Episodes 1 and 2 were, in one word, awesome. Growing up in the Philippines, I have seen P-drama productions swing wildly from 'embarrassingly bad' to 'painfully laughable', but this? This passed my standards. Easily. I rarely say this, but I approve—at least for these two episodes. I hope, really hope, they can keep this same level of production quality all the way through.
## Anne Curtis
Anne Curtis. Let's talk about her first. She has always been a remarkable actress, but I have not watched any of her shows for years. Seeing her again in this series left me pleasantly surprised—her craft has matured, sharpened, evolved. She nailed her character's vibe, presence, and emotional depth. However… I just wished she spoke more Filipino.
Why? Every time she switches to English, something change, her delivery softens and the impact fades just a little. Meanwhile, when she speaks in Filipino, her lines bite, they carry weight, there is sharpness, a certain heaviness, a rawness that lingers. It is not the same when she goes full English. Taglish works fine—switching mid-sentence, flowing naturally—but pure English dilutes the emotion.
Now, I do wonder if this is less about Anne and more about the language itself. Filipino, and Pacific-Asian languages in general (not 'Asia-Pacific' which includes Oceania), is richer in tone, cadence, and expression. Even Philippine English, though unique, pales in comparison to the colour and rhythm of our native tongues. Maybe English just does not have the same emotional punch for scenes like these.
So, no shade on Anne. It might be a language barrier more than a performance issue. All the more reason for the writers to lean heavier on Filipino dialogue for her moving forward.
## Carlo Aquino
Carlo Aquino plays Matthew Gonzales, or 'Matmat', an autistic character. Based on what I have seen, Matmat most likely falls under Level 2 Support Needs, referencing DSM-5 (North America) and ICD-11 (Europe) standards.
Carlo's portrayal? Spot on. He understands his character is neither Level 1 nor Level 3. He did not overact. He didn not exaggerate. I could tell he researched well, respected the nuances of autistic behaviours, and truly grasped that autism is a multidimensional spectrum—not a linear scale. For that, I offer my sincerest respect and gratitude.
Same praise goes to the director, who clearly took the time to understand autism before stepping into production.
(Quick aside: while many in the autistic community, including myself, are not huge fans of these clinical labels, I am using them here since they are what most non-autistics understand. It is important to meet people where they are before unpacking the more complex realities.)
## Disabilities Representation
One thing that really struck me—they showcased a range of disabilities and mental health conditions from the very start. From episode one, it is clear: this story is to be taken seriously. And that, for me, is everything.
Again, I have no point of reference for the original K-drama. But seeing how the P-drama adaptation treats these topics with weight and dignity? I am here for it. As someone who absolutely despises discrimination and ableist nonsense, this matters to me.
Why does it matter so much? Because too often, disabilities are treated as:
- a joke - a convenient plot device - a random twist - something light and comedic - or a token flaw people can brush off with the dreadful "we all have disabilities" excuse (just… no).
I am hoping—no, I am begging—that this adaptation keeps this same serious tone and purpose, not just for the premiere but all throughout. I want this show to haunt people in a good way. To remind them of empathy. To make them think twice before judging. To normalise representation while also educating audiences about mental, social, genetic, and psychological conditions.
Because, after all, the title says it clear as day: **It's Okay to Not Be Okay**.
---
* Cover image: Official poster owned and Copyrighted to ABS-CBN, used under "Fair Use".
The P-drama «It's Okay to Not Be Okay» (2025) is an adaptation of the K-drama of the same name ( «사이코지만 괜찮아» (2020)). Here's my reaction about the premiere episodes.
I'm not sure about in SK, but I know in China it's kind of taboo early in the pregnancy. Like, they say there…
It's a common information passed down from generation to generation here in Pacific-Asia (not Asia-Pacific since that includes Oceania). Even here in the Philippines, that belief still lingers to this day despite what doctors said it's fine.
I even heard that it is how twins are made. 😁😁😁🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 While it is possible, even without having sex during pregnancy, the mother can get another embryo, it's rare but there were documented cases of delayed pregnancy (and while already pregnant).
Anyway, maybe they were just using the common taboo as a lite joke, even though many are already aware it is generally fine.
Writers has enough time to break every bone in Dongju body but don't have any time to give proper emotional scenes…
Yep. They can give HanNa more exposure instead of sidelining her personal grudge without moving the focus away from "Good Boy".
