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Angry Mom: Episode 9

What a funny, warm, and touching episode, all rolled into one. While keeping Kang-ja’s identity under wraps is a huge component to the entire premise, it’s hilarious to watch more and more people getting in on the secret, and reacting to it in different—sometimes conflicting—ways. It’s a juggling game that’s rife with comic opportunities, but also gives our heroine an unexpected chance to see who’s really on her side, even when (especially when) it comes from unexpected quarters.

SONG OF THE DAY

One More Chance – “뭐가 그리 좋은지 몰라” (I don’t know what’s so great) [ Download ]

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EPISODE 9 RECAP

At Princess Central, Kang-ja watches the scene unfolding on the Chairman Hong Cam, where the education minister she’d believed would address her complaints turns out to be just as crooked as the rest. She fumes while Gong-joo worries that the involvement of a man this powerful spells danger for Kang-ja, since he could silence her easily. Kang-ja didn’t give her name, but she did outline all the details of Yi-kyung and Jung-woo.

And then, Jung-woo appears on the camera to meet with the chairman, confirming their suspicions of everyone being in on this together.

Jung-woo has been summoned for his turn on the scold-o’-go-round, angry that the education minister was brought into this. Jung-woo reads Kang-ja’s anonymous letter and promises to take care of it, and the chairman threatens that he’d better. To himself, Chairman Hong mutters that he can’t be rid of Jung-woo yet… but wants to clear him out as soon as the “laundry machine” is done with its cleaning.

Ae-yeon worries about just that happening, but Jung-woo isn’t nearly as worried. He knows he’s got dirt on his father (or rather, that he is the dirt on his father) and suggests that Ae-yeon trust him on this. He figures his leverage gives him a fifty-fifty shot at winning this battle, and those are pretty good gambling odds.

Knowing that Ae-yeon is in with the education foundation, Kang-ja wants to talk to her for information, while Gong-joo argues vehemently against it. Even if she was once their friend, someone who backstabbed once will backstab again. It won’t take long for the baddies to pinpoint Kang-ja as the letter-writer, so the priority is to get Kang-ja out of school and Ah-ran into a new one.

But Kang-ja argues the reverse, that it’s better not to run. Leaving would make Ah-ran look like the culprit and throw her into more danger.

At home, Mom-in-law grumbles over the dishes and is fed up with keeping Kang-ja’s secret, especially when Kang-ja has forgotten to schedule that facelift she promised. She’s ready to spill the beans to Jin-sang and calls him out, ignoring Kang-ja’s silent pleas to keep quiet. But Mom-in-law manages to blurt, “Your wife is going to school!” and the jig is up… or is it? Kang-ja admits that it’s true, but then spins a lie about realizing she wanted to be a better wife, mother, and daughter-in-law, and that she’s enrolled in “mom school.” Pwahaha.

Mom-in-law rolls her eyes, but when Kang-ja adds that one of her investments is about to mature and promises it all to her, she thinks twice. Jin-sang is just amazed that one class could bridge this in-law conflict so effectively and gives his approval: Keep going to school!

Noah reels from the revelation that his beloved father isn’t as incorruptible as he’d always believed. When Dad comes home that evening, he faces him with disillusioned eyes and asks, “Why did you do it?” Without explaining, Dad immediately knows what he means, but his attempt to explain out goes rebuffed.

Noah rips his school appointment certificate off his wall and throws it to the ground, sobbing silently.

At school, Ah-ran assures her mother that she’ll be fine if she just studies and doesn’t cause any trouble, urging Mom to do the same.

Speaking of trouble, Bok-dong motions her aside, and then holds up his shoe and orders her to tie his shoelace. Ha, are you testing your feelings using shoelace-tying as your barometer? Silly boy.

Kang-ja’s annoyed at his order but sighs and ties it anyway, and takes the moment to urge him to correct his attitude. She tells him that he doesn’t have to put on a tough act around her, and prods him to explain what happened the night Yi-kyung died, offering to clear his name.

Bok-dong asks if she likes him, because who is she to clear his name for him? He orders her to butt out, just as they hear voices around the corner and duck behind some construction materials. Kang-ja recognizes her husband with Dong-chil and listens (Dong-chil just orders hubby to just do as ordered instead of raising questions), while Bok-dong notices how close they are and leans in closer to smell her hair. Aie, he is too cute, the way he closes his eyes and just smiles.

He’s so caught up in the leaning-and-smelling that he doesn’t notice her getting up until she asks what he’s doing. Flustered and embarrassed, he tries to play it off (completely ineptly, I might add) and ends up barking, “Who said I’d like someone like you?!” Smoooooth. He hurries off before he can muck this up any further.

Then Kang-ja turns and comes face to face with her husband, whose eyes widen in recognition. She doubles over, throws her hair in her face, and starts hacking to disguise her voice but Jin-sang grabs her and forces her face into view, wondering what the hell she’s doing dressed like a student.

Kang-ja hisses at him to be quiet… and just around the way, Bok-dong turns back to see the middle-aged man trying to drag her home with him.

Bok-dong misinterprets mention of the word “husband” and asks if Kang-ja’s got a sugar daddy, and Jin-sang gets called away before he can say anything.

Incredulous, Bok-dong bursts out, “If you needed money, you should’ve told me—I can give you as much of that as you need!” He puts his wallet in her hand and says, “Don’t go around meeting guys like that. Don’t live your life so recklessly!” Oh, you adorable little boy.

Their conversation makes them late for class, and Noah starts to scold their tardiness. But the vice principal’s comments about him being no less corrupted make him stop the lecture, and he stands there thumping his chest in agitation.

Kang-ja assumes that he’s suffering from indigestion and drags him to the infirmary, insisting on the old home remedy of pricking a finger to clear it up (the thought process is that indigestion impedes with proper circulation, so you have to let the bad blood out). As she fusses over him, Noah thinks of his father treating him the same way, and the memory unleashes more tears.

