An ambitious young man leaves his grassroots behind to pursue a career as a prosecutor in Seoul, with the hopes of investigating the death of his father before he was even born.  But when he crosses a powerful enemy, he suffers a terrible accident that leaves him unable to care for himself and with no memory of his life beyond childhood. Although their relationship has been distant in the past, his mother brings him home to the small, country town where he was raised so she can care for him.  And as they spend time together, the pair gain new understanding of each other and the struggles they have each faced and dealt with in their own ways.  And that won’t be his only opportunity for second chances, as he becomes reunited with the people in town who helped raise him and the friends he left behind.  

Lee Do Hyun as Choi Kang Ho

Choi Kang Ho has spent his life dreaming of becoming a prosecutor so that he can investigate his father’s death and find the people responsible for the difficult life he and his mother were forced to live.  In order to do that, he has distanced himself from his past life, and lives a double life in Seoul, winning over the powerful men he came to destroy.  But when he sets his sights on the daughter of a national assemblyman, the politician tries to kill him.  While his plan is not successful, it does leave Kang Ho unable to walk or remember anything about his life.  Unable to care for himself, his mother brings him home to the farm.  And as he relives moments of his youth, his relationship with his mom will get a second chance.  When his childhood friend and first love, Mi Joo, also moves back to her mother’s, his life will take another dramatic turn.  Unfortunately he has a long road of recovery before he even remembers who she is.  Luckily for him, she has never been able to forget him or the life they started together.  

While Choi Kang Ho seems rude and uncaring at the beginning of this drama, we soon find out that all of it is part of his plan for revenge.  Rather than resenting his mother for the way she pushed him to succeed, he has focused a lifetime worth of resentment on the men who caused it to happen in the first place.  Lee Do Hyun basically played 3 different roles throught the course of this drama; from successful prosecutor, to child, to loving son.  And he handled all of them with amazing skill.  Each stage of his character’s development was distinct and carefully crafted.  I have long been a fan of this actor, but this role has put him on a whole new level.  

Yoo In Soo as Bang Sam Sik

Bang Sam Sik is a few months older than Kang Ho and Mi Joo.  He grew up always feeling like he lived in Kang Ho’s shadow.  He has a crush on Mi Joo, but Mi Joo sees him more as a big brother than a boyfriend.  After a criminal tricks Sam Sik into running an illegal errand for him, Sam Sik spends some time in jail before coming back home to get a fresh start. And he is surprised to find both his childhood friends back in town as well.  

 ♥ Romance

I really loved the relationship between Kang Ho and Mi Joo.  The writers did a nice job of showing a stable relationship born of years of friendship and familiarity.  Even after Kang Ho left her with no explanation, she chose to believe that he must have a very good reason.  I appreciated the lack of histrionics.  And watching the twins with Kang Ho was absolutely heartwarming.  While both characters individually had their flaws, together they were a delight.  

 ♥ Mother Bond

I enjoyed the extended family feeling they created among the residents of their town.  It was especially fun to watch the bond that the mothers were able to share.  Just like family, they had their fair share of misunderstandings and struggles, but when push came to shove, they were always there for each other.  The difference in each mother’s temperament and style of parenting is truly the spicy of life.  

Father Reunion

I was hoping for a more emotional reunion between Kang Ho and the twins.  Their scenes together were all so wonderfully done and natural.  And I had high hopes for a moving scene of them acknowledging their new relationship.  This whole idea gets glossed over with the assumption that any discussion with Kang Ho about being their dad happened offscreen.  And that felt like a waste to me.  

Bad Mother

I think its impossible to talk about this drama without acknowledging that some of Young Soon’s actions were cruel and hurtful.  I think this drama does a nice job of giving us some insight into her intentions and feelings without pretending that is enough to just make it all better.  But I think we can all agree that while the things she did may not be excusable, we can at least understand why she did them.  And I would also like to throw Mi Joo in here as well. While I loved her character, the fact that she dumped her kids with her mother and then continued to lie to them about some mystery dad living in America was not her finest hour. Again, we can sympathize with the circumstance, but it doesn’t totally excuse the behavior.  Of course, I think the point of this story is to remind us that being a mother is a tough job and we all need a bit of grace from time to time.      

“The Good Bad Mother” brings us in for a bittersweet ending that is the perfect balance for this drama.  Kang Ho 2.0 has regained all of his memories. But after reliving much of his childhood, he has learned the importance of love and family. Kang Ho gets both villains into the courtroom by pitting them against each other, and exposes both of their crimes to the public, so they will be off to jail.  Young Soon has a goodbye party with all of her friends and family before quietly dying in her sleep, with Kang Ho at her side.  Everyone shows up for her funeral, where Kang Ho bows just like she taught him and then leads everyone in singing his mom’s favorite song “I Am Happy”.  Sam Shik has finally let go of Mi Joo to pursue Ha Young, who is currently in jail for her part in Kang Ho’s accident. Mi Joo’s mom has started dating Hoon Ah, Young Ra’s wife finds out she is pregnant, and our city slicker thugs have become successful lettuce farmers.  In the final scene, we see Kang Ho propose to Mi Joo, and, of course, she accepts!