It was a missed opportunity. It could've made "Good Boy" a more deeper character too instead of simpli portraying him as a punching machine with a very strong sense of justice and pride.
His badge is red, that's for death penalty. However, I think South Korea doesn't have a death penalty, or at least it was suspended like here in the Philippines.
Courts can still give a death penalty if it was only suspended. So what happens is, those on death row stays in maximum security prisons for the rest of their life without parole or until death penalty is resumed and they get their turn.
My bet is, the Russian guy. He survived and no one knew about it. He is the second person, aside from HanNa, who has a deep personal grudge against him.
Personally, I prefer HanNa finishing the story to give an ending to her father's murder. They didn't even give her a proper ending, not even a single sniper shot. I guess they've forgotten her story.
The ML doesn't have a personal grudge to settle with him, the only thing driving him was his 100% sense of justice and conviction. But HanNa? It's deeply personal.
It's like:
HanNa: Oh, so it wasn't Russian guy who killed my father, it was JuYeong. Ok, case closed.
You see, I don't believe that. They built her character as someone who has an unfinished business regarding her father's murder. And just because she learned the truth, she dropped it and became a regular police officer who supports her boyfriend's pride as a policeman?
If anything, the ML should've been the one who switched as a supportive boyfriend to avenge her girlfried's father.
Yes, yes, we can assume that the ML did exactly that. However, the way the ML acted did not imply anything about that. They didn't even talk about it. He was just the usual, "I am a police officer so I must fulfill my oath". From the very beginning it was about his sense of pride as a policeman. He never once acted on behalf of HanNa's personal mission.
Don't get me wrong. It's good and all. But there's room for improvement, and that was making HanNa's personal mission the main plot. Giving a much more deeper meaning, and meat, to the ML's sense of justice and conviction, instead of simply a boxer trying to find his way again.
The ending dialogue could've been: ML: This is for my brother. *punch* ML: This is for my mother. *punch* ML: And this is for HanNa! *uppercut*
Cliché but it at least shows us, and establishes firmly, that he is human instead of just a punching machine.
Again, room for improvement, but sadly they missed it.
Actually, it's common here in Pacific-Asia (not "Asia-Pacific" which includes Oceania). 😅 Even here…
Haha. Yep, the PNP complained and the government helped them.
Part of it was the use of police uniforms, cars, and appearance of actual policemen. If they'll be shown in a bad light, it's a big "no", they can't use PNP uniforms, even likeness and cars. Or, risk getting sued. 😅
It's about corruption. The noise was simply used as a literary device.- Judge who closed a precious case about…
Yep. It's a concept or action that's really hard to understand. I understand the desperation, the need to survive, I myself am going through that. But, holding the blade? Giving up my principles? Betting my life for a temporary—and often shallow—happiness? I just can't imagine it. I'll die anyway.
I just, you know, I learned to accept the situation and make the best of it. Once I'm gone from this world, none of it will matter. Not happiness. Not pain. Just nothing.
Yes, why not hold the blade, risk everything, and be happy, right? We'll die either way. But that's the thought process of many, if not all, criminals. "We'll die anyway, let's steal." And if the bet/risk goes wrong, it's debt or prison.
Better to just make the best of the situation than make it worse. As long as we're alive, we can still do something in getting the life we want without playing with fire or holding the blade.
I meant no disrespect, I just hope people think carefully and consider the consequences before jumping into risky ventures. If they truly want risks, then risk in a good venture instead of one where it's debt or prison.
Even if we use our family and kids as an excuse/justification, in many countries, the debt is transferred to those left behind. Or, they're harassed endlessly even if they're legally not liable for it. Or, if one goes to prison, the rest of the family are also affected.
Holding the blade is 80% losing and only 20% chance of winning. And losing is guaranteed to be the worst. If one wins, often than not, they spend it all and they're back to having debts.
Really not worth it no matter which angle we look at it and whatever reasons we can think of.
And the bad people knows how to use it to victimized people who loves to grab the blade side. The bad ones get richer, the good ones goes in debt and shame.
It's about corruption. The noise was simply used as a literary device.