Kang-ja doesn’t pry when he just says he cried because the needle hurt, and wonders what he’s got bottled up inside. She advises that leaving indigestion untreated (or, in the metaphor version, leaving a problem to fester) only turns it into a bigger problem down the line—so although it hurts now, it’s better to let the bad blood out so things can run their course.

Noah only refers to his father obliquely, saying that he probably did what he did “because I looked too weak.” He must have been uneasy about sending him into the cruel world alone.

“I don’t think being weak is a bad thing,” Noah says. “And I don’t think losing is a loss. But for someone to face evil for me because I’m weak—I realized that’s a bad thing. If I can’t protect somebody because I’m weak, that’s a mistake—I’ve realized that now too.” Noah leaves the infirmary ready to submit his resignation letter.

Jung-hee tries to join Sang-tae’s study group again, but they’re none too friendly this time around. Sang-tae sneers that she’s not on their level, and their classmates snicker to see her cast out.

Gong-joo presents Kang-ja with a mountain of research she’s done into the education minister’s background, but he’s made sure to tie up any loose ends perfectly. They can’t pinpoint his connection to Jung-woo, but Kang-ja suspects that it has something to do with the construction project going on at the school.

Just then, Kang-ja receives a call from Ae-yeon. Gong-joo warns of rumors that peg Ae-yeon as the chairman’s mistress, which makes her extra dangerous to confide in.

Kang-ja asks Ae-yeon point-blank what her relationship is to the chairman, and also whether they’re still friends. Ae-yeon doesn’t know the answer to the latter, but answers the first by unbuttoning her shirt to reveal the bruises covering her back. She calls the chairman “my enemy.”

Kang-ja’s horrified at the signs of abuse and fired up to do something about it, but Ae-yeon says that this is what money does—it turns you into a liar and makes you greedy for more. But she’s vowed to protect herself, just as Kang-ja vowed to protect her daughter, and that’s not something she can have without money or power.

Kang-ja proposes that they go after all the bad guys and put them away, including the education minister, but Ae-yeon urges her to leave school before she’s hurt. She may not be able to protect Kang-ja, but this is the last advice she can offer. When Kang-ja asks only that Ae-yeon not tell what she knows, Ae-yeon agrees and apologizes for not being able to help.

To the contrary, Kang-ja thanks her for all her help thus far, and calls her “friend.”

Dong-chil reads the complaint filed against Jung-woo and recognizes the name of the complaint filer, even if we don’t: Go Jong-man, somebody who “still hasn’t come to his senses.” And even more curious than this mysterious man is the remark Jung-woo makes to a “last time” that can’t be discovered, because it would be bad for Dong-chil.

Perhaps he means Yi-kyung’s death, although the flashback we get to that night on the rooftop points the trouble more at Jung-woo than Dong-chil. We see now that it was the full trio out there on the roof (including Bok-dong), and Jung-woo had been in the lead as he approached Yi-kyung. She’d been filming them on her phone while begging for mercy, and when he lurched at her, the scuffle with him was the last thing captured on her camera.

That’s the phone Jung-woo had run over… which Dong-chil then picked up. Hm, so did he take it for safekeeping, or to use against him?

In the morning, Kang-ja’s husband vociferously protests her going to school, arguing that she misunderstood everything about Jung-woo. Mom-in-law chimes in with threats of her own, saying that if Kang-ja goes to school, then both mother and daughter can pack their bags and move out. After all, Kang-ja should have been that they took her in with someone else’s baby.

Kang-ja replies that the home is half hers, so Mom-in-law can leave if she wants. And when Jin-sang tries to prevent her departure by taking her shoes, she just goes on in her stocking feet.

Of course, she can’t go to school with her feet wrapped in plastic bags, and tells Ah-ran to go first while she buys new sneakers. With a sigh, Ah-ran kneels down and tells Mom to get on her back—and in a compromise, Kang-ja ends up wearing Ah-ran’s shoes and piggybacking her instead.

In gym class, the kids are told to partner up, and Sang-tae heads over to Ah-ran, only to have Kang-ja jump in quickly with a sharp look his way. Hee. I notice Bok-dong looks equally bummed, and both boys end up with partners they don’t want. Jung-hee also ends up with an unwanted partner since her two sidekicks ditch her, and spends most of her time complaining about Mackerel (the boy whose mother sells fish, who also tried to buy the test answers) getting fish smell on her.

Meanwhile, Kang-ja pushes Ah-ran to do better at sit-ups, only to struggle to even pull off a single one when it’s her turn. Heh, the ole body’s not quite the same in your thirties, is it?

A minor commotion arises when Grandma shows up at the school office demanding to see Kang-ja, which is a name nobody recognizes. They think she’s batty, and Noah recalls Kang-ja warning him about the senile grandma who wanders the neighborhood searching for her lost child.

So while they don’t believe her story about a wayward daughter-in-law acting as a student, they let her rifle through the student profiles looking for Kang-ja, while outside the room Kang-ja hurriedly calls her husband to take care of the situation.

Grandma’s just about to see the Bang-wool’s profile picture when Ah-ran, thinking fast, bursts in and pours on the concern for her ill grandmother, begging her to acknowledge that “Kang-ja” is not of this world. Then Jin-sang arrives and corroborates the story that his mother’s a bit senile, apologizing to the faculty.

His mother is affronted until he whispers that he could get fired—and then suddenly Grandma slaps on a loony smile and starts acting legitimately senile. I’m dying laughing here.

News spreads around school, and Bok-dong checks in with Jung-hee’s (ex-)sidekicks to get the true (false) story, about that grandma being Bang-wool’s adoptive mother, and that there’s another woman who must be the bio-mom. Bok-dong exerts his brainpower (so cutely limited) to put together the pieces, and concludes that Bang-wool’s sugar daddy is the son of her adoptive mother. He sighs at the magnitude of her idiocy.

