The Good Bad Mother brought to light the cost of carrying unresolved emotional issues that stem from traumatic experiences and how this cripples one’s ability to process emotions.
The series offers perspectives on how emotional burdens affect the dynamics of a relationship, highlighting its impact in obstructing an individual’s ability to fulfill moral responsibilities.
- Main Leads: Lee Do Hyun | Ra Mi Ran | Ahn Eun Jin
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- K-Dramas of Similar Vibe: Our Blues | My Unfamiliar Family
kimley jone watched The Good Bad Mother on Netflix
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02| 03 & 04 | 05 & 06 | 07 & 08 | 09 & 10 | 11 & 12 | Finale Week + Series Review |
The Good Bad Mother Finale Week Highlights
With the help of Mi Joo and Sam Sik, Kang Ho brings Song Woo Byeok and Oh Tae Soo to court for his father’s murder, more than thirty years after the crime. The case was clinched with the crucial testimony of Oh Ha Young against her own father. Justice is finally served.
The residents of Jouri rejoice at Kang-ho’s success in the biggest case of his career, as they simultaneously celebrate Young-soon’s final birthday. They ensure that her remaining days are filled with joy and meaning. At her funeral, everyone gives her a fitting send-off by playing her favorite song.
Kang Ho and Mi Joo fulfill their lifelong dream of getting married and starting their family, along with their twin children, Ye Jin and Seo Jin. Kang Ho chooses to leave behind his profession as a prosecutor and embrace the quiet life in their countryside neighborhood with his young family. With Mi Joo by his side, he vows to continue Young Soon’s pig farm as they begin their journey together.
Meanwhile, it appears that Sam Sik has developed feelings for Ha Yeong, as he frequently visits her while she is serving her prison sentence.
The Good Bad Mother Quick Plot Recap
The Good Bad Mother follows the story of Jin Young Soon, a single mother who faces the challenges of raising her only child, Choi Kang Ho after she lost her husband due to a horrible crime. Despite her love for her son, Young Soon’s parenting style involves tough love to the extent of controlling the trajectory of Kang Ho’s future.
Kang Ho becomes an ambitious and unfeeling prosecutor. In an attempt to avenge his father’s death, he makes connections with people who were involved in his father’s murder.
This move eventually leads to an apparent accident, which turns out to be a murder plot that severely injures him and leaves him with memory loss and cognitive impairment.
Through this difficult time, Kang Ho reconnects with Young Soon and regains a loving mother-and-son bond.
The Good Bad Mother Series Highlights
Understanding the Impact of Trauma
The story initially painted Young Soon as a harsh mother who relentlessly pushed her son to excel, leaving him with no room to live his own life. However, Young Soon was essentially a loving person who possessed a great artistic talent that could have brought her great joy.
Tragically, she experienced a chain of devastating events that denied her the happiness she deserved, and, unfortunately, her son Kang Ho bore the brunt of her emotional burdens, leading to a strained and dysfunctional relationship between them. This explains why Kang Ho developed a cold disposition toward his mother as he grew older.
Kang Ho’s Retribution
A good part of the drama also touched on the concept of revenge. Kang Ho turned out to have very deep sensibilities about his mother’s plight. It was later revealed that his desire for revenge was not solely driven by the murder of his father but also because of the difficult life his mother had to endure, causing her to become a poor parent to her son due to the tragic circumstances she had experienced.
Wholesome Romance
One of the most beautiful aspects of the story was the heartwarming relationship between Kang Ho and Mi Joo, which has been a source of warmth amid the serious and weighty issues addressed in the drama. Their domesticity and affection came across as authentic and unforced.
Despite the moments when Mi Joo appeared distant and unapproachable towards Kang Ho when the latter has yet to regain his memory, her underlying fondness for him was still evident.
Rekindled Mother-Son Relationship
Although the ending felt a bit rushed and failed to fully explore Kang Ho and Mi Joo’s reunion as a married couple with twins, it still managed to live up to the story’s promise by devoting enough time to Young Soon and Kang Ho’s emotional reconciliation.
Additionally, the drama skillfully wrapped up Young Soon’s character arc by showing her repairing her relationships with her neighbors in a poignant manner.
The Good Bad Mother Series Musings
Takeaways
The Good Bad Mother has successfully conveyed how emotional damage can have devastating consequences both internally and externally and prevent people from fulfilling their moral duties, especially in the context of human relationships.
Consequently, it creates a vicious cycle of oppressive actions that could lead to intergenerational trauma. Indeed, the weight of prematurely buried grief can have a lifelong effect on any relationship dynamics. And only through a proper closure can one be freed from the emotional burden and move on with life in peace.
Apart from delving into the crushing impact of trauma, the drama implicitly shows that no one is intrinsically bad. Even the worst people were once good at some point in their lives.
This idea does not, in any way, condone any offensive actions done by the abuser. However, it highlights how devastating events can make a profound impact on a person’s character, causing them to undergo a 360-degree turn from their former selves.
The Not-So-Good Parts
To be completely honest, there are some aspects of the revenge plotline that seem too extreme and unreasonable, such as Kang Ho’s decision to be legally adopted by Chairman Song Woo Byeok and marry Oh Ha Young, Oh Tae Soo’s daughter. While he may have deemed sacrificing his relationships with his mother and his true love, Mi Joo, necessary for his plan, it is clear that the cost of such sacrifices would have outweighed any potential outcome of his revenge. No matter how favorable the result might have been, it may not have been worth it in the end. Fortunately, his plan never came to fruition.
Additionally, some viewers may have perceived Young Soon’s method of tough love as severely excessive despite the chance to correct her mistakes and be a better mother to Kang Ho. Starving him and throwing him into the water until he learned to move on his own seemingly border between being desperate and abusive. The end simply does not justify the means.
Tangible Aspects of the Drama
In terms of execution, the actors collectively delivered an outstanding performance. Ra Mi Ran particularly stood out as she successfully portrayed her character to be both likable and unlikable. Meanwhile, Lee Do Hyun always manages to impress the viewers with his meticulous role selection and impeccable execution. His portrayal of his character with dual nature showcased his acting skills and range.
It is hard to imagine anyone else who would have been suitable for such roles. In addition, the other cast members, including the antagonists and the rest of the supporting characters, were equally great in delivering their roles.
The Good Bad Mother is a remarkable melodrama, and it may very well be the best K-drama in terms of mental health benefits this year. The drama masterfully managed to evoke contrasting emotions, making it a truly unique experience for viewers.
Moreover, the theme of healing greatly enhances the drama’s impact, and viewers are likely to reflect on it long after it has ended.
Photos: JTBC | Netflix
Trailer: Netflix