- Judge who closed a precious case about noise and lack of anti-noise measures on buildings and sub-par materials used. - Judge and her husband buying all the other units because they knew a new train station is going to be built. - The journalist who became obsessed and started creating fake noises, and killing people. - In the end, there are still noises because the building materials used were sub-par and anti-noise measures weren't implemented
However, there's the most important aspect, human emotions and greed.
While it's understandable that life is hard and we need money, greed pushes people into doing things they shouldn't. In Filipino, a more appropriate and exact term for this is "kapit sa patalim" (lit. holding on the blade even if it cuts you). The proverb basically says that desperate people will hold the blade side of a knife or sword or glass if it means they'll have a better life. It doesn't matter if it's related to money, although it usually is.
"Greed" doesn't quite completely expresses that human desperation, but the Filipino proverb I mentioned is perfect.
That's what the ML did with cryptostock manipulation. It's illegal but he's desperate. So even though he full well knows how it is dangerous, he still held the blade. In the end, he lost more than his investment.
Then there's the PH lady and her husband. They were not only greedy, they were also holding on the blade even though they know it can get them killed. And well, they were killed for it.
Same with all the other tenants and the journalist. They all held the blade, it cut through them, but they didn't care because "if we get lucky, all of this is over".
And quite frankly, that is exactly what's happening to most people today. Not everyone is greedy, but many are holding the blade itself instead of the handle.
People going to work and doing overtime at the expense of their health and family, all for what? To earn more money so they can survive.
People participating in stock and cryptostock manipulation. You can go to prison if caught. But you'll be rich if you pull it off. You can go further into debt or become a millionaire overnight.
Housing projects using sub-par materials to cut costs, holding the blade hoping nt doesn't collapse.
People living in condominiums knowing sub-par materials were used and they didn't install anti-noise mechanisms. Holding the blade because it's cheaper housing, thinking they can handle the mental stress of such noise.
Oh. In the beginning of the movie, there was a news about a condo that collapsed. It's related.
Buildings with noises can also mean that the structure is having a hard time holding itself together. There's too much stretch. The materials were sub-par and/or the design and construction was not up to standards.
Buildieg noises are not always due to that but it is one possible cause. That's why they depicted a news of a condo collapse, they were hinting on corruption and shortcuts done on housing construction. (Also, it's the case the journalist was referring to.)
Actually, it's common here in Pacific-Asia (not "Asia-Pacific" which includes Oceania). 😅 Even here…
Yep, they're probably tired of it so they're always depicting them that way, taking advantage of the fact that the National Government is not yet stopping them from it. 😅😅😅
Authors often write from their various experiences and/or social issues. Since the writers are Koreans and set in Korea, you have to approach this from a Korean perspective, otherwise, you will indeed get confused.
It isn't confusing if you see it from their own lenses.
1 
And I will say it again, wow.
Episodes 1 and 2 were, in one word, awesome. Growing up in the Philippines, I have seen P-drama productions swing wildly from 'embarrassingly bad' to 'painfully laughable', but this? This passed my standards. Easily. I rarely say this, but I approve—at least for these two episodes. I hope, really hope, they can keep this same level of production quality all the way through.
## Anne Curtis
Anne Curtis. Let's talk about her first. She has always been a remarkable actress, but I have not watched any of her shows for years. Seeing her again in this series left me pleasantly surprised—her craft has matured, sharpened, evolved. She nailed her character's vibe, presence, and emotional depth. However… I just wished she spoke more Filipino.
Why? Every time she switches to English, something change, her delivery softens and the impact fades just a little. Meanwhile, when she speaks in Filipino, her lines bite, they carry weight, there is sharpness, a certain heaviness, a rawness that lingers. It is not the same when she goes full English. Taglish works fine—switching mid-sentence, flowing naturally—but pure English dilutes the emotion.
Now, I do wonder if this is less about Anne and more about the language itself. Filipino, and Pacific-Asian languages in general (not 'Asia-Pacific' which includes Oceania), is richer in tone, cadence, and expression. Even Philippine English, though unique, pales in comparison to the colour and rhythm of our native tongues. Maybe English just does not have the same emotional punch for scenes like these.
So, no shade on Anne. It might be a language barrier more than a performance issue. All the more reason for the writers to lean heavier on Filipino dialogue for her moving forward.
