Can I just say how much I love that promotional poster of It's Okay to Not Be Okay? It's so pretty!

I’m also rooting for Backstreet Rookie. I know a lot of people are very skeptical about this drama (for very good reasons). Tbh I am too but I just need this to be good for jcw’s sake. I’m not even asking for anything award winning. Just something fun and enjoyable!

It's okay not to be okay has Oh Jung Se!! I might tune in to see his character as KSH's child-like hyung. If show delivers...I see another award for Oh Jung Se 😎. Rise supporting actors! Rise!

Backstreet Rookie teasers are so colourful and bright. I like bright dramas and I like The Fiery Priest PD, I still think he plays a part in making TFP funny other than script and acting. Like @missvictrix I'm secretly rooting for this drama too, it has so many issues before it even air~

Backstreet Rookie: Please pretty please be good!!! I am in need of a good rom com. It doesn't need to be great, believe me my standards are pretty low right now... (I did just finish the KIng) so I deserve something decent.

Kim Soo-hyun deserves another smash hit. Let's join the 18% Club, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay! 🙏🏻

The long wait for It's Okay to Not Be Okay will soon be over!! 😄 This is one of the dramas I've really been looking forward to watching, and like many, every poster, still, and teaser release has gotten me more excited. I sincerely hope this will be a good one.

I wasn't very keen on Backstreet Rookie even if I like both leads. But the mention of cohesion, fun, and color (which I need right now haha) makes me want to check it out.

When the news for Kim Soo-hyun's new drama comeback came out I was so excited. And when Seo Ye-ji was offered alongside him I was sold. Everything about this drama is a plus for me, the actors, the writer and PD. And then the teasers, posters and other promotional stuff came out and it completely won me over. I'm so so looking forward to this drama I really hope I won't be disappointed.

And then Backstreet Rookie on the other hand... I sat through the entirety of Melty and although JCW was kinda ruined for me I hope this drama can save him. It looks fun and I highly doubt they will include the raunchiness from the source material but my biggest peeve is the romanticising of a high school girl with an older guy as seen in the teaser.

I'm really excited for the both dramas, I like the 4 actors! For the PDs, Park Shin-Woo did Jealousy Incarnate that I loved, Encounter that was pretty and Hyde Jekyll, Me that was terrible...
For Lee Myung-Woo, Fiery Priest had great review and it looks that he's interested in his dramas to adresse society's issues.

I think Backstreet Rookie has more to offer than only the comedic side.

It's Okay to Not Be Okay looks like a healing drama mixing humor. I like this concept! I can relate with Seo Ye-ji's character praising KSH's good looks.

Wow talk about competition. It's Okay To Not Be Okay has been on my radar since time immemorial and I am waiting for it with baited breath. All the promos have been so pretty that my interest is super high. While the leads are my main draw I hope the drama also shows how precarious the situation is for a person to care for another without a strong support system. I am all for a healing drama right now and I am praying that this show will deliver. I really hope Backstreet Rookie works out for JCW's sake. I didn't even watch his last drama and I am hoping that this works out for him. Also I missed the thing about the raunchy source material. Anyone know what that was?

I am excited for it's ok not to be ok. We live in a society of appearances. You have social media, you post your best pictures in social media. You go to work or to whatever it is your daily routine and people ask you how are you, and you answer fine, because it's the norm even though maybe you are not ok, which doesn't mean you are dying right at the spot, but you know what I mean...
You know you have issues, mostly emotional (invisible) but you can't share them because:
1. You don't want to burden others.
2. You have been told you can't.
3. You have been taught to be ashamed if you do it
Long etc
So, again, you try to give to the world your best appearance in every aspect of your life, because that means you re successful, or at least you are optimistic, easy going and a nice company.
Nobody wants to be close to a person who is sad, depressed or lacking self esteem... I understand because I also feel more attracted to optimistic apparently happy people, but... And here they is a big BUT... I also believe it's O.K. not to be O.K. (for as long as it last, in order for you or me, to achieve recovery)
What I think or would like to expect in my eternal naive idealism is that people would be essentially original and genuine in their interactions. If you feel love act like it, if you feel pain or regret, feel free to act accordingly. Even though it is not nice to be in pain, if you let it be and don't repress yourself, you will find the solution sooner, and if not, at least you can find consolation.
My humble and very general opinion... this topic of mental health has a ton controversial approaches and sadly I know vulnerability is not always a solution either 😖

This makes weekend more exciting.

May the best drama win in ratings!

I am definitely going to watch ITS OKAY NOT TO BE OK.

I would like to check out BACKSTREET ROOKIE only I cannot find it. Anyone know where I can find it?

I’m no totally in with It’s ok not to be ok.

As for Backstreet Rookie and after the drama that can not be named, I will wait to read beanies opinions. It’s colourful, yes. Do it was the drama that can not be named 😑

Can't wait to see Kim Soo-hyun on the screen again. It's been too long. I'm going to watch at least the first episode of Backstreet Rookie becos Danial Kang sang the OST. After JCW's last flop, I don't have any high hopes this will do well cos he's just not cut for comedy.

