The Good Bad Mother (2023– ) User Reviews

If you're unsure after a couple episodes, don't stop. It gets much better.

[Dougie_style · 9/10 · 26 May 2023]

That pretty much sums it up. I almost turned it off several times during the first couple of episodes. They were pretty depressing and I didn't care for the way things were going. It seemed very dark and, honestly, a little disturbing for a K-drama.

But with all K-dramas, you need at least a couple of episodes to decide if you like it.

By the third episode, everything starts coming together and you find yourself sucked right into the story. This has all the plot devices that make Korean shows so addictive. It's an emotional roller coaster.

You have the underdog battling a corrupt presidential candidate and a crooked business owner. You get several stories of people that overcome tragedy. You get major character developments, including the love stories and family relationships. Secrets are slowly revealed in a way that keeps you hooked. The show progresses at a decent pace, and it answers many questions earlier than a lot of other K-dramas.

You're going to see a lot of familiar faces from some of your favourite shows. The acting is incredible and the production work is top notch. You're also going to fall in love with the twins and maybe even want to adopt a pet pig. And yes, those kids steal the show.

Sure it has some flaws here and there, but don't they all? There were no major plot holes that stood out. I'm sure someone out there will tear this apart, but I was highly satisfied with it. Perhaps the whole injury/amnesia part of the story may become too unrealistic as the show progresses, but this is a K-drama, and they're good at allowing you to suspend disbelief.

Only problem is I hit episode 10 and realized that the whole series isn't out yet. Last time I got to enjoy/suffer waiting a week for new episodes was with Alchemy of Souls - you'll see a familiar face from AoS in here as well.

How the story plays out, I'm not sure. The last episode might be a masterpiece, or it may be the biggest flop of all time. Either way, I'm excited to finish the series. This is by far right up there with some of my favourites.

I highly recommend giving the first few episodes a shot. Good chance you'll become hooked before you realize it.

Another great sad happy kdrama

[weamKYF · 9/10 · 9 June 2023]

All the elements here are really good, as always, Korea has vert talented actors, writers ,directors.. etc.

Everyweek i was waiting for the episodes, today was the last one. Lots and lots of tears, but also there are laughs and smiling.. this magical way is led by kdrama.

Unfortunately, it is very hard for me to memorize all the names, but many thanks to every one in this drama, and i have to mention the cameo in episode 13, by this well known actor.

Now, i have that sad feeling after finishing a good work, they become part of your life.

I consider the kdrama a healing therapy , an amusement journey. Thank you for giving us these kind moments in my life.

A decent series

[pjkblue-35926 · 9/10 · 8 June 2023]

It wasn't too melodramatic, not too saccharine and although some parts were a bit over the top. It was a good series to view.

The bad guys get their punishment, the good guys are happy and the ending was as good as it could get.

Thoughts...

I'm glad they showed Mrs. Son's face at the end!

Fourteen episodes were enough and what ever happened to the first pet pig - Lion??

One thing about Korean films/series is that they seem to have more character development than say American series. Like the two ex-criminals with their lettuce farm...the boat captain who raised the baby...on and on.

Thumb's up!

One of the best series ever - a work of genius

[phd_travel · 10/10 · 9 June 2023]

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.

The next Korean show you HAVE to watch!

[rogodogo · 10/10 · 21 May 2023]

Negative reviews? What show are you watching? This show is a hidden GEM and done really well. Acting is superb and you feel every feeling they're portraying. Such a great story of a mom and her son and the journey they go thru. Deep and it'll make you think about your loved ones and friends. Rest assured you're gonna laugh, cry, get angry, and feel warm inside. The main actress and actor along with all the supporting cast, all do such an amazing job and work well together. I'm on episode 8 and can't wait a week for the next episode. If you want to binge the next best show, watch this now. You won't regret it.

What show are these people watching?

[mikeadriano · 10/10 · 25 May 2023]

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.

Breathtaking

[mannansyed · 10/10 · 5 May 2023]

I recently started watching 'The Good Bad Mother' and I have to say, I'm completely hooked! This show is truly breathtaking. From the very first episode, I was captivated by the storyline and the characters. The acting is superb and the writing is top-notch.

What I love most about this show is how it tackles these difficult topics with honesty and authenticity. It doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, but rather dives right in, delivering a powerful and emotionally resonant viewing experience.

