The Good Bad Mother

The mother in question is played superbly by Ra Mi-ran who's husband, a pig farmer dies in suspicious circumstances and because of the lack of a proper investigation forces her son played by Choi Kang-ho to study to be a prosecutor to supply justice for the oppressed. She is cruel and makes him go hungry and cruelly punishes him if he is swayed by friends or she finds him drawing which he really enjoys. He qualifies but then turns against his mother and childhood sweetheart and associates with the people implicated in his fathers demise. Following a suspicious accident he reverts to a child and his mother gets an opportunity to mend their broken relationship and to correct all her wrongs from the past. It has a good story with top acting by the cast of the village where they live and even though they are poor their love and support for each other is warming.

Resentment can run deep. Human emotions are complex and in this game of survival of the 'richest' and 'powerful', it is these abstract and intangible emotions that often suffer. You can choose to go with the flow or swim against the tides. Either way, there will be consequences. The new Korean show, The Good Bad Mother, is about these emotional sufferings and a chance to pause, reset and reconnect.

The initial episodes of The Good Bad Mother establish the backstory of our protagonist. Although focused primarily on the relationship between Young-soon and Kang-ho, The Good Bad Mother's biggest strength is its writing supported by extraordinary performances by Lee Do Hyun and Ra Mi Ran. The duo share a great understanding onscreen. Lee Do Hyun is a chameleon. Just a month back, he left viewers bewitched in The Glory and now, as a cold-hearted prosecutor, he is flawless. Ra Mi Ran is a delight to watch. Her switch from turning a 'bad' mother to being vulnerable is heart achingly beautiful.

The secondary but an integral part of the drama, Kang-Ho as a lawyer seeking justice for his father's death is an exceptionally written piece as well. Although he justice was served in the ultimate episode of the drama, it could have been more enticing. But nonetheless, The Good Bad Mother perfectly balanced a parent-child relation and a son's attempt to bring justice for what he and his mother were deprived of.

My Rating : 8.5/10.

A series that contains countless life lessons from family, neighbors and more broadly, society,...

The series is a mix of 3 genres: drama, crime, comedy; it has acquired a good level in 2 genres of drama & crime and an okay level in comedy. This drama's biggest turning-point is impressive (although its circumstance is predictable) due to the emotion that key scenes associated with family affection brings.

But perhaps, what I and most viewers are most interested in is the acting of the cast. The way the two main actors portrayed the characters, expressed emotions & motherly love through each phase that are almost completely opposite of each other always made me admire after each episode. Not only that, the supporting cast such as neighbors, villains,... also did very well with a performance close to reality.

The Good Bad Mother happens to be the first Korean Drama that I've watched. It may be low budget but it doesn't mean it's low on quality. The main actors do an awesome job and keep the story going at a good pace. You feel much sorrow for Young Soon and the cards that she is dealt with throughout the show. Most people in her position would have given up on life but not her, she's got pluck boy and she's got a lot of it! The story can get depressing at times but I think therein lies it's beauty. It has the guts to show you that life more often than not knocks you down but you can choose to get up and keep going just as Kang Ho and Young soon show us. The comedy here is subjective and brought to the audience by the supporting cast, I like it though. It's a simplistic show that will win your heart if you give it a chance.

Simply put this drama has some of the most touching and funniest scenes in K drama history. This highly original series delights from beginning to end. So well directed the 14 episodes just fly by. Not a single irritating or unnecessary scene. Wish it could have been longer.

The actors are magnificent. Ra Mi Ran as Good Bad Mother is the best actress in a drama this year by far. Such a complex role played to perfection. Lee Do Hyun finally got a role that suits him perfectly and he acted just right as the mentally 7 year old man. Never overdone with the facial expressions. In his other roles he had a goofy look at times and it is well used here. Ahn Eun Jin had the right expression of looking like she wantes to cry but could not. But the scene stealers are the two adorable kids Seo Jin and Ye Jin. The little girl was great in Our Blues last year. Good bad guy Sam Sik is hilarious. Even the pigs are cute.

This show is the best mix of comedy, revenge thriller and heartfelt relationship drama especially mother & child. Top 10 series of all time.