Ep 2. Episode 2
- TV-14
- July 24, 2014
- 57 min
Jang Jae-yeol, a successful author and radio DJ, is struggling with his own mental health issues, particularly OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Despite being a renowned professional, he is not well-liked by his colleagues in the radio station due to his difficult personality and short temper. One day, he accidentally bumps into a mysterious woman on the street, Hae-soo, who seems to be running away from something. He is immediately drawn to her enigma and invites her over to his place to have dinner.
As they begin to get to know each other, Hae-soo shares that she is a veterinarian, and that she has been working for a shelter for abandoned animals. She reveals that she has PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from a traumatic experience from her past, which makes it difficult for her to get close to people. Nonetheless, she seems to be opening up to Jae-yeol, and they form an unlikely connection.
Meanwhile, Jae-yeol's sister-in-law, Ye-jin, who is also a psychiatrist and works with a population of mentally ill patients, invites Jae-yeol to come to her clinic to have his mental health assessed. Given that he is not a fan of psychiatrists and believes that they "mess with people's heads," Jae-yeol initially refuses. But Ye-jin convinces him to come to the clinic under the guise of requiring his help with her patients.
At the clinic, Jae-yeol meets Kang-woo, a young man who is struggling with Schizophrenia. Kang-woo is introduced as a patient to Jae-yeol, and at first he doesn't realize that Kang-woo is actually a patient, and not one of Ye-jin's colleagues. As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that Kang-woo's condition is a complex and layered one, heavily impacting not just his own life, but also those of his family and his girlfriend Na-rae.
As Hae-soo and Jae-yeol spend more time together, the latter begins to notice that she experiences panic attacks and is overly anxious in certain settings. It is clear that their connection is based on their shared struggles with mental health and their desire to overcome them. However, despite their openness with each other, there is a clear tension between them, one that is fueled by their respective personal issues and the desire to keep their individual problems hidden from the world.
Towards the end of the episode, Jae-yeol visits Ye-jin's clinic again, after another incident that was related to his OCD. This time, he is more open to the idea of undergoing therapy, given that he has witnessed the benefits firsthand with Kang-woo's treatment. He also begins to accept the idea that he and Hae-soo are not alone in their struggles, and that seeking help is a possible way to help them overcome their own personal demons.
Overall, episode 2 of "It's Okay, That's Love" is a thought-provoking exploration into the lives of individuals struggling with mental health issues and the various ways in which those issues impact their relationships, careers, and overall wellbeing. The show is a poignant reminder that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, and that there is always hope for recovery.