## Carlo Aquino
Carlo Aquino plays Matthew Gonzales, or 'Matmat', an autistic character. Based on what I have seen, Matmat most likely falls under Level 2 Support Needs, referencing DSM-5 (North America) and ICD-11 (Europe) standards.
Carlo's portrayal? Spot on. He understands his character is neither Level 1 nor Level 3. He did not overact. He didn not exaggerate. I could tell he researched well, respected the nuances of autistic behaviours, and truly grasped that autism is a multidimensional spectrum—not a linear scale. For that, I offer my sincerest respect and gratitude.
Same praise goes to the director, who clearly took the time to understand autism before stepping into production.
(Quick aside: while many in the autistic community, including myself, are not huge fans of these clinical labels, I am using them here since they are what most non-autistics understand. It is important to meet people where they are before unpacking the more complex realities.)
## Disabilities Representation
One thing that really struck me—they showcased a range of disabilities and mental health conditions from the very start. From episode one, it is clear: this story is to be taken seriously. And that, for me, is everything.
Again, I have no point of reference for the original K-drama. But seeing how the P-drama adaptation treats these topics with weight and dignity? I am here for it. As someone who absolutely despises discrimination and ableist nonsense, this matters to me.
Why does it matter so much? Because too often, disabilities are treated as:
- a joke
- a convenient plot device
- a random twist
- something light and comedic
- or a token flaw people can brush off with the dreadful "we all have disabilities" excuse (just… no).
I am hoping—no, I am begging—that this adaptation keeps this same serious tone and purpose, not just for the premiere but all throughout. I want this show to haunt people in a good way. To remind them of empathy. To make them think twice before judging. To normalise representation while also educating audiences about mental, social, genetic, and psychological conditions.
Because, after all, the title says it clear as day: **It's Okay to Not Be Okay**.
---
* Cover image: Official poster owned and Copyrighted to ABS-CBN, used under "Fair Use".
https://whtwnd.com/youronly.one/3luhwsusjt22g
Delivering the news over the phone is like:
"I'm pregnant"
"Who's the father?"
"You, of course!"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Also, if it's going to be delivered on the phone, the best way is "We are pregnant" because they're legally married and serious as a couple.
If it's "I'm pregnant" over the phone, aside from the above scenario it _also_ sounds like teens caught:
"I'm pregnant"
"Shit! Have you told your parents?"
"No! My father will kill me! But my brother, he's hunting you now!"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
But I guess things changed in 2020s. 😅😝
I even heard that it is how twins are made. 😁😁😁🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 While it is possible, even without having sex during pregnancy, the mother can get another embryo, it's rare but there were documented cases of delayed pregnancy (and while already pregnant).
Anyway, maybe they were just using the common taboo as a lite joke, even though many are already aware it is generally fine.
It was a missed opportunity. It could've made "Good Boy" a more deeper character too instead of simpli portraying him as a punching machine with a very strong sense of justice and pride.
There's definitely room for improvement.
Courts can still give a death penalty if it was only suspended. So what happens is, those on death row stays in maximum security prisons for the rest of their life without parole or until death penalty is resumed and they get their turn.
The ML doesn't have a personal grudge to settle with him, the only thing driving him was his 100% sense of justice and conviction. But HanNa? It's deeply personal.
It's like:
HanNa: Oh, so it wasn't Russian guy who killed my father, it was JuYeong. Ok, case closed.
You see, I don't believe that. They built her character as someone who has an unfinished business regarding her father's murder. And just because she learned the truth, she dropped it and became a regular police officer who supports her boyfriend's pride as a policeman?
If anything, the ML should've been the one who switched as a supportive boyfriend to avenge her girlfried's father.
Yes, yes, we can assume that the ML did exactly that. However, the way the ML acted did not imply anything about that. They didn't even talk about it. He was just the usual, "I am a police officer so I must fulfill my oath". From the very beginning it was about his sense of pride as a policeman. He never once acted on behalf of HanNa's personal mission.
Don't get me wrong. It's good and all. But there's room for improvement, and that was making HanNa's personal mission the main plot. Giving a much more deeper meaning, and meat, to the ML's sense of justice and conviction, instead of simply a boxer trying to find his way again.
The ending dialogue could've been:
ML: This is for my brother. *punch*
ML: This is for my mother. *punch*
ML: And this is for HanNa! *uppercut*
Cliché but it at least shows us, and establishes firmly, that he is human instead of just a punching machine.