Jung-hee takes a nap in the athletic storeroom after gym class and realizes she’s been locked in. She bangs on the door for help, but the people who hear her aren’t inclined to help: two guys pass by indifferently, and the snotty girls who locked her in (from Sang-tae’s study group) just figure her sidekicks will let her out.

But they’re still miffed at her for ditching them and ignore her calls and texts, and then her phone dies. Jung-hee spends hours shouting for help, to no avail, and by the time school is out she’s reduced to panic and tears.

Noah notices that she’s not in her seat when he adjourns class that evening, but figures she played hooky. Mackerel has an inkling, though, and sends a text to Kang-ja to let her know.

Kang-ja misses the message because she left her phone behind, but Gong-joo’s minion finds it, and soon thereafter Gong-joo makes her way to the storeroom to let Jung-hee out. She cradles Jung-hee consolingly and takes her back to Princess Central, and lets her know that Mackerel was the one to send the tip to help her.

When Gong-joo asks if nobody else came to help, Jung-hee blusters that she has loads of friends. Gong-joo just smiles knowingly and shares some wisdom about the fate of the “jjang”—a jjang is empowered from within, strong against the strong, weak against the weak, and moved to fight injustice. That way, even if nobody’s at your side, you can call yourself the jjang. And Jung-hee takes this in with awe, completely enraptured.

Kang-ja bursts in calling out for Gong-joo, and to cover up they hastily pretend that Minion 1 is Gong-joo. And since gong-joo means princess, Minion affects a princessy falsetto to play along, and now the cover story is totally weirder than the real one.

As they leave, Jung-hee admits to being too embarrassed to call Kang-ja after turning on her before, and apologizes for it. When Kang-ja tells her not to do that in the future, Jung-hee swears to it, especially now that she’s been inspired to become just like Gong-joo when she grows up. She skips off wishing she could be adopted, and Kang-ja wonders what in the world her friend said to cause that reaction.

…And then, and then Dong-chil arrives at the nighclub. Ooh, the Go Jong-man who filed the complaint is actually Princess Minion 1. The plot thickens!

Dong-chil knocks the minion around in the alley, who feigns ignorance of anybody named Ah-ran. He says that his name must have been stolen to file that complaint, and Dong-chil accepts that answer for now, but warns that he’ll be back, and Minion had better find out who stole his identity.

Kang-ja’s husband presents her with two forms and an ultimatum: Drop out of school, or divorce. She rips up the divorce form, asking if he’d really divorce over this, and he argues that their income stream depends on it. This is a really important project for him, ordered by the education ministry itself, planned by Jung-woo.

That’s enough of a connection to get wheels turning in Kang-ja’s brain, and she tells Gong-joo that she’ll be going after proof of it tomorrow night. She asks her friend to pick up Ah-ran from school in her stead, but that plan is complicated when Gong-joo gets a flat tire and Ah-ran is left waiting while everyone heads home.

Dong-chil sees her waiting all alone… but so does Bok-dong.

Kang-ja slips into school after hours and picks the lock to Jung-woo’s office, where she rifles through files about various education projects until she finds a list with her own name on it. It’s definitely suspicious, but she has to duck out of sight upon Jung-woo’s approach.

He thankfully doesn’t see her there, and just tells Dong-chil over the phone to “shut her up” through any means necessary. He means Ah-ran, who is sitting with Dong-chil in a cafe—oh, right, she would know him as her father’s boss. Gack!

Ah-ran is shrewd enough to be uneasy about all this, and when Dong-chil asks to see her phone, she makes a break for it. He grabs her easily, and when she screams for help from strangers, he acts the part of concerned uncle who’s taking her home to her mother.

Dong-chil sends Kang-ja gets a message from Ah-ran’s phone begging for help, and Kang-ja goes off running. Noah sees her darting off campus and taking a taxi, as does Bok-dong, both feeling the same sense of unease and worry.

While waiting for Kang-ja in a shady warehouse, Ah-ran begs Dong-chil to spare her mother. He’s unmoved, of course, and when Kang-ja arrives on the scene, he gets up to greet meddling mom.

Except he knows Kang-ja’s face, and his eyes widen as he tries to reconcile her face with what he was expecting. Kang-ja ignores him to beeline for Ah-ran and assures her that all will be okay now, and then turns to face the kidnapper: “It’s been a long time, Ahn Dong-chil.”

 
COMMENTS

I’d almost forgotten until this moment that Dong-chil hasn’t seen Kang-ja yet, but it makes for a pretty powerful reunion—he’s got the pointy knife and the threatening tactics, but she’s got the element of surprise, and he looks completely gobsmacked to realize that she’s Ah-ran’s mother. We haven’t been given the details yet, but it’s probable that his mind is quickly running through the math on Ah-ran and Kang-ja’s ages, as Gong-joo did upon their reunion. So Dong-chil must be thinking (as we are) that there’s a good chance Ah-ran is Bum’s child, and that ought to be quite a doozy to unpack emotionally.

My first thought was that Ah-ran’s connection to the hated Kang-ja would make him more willing to hurt her, but the connection to his darling dead brother might give him serious pause. We’ve been given hints that Dong-chil may be ready for a mutiny against Jung-woo—he who issues orders from on high, leaving him to all the dirty work—and I wonder if this may be the thing to break the camel’s back. Bok-dong is already ready to break from the pack, but Dong-chil is someone I’m not quite sure I can see redeemed. Even if I wouldn’t personally forgive him upon a belated rehabilitation, however, I’d still welcome it as a plot point, because it makes him a much more interesting character. And even if it’s too late for him to turn his life around, Dong-chil attempting a reform gives me hope for Bok-dong’s salvageable future, and that alone is worth it to me.

Because who can help being in love with this boy? Aside from being cute and hilariously bumbling underneath the tough-guy facade (and that’s already enough to endear me to a character), I love the turnaround in seeing him worry about Bang-wool and start to scold her for her wrongful life choices. I mean, he’s hardly one to talk, but it’s not about passing judgment for these two, which is why they have a connection at all—she’s only ever cared about helping him as a lost soul, not lecturing for lecturing’s sake. So it doesn’t matter what kind of dark and corrupted place he’s coming from; his concern for her welfare is real, and because she first extended that his way, he’s returning it in kind.

