back and almost losing his balance. The money goes flying. Moon Young taps his head. He tumbles down a flight of stairs. Kang Tae arrives next to the critic. He sees Moon Young spin the pen with pleasure. The critic swears his revenge as the paramedics takes him away.
That was satisfying. Who wouldn’t want to boldly dispatch vermin like that?
Kang Tae grips Moon Young’s shoulders and urges her to breath deeply. He shows her how to calm herself by giving herself a butterfly hug. Moon Young isn’t all in on his suggestions.
Inside the closet, Sang Tae gives himself the butterfly hug.
Moon Young admits having Kang Tae’s hands on her is agreeable. She pulls him close to her and stares into his eyes. She notes trauma should be handled face to face. He stares into her eyes.
Sang Tae opens the closet and sees no one on the bench outside. He steps out of the closet.
Kang Tae walks away from Moon Young. She orders him to slow down. She tells him she wants him to help her manage her stress so she doesn’t explode. Kang Tae reminds her she told him to mind his own business only moments ago. Moon Young points out he is a caregiver and she needs care. Kang Tae tells her to find another caregiver. She offers money. He notes when someone is cured a caregiver hopes to never see them again. Kang Tae tells Moon Young they shouldn’t meet again. He tells her to stop pursuing him. Moon Young points out she’s not a patient. Kang Tae counters drugs and therapy won’t help her, she was born this way. Kang Tae states avoiding people like her is the best path for him. Moon Young says he’s running away. She calls him a coward.
Flashback…Kang Tae brings Moon Young flowers. He offers them. She rips the butterfly in two. Kang Tae is shocked. Moon Young asks if he still likes her. He drops the flowers and runs away. Moon Young calls him a coward.
Publisher Lee yells at Moon Young for the mess they are in. She walks away and says nothing.
Kang Tae finds his brother on the bench. They take the bus home. Sang Tae doesn’t say anything. Kang Tae produces a book that makes Sang Tae smile. Kang Tae listen to his brother chatter as he stares out the window and thinks of Moon Young. He leans on his brother’s shoulder.
Moon Young’s father is loaded into the ambulance. Joo Ri rides with him.
Sang Tae can’t take his eyes of the book while they walk home. Jae Soo is waiting for them at home. He falls to his knees and raises his hands. Kang Tae sighs.
Jae Soo admits he got drunk last night. Kang Tae tells his friend he no longer needs to follow him. Jae Soo points out it is his choice. He asks what happened. He asks what Moon Young did. Kang Tae denies it. Jae Soo doesn’t believe him. Kang Tae admits he thought he moved often because of this brother and the butterfly dream. But today he thought he was running because he wants to. Kang Tae says when life gets hard, running is easier than staying. Jae Soo pats Kang Tae’s back.
Sweet!
Sang Tae packs his books. Kang Tae asks if he remembers their hometown. Sang Tae does remember. Kang Tae asks if they should live there. Sang Tae agrees without hesitation. Kang Tae is surprised. Sang Tae remembers a good eatery. Kang Tae chuckles and calls his brother brave. Sang Tae says he’s older and brave and his younger brother can be the coward. Kang Tae makes his choice.
Kang Tae calls Joo Ri. He tells her he wants the job. She smiles.
The next morning, Moon Young reads the background information on Kang Tae. She realizes where Kang Tae went. She smiles.
The publishing house is inundated with calls. The video is damming. Additional videos surface that aren’t flattering. People start burning Moon Young’s books. Publisher Lee is beside himself. His team says money won’t solve this. He learns the latest book is being blocked. Publisher Lee demands to know where Moon Young is.
Moon Young drives to Kang Tae’s hometown.
Publisher Lee is told Moon Young checked out of the hotel. He claims he’s going to kill himself. Seung Jae declares Moon Young disappeared because of the information she sent her this morning. Publisher Lee can’t believe Moon Young wanted to know about Kang Tae.
At the psychiatric hospital, Kang Tae is dressed and pushes a patient with Joo Ri by his side. She smiles.
Moon Young is all smiles driving.
Flashback…Moon Young approaches a smiling Kang Tae holding flowers for her.