Again, room for improvement, but sadly they missed it.
It makes it even more interesting. I didn't consider the other characters as potential suspects behind the S-Line glasses.
Hmm… they really should've made this longer.
Part of it was the use of police uniforms, cars, and appearance of actual policemen. If they'll be shown in a bad light, it's a big "no", they can't use PNP uniforms, even likeness and cars. Or, risk getting sued. 😅
I just, you know, I learned to accept the situation and make the best of it. Once I'm gone from this world, none of it will matter. Not happiness. Not pain. Just nothing.
Yes, why not hold the blade, risk everything, and be happy, right? We'll die either way. But that's the thought process of many, if not all, criminals. "We'll die anyway, let's steal." And if the bet/risk goes wrong, it's debt or prison.
Better to just make the best of the situation than make it worse. As long as we're alive, we can still do something in getting the life we want without playing with fire or holding the blade.
I meant no disrespect, I just hope people think carefully and consider the consequences before jumping into risky ventures. If they truly want risks, then risk in a good venture instead of one where it's debt or prison.
Even if we use our family and kids as an excuse/justification, in many countries, the debt is transferred to those left behind. Or, they're harassed endlessly even if they're legally not liable for it. Or, if one goes to prison, the rest of the family are also affected.
Holding the blade is 80% losing and only 20% chance of winning. And losing is guaranteed to be the worst. If one wins, often than not, they spend it all and they're back to having debts.
Really not worth it no matter which angle we look at it and whatever reasons we can think of.
And the bad people knows how to use it to victimized people who loves to grab the blade side. The bad ones get richer, the good ones goes in debt and shame.
Sigh.
- Judge who closed a precious case about noise and lack of anti-noise measures on buildings and sub-par materials used.
- Judge and her husband buying all the other units because they knew a new train station is going to be built.
- The journalist who became obsessed and started creating fake noises, and killing people.
- In the end, there are still noises because the building materials used were sub-par and anti-noise measures weren't implemented
However, there's the most important aspect, human emotions and greed.
While it's understandable that life is hard and we need money, greed pushes people into doing things they shouldn't. In Filipino, a more appropriate and exact term for this is "kapit sa patalim" (lit. holding on the blade even if it cuts you). The proverb basically says that desperate people will hold the blade side of a knife or sword or glass if it means they'll have a better life. It doesn't matter if it's related to money, although it usually is.
"Greed" doesn't quite completely expresses that human desperation, but the Filipino proverb I mentioned is perfect.
That's what the ML did with cryptostock manipulation. It's illegal but he's desperate. So even though he full well knows how it is dangerous, he still held the blade. In the end, he lost more than his investment.
Then there's the PH lady and her husband. They were not only greedy, they were also holding on the blade even though they know it can get them killed. And well, they were killed for it.
Same with all the other tenants and the journalist. They all held the blade, it cut through them, but they didn't care because "if we get lucky, all of this is over".
And quite frankly, that is exactly what's happening to most people today. Not everyone is greedy, but many are holding the blade itself instead of the handle.
People going to work and doing overtime at the expense of their health and family, all for what? To earn more money so they can survive.
People participating in stock and cryptostock manipulation. You can go to prison if caught. But you'll be rich if you pull it off. You can go further into debt or become a millionaire overnight.
Housing projects using sub-par materials to cut costs, holding the blade hoping nt doesn't collapse.
People living in condominiums knowing sub-par materials were used and they didn't install anti-noise mechanisms. Holding the blade because it's cheaper housing, thinking they can handle the mental stress of such noise.
Oh. In the beginning of the movie, there was a news about a condo that collapsed. It's related.
Buildings with noises can also mean that the structure is having a hard time holding itself together. There's too much stretch. The materials were sub-par and/or the design and construction was not up to standards.
Buildieg noises are not always due to that but it is one possible cause. That's why they depicted a news of a condo collapse, they were hinting on corruption and shortcuts done on housing construction. (Also, it's the case the journalist was referring to.)
Authors often write from their various experiences and/or social issues. Since the writers are Koreans and set in Korea, you have to approach this from a Korean perspective, otherwise, you will indeed get confused.
It isn't confusing if you see it from their own lenses.