The Good Bad Mother
The Good Bad Mother
Now Showing

The Good Bad Mother

"All mothers in the world are bad."

8.9
Yr 2023
Rt 68m
Status Ended
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

A tragic accident leaves an ambitious prosecutor with the mind of a child – forcing him and his mother to embark on a journey to heal their relationship.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 82 /100

The Good Bad Mother is widely celebrated for its raw, emotional exploration of familial dynamics, forgiveness, and the long-term impact of parental pressure. Critics largely agree that the series is a heartfelt, deeply moving drama that resonates due to the strong performances of its lead actors and its willingness to tackle difficult themes regarding love and ambition.

While the critical consensus is positive, some reviewers noted potential pitfalls in the show’s pacing. Certain critics observed that the narrative occasionally wears thin or relies on "daft subplots" that could have been tightened, and some scenes depicting parental abuse are described as difficult to watch. Nevertheless, the consensus remains that the show’s genuine spirit and profound character arcs make it a powerful viewing experience.

“A moving, thought-provoking exploration of forgiveness, second chances, and the complicated ways families learn to love each other again.”

“Unapologetically raw and heartfelt, unafraid to unpack and explore the discomfort that comes with trying to reckon with parental love and dynamics.”

“Stretches its narrative thin with some daft subplots – without fully losing its charm.”

“There are dramas that entertain you, and there are dramas that rearrange something inside you. The Good Bad Mother is firmly in the second category.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix
US • UK • CA
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US • UK • CA
Why fans love it

The 2023 drama The Good Bad Mother finds its rhythm by balancing comedy and sudden, sharp tragedy. Set against a quiet village backdrop on a farm, the show examines the weight of past expectations and the difficult path toward forgiveness. The narrative hinges on a mother and son processing the loss of their father figure while navigating an sudden shift in their daily existence.

Ra Mi-ran anchors a story that treats age regression and illness with a grounded, slice of life approach. By focusing on the intricacies of family relationships, the series manages to be bittersweet without falling into melodrama. It favors long-term character development over quick resolutions, exploring how the past influences the present when life forces a total reset.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 20
Longest run 14 eps
Show 67 more
Jang Won-young as Mr. Bang 14 episodes Kang Mal-geum as Jung Gum-ja 14 episodes Kim Won-hae as Son Yong-rak 14 episodes Park Bo-kyung as Yong-rak's Wife 14 episodes Gi So-you as Lee Ye-jin 14 episodes Park Da-on as Lee Seo-jin 14 episodes Bek Hyun-jin as Baek Hoon-ah 14 episodes Choi Sun-jin as So Ji-seok 14 episodes Park Cheon as Cha Seung-eon 14 episodes Lee Sang-hun as Mr. Yang 14 episodes Oh Ha-ni as Sun-young 14 episodes Josh Newton as Andrea 14 episodes Cho Jin-woong as Choi Hae-sik 1 episode Lee Joo-sil as Grandmother 1 episode Lee Do-yeop 1 episode Son Sang-gyu as Kwak Sang-cheol 2 episodes Kim Chae-hyun as Jennifer 1 episode Kim Joo-hwang as Witness 1 episode Park Young-bok as Witness 1 episode Han Sang-chul as Market man 1 episode Baek Seung-chul as Village chief 1 episode Jeong Seon-cheol as Joongang Feed & Supply owner 1 episode Park Chan-guk as Priest 1 episode Ha Dong-jun as Prosecutor 1 episode Kim Yong-jun as Investigator 1 episode Park Seon-a as Oh Tae-Soo's wife 1 episode Min Kyung-jin as Prosecutors' office protester 1 episode Lee Jung-yeol as Apartment security guard 2 episodes Oh Min-jeong as Maid 1 episode Kwon Beom-taek as Doctor 1 episode Park Ji-a as Doctor 1 episode Kim Shin-yeol as Baseball coach 1 episode Lee Hyeon-seo as Patient's guardian 1 episode Jeong Hye-kyung as Patient's guardian 1 episode Son In-yong as Oh Tae-soo's secretary 1 episode Jung Sun-ah as Nail shop customer 2 episodes Kang Jeong-im as Nail shop customer 2 episodes Oh Soon-tae as Pig buyer 1 episode Park Hui-eun as Victim's mother 1 episode Seong No-jin as Chief prosecutor 1 episode Park Soo-jin as Yang Gu Man's wife 1 episode Nam Mi-jung as Sun Young's mother 1 episode Goo Jae-yeon as Jung Jong Gu's mother 1 episode Choi Ga-in as Sushi restaurant owner 1 episode Kim Hee-won as Nail shop owner 2 episodes Sung Nak-kyung as Sushi restaurant owner 2 episodes Lee Dong-kyu as Anchorman 2 episodes Kim Nam-jin as Resident 1 episode Son Seong-chan as Oh Tae Soo's friend 1 episode Shin Seung-ho as Livestock division employee 1 episode Lee Dong-yong as Police officer 2 episodes Kim Ji-woong as Chairman's son 3 episodes Lee Gyu-hoe as Gambling house boss 2 episodes Kang Bo-kyung as Jin Young-soon [Young] 1 episode Ahn Hye-won as Pharmacist 1 episode Jun Sung-won as Fruit seller 1 episode Seong Jeong-seon as Grandmother 1 episode Lee Young-sil as Grandmother 1 episode Kim Tae-moon as Real estate agent 1 episode Kim Jae-man as Jin Young-Soon's father 1 episode Kim Na-in as Shoe seller 2 episodes Lee Chang-jik as Chairman 2 episodes Lee Eun-ju as Chairman's wife 2 episodes Min Eung-sik as Lee Bong-Su 2 episodes Lee A-jin as Huang 2 episodes Joung Young-sub as Detective 2 episodes Moon Jung-dae as Detective 2 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Executive Producer
Director
Writer
Theme Song Performance
Storyboard
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Good Bad Mother overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

farm slice of life family relationships family illness childhood friends death of husband emotions mother son relationship bittersweet age regression village setting
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
April 26, 2023
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
68 minutes
Origin
KR
TMDB Votes
196