It’s the kind of stuff that makes me love Kang-ja all the more, for parenting by example. On paper she’s making a million and one mistakes (though, what parent is perfect?), and nobody would advocate for her methods as behavior to emulate… but she’s driven by heart and righteousness, and that kind of sincerity shines through. It’s as the judge told Noah about meeting kids eye to eye on their level, rather than as some sort of authority figure, and being able to finally communicate. Nobody could doubt that she’s a mother first and foremost, and it’s sweet to see Ah-ran warming up to her as well and seeing beyond Mom’s embarrassing antics on the surface to appreciating the motivations that drive her. The fact that Mom is also a badass fighter who stands her ground and takes down Corporate Evil is just icing on the cake, really.

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Can not wait for the next episode! I also really wish that Dong-chil will change and actually help Kang ja! Also loved Bok-dong this episode!!!!!

AAhh Angry Mom is the best!

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I totally agree! I'm so happy with today's episode. I'm so crushing on Bok-dong. I find him so adorable and cute! <3<3<3

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Here's to hoping that Dong-chil wouldn't stab anybody to death this time, including Noah and Bok-dong.

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...Oops...

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KJ and Ahran scene give me warm.
KYJ growup really well. i fell like pround mother.

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I'm with you, guys! :)

I'm a silent audience and seldom go to a thread to write something. But maybe "Angry Mom" is the first!

That's maybe because I'm a Mom already so different with some guys here, I'm just moved by the relationship between mom and daughter!

I must say, Kim Hee Sun and Kim Yoo Jung do their best job so I just think "oh, they're an ideal young mom and daughter couple!

I want to see how their mom-daughter ship develop and heal! It's very important! I love to see them together and oh, it's so sweet to night when I see Ah Ran has good expression to her Mom, even Ah Ran suggests to carry Mom! Oh, girl, I know you still have distance to your Mom but you always hold a big love for her, right!

You guys here can't imagine how a Mom like me feel when I see Kang Ja carrying Ah Ran! I smile! Yes, I smile with myself! I really feel touching! A child is always be a child to their parent and that a Mom can carry their children for the whole of her life! I can feel the happiness on Kang Ja face and I also feel the warmness of Ah Ran when she smiles on her Mom's back! Yah, all children need the warmness from Mom despite of the fact how much they grow!

Can you see "Angry Mom" sends us, especially parents, a very useful advice to understand our children? "Let's start by making friend with your child and he/she can tell you everything that he/she won't tell you as a child".

Tonight, i see my baby sleeping well and yes, I feel happy to know for whatever, I have my my baby's love! She's my daughter! I have her for the whole of my life!

It's my priceless moment tonight with "Angry Mom"!

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Totally agree with what you said. That scene where Kang-ja carries Ah-ran brings tear to my eyes (given that I'm a new mom who sometimes is still emotional). My baby boy is only 4.5 month old, but when I look at him, I just wish he can be this small a little longer so that I can hold him and protect him.

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Thanks very much for the recap, javabeans!

I'm so enjoying this drama!!

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Am I the only one who thinks Bok-dong isn't that endearing of a character nor acted really well? I think the characters that really shine include Kang-ja, Han Gong-joo, and the corrupted teacher.

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I think the reason why Bok-dong stuck out so much is because for a third lead, he seems to have so many dimensions in his character. Even Gong-joo (one of my favorite characters) is not that layered a character compared to him. You know what I mean?

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I agree with you - Bok Dong has had much more character development and focus in comparison to the others. I like him and his scenes but I have so many questions about the backgrounds of the other characters too (like how the heck did Kang Ja end up with her husband, what does Baro think of his father, or how did Gong Joo and her fab minions meet lol).

I'm also interested to see where Noah goes from here. Out of everyone, (I think) he's had the biggest reality check from all the events that have happened (and he still has a lot to uncover - poor guy!).

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Gongjoo isn't a character with a lot of layers, but Aeyeon is, and Dongchil, and Yikyung, and Junghee, and Sangtae, and even Jungwoo, but none of them are getting the same amount of attention as Bokdong. Of course everyone has the right to like whatever character they like, but I think people like him because they connect to him emotionally, not because the character is written with more depth than others. It's actually one of my favorite things about this drama, that almost none of the characters are one-dimensional.

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You're right. I'm actually really worried for Aeyeon, though. To get to where she is now, she has betrayed a LOT of people. I understand where she came from, and why she made the decisions she made. But where would she be when all the baddies are overthrown (they will be, right? Right.)?

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So true. It was nice to see in this episode that she's honest with herself about how she got into her present circumstances. And that she doesn't make excuses for her choices.

The show has painted a world showing how the futility children feel when they live in a corrupt world. But she isn't making excuses her own corrupt choices. She could lie to herself that taking the bribe to betray Kang Ja was the only way she could have enough money to go abroad to study. And that going abroad was the only way to break the cycle of poverty she was trapped in. But she doesn't. Instead she sees it as naively taking the first step into the life of indentured servitude she's trapped in.

Same for Bok Dong. He comes from a rough upbringing where he's taught by the world that he's of no value. His main desire is to free his only brother from prison so he agrees to work for the person who can secure his release. But in the process he unwittingly becomes a enslaved to the system of corruption that 'owns' his brother.

That's why I can have sympathy for Dong Chil. I get the sense he was entrapped by the system in the same way. They've shown us that he understands that what it does is wrong. The open question is whether he'll choose to opt out and go clean, or justify it by thinking that the solution is to attain more power. And thereby make himself a bigger part of the problem.

And the contrast between them all and Kang Ja is awesome. She opted out and chose to break the cycle of dysfunction. And to make personal sacrifices to make sure her daughter could enjoy a stable childhood.

