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[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Mother - Drama" Episode 11

Motherhood is a wonderful and terrible thing in "Mother - Drama" and in life, and the time has come to witness some of its most damaging aspects in the lives of those who need it to grow. With the police hot on her track, Soo-jin tries to get herself together and save Hye-na, while the little girl tries to hold on. The deciding factor here is Ja-yeong, who makes a decision I never thought she would even consider.

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It takes a lot to shock me in terms of how horrible human beings can be, and Ja-yeong's (Ko Sung-hee) decision to have her child murdered so that she can be with her killer is right up there in the list of things that shock me. We have known that she is unwell, but it is during this deciding moment that her complete lack of parental love or common decency show. Ja-yeong is clearly too damaged to care.

Ja-yeong taunting Soo-jin with her child's safetySeol-ak becoming infuriated as Hye-na strikes a chord

On the other hand, it is not necessarily the severity or amount of the abuse, or even the abuser's true emotions which shape one's future. Life is not simple like that. Seol-ak (Son Sukku) may not have been through the exact same experiences as Hye-na (Heo Yool), but his circumstances shaped him into a monster stuck in a circle of self-punishment through the children he kills. When I look at his face, I know I could have been seeing Hye-na's future, and this is why childhood trauma is such a scary thing.

This is why a role model or guardian can be such a crucial presence. Soo-jin (Lee Bo-young) may not have become a full mother in just a few weeks, but the things she offers Hye-na could very well be the reason why the little girl will have a chance at a decent future. The episode continues to build their bond even while they are separated, and it builds Soo-jin and Yeong-sin's (Lee Hye-young-I) as well. Because for every terrible parent, there are so many great ones.

Jin-hong offering Soo-jin supportHye-na and Soo-jin trusting each other

Jin-hong (Lee Jae-yoon) is another character who is living proof of how far someone filled with love and support can go. His choices are illegal and they are morally questionable at times, but they come from a place of caring and understanding. He, Soo-jin and Seol-ak are presented as products of the type of parenting that they have had. I wish that Ja-yeong had received the same development, however.

Another element I wish we had witnessed more of is the dilemma faced by Detective Chang-geun (Jo Han-chul). It feels like his character was supposed to follow our heroines closer through their journey, at least in terms of his inner conflict. I understand why the drama would want to avoid painting an officer of the law as virtuous for supporting kidnapping in any form, but I still wish "Mother - Drama" will take that plunge.

"Mother - Drama" is directed by Kim Cheol-gyoo, written by Jeong Seo-kyeong and features Lee Bo-young, Heo Yool, Lee Hye-young-I and Lee Jae-yoon.

Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings'

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