Overall, I highly recommend 'The Good Bad Mother' to anyone looking for a well-crafted drama that will leave you on the edge of your seat. It's one of the best shows I've seen in a long time, and I can't wait to see where the story goes next!

Really Good

[napaozymbree · 10/10 · 17 May 2023]

This is so good and I can't believe that i will gonna love it. First episode, this episode really made me cry because of how relevant that is and they are so cute, for the few episodes is so heartbreaking because how the son really changed and how sad that most be, every episode will make your face smile. This is really cute, i really love how good the actors, and i really love the twins they're so cute, and to the neighbors they are so caring to each other,btw i just finished episode 6 and i can't wait for the next episode "I'm so exited" 😁 looking forward for the next episode. I LOVE THIS DRAMA SO MUCH.

A korean drama that I never forget

[kristianmolnar · 9/10 · 25 May 2023]

A heartbreaking story that can happen to anyone in their lifetime. It is full of irony and comedy. The combination of starting over and wanting to live has created a truly inspiring story. The story is very well structured. It gradually gives a glimpse into the past, which is much more nuanced than we think. The development of the main characters also plays an important role here, which determines the outcome of the story. Although some characters are a bit weak, the cinematic performance of the main characters covers up these weaknesses and creates a balance. All in all, this is a very interesting tv drama where, in addition to the nuanced story, the protagonist's perseverance and determination are truly inspiring. Also, the maternal love and self-sacrifice are very well depicted here. So, this is a must watch korean drama.

Heart-Wrenching & Eye-Opening

[zanalicious · 22 June 2023]

Have a complicated relationship with your mom? Watch this. Absolute tear-jerker. It will help you understand the love that exists within a mother-child relationship on a deeper level. (Note: This is a dramedy, so you can also expect lighthearted emotions to help you get through the journey.)

Production, directing, writing, and acting are all done very well. As someone who's been watching Korean dramas/soap operas for more than a decade, it is nice to see the genre developing to address more complex topics/issues and grow stronger in its storytelling powers. This drama is a peak reflection of how South Korea's traditional yet democratized society can give ground to universal truth & emotions. No matter where you are in the world, you'll find something to relate to in this ubiquitous story of the good, bad mother.

Too depressing for too long for the payoff at the end

[OldGuyUS · 7/10 · 20 October 2023]

The executive summary here is that there was too much sadness and trauma for too long for the final payoff. I don't like series that give you happy only in the last 10 minutes or some such. This series did that

Others have written excellent reviews, as usual, so I'll just put a few points out there to perhaps help folks decide if this is their cup of tea.

The Good ========

• The acting!

Ra Mi Ran is great as the mother, although the role was really annoying to watch.

The twins were, as everyone said, adorable.

Ahn Sun Jin was fantastic, We watched this series because of her, after seeing her in Hospital Playlist.

• The few, and unfortunately only a few, funny moments were done well.

The Not So Good =============

• As noted, too sad for too long. We needed more of the happy times with Mi-Joo and Kong-Ho after the trauma was (mostly) resolved.

• Not enough Ms. Ahn! She is great and we did not see enough of her in this series.

• Something about Young-soon's mourning was just off. I can't place my finger on it, but that scene just did not work.

• The side characters were too over the top. For a very serious series, they may have wanted some comic relief , but it was often out of place.

Recommendation ============== This is actually hard to recommend, which really bums me out. But if you are looking to being bummed for the great majority of the series, and need a big dose of sadness, this may be for you.

Highly educational

[duongtrangmb · 9/10 · 8 June 2023]

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.

Directionless and incredulous show with a psycho mom

[Hlebka · 7/10 · 3 August 2023]

First of all, the writer can't seem to determine whether they want the story to go into comedy or have serious plot lines. Because the story taking place outside the village is all suspence and serious, but once you enter the village, the characters suddenly become comedic. Take Woobyeok's two secretaries, for example. The show started out pretty good. Initially, I figured the show would be about a prosecutor on a path of revenge or a path of corruption that took away his father's life. Either way, both interesting. Then the accident happen which was an unexpected twist that could've made things more interesting.

But once Kang-Ho came back home, the story devolved into a bunch of country bumpkins acting like fools. There's no clear direction and the writers just randomly tossed in every known K-drama cliche such as family car death, major illness and unnecessary misunderstandings. All happening at once! Once country bumpkins take over, we see less and less of two villains who are much more interesting. They're wasting so much time adding incredulously improbable plot lines during Kang-ho's "recovery" process, it's gotten hard to watch. The show constantly switches from comedy to cringy drama trying to make you cry.