I also like that this show has a moral compass without resorting to simplistic moralizing. It shows the pain and struggles that caused each of these characters to take their first steps onto a dark path. That there's are as many problems for the wealthy as there are for the poor. And that the wealthy aren't the only ones that exploit. Rather they show us how easily the victims become the victimizers.

But like you all my biggest love of this show is because it shows us the power of a mom. She can make all the difference in the outcome of the life of her child.

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*please excuse typos*

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@ Gidget

I like your thoughts on this. They resonate with me.

There are quite a number of themes that this show covers and one of them is - who's the victim? We can all justify a multitude of sins under the guise of being victims. But Ae Yeon does not.

Another theme is choosing the right path which brings freedom but suffering or choosing the quicker, easier way to 'success' which includes slavery and diminishing self-worth. - latter egs are Dong Chil and Ae Yeon and we want Bok Dong to not go there.

Then there's the theme of what goes around and comes around - does the cycle of evil have to continue endlessly with individuals continually swallowed into it and feeding it? We see the alternative that Gong Joo exemplifies... she comes from a thuggish background and she understands corruption ... but she can use her 'princess fairy god-ma' power for good.

And as you say, Kang Ja has chosen to break out of that cycle... probably choosing marriage to a wimp to make a family and create more stability for Ah Ran, so that she would not end up like her own mother and herself, who had not much of a relationship or family life.

We hope that Kang Ja's example will inspire Bok Dong (as another commenter said) ... finding out that she too has done time and came out OK... he'll have more hope.

I agree about Dong Chil. Like Ae Yeon, he is showing more layers and thought although he appears quite seldom. He is not happy with hurting children or having to 'just obey' in order to survive. He does not like the evil he feels trapped to do. I want him to break out of that cycle, for his own sake and so that he can team up with Kang Ja to take down the big bad.

As you say ... "I also like that this show has a moral compass without resorting to simplistic moralizing. It shows the pain and struggles that caused each of these characters to take their first steps onto a dark path." ... and enter that cycle of corruption. Yes,... no one is born bad. It is easy to stand back when we are comfortable and to point fingers at 'that bad guy', etc. But if our circumstances had been different, what might have we chosen then?

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No, you're not the only one. I like the character well enough, but he's not a particular favorite, and while I think the actor is good when he's being conflicted, he's not very convincing when he's being threatening. In the first week's episodes, I actually thought his performance was the weakest due to the fact that he was supposed to be a tough guy, but didn't really come across as scary at all. But then he suddenly became everyone's favorite character for no discernible reason.

Personally, I think Kim Tae Hoon as the evil teacher is giving the most noteworthy acting performance.

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Well I guess everyone have their own perspective. I think the main reason Bokdong character appealing to most of viewers is his soulful eyes.His gaze speak louder than words and action. He is the best when his having conflict feeling. Adding that the actor is still green but manage to performs the roles that it should be, so its quite accomplishment for newbie. Plus i do think his good looks give a bit help to put him in a spotlight.

Yes I'm agree with you actor Kim Tae Hoon is most outstanding if we talked about the acting ability.

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Best piggyback scene ever. Lol.

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Loved it! I like that they're getting closer. (If we compare Ah ran's reaction to mom picking her up from after school classes in the first episode.)

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That I was thinking while watching was whether we'll be able to see that, or BD taking in the scent of KJs hair, in a Colorful Palette post.

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What I was thinking. *darn phone* ?

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They ended this episode with the cliff-hanger of all cliff-hangers..arghhhgh! I'm confused though, I though that Dong-chil raped Kang Ja in the past and he's Ah-Ran's father, not Bum? Or was she not actually raped?

Anyways Bok-dong was adorable in this episode, I cracked up so bad when he was smelling KJ's hair. I like how Ah-Ran is making more of an appearance this episode, I'm pretty attached to her character and I loved the part with her "senile" grandmother.

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I don't think I have laughed so hard recently while watching a kdrama. I would say 'poor halmeoni' but she's really mean to Kang ja so she deserves it.

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Hi Saema!

Yes, I was laughing so much and so loudly, my kids vacated the room!!! What a great turnaround after last week's ending which I was saying in that recap was full of disillusionment. I only laughed in the first half of the show last week, but this episode had me in stitches so many times.

One of my favourites was Jin Sang with Ahn Dong Chil walking away with linked arms... why are we linking arms... because I'm your right hand man .... but you're on my left!!! LOLOLOL!!!

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We don't know yet whether or not she was raped or who the father is. Hopefully we will find out in episode 10!

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I also thought Dong-chil was the father. But the show hasn't definitely said one way or another.

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SO CUTE. Love this drama heee. Every once in a while, a good drama comes and brightens your day.

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Yet another episode of Bok Dong being the cutest thing in the world. Saving Bang Wool from a life of "prostitution" and imagination running wild at her abuse by her "adopted" family. Poor baby is in for a world of heartbreak when he learns Bang Wool does not exist. I'm half-afraid Bok Dong and No Ah followed Kang Ja to the warehouse and will discover her real identity, and half-hoping Bok Dong and No Ah followed Kang Ja to the warehouse and will save her and Ah Ran from Bok Dong's own hyungnim of all people. I gasped out loud when we saw Bok Dong on the roof the night Yi Kyung died. All this time, I assumed he arrived after she fell, but the guilt he must feel to have actually witnessed her death. It puts his tearful confession (albeit false) to Ah Ran in perspective.

I pray the next thing that comes out of Kang Ja's mouth is "Ah Ran is your niece" because Ah Ran better not be despicable Dong Chil's daughter. Jung Hee crying to herself in the empty storage room broke my heart. I hope the Lollipop Trio makes up soon. Gong Joo must love cosplaying as a mother; too bad Jung Hee already has a mother. I kept screaming for Minion 1 to save Minion 2 when he was getting beaten up. The minions are love. As perfect as I Love You, I'm Sorry by ALi is (and it is perfect!), the rest of the Angry Mom OST is so jarring. Just when I thought the OST found its footing with the aptly suspenseful music under the Kang Ja / Dong Chil faceoff, the mood was instantly broken when Sunny Side Up kicked in. Tiny flaw of this show.

