Summary
Episode 13 brings forth the truth for Mun-yeong in a chapter that shows closure but also the horror of the past.
This recap of Netflix K-drama series It’s Okay to Not Be Okay episode 13 contains spoilers.
Access all the episode recaps.
How does It’s Okay to Not Be Okay episode 13 open?
The opening shows Gang-tae worrying about the note and his threat to life. He looks like a defeated man fearing that Mun-yeong’s mother is the murderer. He doesn’t want Mun-yeong to find out — he’s afraid she will be hurt and he feels guilty.
Gang-tae shows up to the photoshoot
Before the photoshoot, Gang-tae finds a note next to the teddy Mang-tae; Mun-yeong is thankful for the teddy — her nightmares have gone since. This was the moment Gang-tae changed his mind and turned up to the family photoshoot. The emotions fill the room when Gang-tae shows up — it’s a wonderful moment for the three characters.
Nam Ju-ri doesn’t seem jealous of Lee Sang-in’s blind date
Lee Sang-in returns from his pretend blind date and talks to Nam Ju-ri. She acts like she’s not too interested in speaking to him — his strategy hasn’t worked; Nam Ju-ri is playing hard to get. To turn the strategy around, Lee Sang-in mentions his blind date but Nam Ju-ri insists she needs to study. It’s weird that Lee Sang-in is playing this game because it’s evident that they like each other. It could easily be simpler. Later, Lee Sang-in tries telling Nam Ju-ri that he wants to be the man that is there for her but he doesn’t explain it correctly.
Gang-tae makes a vow to Mun-yeong
Mun-yeong repeats Jae-su’s theory to Gang-tae that he never opens up and the advice he gave her — to not pry and not give up. Gang-tae states he is sick and tired of protecting others — he says he will stop making it feel like work and will put himself on the line for the family, and that family includes Mun-yeong. This scene demonstrates pure maturity from both characters — it’s a vast difference since the first episode where both characters had no idea how to control their emotions.
Mun-yeong will destroy the butterfly
When Mun-yeong returns home, she has ideas to redecorate and invites Gang-tae to stay in her room moving forward; Gang-tae suggests that they move together but Mun-yeong states if he’s fearing that “butterfly” she’ll tear it to pieces. Gang-tae hugs her. Afterward, Sang-tae asks Gang-tae if he kissed Mun-yeong, stating kissing is better than fighting. The brothers are so relaxed with each other now.
Sang-tae is overcoming his fears
Gang-tae shows the director notes he has found and the director tells him to not trust anyone in the hospital. Afterward, Gang-tae tells his brother to keep his phone off at all times. Sang-tae tells him to stop treating him like a child and that he’s been practicing drawing butterflies to overcome his fear. Gang-tae rings Mun-yeong to make sure her door is locked and not to let any stranger inside. Gang-tae is trying to keep everyone safe as he’s concerned that the murderer has returned.
Mun-yeong will have to deal with this eventually
Ko Dae-hwan’s health is deteriorating and the director wants to move him into another room. The inevitable is coming and Mun-yeong will have to deal with the situation.
Struggling to draw facial expressions
Mun-yeong tells Sang-tae she doesn’t like the look of the artwork and asks him to start again. Sang-tae claims he struggles to do facial expressions. He tries to practice expressions of other people.
Bringing up father to Mun-yeong
Gang-tae asks Mun-yeong how her new story is going to end. She switches the conversation around and asks about the woman who called him a “Sweetie” — he tells her it was just a patient. The subject of her dying father comes up and she is cynical about how children must automatically forgive their parents. Gang-tae reminds her that she won’t get to see her father again. Mun-yeong has clearly buried the past and she’s not ready to unearth it.
A patient has a defence mechanism based on a parent’s abuse
The theme of abusive parents continues in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay episode 13.
Patient Yoo Seon-hae is acting strange and will not leave her bed. She has multiple personality disorder due to the abuse she received as a child — it’s a defense mechanism. The father turns up to the hospital and begs his daughter for a liver transplant. The director is furious and tells him to leave his daughter alone or kneel before her for forgiveness.
Yoo Seon-hae was not protected
The father tries with Yoo Seon-hae again and she expresses that when her mother used to abuse her, she asked for help and he never came to help. The father also never came back to the house. Yoo Seon-hae repeats that she hates him and he walks off. The Netflix series does well with the themes around abusive childhoods, honing in on the issues quite frequently. It adds depth to the story and the reasons behind the character’s actions. It’s not a taboo, it’s an outspoken subject.
Ko Dae-hwan confesses to murder
Getting closer to his death, Ko Dae-hwan admits to killing his wife after he found out she killed someone else. Flashbacks show him finding out about his tumor and then hearing on the radio about a 40-year old mother getting murdered — Gang-tae’s mother was the housekeeper of Mun-yeong’s house. Ko Dae-hwan believes his wife killed her and is worried his daughter Mun-yeong will turn into a monster like her mother. As she laughs, Ko Dae-hwan throws her over the banister. Caregiver Ms. Park hears everything.
Ko Dae-hwan doesn’t want his daughter to turn into a monster
Gang-tae enters the room and Ko Dae-hwan states that Mun-yeong was there as a little girl when her mother murdered that woman and saw everything. Further flashbacks reveal Ko Dae-hwan threw his wife’s body into the river. In the present day, Ko Dae-hwan says that Mun-yeong knows everything and that he’s afraid his daughter will also turn into a monster. Meanwhile, over drinks, Mun-yeong states she was afraid of her mother but the young Gang-tae was there for her; Mun-yeong’s mother used to stop her from seeing him — she wanted to run away with him when younger. In the present day, Ko Dae-hwan dies.
Some kind of closure for Mun-yeong
Mun-yeong visits her dead father’s memorial and she looks quite sad. Sang-tae tells her she shouldn’t be embarrassed about being sad and Gang-tae asks if she’d like to leave so all three walk off in the rain together. This togetherness is sweet and works well in the story. Mun-yeong remembers her father reading her a book at night — she remembers how close they used to be. Mun-yeong tells Gang-tae that she wants to sell the house and move to start a new chapter. Gang-tae is on board with the idea and expresses he wants to go to a night school. Mun-yeong states it will have to be an online school as girls will be all over him. Bless them both.
How does It’s Okay to Not Be Okay episode 13 end?
As the episode ends, Sang-tae sees his mural and there’s a huge butterfly on it — he panics as he didn’t paint the butterfly and shouts that it was on the lady who murdered his mother. Suddenly, Mun-yeong realizes it was her mother that committed the murder — she remembers the “one of the kind” butterfly. Sang-tae is distraught that it is on his mural. Mun-yeong runs out of the hospital and Gang-tae chases after her. She asks him if it is true and runs screaming and crying. The last scene suggests that Mun-yeong’s mother is still alive.
Episode 13 brings forth the truth for Mun-yeong in a chapter that shows closure but also the horror of the past.
Additional points
- Lee Sang-in learns from the mother that Nam Ju-ri’s father died when younger and he was her favorite.
