Story: First, everything about the drama after the first sentence of the synopsis is misleading. In fact it just gives a summary of the main female characters background (everything that happens to her before the time that the drama takes place). Everything that happened during the dramas run was so unpredictable, which I never expect from family themes dramas. I don’t want to give anything away but be prepared for a ton of drama. What I liked most about it though was the fact that the writers balanced the funny scenes with the emotional stuff really well. I laughed a lot in the beginning but by the last few episodes towards the end it gets pretty heavy making me shed many tears. I just wanted to add that there is romance in this but its very subtle and not the focal point of the story. The ending is sad, happy, and hopeful all in one if that makes sense.
Actors/Cast: This was an ensemble cast where all the characters get a chance to shine even if they only had small roles. When it comes to the 2 female leads, I had never seen anything they had acted in before but wow you can tell they are veterans. They gave powerful performances. Anyone who has ever heard of Shin Hyun Joon (Stairway to Heaven, Cain and Abel, Bridal Mask) will know what an amazing (and underrated in my opinion) actor he is but wow his character in this was so unexpectedly different than any of his characters. As for the supporting cast, they made their characters memorable and the villains did a tremendous job of me hating them but also feeling pity for them by the end.
Music: They did a pretty good job with matching the changing tone of the show.
Rewatch: I will rewatch this one day sometime soon but not right away cause this drama is pretty heavy.
Overall Dummy Mommy is an unexpected but heartwarming and enjoyable must watch family drama.
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It's like the pain of being strapped down and then forced to watch. I might be overly dramatic with my metaphor, but in fact I have found myself with eyes closed during some episodes when I've reached the limit of my forbearance.
On a primary level, both writing and directing failed me. So what's with the writing? Well, for one, the interjection of comedy at most inappropriate times and I said it first hand, the most unwanted use of makjang elements. The side stories... well, undoubtedly they can be ignored. I'm sure the most nitpicky ones will be able to tell the evident flaws in the writing. My frustration actually got magnified; I can't believe the directing also augmented the writing. Can you imagine when a character is acting out a scene, anyone who are not focused on the camera's frame remain all stationary or poker faces, you know... like they're part of the background. People only move after the character(s) has finished reciting the lines. Extremely annoying.
The basic storyline is heartfelt in itself and had the potential of being a truly moving generational saga if only it was given better handling. Why I couldn't drop this and why I had to endure (refer to my metaphor) was exactly because of this storyline. Plus I had been wanting to watch this drama from the get-go so I couldn't fully make myself believe that I'm watching such a bad drama.
If this drama had any saving grace, I think it would have to be the acting from Ha Hee Ra, Ahn Seo Hyun, and Kim Hyun Joo. Though I must say, even Kim Hyun Joo sometimes suffered from the writing in a way that I feel cringy watching her character. I reckon Kim Jeong Hoon was under-utilized while Shin Hyun Joon is effective in dramatic moments he should forget attempts of comedy in the future.
Lastly, if you decide to carry on, be forewarned that this drama will demand at least a boxful of tissue.
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This review may contain spoilers
Below Average Drama Great FL
This is a below average drama with too many makjang elements thrown in. Thanks goodness this was not one of those 120-episode makjangs as I would not have finished. The cast is really good, especially Ha Hee Ra as Kim Sun Young, playing a woman who is mentally challenged with grace and aplomb. This is the first drama I have watched her in, and she was outstanding. Young actress Ahn Seo Hyun playing the 2nd FL daughter Dat Byeol was great too. She carried her scenes and was very believable.I actually really disliked the 2nd FL all the way up til the last few episodes. The character is extremely unlikeable even though she is supposed warrant our sympathy, but I just didn't have any for her b/c I 100% did not like the way she treated the FL. Plus her arrogance also made it hard to like her.
Shin Hyun Joon as Choi Go Man gave us the comic relief these dramas tend to love. His yelling and screaming really got on my nerves but the scenes where he was giving sage advice to the other characters and even starting to fall for the FL were really endearing and the character started to grow on me even though he was really annoying at first.
2FL husband and his mistress were trash, and I couldn't wait for them to get their comeuppance.
Park Hyung Sik really good in this even though it's a small role. Loved his character.
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Bonkers stuff that devolves into Makjang
I'm half way through episode 18 and I doubt I'll finish it but I've got to say I think it's worth taking a chance with.The first dozen or so episodes were great, just total over the top bonkers goings on. The good were mostly good, the bad were terribly bad, who knew what else they were going to chuck in there and it was great. Not a great drama, plot etc but great fun.
This ought to get a strong female lead tag for Ha Hee Ra's portrayal of the Foolish Mum I really enjoyed her character. All heart and affection but fierce in defence, I thought she did a good job of portraying an adult with learning difficulties rather than defaulting to childlike innocence.
Unfortunately as the episodes came to their closing quarter the Makjang weep fest started to take over and my interest waned. This was aided by my loathing for Shin Hyun Joon's portrayal of the Dog Seller Ahjussi - it got to the point where I couldn't bear to watch his scenes. His stuttering comic turn, clown routine just didn't mesh with his crying and pathos or his gangster/business persona. Awful.
Story: Rollicking nonsense heading into a weep fest (if I ever watch the last episodes I'll tweak this). Don't expect anything and just jump in.
Acting: Ha Hee Ra and Kim Hyun Joo are great and well worth watching; most of the rest of the cast give serviceable to pretty good performances. Kim Tae Woo is properly awful as the husband and Ahn Seo Hyun gives a good turn as the prickly daughter. Shin Hyun Joon! was it him? the writer? the director? someone ought to be punished for it.
Music: Meh to average but not finger nails on a blackboard awful.
Rewatch: Maybe some of the beginning episodes for that level of WTF?
Flawed but surprisingly enjoyable romp let down my needless Makjang and a clown.
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