What really gets me about this show is how Kang-ho's mom comes across. I get that she's had a hard life but she's an absolute nut job! The way she treats Kang-Ho is way past child abuse and she should be jailed for it.

Speaking of child abuse, how Min-Joo lies to her two kids about their father is a next level psychological abuse. How will they recover from this?

We also cannot forget newly discovered ways to treat quadriplegic people. Starve them so they can use their own hands and then throw them in water so they can start walking. Someone actually wrote this crap.

Who else is so sick and tired of the main character losing her crap every other scene?

"good" intention lost in the process

[sickbigeyes · 4/10 · 6 July 2023]

First of all, there are some scenes that could be disturbing to some people and should have been given a trigger warning. Those scenes are really unnecessary because I believe the writer could have chosen a better approach.

Despite the fact that the middle part of the series is light-hearted and the kids are suuuuper cute, the story itself is dragging, resulting in a rushed ending. A few characters serve no purpose in this drama; they suddenly appear and then disappear without any explanation. Instead of contributing to the story, their existence is rather distracting and pointless.

I know this drama is trying to convey a "good" message and supposed to be heart-warming, but one thing keeps me from giving it a higher rating. And it is the mother. I had high expectations since it's Ra Mi Ran. She is a great actress and I love her other works. But in this drama, I dislike her character with passion. It's extremely hard for me to feel for her. It's not because of her acting (she's amazing as always), but it's because of the character traits of the mother.

A MASTERPIECE

[fatimamary · 10/10 · 8 June 2023]

I have watched alot of k-dramas of different genres but this one hit different. From the beginning I was loving the whole story line and the way the actors portrayed the character. This drama was a roller coaster of emotions.

Mjioo took my heart fr. She was so mature 🌚controlling her emotions and those twins how cute they were! Young son was such a great mother and I was really sad when she died but she did fulfil all her responsibilities and promises which she made to her husband. Idk if it will be popular or not but for me it was a full pack of entertainment, emotional,romance. The supporting characters were always there to make you laugh and my fav Sam sik was the one who was always spreading positivity and a dose of laughter. I would say that the writer portrayed the story in a very smooth way .It might be a little depressing but believe me the show will make you smile after a while. In the end I would recommend you to watch this masterpiece trust me you'll never regret watching it.

(Bye 🥂💫)

Nothing can replace a mother

[alaningle7 · 8/10 · 9 June 2023]

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.

I had to pause it many times to avoid crying.

[yoyo-41389 · 10/10 · 10 June 2023]

I would give it 8 stars because I would have liked it to be easier, but no. Real life is sometimes that hard.

Yeah, it's true that some situations resolve easily BUT this is one of those series that you watch to laugh, to relax, to move your heart.

It was hard for me to watch it because I lost my grandmother, who was my second mom, from cancer stage 4. That feeling of frustration when someone is dying is horrible and I could see myself in the series.

The struggle to raise children to be someone important, the difficult part of being the villain for them, when all you want is the best and that they don't suffer.

If you decide to watch it, you will learn a lot and understand many things.

It's a 10 for Ra Mi-Ran and Lee Do-Hyun

[bluepengal · 10/10 · 9 June 2023]

Ra Mi-Ran and Lee Do-Hyun with their incredible acting elevates this kdrama and sweeps you into their bittersweet story of a mother and son relationship. These two leads bring out the raw emotions of a relationship that evolved between them because of a horrific tragedy. The supporting cast is good with Eun-Jin Ahn (Mi-Joo) giving a very strong performance and the two kids are just wonderful. Ra Mi-Ran and Lee Do-Hyun deserve awards for their performances. They were that exceptional. The one issue I have is the over the top slapstick side comedy. The storyline did not warrant this kind of buffoonery and was distasteful . The Good Bad Mother deserved better than that.

A heartfelt drama that is well worth watching

[storguson · 10/10 · 11 June 2023]

Ra Mi Ran as the mother and Lee Do Hyun as her son are perfectly cast in their roles. Both are exceptional actors. They had to play very diverse parts and delivered wonderful performances. Ra Mi Ran as the mother portrayed both a mother who seemed not to care about anything except the success of her son and a mother who would sacrifice everything for him.

