Working Mom OVERVIEW

[TheBo]

I've moved this over from the Heaven's Fate forum. It was posted by Kathleen (I've added some carriage returns--I hope my knowledge of Korean names has not failed me ):

Apr 16, 2010 15:10:35 GMT -5 ajk said:

The Arirang website lists a drama called "Working Mom" that looks like it's going to run next. It's a 2008 SBS drama; only sixteen episodes (but I'm guessing they were one-hour episodes so there will be 32 in the half-hour time slot). wiki.d-addicts.com/Working_Mom

Right you are, ajk. Here's a little bit of information:

Cast Yum Jung Ah as Choi Ga Young
Bong Tae Ky as Park Jae Sung
Cha Ye Ryun as Go Eun Ji
Yoo Tae Joon as Ha Jung Won

Extended Cast Kim Ja O as Kim Bok Sil (Eun Ji’s mother) (Attic Cat, One Million Roses)
Yoon Joo Sang as Choi Jong Man (Ga Young’s father)
Im Dae Ho as Go Ju Mong
Hong Choong Min as Jung Hyun Joo
No Jung Woong as Park Ji Ho
Jung Tae Won as Park Ji Min
Kim Ji Young as Ahn Hong Boon
Lee Sung Min as Kang Chul Min
Kim Ga Yun as Park In Hye
Jung Hyo Eun as Kang Soo Bin
Ha Jae Young as Jang Kyung Tae

Synopsis The drama is about a business woman turned housewife, Choi Ga Young. She used to be a successful business woman but that was until she got pregnant with her younger boyfriend’s baby. Now she is married to Park Jae Sung and they have two sons together. In hopes of having her children well provided for, she tries to find somebody for her father so that he could remarry. The only trouble is her stepmother refuses to babysit her children while she goes back to work and to add onto her problems, her husband is secretly seeing his colleague. Having watched the first episode I only recognized one actress. It will be tedious but I'll watch these 32 episodes (ajk is right... 16 episodes WILL turn out to be 32. ) Which begs the question: ???Will we EVER have the opportunity to be intellectually stimulated by a historical drama with great theme music and swords and cannon balls, rope ladders and wonderful hats? The prayer continues.



In an attempt to force you guys to start new threads, I'm locking this one. (Kathleen will be able to post here or modify the info, but nobody else.) And since Kathleen admitted she was going to watch it, I've made her the mod. YAY!!!

bo

[kathleen34]

These two people need new career goals:
Production Credits

Scriptwriter: Kim Hyun Hee
Producer: Oh Jong Rok

... perhaps they would be more successful in selling socks and underwear. The only likable character is Bok Sil. She sees her daughters as they really are. One daughter is mean and evil and the other is a marionette being pulled by various strings. Plus, she prays about important things.


Choi is becoming a little more likable. My opinion of him changed when he was at the temple praying to Buddha.

And Ga Young seems to be improving although she still has a way to go.The fact that she's married to Shrek doesn't speak well for her choices... and having a second child with him proves it so. The children clearly resemble their mother. If they took on their father's appearance they would be a cross between a frog and a hyena.

Jae Sung (Shrek) continues to irritate me. Again, how he got a leading man role surpasses my imagination. An unattractive, profoundly silly dufus is a really hard sell. And that Shrek thing he does makes me say bad words. So now he's asked for a divorce after beating himself up and photographing his wounds. That should play well in court. Were he alive, Johnny Cochran would jump on this case.

And who in the world chose his wardrobe? Producer: Oh Jong Rok no doubt.

The really good thing about this drama is that it isn't 172 episodes. Please accept my apology if my character overviews have offended anyone. And please provide some positive statements so I can enjoy the storyline more. It would be helpul if I didn't continue to say bad words between 8:30-9:00pm every evening.

[kathleen34]

It gets better. Bok Sil and Choi are walking up the aisle in their wedding garb. In runs Bok Sil's evil daughter screaming 'stop this wedding, stop this wedding'. Nice touch. Jae Sung (Shrek) intercedes, grabs her and rushes her out of the church. This act pleased Ga Young. The wedding continues. Mission Accomplished.

"if your daughter and I are arguing, which side would you choose?" Bok Sil asks Choi. Nice start to a marriage. Choi hems and haws but eventually states that he would probably side with Bok Sil.

Blah,, blah, blah... well there IS a dispute and Choi has a bit of a problem but eventually sides with his bride. Thru all this, Shrek sees the value of having a rich mother-in-law. He's become a major suck-up, which adds to his unattractiveness.