Kim Soo Hyun, you beautiful man, Welcome back to dramaland, I cannot wait for re-introductions!!!

I’m *really* looking forward to Its Okay. Honestly the premise was initially not my thing. I hoped KSH wouldn’t do it. But every since the first promos came out, I just kept getting more hyped by the day. It looks AMAZING and very different which is a huge thing these days. I have no doubts on the acting and PD part, so here’s to hoping the writer gets it right 🤞

As for Rookie, KYJ looks more mature now and she’s grow up so well! I’ll check out the drama for her but it feels very low budget to me. Then again, as long as it’s good, doesn’t really matter in the end I suppose.

I don't consider Backstreet Rookie to be an underdog. I mean, sure Kim Soo-hyun is Kim Soo-hyun. But Ji Chang-wook and Kim Yoo-jung are big stars on their own. Plus Kim Soo-hyun chose a relatively unknown writer for his comeback drama after his military discharge. I'd say its an equal level playing field and I wish both dramas success.

I will definitely check both the dramas because I'm fan of both ji chang wook and seo ye ji. But my gut feeling is telling me that it's okay not to be okay will have a upperhand.. I mean the voice of seo ye ji can alone do that.. Hehe. BR seems to be simple I don't expect much as long as comedy and humour will be there it's fine.

I’ve just watched first episode of Backstreet Rookie on free app iQIYI with English sub. I watched it live, and then I watched it once more time. I love it so much! Director Lee Myung Woo is talented in adapting the webtoon into a drama. It’s so much fun and enjoyable. I can guarantee with you that this is the best pilot episode of all JCW’s dramas I’ve ever seen. All actors including the supporting cast in this drama are very good in portraying their roles. KYJ is perfect for her character. JCW has great acting in the first episode too. I highly recommend this rom-com. Trust me, you will enjoy it as well.

So stoked!

So I just watched the first ep of BR and...I don't know if it was "objectively" bad (a matter of taste) but it didn't sit well with me.

First of all, the age gap was quite disturbing, especially when KYJ was wearing school uniform and the director insisted on slow-mos and "romantic" music.

Second, the slow-mos and the close-ups. Yes, both JCW and KYJ are very good-looking, but I can see that just as well when they walk around in normal speed and the camera is slightly away from their faces.

Third, I just didn't find the plot interesting. Maybe it'll pick up next episode, but I was kind of bored.

I'm a JCW fan and think he's done his best with what he was given here, as always, but he's not enough to keep me watching.

Maybe every week I should just write and upload an installment of that story I keep mentioning, the unaired, unwritten drama, the one about the Liminal Space Convenience Store on a Ley Line and the Night Shift Worker that serves ghosts and spirits. You know instead of... the one of these that I won't be watching.
What do you think? Should I do it?
*thinks about her commitment issues*
*hmmm maybe not*

BR is based on a trashy webtoon, so these types of complaints are hardly unexpected.

What’s with 2020 and the bad and or weird webtoons?

https://www.allkpop.com/article/2020/06/netizens-angered-by-sbss-backstreet-rookie-for-turning-an-adult-webtoon-into-a-family-drama

Wow.. I can see that there are a number of unregistered comments in this thread!

"Its Okay to Not be Okay" is such an apt title for the current whatever 2020 has been thus far. Aside from that the teasers do look fun, and when I find the time I will check the first two episodes to know if it will be another drama for me.

I was cautiously optimistic and excited for both and frankly after watching the first two episodes of both, I still carry the same opinion. One thing that gets me excited about both is they each appear to have a stong female characters, who are not afraid to be themselves, as leads. I watched BSR first and like most, was hoping for a good rebound for JCW and so afr so good. BSR is cutesy, slightly risque, but seems to have a good heart and JCW is hitting on all of his adorable loseriness. I am ok with the age gap, especially if she ends up being his hero. What's not to love about a tough, cheeky female lead who seemingly know what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it? I laughed my way through the first two episodes and really hope it continues.
IOTNBO - All I can say is Holey Moley. I couldn't pull my eyes from the screen for the entore first two episodes, the visuals, the story line, so far this one is knocking it out of the park. I loved Seo Ye Ji in Moorin School and Hwarang (I feel like she channels a bit of Sook Myung in this role as well) and my anticipation for Kim Soo Hyun's return since that clip in Hotel de Luna has been at peak levels so I was worried I was too amped up for this drama. These first episodes have really exceeded my expectations. The chemistry of these two is completely off the charts, visuals are amazing (that whole sequence with his brother on the way to the fan meeting was just amazing), over the top moments don't seem over the top, but rather flow in the story line. I gasped and held my breath and dropped my jaw through the whole thing. I am really rooting for this story and these characters.