My primary emotion during episode 11 was honestly one of boredom. I find it so hard to like Young-soon and now even her heartfelt moments are starting to fall flat for me. I considered not continuing (I can handle storylines I don’t like, but boredom doesn’t work for me), but decided I would see how the next one went before a final decision. Bright points from 11 were: Mi-joo and the twins (as usual), Thug Farmers coming in to save Sam-shik, and Kang-ho knocking his head hard enough to be 36 again.

And then episode 12 happened, and while I’m not completely on this drama’s team, it went a long way to win me back. Finally some movement! This episode did all the things I’ve been waiting for for what feels like a while: get everyone in the know about the twins, have a legitimate apology from Young-soon, an awesome pre-reunion between Kang-ho and Mi-joo, Kang-ho’s unbelievably sweet greeting to his kids, Sam-shik finally doing something entertaining and fun instead of just petty and greedy, etc.

Was it just me or did the Thug Farmers look pretty uncomfortable with where the whole evil plan is going? Hopefully they just end up farming lettuce in floral vests at the end of this thing.

My favourite scenes were the Lettuce Boys coming through for Sam-sik - with farming implements at that 🤣 - and Kang-ho having to rescue Sam-sik after all the dramatic water dousing 😭.

As for Young-soon, I've also accepted that there's just not going to be substantial change in her character/personality. At least she apologised properly to Mi-joo's mom. The scene when she begged her to save her life was moving.

I'm glad Kang-ho is back but it'd be better if he'd also learnt to rely on people more. Anyway, I'm expecting Mi-joo to save the day because she's awesome and maybe we'll get some shenanigans along the way (Sam-sik's wig being a bonus).

"He didn't abandon you. He just wanted to take revenge and become the son of his father's murderer and marry the daughter of the accomplice". How reassuring. Not. Well, I wouldn't be much softened by that.

Episode 11 dragged on quite a bit, but episode 12 was better, finally the moment came when Kang-ho got his memories back and learned that he has two children. I found the realisation a bit anticlimatic though, I was hoping for more.

Incredibly, even for blackmail Sam-sik is too stupid. No wonder he's just a petty criminal who can't get anything done. But at least now I have to admit that his heart is in the right place.

P.S.: The poor pigs.

Some electricity, another bump on the head and we are off to the races.

Young Soon is still terrible and that apology cop-out is disappointing.

Now on to the real good bad mother of the show. MI JOO. She is simply the best to quote a late great. Ye Jin's little adorable words of wisdom for her mother. AWWWW the feels.

It's weird because I have empathy for Young-Soon. I don't excuse her actions in any way but my parents are from the country areas of their respective Caribbean islands. They didn't have an extravagant education and weren't exposed to certain sophistications of life. The the love I have for them is so bittersweet. I wish it didn't have to be that way, but it's my reality. They try to apologize and it falls flat but I still appreciate the little warmth and growth they show. This show is tough to watch but somewhat consoling - I can still love in the midst of so much damage. That love may seem toxic but I see it as a strength since I can embrace my reality, hold my own (not degrade myself), and love. Resiliency at its finest. With Mi-Joo and her mom, that relentless care and bond they portray to Kang-Ho and Young-Soon really helps people like me who'd rather do things alone or in my own way. We're flawed and it's beautiful when people have patience to understand each other. Its not a favor to me, but to those who continue to watch this show and seek to understand each character, I appreciate you.

It was nice to see a slightly softer Young Soon, but the boneheadedness continued. Voluntarily destroying all leverage was dumb and it looks like Young Soon is finally joining the rest of us in realizing that. I think MiJoo said it well. He was in danger whether she hid him or not.
When MiJoo said "Just like she was there for you when you were sick, you can be there for her now", I was thinking "Hell yeah, now Kang Ho can throw Young Soon into the creek a few times." I wouldve paid to see that. Oh well, atleast it is ending soon. I can look for shows that will keep my blood pressure down

First off, I would like to thank @lovepark for this quick post because I really enjoy talking about this show.

I know my opinion seems to be in the minority here but I like the way the relationships between Young Soon, Kang Ho, Mi Joo, and Mi Joo's mom are displayed. Whenever I watch their moments, I think they are the epitome of complicated family dynamics.

Oh Young Soon & Kang Ho, I'm being repetitive but they are so complicated haha. From the beginning until now, I've always understood why she did the things she did but that didn't make it easy to watch (the tossing him in the water was particularly rough to me) and it would've been 100% understandable if Kang Ho did hate and/or resent her for her actions. The fact that Kang Ho *didn't* feel that way but instead came to understand her is something. It probably helped that he spent years away from her as well as learned the truth of his dad's death so it gave him more perspective. Everyone seems to understand that even if the actions were cruel or painful, the intention came from a place of love. It doesn't make it right and that's why I liked Mi Joo's reaction. She was both understanding and angry. She was empathetic but she didn't just let him off for how he wronged her and he didn't want to be let off.

I like how Young Soon is able to recognize that her actions were misguided or shortsighted. I'm glad she acknowledged this and apologized to Kang Ho, Mi Joo, and Mi Joo's mom.