Lee Do Hyun played an equally demanding role as a prosecutor who seemed to be cold and ruthless and a man, who through an accident, reverts back to a child having to learn the world around him. Lee Do Hyun was so believable in both roles. His childlike innocence was so heartwarming that it brought tears to my eyes.

The two young actors who played his children were also remarkable and brought such joy to their scenes, especially when they were interacting with Lee Do Hyun.

I look forward to many more top quality Kdramas especially with Ra Mi Ran and Lee Do Hyun. Netflix scored a big hit with this series.

AMAZING!

[tiagocabralpe · 10/10 · 11 June 2023]

I don't think I am able to find the right words to describe this drama! Whoever is reading this review, you have to believe me and watch this incredible Korean Drama. I have been watching K-dramas for a while now, but this one is something else. The actors, all of them, are incredibly impressive... Their acting skills are amazing, even the kids who are very cute and smart. When this drama is on, you only don't watch it... you also feel it, you become part of it. That's why I truly love this drama and I take this chance to thank Na-Yoen Shim for this masterpiece. I highly recommend everyone to watch The Good Bad Mother.

Good in parts

[wheatley-20230 · 6/10 · 20 July 2023]

It's a shame! This series has much to recommend it. In particular the key cast are all excellent: mother, son, girlfriend and both baddies. Also the plot is worthwhile, with a story you can invest some emotion in as you root for the goodies.

Unfortunately it also has some key weaknesses. Most distracting was that outside the key characters are a myriad of hangers-on who do little to advance the story and seem primarily intended for comic effect. Their contributions detract from the whole, puncturing moments of potential tension or emotion. In the best k dramas the comedy is deftly interwoven into the story, so that you get the tension, the emotion and the laughs. Not here.

But still, the good parts justify a watch.

Laugh and tears

[thanhha-12887 · 10/10 · 9 June 2023]

An emotional, moral and meaningful healing movie. It will make you laugh and then suddenly touch the bottom of your heart. Every lines the characters said were all so precious, toghether they made a perfectly beautiful story. The acting was excellent and touching that we can really feel the character. The movie is the story between Kang Ho and his "bad mother" on a journey solving their sorrow heart due to past wounds. Beside the gripping interlectual battle to get the bad pay for what they did the movie also has lots of deep aspects and lessons about family, friends, neibourghs, love and life that made us think back and realize the true value of living. All in all the love of a mother will always the sweetest beside to protect the child in any manners. If you feeling stress, your heart are struggling or you just want to sob then why don't u watch "the good bad mother" I bet u can also find precious meanings, feelings, be more optimistic and more cheris your mother.

Uneven fantasy drama (not real life)

[jaldred-66120 · 7/10 · 8 June 2023]

I assume that this was supposed to be a light drama and some bits were good. The children were really cute and stole the show but anyone expecting medical or legal accuracy at any level will be disappointed. The middle episodes were the best but you had the feeling that the scriptwriter ran out of ideas and didn't know how to finish this either that or ran out of time so left it at 14 episodes which is an unusual number for a K drama. I enjoyed this until about the last 3 episodes. The depiction of the mother's illness annoyed me having known someone with very strong willpower who died of the same: you can't just go on to the last day. Also, I did not understand the role of the singer it seems like they ran out of time or money and cut too much, which is a pity because it began as a strong series.

The Worst Drama of the Year for East Asian Women

[ooojamiezhang · 1/10 · 28 June 2023]

Before watching I heard that it is a warm family drama, but as an East Asian woman to see the very suffocating, because full of patriarchal control, women are powerless to resist domestic violence; male revenge cloaked in the blood of the father's lineage, and all women have to make way for this; the female unmarried childbirth so difficult but not as hard as the male revenge abandoned her; bad mother even after the child's illness, mental deterioration, as always The bad mother, even after the child's illness and mental deterioration, is still the same oppressive parenting, no change; the man finally fulfills his parents' wishes to run the farm, and even according to the bad mother's lines, the man's son and grandson are (probably) going to run the farm for generations, a good inheritance of East Asian filial piety culture ...... This is the plight of East Asian women, ah, than to show all this truthfully, even cloaked in warmth The main reason why the creator did not choose to add even a little change in the episode. I can only say that everything behind the show and the writers themselves are disgusting.

Natural parent-child relation reflected through an exceptional writing

[pranayjalvi · 9/10 · 16 June 2023]

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.