The Good Bad Mother – A Bittersweet Masterpiece
I remember when this drama first came out. I was immediately curious about Lee Do Hyun's new drama. But I also knew it was about a difficult mother-son relationship, and I just couldn’t bring myself to watch it back then. For two years, this drama stayed on my watchlist, waiting for the right moment. I finally watched it and I’m so glad I did.
I’m giving The Good Bad Mother a full 10/10. In my non-expert opinion, this is a beautifully written, emotionally rich drama, elevated by phenomenal acting. Lee Do Hyun continues to prove himself with every role, and this performance absolutely cements him as one of my favorite actors. His ability to portray both physical and emotional pain, vulnerability, and resilience was just stunning.
This drama is deeply bittersweet. It broke my heart, and I cried so much watching it—but it’s not just a sad story. As the title suggests, The Good Bad Mother is about contradictions: the good and bad within people, within life, within love. It’s about regret and redemption, sacrifice and healing. While the focus is on a mother’s complicated love, it reaches far beyond that—it’s about life itself, in all its harshness and beauty.
What struck me is how the story balances this devastation with warmth and humor. The townspeople’s antics, their quirks and loyalty, provide the kind of comedic relief that doesn’t undermine the drama but supports it. It reminded me a lot of Reply 1988— in how it highlights the power of community. Watching this show made me mourn the fact that many people today don’t have that kind of tight-knit, supportive village in their lives.
I can’t speak to how accurate the portrayal of disability was—at times, it did feel a little idealized or unrealistic—but I appreciated the way the show didn’t shy away from showing how devastating and isolating that experience could be. The early episodes especially hit hard.
And then there’s the romance. I wasn’t expecting it, and I’m still not over it. It was subtle, painful, and incredibly beautiful—another layer of emotional weight I wasn’t prepared for.
There were so many great lines and moments about life that I wish I had written down. I probably will go back and rewatch just to catch them again.
And finally, the acting. The acting. Every single person delivered—from Ra Mi-ran as the fierce, flawed mother, to Lee Do Hyun's jaw-dropping transformation. I was completely blown away.
💔❤️
I’m giving The Good Bad Mother a full 10/10. In my non-expert opinion, this is a beautifully written, emotionally rich drama, elevated by phenomenal acting. Lee Do Hyun continues to prove himself with every role, and this performance absolutely cements him as one of my favorite actors. His ability to portray both physical and emotional pain, vulnerability, and resilience was just stunning.
This drama is deeply bittersweet. It broke my heart, and I cried so much watching it—but it’s not just a sad story. As the title suggests, The Good Bad Mother is about contradictions: the good and bad within people, within life, within love. It’s about regret and redemption, sacrifice and healing. While the focus is on a mother’s complicated love, it reaches far beyond that—it’s about life itself, in all its harshness and beauty.
What struck me is how the story balances this devastation with warmth and humor. The townspeople’s antics, their quirks and loyalty, provide the kind of comedic relief that doesn’t undermine the drama but supports it. It reminded me a lot of Reply 1988— in how it highlights the power of community. Watching this show made me mourn the fact that many people today don’t have that kind of tight-knit, supportive village in their lives.
I can’t speak to how accurate the portrayal of disability was—at times, it did feel a little idealized or unrealistic—but I appreciated the way the show didn’t shy away from showing how devastating and isolating that experience could be. The early episodes especially hit hard.
And then there’s the romance. I wasn’t expecting it, and I’m still not over it. It was subtle, painful, and incredibly beautiful—another layer of emotional weight I wasn’t prepared for.
There were so many great lines and moments about life that I wish I had written down. I probably will go back and rewatch just to catch them again.
And finally, the acting. The acting. Every single person delivered—from Ra Mi-ran as the fierce, flawed mother, to Lee Do Hyun's jaw-dropping transformation. I was completely blown away.
💔❤️
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