There seems to be a big dispute about who will baby sit GaYoung and Shrek's kids. Ga is disappointed that her new 'mom' isn't so keen on this expectation. Bok Sill offers to provide a nanny for Ga's children. Ga's not buying this... doesn't want a stranger caring for her kids. What a mope.

A new guy has been introduced. He's going to restructure the workplace. People aren't so happy about this. Ga sees potential to become a full-time employee ... her supervisor doesn't share her vision and makes her work very late to throw Ga off guard in entering the competition to design the new line. More blah, blah blah.

The new guy has come to the top of my list as a likable character. He's attractive and seems to have a very firm vision on doing his job... which irritates everyone. And that's a good thing. In tonight's episode I'm sure he will serve to irritate the staff even more. YES! ;D

[kathleen34]

Ga Young has finally come to her senses. Her Stupid Husband (SH)tried, without success, to sabotage Ga Young's Winter Fashion Show at the company outing on the beach.

Being a polished professional, Ga's boss actually placed the seed of such destruction in SH's head. "You can do something to make your wife look bad at the company outing" - but more importantly, in front of HatchetMan.

So Jae Sung ( SH) told the bus driver of the runway models that the show was canceled. Note... the bus driver recognized SH as an employee at the company - unknowing that that SH resigned, took his word honorably. He turned the bus around and left.

Meanwhile back at the beach, GaYoung, her boss, and the new HatchetMan were getting nervous... very nervous - about the missing models. They called the bus driver and he shared the message that the fashion show was canceled. YIKES

Ga put her resourcefulness to good use... ran around the beach asking women ... well, giving them an OPPORTUNITY, to be models. Some said yes, some said no. But those who said yes were playful participants and did a good job. To the dismay of Ga's boss, HatchetMan was very impressed with Ga.

NEW SCENE[/b]. SH was not paying attention and his 2 little boys were way out on the water BY THEMSELVES in a rubber raft. They just drifted out there. GaYoung realizes this and goes berserk while SH is running around the beach calling the names of their children. Big help.

HatchetMan jumps to the rescue... gets hold of a jet ski (?) ...zips out and rives back to shore with the 2 little boys. Ga is thrilled and thankful. ;D SH remains without a clue. GA finds out that SH told the bus driver that the show was canceled. Making him even more unattractive she shoved his face in the sand and he became a drivilling idiot. While he's drivilling, Ga tells him "that's it... I'm getting a divorce!" Ga's boss and HatchetMan hear all this... THE PLOT THICKENS

Oh... and SH's mother gets dragged along to take dance lessons. it's easy to learn where SH got his personality.

[kathleen34]

Getting right to the point, it was discovered that Ga's boss took divorce papers from Ga's desk and talked Stupid Husband into getting Ga's fashion designs off of her computer. They both got caught being stupid and deceitful. So on with the show ~

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED - DIVORCE GRANTED
Jae Sung presented the photos of the bodily wounds delivered by Ga. Nobody was impressed. Choi's attorney was very sharp and was able to quote chapter and verse the case against Jae. Bottom line: Ga was awarded $50,000, custody of their sons, and $1000 month alimony.

Ga's father packed two bags for Jae and kicked him out of the apartment or condo, whatever. So once again, Jae did his best impersonation of a frog/hyena. Crying ? laughing being goofy.... To add to his charm and attractiveness, he was drooling ... spit running out of his huge mouth. I could barely stand to watch.

BIG OH OH ... Ga felt nauseated ... ran and checked her calendar ... and don't even suggest it - BUT she thinks she could be pregnant. ... which now makes her even more stupid than her x-husband.

If this drama is supposed to be humorous, the writers are way overpaid. If the drama is supposed to be stupid, they've succeeded beyond anyone's expectation.

[kathleen34]

Yup... she's pregnant!

[kathleen34]

Bok Sil and her daughter in law Hyun Joo have gone to see a doctor regarding her newly announced pregnancy.

Ga Young has also gone to the doctor to confirm her pregnancy. Upon confirmation, she states that she wants an abortion. "WHY?" asked the technician. "I just got divorced."

ok then... Ga Young is sitting out in the waiting room area ... Bok Sil comes along and sees her. Huge surprise ... for both of them. "What are you doing her?" asks Bok Sil. They go for a cup of coffee to talk. GaYoung lays out her dilemma... Bok Sil thoughtfully shares that she had an abortion when she was young and separating from her husband. She has felt guilt for all of her life and as she has grown older and wiser, she thinks of that little one often. "Keep your baby..." "But HOW?" asks Ga Young. Good question... BokSil will be very protective of her... they'll get thru it.