Thanks for the recap, javabeans!

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Agreed with everything you said.
Honestly, after all the mothering Gong Joo has done in this drama, I would be so happy if she could somehow adopt Bok-dong :D

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And dress him up like a princess too? OH YES PLEASE

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With the tiara LOL

I can see everything now *.*

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LOL at Bok dong's imagination!
Aw poor minion. I hope Dong chil does not come back for him again.

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Gong Joo has such awesome minions. They might be a bit useless in a fight but they are a bunch of softies, funny and loyal.

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I don't think they're useless in a fight, just that DongChil is particularly good at fighting, and so is Kangja.

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Disagree. I love the music, I think it's perfect. It's very film noir. I can see why some might not like it, but I don't think it's a flaw. I think it's a very intentional choice for the style of show they want to have, and from my perspective it works. The music is a big part of what buoys up this show and keeps it optimisitc. It's stylish and moody in a very specific way that seems quite calculated to me.

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I might be looking to deep into this, but I thought it was the music message directed to the audience. The people who haven't seen or experienced bullying firsthand see it as a distant thing separate from their reality, almost like a play (thus the playful music in the background). But the emotional pain we actually see are real.

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I never thought of that, but it's very clever! Regardless of what they are trying to achieve, I definitely think the music is intentional and able to serve many functions. Also, the actual scoring for the show is very subtle, which is really pleasant. Dramas are often very bombastic with their scoring, like beating you over the head with a "this is a dramatic moment" stick. Not every drama, of course, but it's common enough that the more subtle choices of Angry Mom feel really refreshing!

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Wasn't she just saying that the use of that particular song immediately after that particular scene a bit jarring? I agreed with that. The song was in perfect keeping with the mood of the first half of the episode. But I would have liked it better if the episode ended without breaking the dark mood of the last scene.

But like you say, maybe they put it there as a satirical element.

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Well, the OP said the OST was jarring, so I took it to mean as a whole, not just that one instance. I also didn't say it was a satirical choice, because I don't think it is satirical at all. But I do think it is intentional. And it's not that I don't understand why someone would feel that the music choice is disruptive, but it did not feel jarring to me, not in that scene or in any other scene, because it is in keeping with my expectation of the stylistic choices of this show.

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It seems you think I was being critical of your thoughts. That wasn't my intention. Sorry if it seemed that way.

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Not at all! Sorry if my reply seemed defensive =)

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@Gidget and @maddragonqueen

You know you're both so cute!!! :D

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The most is really bugging me but its typical of a kdrama to be so heavy handed with the music. The over the top ballad they play at all the emotional scenes often ruins the impact. :(

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I think the jarring music is an intentional choice actually, and the juxtaposition it creates gives the drama a nice touch.

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At the beginning of the show, I found the music to be really inappropriate as well, but I kind of like the contrast between the intensity of the last scene and then the upbeat music. I think the contrast actually adds to the fear of the scene and makes it even creepier (like when a killer is coming at you smiling; maybe why people hate clowns so much ...).

My only complaint about the music is I think it's time to add maybe one more song to the OST. We're halfway through the drama and only two songs have been used so far ...

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I want more funny and cute scenes with Bok-dong! Aw, he's going to be so heartbroken when he finds out that Kang-ja isn't a teenager but a mom and wife.

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aigoooooooo my Bok Dongie is the cutest baby ever!!!! I wish he was a main character, because it seems like we can't get enough of him!! how adooooraaable is his concern for - and crush on- BangWool?! there are quite a few things I love about Angry Mom and Go Bok Dong is for sure one of them! (I seriously hope the actor is not younger than me, please someone tell me his age!!!)

and then there's BAMF Jjang Gong Joo. She's just awesome. she really has that calling to be a mom. and her minions are cute too: i hate Dong Chil for countless reasons and one of them is beating the poor guy!!!

Kang Ja piggybacking Ah Ran was definitely one of the highlights of this episode. how I wish my mom could give me a piggyback ride!!

NoAh is still annoying but not as much as he used to be. I hope he starts to learn to use his brain to solve conflicts before thoughtlessly butting in. the scene where he broke down when he was with Kang Ja did touch my heart though.

lastly, while I can understand the advantages Kang Ja sees of not getting a divorce, I really wish she had taken that opportunity to divorce her husband!!

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bok dong is 93 line , he 23 y.o now in korean age

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The divorce : it would be too soon, I think. Her argument with her husband remind me of God's gift 14 days. Both arguments were about the safety of their daughters. And the husband(s) wouldn't believe their wives.

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I LOVED that she tore up that paper so quickly. A marriage isn't something you just easily tear up and throw away.

Her main aim is to create a stable life for her child. And although her husband is a simpleton, he's not a bad man. Realistically, there aren't many men who would be happy with a completely independent wife who basically doesn't listen to her husband's opinions. So from that perspective this works well for her too.

And every marriage has troubles of its own. So there's no guarantees she'd be able to trade up and create a better life with someone else.

Add to this, she saw how brutally hard it was for her mother to be a single mom. So I think she's trying to avoid a repeat of that. This show is all about breaking the cycle.

That said, at some point I'd expect to see her sit down with AY and talk to her about making good life and marital choices. And the impact that poor life choices can have on the availability of good marital choices.

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hair-sniffing Bokdong is my new favorite!

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Bok dong smiling = rainbows, unicorns, puppies, sunshine, flowers and all things cute. XD

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@hawoojin&healerruinedme

Oh dear, hair-sniffing Bok Dong took the spotlight away from minions lovely hairdos this episode!! LOL!

