Written by Bae Se-young and directed by Shim Na-yeon

Rating: ★★★★★

Practically an essay on Motherhood! Being a mother is one of the most complex, beautiful and sometimes difficult relationships I have ever experienced. “The Good Bad Mother” explores the nuances of mother-child relationships in a vulnerable, personal and thought-provoking way. I was so impressed with the script that I started writing this post before I even finished watching the series! I think it was the first time I aligned the text before knowing the end of the plot.

Ra Mi-ran, the protagonist, effortlessly embodies the complexity of being a mother. The nuances of having to be strong, courageous, fragile, and imperfect simultaneously. Her on-screen relationship with Lee Do-hyun, which remains impressive, feels incredibly authentic – what a talented actor! Both have a story so loaded that only the other can understand. They don’t always agree, nor do they understand each other all the time, but there is involuntary love in every interaction they share.

The writing is also phenomenal – no character here is overlooked, even the antagonists, who are as complicated as they would be in real life; nothing is black and white. What makes someone a good mother? A complex question! I’m trying to figure out how to evaluate or what metric to use. I often questioned myself watching it. The show is unapologetically raw and sincere, unafraid to explore some of the discomforts of motherhood and children. One of the most touching series I followed in 2023!

Image courtesy of Netflix