Following the show's debut on Netflix in the summer of 2020, details about It's Okay to Not Be Okay season 2 have been slow to arrive. The K-drama series tells the story of two orphaned brothers, Moon Gang-Tae and Moon Sang-Tae, who develop a connection with children's book author Ko Moon-Young. The three characters learn to heal and grow through their relationships, and It's Okay to Not Be Okay incorporates mental health into the storyline. Screenwriter Jo Yong told Naver that she based the show on her experiences dating a man with a personality disorder (translated by Annyeong Oppa). Her comion and care are reflected in the script.
Season 1 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay was praiseworthy for its representation of individuals with mental illnesses and neurodivergence. The show topped the list of the most influential TV dramas for five weeks according to Nielsen Media Research, a metric determined by social media discussion (via HanCinema). Despite its popularity, which is also evident by its very high IMDb rating, It's Okay to Not Be Okay has not yet been renewed for season 2, and it's uncertain whether the show will in fact ever continue.
It's Okay To Not Be Okay Season 2 Is Not Confirmed
Despite its critical acclaim and impressive viewership numbers, It's Okay to Not Be Okay season 2 has not yet been confirmed. In fact, it's unlikely to occur at all. Though American TV shows usually go on for many seasons, K-dramas plan for a complete story in a single season. Even with Korean shows like Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead breaking the mold, few K-dramas divert from this format.
Following the norm, It's Okay to Not Be Okay wraps up most of its story's loose ends by the end of season 1. The show solves the mystery of the mom's death. The brothers get justice when the killer goes to jail. The love story comes together with a happy ending. It's Okay to Not Be Okay season 2 is unnecessary after the complete ending.
It's Okay To Not Be Okay Season 2 Release Date
Despite an unlikely season 2, audiences could predict a release date based on information from It's Okay to Not Be Okay season 1. The Korean TV channel tvN first shared table-read photos with the website Naver on May 8, 2020. The show proceeded to release its first episodes on June 20, 2020, with a staggered release schedule. Considering this rapid turnaround, audiences can expect that It's Okay to Not Be Okay season 2 would release shortly after its production companies, Story TV and Gold Medalist, share news of the continuation.
It's Okay To Not Be Okay Season 2 Cast
If the show returns, It's Okay to Not Be Okay season 2 would bring back the actors cast as the main trio. Kim Soo-Hyun would continue as Moon Gang-Tae, the psychiatric caretaker. Oh Jung-Se would play Moon Sang-Te, the autistic older brother of Gang-Tae. Seo Yi-Tae would act as Ko Moon-Young, the children's book author with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). In addition to these actors, the show would likely include Jang Young-Nam as Park Haeng-Ja, Moon-Young's mother who went to jail at the end of It's Okay to Not Be Okay season 1.
Other cast with the potential to return include ing characters. Park Gyu-Young could return as Nam Ju-Ri, Gang-Tae's nurse coworker who holds unrequited feelings for him. Kim Joo-Hun could come back as Lee Sang-In, the CEO of the company that publishes Moon-Young's books. Additionally, Kim Chang-Wan could continue as Oh Ji-Wang, the director of the psychiatric hospital where Gang-Tae works. These characters could benefit the story if It's Okay to Not Be Okay gained a second season.
It's Okay To Not Be Okay Season 2 Story Details
If It's Okay to Not Be Okay gets renewed for season 2, the story would likely focus on the way Moon-Young processes the emotions and grief brought up by Haeng-Ja's imprisonment. While Moon-Young seems to get closure, healing isn't a linear path. She likely would present long-term symptoms caused by the trauma of her mom's jail sentence. Additionally, Moon-Young would almost definitely experience a flare-up of ASPD symptoms related to stress.
That would not have solely impacted her, though. The brothers would feel the influence of Moon-Young's mental illness worsening. The show would likely see Gang-Tae and Sang-Tae struggle with the emotions of retraumatization. Their loss came back up, even if justice was served. Given It's Okay to Not Be Okay's reputation for addressing and handling mental illness well, it's likely Jo Yong would focus on this aspect of the characters in season 2.