It’s not easy adapting a K-drama as beloved as It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. The series, which first aired on Netflix in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, kept us glued to our screens with its twisted love story between the cold children’s book author Ko Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji) and the calm, secretly beefed-up psych ward nurse Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun). The show also offered a complex look at mental health and trauma, earning it a nomination at the 2021 International Emmy Awards for best TV mini-series, two wins at the 57th Baeksang Awards (or the “Oscars” of South Korea), and a spot on The New York Times’ Best TV Shows of 2020.
When ABS-CBN decided to make a Philippine adaptation of the series, even lead actors Anne Curtis and Joshua Garcia expressed concerns about living up to the high expectations of the original. “It’s always been a project I wanted to do,” Curtis said in an interview with Tatler Asia. “But of course, there was pressure, because I loved the original so much.”
But since its premiere on Netflix on July 18, the Philippine adaptation of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay has, at least so far, proven to be a faithful retelling of the original series. Its first three episodes carefully mirror the scenes and emotional beats of the K-drama’s pilot, nearly replicating it frame by frame while adding a Filipino twist. Renowned director Mae Cruz Alviar delights in this cultural shift, swapping the original’s fairytale opening for a lush, animated Filipino jungle and effortlessly adding local touches, such as a karinderya scene or Curtis dressed in a traditional Filipiniana with butterfly sleeves.
What’s more, the Filipino adaptation’s actors bring their own interpretations to their characters while still staying true to the core of the original roles. Where Seo’s Ko Moon-young was cold, unflinching, and almost expressionless, Curtis’ Mia Hernandez carries an added spark of intensity and unpredictability in her eyes. Could Curtis be described as bordering on camp when she delivers lines like, “And that’s why there are crazy heroes out there: para patayin ‘yong bad guys”? Sure. But it works, and her bold delivery adds an energy that feels right at home in the Filipino adaptation. Garcia’s Patrick “Patpat” Gonzales is just as calm and unwavering as Kim’s Moon Gang-tae, but it will be interesting to see what layers Garcia brings to the nurse as the chemistry builds between him and Curtis.
With 65 episodes planned (far longer than the original’s tightly packed 16), the Philippine adaptation of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay has the time and space to dig deeper into its characters, making the series truly its own. Although it’s still early days, the show’s respectful homage to its source material, combined with culturally grounded additions and strong performances, sets it up for a compelling run.