I loved the 2nd screen shot above with the minions so well coiffured, and how poor beaten up minion put the wig back on his head, or how Gong Joo tenderly combed through the messed up wig. I wonder if all the actors managed to keep a straight face as those hairdos abound. :D

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Now things are progressing real quick

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you know what I am thinking? the world is so full of "bad kids" who are not REALLY bad kids. How is a kid supposed have control over everything? That´s why, how Kang-Ja is trying to get through to Bok Dong, it is with kindness. if only more people would realize that, all the "bad kids" at our schools wouldn´t be so shelled up

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Children are like sponge. They just absorb everything. They become what they are because of their surroundings and how they are raised. So I agree. If only more people understand that it's not entirely the children's fault.

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Love Bok Dong.
Hate that he's gonna have his heart broken.
Poor puppy.

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Hum, I thought AR is the guy who raped her? That is why she doesn't want to remember who is the father? Or he didn't rape her? I'm so confused. Or it is his later brother child?

Or KJ herself doesn't know who is the father - the rapist or his brother.

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Yeah we don't know if Ah-ran is Bum's kid or Dong-chil's yet, right?

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Seven episodes left and we have dong chil (but not us) know who is the father of kang ja's kid, noah to become manlier now that he is outta his comfort zone and I certainly hope they'll stop milking the MILF-student angle tho it's cute, but really. ..poor kid.as the baddies hate and ready to bury each other maybe it wont be that difficult to take them down. Also as we had seen almost from the beginning, kang ya's family is really two fractions living together under one roof and if youll shake them a bit they'll split, so I am really curious what will happen now that her disgusting husband had seen her disguise

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uhhh lol... are you sure that MILF is the word you want to use?
I agree with the romantic angle, but I do love their relationship together. Kang-ja sees a lot of her old self in him, and tries to stop him from going in her path. Bok-dong likes her because she doesn't judge him, having been in his shoes.

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I like that she WAS him with the guilty verdict caused by Dong-shil. When BD finds out KJ did time as a youth and somehow turned her life around like she keeps preaching to him, he will admire her even more.

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Do you think Kang-ja is heading to divorce? Didn't the husband use her name for the construction thingy? Is that gonna come back later?

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I loved this episode... so many defining moments. From Bok Dong's longing stares and protective reprimands of Bang-wol, Kan-ja and Ah-ran mother daughter piggyback bonding, Gong-joo's rescue of Jung-hee, grandma's office rant to the priceless expression on Dong-chil's face! Wow this episode is packed full of highlight reels.

I continue to be in awe of Kim Hee-sun's incredible acting ability to pull this off. Can't wait for tomorrow's episode!

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*thumbs up * to everything you said.
Before Angry mom aired, I was skeptical when everyone said she looked young enough to be a high schooler. But she's perfect for this role.

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I love dramas that get better and better as you can watching each episode. I'm also half-afraid of Noah and Bok-Dong finding out her true identity, but at the same time, I soooo badly want them to come and help Kanja. I mean, she is with someone who can beat her when almost nobody can. I'm so nervous, and am impatient for the next episode!!!
This episode was awesome especially when Bok-Dong appeared with Kanja!!! I laughed so hard. It was awesome. But we need more scenes like that!
Thanks!

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Eek!! Finally they come face to face. I loooooooooove the way the threads of the story are starting to come together. This show is really consistently excellent.

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Thx for the recap. I am glad Ah ran has more screen time this episode. Would love to see more mom daughter interaction and them working together to right the "wrong". And BD is adorable.

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I lost it at Bok Dong giving her his wallet. Oh Lord, save my soul because I'm going down with this ship.

That cliffhanger though! Holy freak, that scene where Dong Chil tries to squint just to make sure he's not seeing things. That moment was just perfect. The acting was on point and the tension was overflowing. I can totally see why this story won an award.

Now, if only they can put better background music instead of random ones.

Thanks for the recaps, javabeans!

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Love this week episode. Kangja and Ah Ran scene is my favourite. Their interaction warms me. I wish I could doing stuff together with my mom too.

Finally, I feel attach to Noah character ( I'm so annoyed at his character because his innocence personality). His frustration after finding the true color of his dad is making me cry. How can you deal when someone who you love dearly and respect isn't the same person you think they are.

Lol at BokDong moment, it so hilarious. his expression everytime he sees Kangja is so adorable. But feel bad for him because after all his cute crush for Kangja will end with heartbreak. I hope writer didn't spoil his character, I want Bokdong become a better person and having a better life in the of story (dont even to Kill Him writer-nim).

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I'm most curious about uri Noah !!! I mean how will he react when he wil learn the truth about the pregnancy and the murder ?

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oh god..why bok dong so cute...??

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Bok dongaaaaaa~~

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First screen cap:
Now, THAT is a Scooby Gang!

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Thanks for the recap!

I like watching JS and KHS scenes as if they were the same age. It's pretty awesome that the characters connected they way they did regardless of their ages. Had they been contemporaries, I think the relationship would have been exactly what it is. Constantly trying to see who has more power between them, with an eventual truce. Maybe romance, maybe not.

The puppy hair smelling is delightful. I am guessing this is the first time he has been THAT close to any girl, so I don't think he is falling in love with her, but with the first woman who showed him positive attention. Since KJ will not be reciprocating, he will get his heart busted. So sad.
I would love for Gong joo to adopt him and give him more maternal love with a side of iron scepter.

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Yes yes yes !

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Bok dong is soooooooooo cute

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Omggggg Bok-dong!!! <3 Why is he so adorableee!!! When he handed over his wallet to Kang-ja, I literally melted omfg. T___T His concern (and crush!) is so sweet. Poor boy is going to get his heart broken when he finds out that Bang-wool doesn't exist nooo. T^T

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I just really lived this episode, and can't wait to find out what happens next! Ah man, the ship has sailed so long ago, and I'm going to sink with this ship. Well. That is until he gets over her, I guess. Bok Dong and Kang Ja ❤❤

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Is Noah finally going to grow a brain, doesn't have to be a big one pea sized will do, his current non existent one has been grating since the beginning.

I'll never understand how Kang-ja ended up with a weakling like her husband.