Bottom line... BokSil convinces Ga to have the baby and SHE (BokSil) will raise the child. There's hope that it's a little girl. She dreams up a plan ... Since FrogHusband is not actively looking for work, he can babysit for his children for $1000 month thereby meeting the child support responsibility. BokSill will pay him... he'll turn the money over to GaYoung.

Meanwhile, JaeSung is attempting to sleep on a park bench covered with newspaper. Pathetic. His cell phone rings... it's BokSil. She wants to meet him at the restaurant the following day to lay out her plan. Reluctantly he agrees to her plan.

He is told that he will be expected to cook, grocery shop and care for his sons. He is mortified but his choices are limited. He's attempting to make breakfast ... rice... for the children. To add to his attractiveness, he is wearing a lavender-colored shirt with large purple dots ... and a pink apron covered with small white dots. There's a rag on his head. It's a great look but at least spit isn't coming out of his mouth. "HOW DO I RINSE THE RICE?" he shouts out. Limited skills to say the least. he continues to blunder along with one stupid facial expression following another.

THE WORKPLACE: GaYoung has been given the permanent position ... overseeing the Winter Line of clothing. HatchatMan, Jung Won is gone... and Kyung Tae is the new Marketing Manager. EunJi will report to GaYoung. She's not a happy camper.

HongBoon (JaeSung's mother) is thru with watching kids... she accepts an invitation to go dancing... has a few beers and has a chummier connection with her dance partner. She's disgusted with the lack of responsibility for her grown kids.. all of them.

BokSil has announced to husband Choi that she's going to do a 'makeover' and change his appearance ... clothing, hair - hairpiece? whatever else.

BokSil is very cool... she tells EunJi that she should get married.... grown, older children are a burden to their parents she states. Eunji says she doesn't want to get married ... ok... then move out. ;D

Again, I'm so pleased that this drama doesn't go on for 172 episodes. For what it's worth, BokSil has become my favorite character.

[TheBo]

If this drama is supposed to be humorous, the writers are way overpaid. If the drama is supposed to be stupid, they've succeeded beyond anyone's expectation.

LOL. I'm so enjoying your commentary and humor, Kathleen. Almost makes me wish I could see the darned thing so I could keep up with you.

Bo

[kathleen34]

Thanks Bo ... The way I see it, I'm making lemonade out of a lemon.

IMPORTANT NOTE - An episode was skipped on Tuesday nite... but in the interim, BokSil has succeeded in transforming Choi. He is now wearing a hairpiece that doesn't look half bad. He's feeling sorry for JaeYoung because he's working so hard with his children ... to which BokSil responds that women do it all the time without any help or thoughtfulness from their husbands.


THE PLOT THICKENS EVEN MORE: JaeYoung, after speaking with his attorney (Chul Min) decides he will make a huge attempt to reconcile. He will seduce Ga (in your dreams pal). ::)While waiting for his x-wife to return from her long day at work, he sets out a bottle of wine, stemware, fruit and candles.

POSSIBLY THE WORSE SCENE E V E R: He is now preparing HIMSELF for this romantic comeback: His hair is plastered on his head, he's covered with soap bubbles (he obviously didn't rinse himself off) standing in front of the mirror brushing his teeth - toothpaste foam is bubbling out of his mouth and covers his lips. - got that visual?

Feeling SO SPOT ON that his efforts will be well received and Ga won't be able to resist him, he's talking to himself. Are you ready?
[glow=red,2,300] I sure am a handsome guy ... I even make my own heart flutter [/glow] His seduction garb is stunning - light blue jammies with LARGE white dots - just screaming testosterone.

SURPRISE! GaYoung is given a ride home from work by Kyung Tae (the former marketing dept manager who now seems to be a regular employee). Having enjoyed a few drinks, Kyung suggests that Ga prepare some coffee for him - code for invite me in - which she does. Jae panics... closes off the room with that attractive divider and listens to what's going on. "That PUNK .. what's he doing here?"

Forget the coffee, Kyung suggests they drink the wine that is mysteriously on the table. With her looming pregnancy, Ga pretends to drink. There is some interesting conversation wherein Kyung asks Ga if she's afraid of having a man in her home so late at nite. "No" she says, because she has heard that he likes men. He comments about such a rumor following him around but gives every indication that he likes women. Jae is going bonkers hearing all this. Kyung asks about Ga's sons and that makes Jae furious.

