The Good Bad Mother

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.

The Good Bad Mother (2023) is a South Korean family drama created by Sim Na-yeon and Bae Se-young for JTBC, a single-season limited series of fourteen episodes. Ambitious prosecutor Choi Kang-ho (Lee Do-hyun) is left with the mind of a child after a traffic accident, and his mother Jin Young-soon (Ra Mi-ran) must take him back to the village and farm where she lives. Their daily life is built from small, concrete frictions: feeding animals, mending old quarrels with childhood friends, and relearning how to speak to one another after years of distance. Supporting roles from Ahn Eun-jin, Yoo In-soo and Choi Mu-sung widen the village circle around them. The show moves at a measured pace, following a slice of life rhythm rather than courtroom procedure. Its tone is darker than expected yet frequently lighter than its premise suggests, mixing grief, dark comic tenderness and quiet humor. Themes of maternal sacrifice, reversed caregiving and the difficulty of forgiveness run through each episode. Set in present day rural South Korea, it is a contemplative, emotionally raw series that fans of Mare of Easttown and Extraordinary Attorney Woo will find resonance in, and it suits viewers who want a tearjerker about family repair.

Acclaimed for its emotional depth, the lead performance of Lee Do-hyun, and its blend of dark and light tones around a son's regression and his mother's devotion.

• Mare of Easttownshared emotional family drama, mother caregiving, bittersweet healing arc
• Extraordinary Attorney Wooshared korean prestige drama tradition, legal setting with personal family stakes
• The Leftoversshared tragic accident aftermath, relationship repair through illness and memory loss

Created by

Sim Na-yeon, Bae Se-young

Release Date

2023-04-26

Episode runtime

68 min

Rating

8.4 / 10 (203)

What is The Good Bad Mother about?

After a traffic accident leaves a prosecutor with the mind of a child, he and his mother must rebuild their broken bond on a rural farm.

What is The Good Bad Mother like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Good Bad Mother as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is The Good Bad Mother violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Good Bad Mother as mild.

What did critics think of The Good Bad Mother?

Acclaimed for its emotional depth, the lead performance of Lee Do-hyun, and its blend of dark and light tones around a son's regression and his mother's devotion.

Which shows are like The Good Bad Mother?

Shows with a similar feel include Mare of Easttown, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and The Leftovers.

How long is The Good Bad Mother?

The Good Bad Mother: 1 season, 14 episodes.

Is The Good Bad Mother still running?

No, The Good Bad Mother has ended.

Where can I watch The Good Bad Mother?

In United States, The Good Bad Mother streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.