Moon Young takes the phone call from Publisher Lee. He demands to know where she is. Kang Tae arrives in town. It begins to rain. Moon Young pulls into the psychiatric hospital parking lot. She exits the car wearing red shoes.
Moon Young’s voiceover “the little girl wore her red shoes everywhere she went, even to church. Once you wear those shoes, you dance and can never remove the shoes. But the little girl won’t give up the shoes. Her feet had to cut off. But the feet continued to dance. Some things can’t be torn apart, no matter how hard you try”.
Kang Tae reports lights out in the facility. He turns and sees Moon Young striding down the hallway.
Moon Young’s voiceover “that is why obsession is noble and beautiful”.
The clock chimes. The thunder sounds.
Moon Young’s voiceover “I have found my red shoes”.
She stands in front of Kang Tae. He asks why she’s there. She says she missed him. She smiles.
My Thoughts
Strong second episode. Writer Jo Yong beautifully built on the initial episode adding more depth of each character. Joo Ri likes Kang Tae. Jae Soo likes Joo Ri. Jae Soo wanders with Kang Tae and Sang Tae whenever they move. Moon Young isn’t always nice in public. Publisher Lee’s cleanup duties have been on-going for years. The crux of the story is set, Moon Young wants Kang Tae. He knows she’s dangerous to him and doesn’t believe she can become a caring individual. But he liked her in the past and is still drawn to her in the present. Will the mentioned PTSD doctor be able to help Sang Tae and Moon Young?
Moon Kang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun) realized running away was something he did for himself and his brother. He told himself he left when Sang Tae’s butterfly dreams began. The flashback revealed his mother was murdered. Does Moon Young or her family have anything to do with that? The roamer lifestyle insulated Kang Tae for building lasting relationships. He got his caring fix by helping patients but those were short term. The interactions between Kang Tae and Moon Young have the right amount of push and pull. He’s drawn to her. He helped her after the critic encounter. Then she pursued him. Kim Soo Hyun and Seo Ye Ji are crushing it. Their scenes sparkle.
Writer Ko Moon Young (Seo Ye Ji) proves bad girls have more fun. Moon Young is rude, confident and arrogant. Traits typically given to male characters. Moon Young wears them like a badge of honor. We saw a few flickers of person that could care and be hurt. She masterfully manipulated Sang Tae attending the book launch. I loved how she messed with vermin critic. I lived vicariously in that scene. Moon Young has a radar that hums when Kang Tae is in the vicinity. When Kang Tae pushed back firmly and said he didn’t want to see her again, he thought it was done. But Moon Young wasn’t ready to call it quits. She’s focused on Kang Tae. He is her obsession, her red shoes, and her destiny. I hope he will be her support person as she walks a path to reconnect her heart and humanity.
Moon Sang Tae (Oh Jung Se) (Kang Tae’s brother) is sensitive, smart, and supportive though he requires support from Kang Tae. Sang Tae brings his strengths to his relationship with his brother. I loved it when he had no qualms about returning to their hometown. He told Kang Tae that he’d protect him. The encounter with the parents at the book was well done. I like Sang Tae.
This video of “You’re Cold” highlights the first two episodes:
I rank this episode as very good, 8 on a 10-point scale.
Asian drama fan. I watch and blog dramas on https://kjtamusings.wordpress.com/.
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Isn’t this show just breathtakingly beautiful to watch? Even if there was no story, I would watch it. I love the animations, the books, the costumes, everything. The child actors are perfect as well. I am so interested to see where these characters go next now that they have returned to the scene of the crime (murder of Sang Tae’s and King Tae’s mother). And heck, they even weave the PPL’s into the story in an artful way. I’m all in on this one!
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I’m all in on this one!
Agree. The first two episodes were written, produced, and acted beautifully. Can’t wait for next week!
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I concur that “It’s Okay Not to be Okay” is breathtakingly beautiful.
The mysteries needing to be untangled are intriguing.
Oh Jung Se is killing it was Sang Tae, the traumatized and developmentally challenged brother. Sang Tae is sweet and misunderstood. I’m curious to discover who the butterflies represent.
The acting is terrific, besides the leads, Moon Woo Jin, who plays the younger Gang Tae is no exception. This boy was also good as the young Seo Hui in “My Country”.
It angered me that the dad at the book signing overreacted and pulled Sang Tae’s hair. I get that parents need to protect their children, but I thought it was pretty clear Sang Tae had developmental issues and he could have been more gentle in protecting their child, such as one parent engaging him in a conversation about dinosaurs 🦕🦖🐲 or blocking Sang Tae from the child. Personally, I 💗 that Moon Young pulled the dad’s hair and declared that anyone would yell when their hair was pulled … afterall didn’t the dad cryout too❓⁉️
I concur Moon Young dispatching the critic was awesome. Aren’t there times when you feel like you would like to do the same to a nasty antagonist❓⁉️
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The acting is terrific, besides the leads, Moon Woo Jin, who plays the younger Gang Tae is no exception. This boy was also good as the young Seo Hui in “My Country”.
Thanks for pointing that out. The young actors are important in series that have key events happen in the past.
I concur that “It’s Okay Not to be Okay” is breathtakingly beautiful.
It feels elevated in it’s beauty compared to most. Goblin was also a beautiful series.
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I am totally invested in this drama too! It seems that unlocking the past will be a means for healing for both KT and MY. I suspect MY’s mother (whether dead or alive) has an important role to play. Can’t wait until the next episodes!
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I am totally invested in this drama too! It seems that unlocking the past will be a means for healing for both KT and MY. I suspect MY’s mother (whether dead or alive) has an important role to play.
Good point that KT has healing to do as well as MY and his brother ST. I look forward to learning more about MY’s background and the impact her mother and father made on her. She is a fascinating character.
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~~One of the things that drew me to KDramas is this use of mixed media. It was sparingly used in Faith/The Great Doctor (my first). Here, as JaneM says, it is beautiful.
Thanks for the recap Kjt.
Flashback…a young Moon Young rips a butterfly in half, she drops it on a pile of other torn butterflies. She asks young Kang Tae if he still likes her.
Sang Tae declares that the butterfly told him to keep quiet or he’d die. Sang Tae sobs the butterflies will hunt him and kill him.
Inside the closet, Sang Tae gives himself the butterfly hug.
~~It seems like butterflies are the poison and the medicine for all 3 characters. I don’t remember exactly but I think there is a homophone for nabi in Korean. I wonder if it applies to what Sang Tae saw.
Kang Tae admits he thought he moved often because of this brother and the butterfly dream. But today he thought he was running because he wants to. Kang Tae says when life gets hard, running is easier than staying. Jae Soo pats Kang Tae’s back.
~~I think KTs admission is an access road to his part of the healing. Usually people in Dramas are awakened by the responses from others but here KT is being self aware in a way that I think is unusual. I also wonder if Jae Soo is more than just a witness.
Looking forward to this journey with all of you.
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mixed media. It was sparingly used in Faith/The Great Doctor (my first). Here, as JaneM says, it is beautiful
Truly the production team is hitting a home run.
It seems like butterflies are the poison and the medicine for all 3 characters.
Well said, the butterfly is integral to our main character trio of Kang Tae, Sang Tae and Moon Young.
I think KTs admission is an access road to his part of the healing. Usually people in Dramas are awakened by the responses from others but here KT is being self aware in a way that I think is unusual. I also wonder if Jae Soo is more than just a witness
Excellent point about Kang Tae’s self aware nature. He is a care giver to his brother and in his profession. His emotional intelligence is high. I like Jae Soo and wonder why this friend has joined Kang Tae and Sang Tae in their move often lifestyle. I look forward to his backstory.
Looking forward to this journey with all of you.
We are all sensing this is will likely be a terrific series based on the first two episodes.
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There are strong Great Expectations vibes in the drama as well.
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Yes, of course. The cold rich girl from the big house, the naive infatuated boy. The relationship between Pip and Estella did not end well.
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The ending of the book is kind of ambiguous. I much prefer the ending of the 1940s movie though. I hope the drama delivers a good ending.
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