After a couple of glasses of wine, Kyung leaves .. and out jumps Shrek the Male Wonder. A shouting match ensues... Ga completely rejects his efforts and goes to her room.

We see Jae talking to himself again. In yet another classy act, he drinks the wine right out of the bottle and states that he is not giving up. One gets the impression that he is going to storm into Ga's room to do the unthinkable. THE END of the episode.

So we'll see this evening (Friday) if his dotted jammies and big mouth will serve him well in his endeavor.

.

[kathleen34]

In yet another classy act, he drinks the wine right out of the bottle and states that he is not giving up. One gets the impression that he is going to storm into Ga's room to do the unthinkable - Thankfully, he did not.

When stating I won't give up, he meant that he will make a staunch effort to get his job back. Meanwhile, back at the job site, Ga is giving pretty hard orders to EunJi. EunJi of course is livid While she is being livid, Ga dumps another huge pile of fabric to sort. I WILL NOT DO THIS ... she quits. As she's driving out of the parking lot in a fit of rage, JaeSung is running TO the workplace convinced that he will be allowed back in.


When GoEun arrives at home and and announces to her mother that she has quit her job, BokSil does the most sensible things. She kicks her daughter out of the house with very little to take with her. "most of our clothes were put on my charge cards so there's no need for you to take them"... 'oh, and by the way, give me the car keys since I paid for that too' Tell ya, I'm liking BokSil with each passing hour. EunJi is speechless and angry and on the verge of tears while standing out front by her mother's car.

Along comes Shrek hyperventalating from running all over the place in no particular pattern. They spend a bit of time whining to each other. "at least you can sleep in your car" says JaeSun ... NO, says EunJi "she took that away from me".

They run off together to make themselves feel better by drinking soju and crying. I know that always works for me. Amazing how much better one feels after doing that. I digress.

They are wiped out and spend the night literally sleeping together. Literally. Nothing else. I guess this is all supposed to be funny. A very VERY fine line lies between funny and pathetic. The line has surely been crossed. This is pathetic ... pathetic writing and acting.

Can't wait until Monday's episode.

[kathleen34]

We are now on episode 33. I was wrong in thinking this would end at episode 32.

Here are some of the highlights of the past 9 days. JaeSung (stupid husband) realized that it was his 6th wedding anniversary ... overlooking the fact that he was divorced and in raging denial. He shares this anniversary fact with EunJi (snotty daughter) - who encourages him to do something romantic, i.e., bring his x-wife some flowers.

GaYoung was with KyungTae (now a designer) as they were working on a project which required that they go away ... and stay at the company hotel. Nothing is going on between them. Nothing. KyungTae went to run an errand. GaYoung is sitting on the couch.

- Someone knocks on the door.

- Thinking that it must be KyngTae, she goes to answer it.

- Behold! There stands snotty daughter and stupid husband.

- As an extra added touch of romanticism, stupid husband is standing there with flowers ... and the BEST part, he has a gaudy purple around his neck AND an additional gaudy gaudy purple around his head which once again makes him look like the idiot he is.

GaYoung is mortified ... absolutely disgusted. KyungTae returns and JaeSung goes ballistic, accusing both of them of 'being together' Lots of shouting ... lots of running around ... lots of supidity. These writers are SO overpaid!

I should mention that Kyung Tae is now aware of GaYoung being pregnant. He is very protective of her and realizes that she needs to take better care of herself. At one point he tells JaeSung that YES, he wants to be with her... and that he (JaeSung) should give his x-wife a chance to be happy. And yes, this suggestion infuriates JaeSung, a/k/a stupid husband, Shrek.

Fast forward to this evening, 6/1 (TU). Crybaby :'(JaeSung has once again been kicked out of what he believes to be HIS house. He insists that he's not giving up. He's fighting back. He goes to see his attorney, ChulMin, telling him what KyungTea has said about giving GaYoung a chance to be happy. ChulMin agrees that that's what he should do. But no, Shrek cries... his face once again becoming all drippy and disgusting. Realizing that this guy is a dolt, ChulMin suggests that since he gets along with his x-father-in-law, he should cling to him for support.

GaYoung has arranged her boys to attend day care and BokSil will pick them up after school. No need for JaeSung babysit and walk around in that stupid white-dotted pink apron. He also wears a rag on his head when he takes care of them. Better that the rag should cover his face instead of his head.

I digress.

Shrek calls Choi who is on his way to take a hike. Pleading with his x-father in law, he convinces Choi to meet with him. More crying, more pleading, more dipping, and more promises to be better this time... essentially he wears Choi down to the point where Choi weakly agrees to help him.

