It's Okay to Not Be Okay
A dark, whimsical romance where wounded souls collide, healing each other's jagged edges through a tapestry of gothic fairy tales and emotional honesty.
It's Okay to Not Be Okay
It's Okay to Not Be Okay

사이코지만 괜찮아

"When you can't control yourself, count to three."

20 June 2020 — 09 August 2020 South Korea 1 season 16 episode Ended ⭐ 8.5 (1,412)
Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji, Park Gyu-young, Oh Jung-se, Kim Ju-hun
Drama Comedy
Trauma and Healing Mental Health and Neurodiversity The Nature of Family Fairy Tales as Reflections of Reality

It's Okay to Not Be Okay - Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

Hurtful, painful memories. Only those with such memories buried in their hearts can become stronger, more passionate, and emotionally flexible. And only those can attain happiness.

— Ko Mun-yeong (narrating 'The Boy Who Fed On Nightmares')

Context:

This is the moral of the first fairy tale presented in Episode 1, setting the thematic stage for the entire drama. It explains why the boy in the story is unhappy after a witch erases his bad memories.

Meaning:

This quote encapsulates the central philosophy of the series: that trauma should not be forgotten but confronted. It suggests that true strength and happiness are born from acknowledging and overcoming pain, rather than erasing it.

If you want to make people around you happy, you have to find your own happiness first. Being selfish isn't always a bad thing.

— Nam Joo-ri

Context:

Nam Joo-ri says this to Gang-tae when he is overwhelmed with guilt and responsibility. Her words encourage him to think about his own well-being, which is a novel concept for him.

Meaning:

This line is a crucial piece of advice for Moon Gang-tae, whose entire identity is built on self-sacrifice. It gives him permission to consider his own needs and is a turning point in his character arc, challenging his belief that he must always put his brother first.

Your body is honest. When you're in physical pain, you cry. But the heart is a liar. It stays quiet even if it's hurting.

— Moon Gang-tae

Context:

Gang-tae says this early in the series, revealing his deep understanding of hidden emotional suffering, which is a direct reflection of his own life experience.

Meaning:

This quote highlights the theme of emotional repression. Gang-tae, who is an expert at hiding his emotional pain, explains the dangerous tendency of the heart to suffer in silence. It speaks to the invisible wounds that all the main characters carry.

A fairy tale isn't a hallucinogen that gives us hopes and dreams. It's a stimulant that makes us face reality.

— Ko Mun-yeong

Context:

Ko Mun-yeong says this during a literature class she holds at the OK Psychiatric Hospital, explaining her dark and unconventional approach to storytelling to the patients.

Meaning:

This quote defines the unique role of fairy tales within the show. It rejects the Disney-fied notion of fairy tales as escapism and reframes them as allegorical tools for confronting life's harsh truths and one's own psychology.

If we've taken family photos together, we're family.

— Moon Gang-tae

Context:

Gang-tae says this to a hesitant Ko Mun-yeong in Episode 13, right before they are about to take a formal family portrait with Sang-tae, solidifying their unconventional family unit.

Meaning:

This simple declaration redefines the concept of family, moving it beyond blood relations to one of choice and shared experience. It signifies Gang-tae's full acceptance of Ko Mun-yeong into his and his brother's lives, cementing their status as a found family.