The 'paternity scandal' surrounding Ha Seung-ri, the young head of the family, has been unveiled.
Last night (13th), the first episode of KBS 1TV's daily drama 'Mari and the Strange Dads' (directed by Seo Yong-soo, written by Kim Hong-joo, produced by LI Entertainment, Monster Union) aired, depicting the past and present of Kang Mari (played by Ha Seung-ri), her mother Joo Si-ra (played by Park Eun-hye), and the three potential fathers Lee Poong-joo (played by Ryu Jin), Kang Min-bo (played by Hwang Dong-joo), and Jin Ki-sik (played by Gong Jung-hwan). The episode recorded a viewership rating of 10.7% (provided by Nielsen Korea, nationwide household standard).
The episode began with a striking scene of Si-ra running in a wedding dress on her high school graduation day for her wedding with Min-bo. After a happy wedding, the couple was seen standing in front of a sperm collection room, sparking curiosity. Meanwhile, in another time, Poong-joo and Ki-sik emerged from the same sperm collection room, with a nurse looking at the sterile containers holding their sperm, hinting at the fateful whirlwind they would be drawn into.
Min-bo, who cherished young Mari, left her coldly as she ran towards him, leaving viewers curious about what had happened between them. Si-ra, seeing Mari cry, firmly stated, "From today, you have no father," further piquing curiosity about the events that transpired.
Fast forward 20 years, Mari, now a grown adult, appears, marking the beginning of the main storyline. Working multiple jobs, including food delivery and at a postpartum care center, Mari is a thorough realist working at a futureless obstetrics and gynecology clinic simply because the pay is double. Her eyes light up at the sight of a thick envelope of money from a VIP, revealing her enslavement to capitalism.
The reason soon becomes clear. Si-ra secretly started cleaning at the postpartum care center, and it was revealed that Mari had to work multiple jobs because their phone bill was three months overdue, indicating Mari's role as the de facto head of the household. Aunt Um Ki-bun (played by Jung Ae-ri) recalled Si-ra begging for artificial insemination, revealing her connection to Mari's birth secret.
Meanwhile, tension arose between Ki-bun and Ki-sik, despite being mother-in-law and son-in-law. Ki-sik, criticized by Ki-bun for destroying sperm samples, made a cryptic remark about the legality of sperm donation, hinting at his connection to Mari's birth. His brightened demeanor upon seeing Mari further fueled curiosity about his relationship with her.
Towards the end of the episode, Mari prepared for her first video call with her long-separated father, Min-bo. As Mari's nervous face was shown, the scene intercut with Yoon Soon-ae (played by Geum Bo-ra) watching news related to a custody lawsuit, foreshadowing upcoming conflicts. During the call, Min-bo hinted at the upcoming turmoil by saying, "When I return to Korea, let's discuss your issue seriously. If necessary, I'll meet your mother too."
'Mari and the Strange Dads' captivated viewers from the first episode with its brisk development and the secrets surrounding Mari's family. The delightful direction, engaging script, and the actors' transformations left viewers eager for the next developments.
Meanwhile, the second episode of KBS 1TV's 'Mari and the Strange Dads' airs tonight (14th) at 8:30 PM.
Reporter Kim Se-a, TenAsia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr