When I first read about this drama, I was lukewarm towards it. High school drama, bullying and a mother cross dressing as a high schooler? How can they pull it off? But the story had enough substance and promise of a backdrop romantic theme so it intrigued me. Two episodes in, the reasons I was drawn to it went out the window. And that reason is Kim Hee Sun. Kim Hee Sun is a gem! I have not seen any of her work prior to this and was thoroughly impressed. Not sure how many actresses can seamlessly transform from an overprotective mom to high school kick ass heroine and make it believable. Her stellar performance was supported by superb casting all way round. No one seemed to be out of character which is a huge credit to the production for the coherent ensemble. The mother daughter chemistry had the right amount of banter and sappy moments. There were a few tear jerker scenes which any mother with a teenage daughter would understand and cherish. The family dynamic was also superbly done and not over the top. The kdrama staple of the evil mother in law plot device and undeserving husband get a nice twist; very pleasant surprise here. All other protagonists were equally stellar. Kim Yoo Jung as Ah Ran was both strong and vulnerable; wanting to protect the people she love against the evil force but at the same time feeling lost and powerless. Ji Soo is clearly the new heartthrob but as other reviewers have said, he can act and is not just a pretty face. His portrayal as the lovesick teenager was endearing. His struggles between wanting to protect Bang Wol and wanting to hate her guts were masterfully acted. Kim Hee Won must be a pro at playing the villain. I saw him in Misaeng and he made me cringe and he successfully delivered here too. His Ahn Dong Chil character was a conflicted one and the writer did a phenomenal job bringing out his humanistic side in an explainable and meaningful manner. At first I was afraid Princess Han and her minions would make me cringe at their shenanigans but again, this show proved me wrong. Go Su Hee as Han Gong Joo was the perfect fit as Kang Ja’s best friend and confidante and her role was pivotal to the story. Ji Hyun Woo as Park No Ah did his part but he definitely was not the standout as the top male lead. Perhaps the writer did not give his character enough substance or others simply outshone him. Same goes for Kim Tae Hoon as the ultimate villain Do Jeong Woo. He did make it easy for us to hate him. As with any kdrama, there are always exaggerations, over-dramatizations and loopholes but these were easy to overlook and forgiven. For example the characterization of the vice principal for an elite high school a tad unrealistic? Not a big deal. Overall, the pace was excellent; the layers were revealed in appropriate dosages keeping the audience interested without frustrating them. In spite of its dark subject matter depicting many gritty, dirty humanity, it has brilliance of light hearted humour nicely woven into key moments. The level of suspense and cliffhangers, typical of dramas, were not out of place and tastefully executed. The music did its part by blending in seamlessly and making the scenes impactful but I wouldn’t say they were memorable. It was not the star but accomplished its feat. Angry Mom is a highly, highly recommended watch for first timers. But for someone like me who loves sappy romantic moments, I will probably not re-watch it again for nostalgic reason but will happily re-watch with friends and families for none other than social reasons.