For Dong-chil to work with Kang-ja he'd have to admit that his brothers death was, regardless of whose hand was on the knife, his fault not hers. Given how mad he still is I don't see that happening.

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Aiisshhhhhh. Bok Dong! Bok Dong Bok Dong! ❤❤❤❤

Yes so endearing.. for somebody who's mean he's adorable. OMG ep 10 omo omo! no spoilers... but ep 10 ayyyieeee! Bok Dong!

Kim Hee Sun and Ji Soo interaction..fantastic!

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Thanks heaps JB for a quick and great recap!

What struck me most (while laughing like a hyena in front of the PC) was that while the father figures languish in this episode (for eg No Ah at odds with his dad, Jin Sang does not consider Ah Ran family), the mother figures rise.... And what a hilarious tangle of contradictions there are in who’s the mum/in-charge!!!

- Mum-in-law is mistaken as foster mum from hell (hahaha!) while Gong Joo who probably never delivered a child is considered Bang Wool’s birth mum, and on top of that becomes Jeong Hee’s desired adopted mum!

- Mum-in-law also gets a good dose of playing mum by having to feign dementia for her Jin Sang. LOLOL! Sorry not sorry for her.

- Ah Ran finally allows Kang Ja to behave like her mum, but not before Ah Ran wanted to ‘mother’ her first by offering to carry her!!! LOL! irony or what?

- We have Bang Wool as a student, being like a ‘mom’ to teacher No Ah...

- And yet to the boy (Bok Dong), she who is a wife and mum appears to be a girl being taken advantage of by a man (Jin Sang)!! (I'm rolling on the floor here)

- The boy is more of a man than Jin Sang ever was as he stepped forward to protect the ‘girl’ and though almost 2 decades younger than Bang Wool, he is more a big brother/buddy figure as he lectures her against being so foolish! Oh the sweetness and the irony!!!

I finally understand why the show had those feel good, happy looking posters to advertise it. This writer is amazingly good at adding so much good humor, ridiculous comedy, satire and irony without ever detracting from the seriousness of the subject. The laughs and the happy music (which no longer jar on me) are a reminder that even in serious situations, we cannot always take everything too seriously.

And just at such a suspenseful cliffhanger of an ending,... we get .... more happy music! LOL! That's a good way to ensure that we will definitely want to know which way it goes.... North or South with the unfathomable Ahn Dong Chil. :)

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OMGD i love your comment hehe. Seriously all the things popped in my mind while watching but i can't manage to put in words after that so reading your comment was like i live in the drama again :3

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:D
I have to literally re-live parts of the show to remember why I laughed so much... I almost forgot the Ahn Dong Chil and hubby Jin Sang moment of walking off arm in arm (comment 6.1.1) ... how great it would be if these two guy (such a pain each to Kang Ja) could grow past their weaknesses and become real men to stand up to the corruption!!! and become a boon to Kang Ja in the fight rather than the pebbles to stumble over :)

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Not East or West, GB? :-D

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Hey patinalee!!! Good to read ya!

LOL! I was thinking of North being upwards as in thumbs up meaning good as opposed to South meaning going bad or getting worse.

But thinking about your joke-question seriously ... ;) ... With Ahn Dong Chil, matters could take any direction! North, South or East or West!!! I want him to be redeemed somehow. He's already thinking of ways to protect himself, and betray the 'powers' he mentions so often. I'm hoping meeting Kang Ja gets him to take action instead of just think about it. :)

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I love Bok Dong, like everyone else on this thread, because his character really depicts all the nuances of what a high school student would have. He's trying to figure out his identity and his hormones, but all the more he just really needs someone to love and care for him! I feel like I'm one of the few who really don't want Bok Dong and Bang Wool to have a loveline (and don't believe it will happen) because a) he's the same age as her daughter and b) I feel this is the first time anyone's ever showed him actual concern and he needs a mother figure more than anything.

At first I really didn't like No Ah's character because he was just SO naive and SO unaware. But now that his arc is heading toward conflict and revelations I'm all on board for him to realize how corrupt the school system is, and for him to find that strength to protect the students. I love his interactions with Kang Ja because she views him as a child too sometimes and she, like with Bok Dong, shows him care and concern and can see his plight. Definitely want them working together soon agh!

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Thank you for the drama cap :3 I've watched it but still want to spazz over it so i come here, and thank for your interpretation i understand some point that i didn't before :3
OMGD this drama is getting more and more interesting, i can't wait to see ep 10. Can't believe that i have to wait to tomorrow TT
Really Go Bok Dong is a cutie :3 who doesn't find him cute anyway haha. And that flashback scene of Ji Hyunwoo with his father really makes me laugh, he's so cute :3 At the same time, it was so touched
I havent watched the preview (it will only ruin my patience) so i dun really know what will happen but I am expecting Bok Dong and Noah came to rescue Kangja in the next chap.

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Bok-dong is such a noona killer! I want to see him in a noona romance where he gets the girl STAT.

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Seriously, Ji Soo is so freaking adorable. I really need him to get a lead in a TvN rom-com because there is no way he's going to get a romantic interest but love sick Bok Dong is the cutest thing ever. He was so busy being a big tough guy that we forget he's just a kid and gets crushes and is bad at talking to girls so he just gets angry. What a cutie, I just want to take his little baby face and squish it forever..

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A love triangle between Bok Dong-Kang Ja/Bang Wool-Kang Ja's husband?
Seriously, Bok Dong's crush is really cute and adorable!!! Oh, how he will mend his heart when he knows Bang Wool is Kang Ja and Ah Ran's mother??
Maybe Kang Ja can consider him as son in-law?? Hehehe

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Ji Hyun-Woo's acting is so spot on. :)

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Bokdong is the cutest thing ever -hearts eyes-

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He SNIFFED her HAIR! Ghaahahdkhoalkdjfk!!!!!

--traveled back in time to squee. 5 stars!

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I feel like eggs break in every single episode. Why do they hate eggs?

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