After the failed backmail attempt, I did bemoan the fact that now they have absolutely no evidence of anything. It was frustrating to know they're like sitting ducks now (since the bad guys could come for them at any time and there was nothing they can do to counter it). Because of this, I understood why Kang Ho had to return to himself but I would be lying if I said I didn't miss young Kang Ho. Kudos to the actor because even his eyes changed when he was young Kang Ho vs adult Kang Ho pretending to be young.

So the musician's role in this was just to have friction with Young Soon and reveal her diagnosis? They really wrote this part and paid someone to do this when they could've used one of the other characters for the same purpose? But I guess the other characters are supposed to be likable & quirky and he's supposed to be the outsider that it's okay not to like.

And Sam Sik's purpose is to make things worse? He took advantage of Kang Ho once which led to being arrested and scolded and then he does it again which which leads to them nearly being killed and a target on their backs. Sigh, I wonder how his character is gonna fare by the end of the series.

The pigs have it the worst in this show. This was the third time those poor things have perished in a violent way.

I agree that goofy, inept, scaredy-cat Sam-Shik is better than compulsive thief Sam-Shik, but it was hard to transition from tragedy to his hijinks without feeling tonal vertigo.

I also find Tae-soo to be too cartoonishly evil of a villain to be believed at this point. He truly has not one redeemable quality, and his thirst for political power at all costs makes him even more of a cliche.

I'm probably one of only a few viewers who isn't frustrated with the show's handling of mom reckoning with her abusive past. I was in the earlier parts of the drama, but as it has unfolded, I find her actions, and Kang-ho's responses to them, to be believable. Maybe it's because I've known people whose parents were awful to them, but they forgive them anyway because that's what they need to do to go on with their lives. Or they are just naturally forgiving people. I've also known those who can't forgive and then permanently break off ties, but again, that seemed to be more about their individual personalities and needs. Kang-ho is, by nature, a loving and forgiving person who always wanted his mother's love. She treated him awfully and he knew that, but because of who he is, he preferred to feel compassion and understanding for her rather than resentment. So I found Young-soon's apology and Kang-ho's acceptance of it, as well as the reveal that he'd already forgiven her in the past, to makes sense, even if it's not as emotionally satisfying for viewers.

I truly love those twins, so one thing that was harder for me to accept was Kang-ho leaving them and Mi-joo behind again to pursue vengeance. I do understand that the show justified this by showing that if Kang-ho does nothing, he and everyone he loves will always be in danger. At the same time, it was hard for me to dismiss.

At this point, I'm very confused by the murder of the mistress and why it has become the central mystery of the show. I'm not saying I'm not curious to know who did it and why, because I am. But I wasn't expecting it to be so significant at the end of the story.

“Sam-shik suddenly becomes plot relevant” – Ahahahahahaaaa!

Lovepark, thanks for the recap.

I struggled getting through Ep 11. An overdose of Sam Shik !
Third time for the pigs, 😢
Where has their farmhand helper guy been ?

Oh, don’t douse yourself with water and then go inside a burning building ! That water will flash into steam and burn you ! I can not believe they showed that ! 🙄

Looking forward to next week.

I can’t believe they have the nerve to make the titles all adorable with the cute pig and then put us through all the pigs dying not once, not twice but three times. Sheeeeesh. Justice for the pigs! 🐖🐖🐖

The good bad mother should be renamed the good bad show.
I like to get lost is shows because they feel real. Sometimes this show pulls it off (go Mi-Joo!!) other times it’s laughably bad.
The fire scene where pigs are dying and Kang Ho is stuck inside possibly dead too. Everyone including the mom are patiently waiting outside seemingly to wait for the rest of the cast to arrive. This was the perfect opportunity to insert suspense and anxiety. Instead they go for comedy? Sam shik dousing himself with water in a comedic manner? The show totally lost me at that moment.

Also- who else is now in the mood for bacon?

Thanks for the weecap @lovepark. Like everyone else who found episode 11 hard, it was the Samshik factor. For me it was his getting involved in the big boys’ business like a fool, he really does not think of the bigger picture. However, I can see that there was a need to get the daughter to be disappointed in her dad and jealous of another child. This would be the necessary fuel added to the fire of the forcing her to be his hands in the killing of Kangho and selling her off through marriage as a pawn in his political career planning. The fact she was beaten and hospitalised against her will is just stoking the fire, for her to willing play a part in the revenge against her dad.

I am glad Kangho is back to himself and spoke to Mijoo before leaving again. I can’t believe that knowing how scared Youngsoon and Samshik are with the situation Mijoo and Samshik have gone off to try to solve the mystery full on Scooby-doo style. I am glad it’s Mijoo and they have the evidence of the drugging but standing outside a bad guy’s property while you discuss the plan was never going to be the way to go.

The randomness of the Seoul gangsters turning up and fighting to save Samshik on two occasions and knowing who they work for, how come no one is suspicious? I hope they turn rogue and support the good guys to turn the situation around otherwise I don’t see how they will stop their boss from killing them off as he has already lost faith in them and is using others to complete the job.

CRAZY: Samsik going to OH’s daughter without thinking about the danger/consequences

CRAZIER: The two bumbling henchmen of MR. SONG rescuing Samsik with only garden tools

CRAZIEST: The two beat all those men with just those tools