At one point EunJi is sitting on a bench and KyungTae sees her, approaches her ... and EunJi panics... gets up and begins to run... one of her designer shoes comes off... KungTae picks it up and attempts to find her. She alludes him and dashes of to the sauna, her new home. She bemoans the fact that the one remaining high-healed shoe is the last designer thing she owns. Come morning she steals someone's sauna shoes and dashes off to work. A model has called in sick and KyungTae asks her to fill in for the missing model in an afternoon photo shoot.

Everyone leaves for lunch but KyungTae tells EunJi that she cannot eat anything until after the photo shoot. EunJi is whining that she has missed so many meals. Seems the only food at SaunaHouse = boiled eggs. ;D

The saga continues. I'm hoping that KyungTae will marry GaYoung... but these writers are likely to reconcile GaYoung and Shrek. These writers need to ingest some boiled eggs and magical mushrooms.

[kathleen34]

Here's what you missed in the past week JUN 2 thru JUN 8.

x. Chewing w/open mouth, drunk, crying, whining, dripping = Snotty daughter, EunJi - JaeSung got her drunk.

x. With no place to sleep, and no money to afford the Sauna, EunJi and JaeSung return to the workplace - the sample room - to sleep for the night.

Disgustingly, Jae Sung is writhing in pain with hemorrhoids. He has to tell everyone that because of his poor nutritional options, he has developed a case of painful hemorrhoids. More than any of us needs to know. To add to his homliness he has wrapped himself in some horrendous outfit including a very ugly head scarf.

x. On another day, JaeSung somehow gets himself into his former workplace to use the washroom... and of course "the Boss' is there urinating. JaeSung joins in the activity. He is begging the boss to let him go on the photo shoot wherein he will coordinate the models. Boss says "NO" ... JaeSung says he will do it for free. "OK" says Boss. And then for reasons I don't understand, while they are peeing, they look each other up and down and probably peed on each other. DISGUSTING!

X. GaYoung discovers JaeSung attempting to get on the photo shoot bus and demands that he leave. She's very firm, very strong in her directive. As soon as she turns to get on the bus, Stupid is running toward the bus... and a CLOSE UP of his behind ... a REAL CLOSEUP with his pants stuck in his crack... YIKES??? Is this considered humor?

Well, Stupid throws his luggage into the luggage bin and proceeds to jump in the bin. And of course en-route to the shoot location his big ugly mouth is shouting with pain because of his dreadful, painful hemorrhoids. Can you believe this?!!

Of course he jumps out of the luggage bin when the bus finally stops. GaYoung sees him... is furious, livid! "LEAVE" she tells him ... and of course he running to catch up with everyone and he falls on his ass...YET ANOTHER CLOSEUP SHOT. His shirt is filthy, his face is filthy... he's even more a mess than he usually is.

And this fool thinks he's going to reconcile. Such a major fool, and major dope. The Train has Wrecked!

[kathleen34]

GO KOREA!!!! How could I overlook sharing THIS - - -

While leaping around shouting GO KOREA!!! JaySung makes this joyful comment:

"I must be very healthy - a real baby making machine" ;D

So are rats ~

[kathleen34]

EPISODE 45 - So now we're playing sappy background music, Jae Sung is dribbling on an on about the important things in life... offering his stupid philosophy to 'DAD" MIL, Jung Won, EunJi, his own mother, and alas, GaYoung. What a MOPE!

The brain-dead writers are clearly headed toward reconciliation. In the interim here's some additional scenes that you may have missed.

What a surprise, JaeSung crying.. SOBBING again with a totally dripping face. JaeSung eating... chewing with an open mouth and again, crying. Sobbing to 'DAD' who is comforting him, cradling his head into his lap.

Then we had EunJi also eating and crying... open-mouth chewing and like her homely counterpart, a dripping face.

At some point EunJi following orders from JaeSung, picked up his children from preschool... and took them out to eat. She makes this profoundly inaccurate observation regarding their looks, "They really take after their father." What the h#*@ drug is she on? Thankfully, we all know that they take after their mother.

As we head toward Episode 50, I'm afraid that the writers are laying out a happily-ever-after ending ... and even worse, the hapless Jae Sung.. a cross between a grade C cartoon character and a frog, will be promoted to the hero of the story. I REALLY hope I'm wrong!

[kathleen34]

THE END!!!! - unfortunately, I was right - - - A stupid ending to a profoundly stupid drama.

They're all nuts. They all deserve each other. GO KOREA