Bitter Sweet Hell – Season 1
Yeong Won, a renowned family counselor, appears to have a picture-perfect life. However, her seemingly ideal world is shattered when a question about her family's well-being sparks a series of revelations. Haunted by the trauma of witnessing her father's suicide during her youth, Yeong Won's past collides with her present, forcing her to confront the truth about her family and her own struggles. This synopsis explores the complexities of family dynamics, the weight of unresolved trauma, and the challenges of maintaining a public facade while navigating personal turmoil.
Episodes
The Pigeon House
In the glittering facade of Young-won's world, envy festers around her flawless career and family life. But a chance encounter with a mysterious client during a counseling session leaves behind an unsettling residue of emotions. From that moment on, her reality unravels like a tapestry in a tempest, mirroring the heart-wrenching abandonment she experienced in her youth when her father chose to end his own life. Or so she believed.
A Downright Lie
Young-won senses a web of deception woven by her supposedly trusted family. This realization ignites a spark of suspicion, compelling her to uncover the truth behind her father's death. Rumors swirl, hinting that her father-in-law's demise mirrors a tale from her mother-in-law's novel. As these whispers grow louder, cracks begin to fracture Young-won's once polished facade.
Ghost Lights
Young-won and Sa-kang shift Ji-eun to Honghak Hospital, which is just a stone's throw from their vacation home. Together, they brainstorm every conceivable scenario of what could've befallen Ji-eun and Jae-jin. While Young-won harbours suspicions about her mother-in-law due to the odd occurrences of late, she deems it crucial to join forces with her to locate Jae-jin first.
Mutual Assistance
Although Young-won is unhappy about Sa-kang concealing his affair from her, they prioritize gathering clues to find Jae-jin. Following these leads, they eventually arrive at Yokji Island. Shortly after getting there, they hear about a submerged car being found in the sea. Sa-kang immediately questions whether it's the vehicle her son rented.
A Trap
Young-won empathizes with Jae-jin, coming to terms with his passing. However, Sa-kang struggles to accept the reality of her son's demise, pushing for an ongoing search. Eventually, news of Jae-jin’s incident spread, fueling rumours linking the missing person to Young-won’s family. As a crowd of reporters converges outside her house, her remaining family grapples with another crisis.
Is Your Family Well?
Young-won and Sa-kang question what Se-na’s motives could have been for approaching Jae-jin. Sa-kang believes Se-na was targeting her, but Young-won thinks otherwise. Meanwhile, filled with more hatred toward Jae-jin than ever, Young-won shifts her focus to protecting her son. The pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, revealing the essence of Jae-jin’s disappearance, but Young-won’s anxiety only grows.
A Sweet Hell
Jae-jin's return home leads Young-won to question why Se-na chose to send him back. Young-won initiates a deeper investigation into Se-na's identity. Meanwhile, Sa-kang is pleased that her son has returned. Jae-jin then gathers the family in the dining room and unveils the family's secrets one by one.
The Swamp Of Motherly Love
Young-won is solely focused on her son, Sa-kang is always thinking about what's best for her son, and Ji-eun is determined not to lose Jae-jin. With all these obsessions under one roof, Young-won's family begins to fall further apart. Adding to the turmoil, So-yi visits Young-won, revealing she is pregnant with Do-hyun's baby. Young-won realises it's time to confront Se-na directly to protect what's left of her family before it’s too late.
Witch Hunt
After watching Young-won's threatening message, Se-na appears at the broadcast station. Filled with rage, she grabs Young-won by the neck in a manner suggesting an attempt to harm her. Fortunately, the police arrive just in time to rescue Young-won and arrest Se-na. Young-won subsequently searches for evidence to prove Se-na's crimes and ensure she remains in custody, but it proves to be a challenging task.
Gone Night
Sa-kang gets framed for killing An Yo-sub. Based on the evidence found at the scene, it is difficult for Sa-kang to avoid the charge. Jae-jin reveals to Young-won that he thinks Tae-oh approached him intentionally. Young-won finds out that Tae-oh is using a fake name and that he is actually Oh Tae-hwan, the older twin brother of Oh Ji-hwan.
Small Embers Everywhere
It turns out Se-na killed Yo-sub to frame Young-won for murder. However, Tae-oh meddled in to put the blame on Sa-kang. Young-won lures Tae-oh into her house, and he gets caught in the end. Tae-oh blames Young-won for destroying his family. Meanwhile, Se-na approaches Ji-eun and convinces her to expose Jae-jin’s family's secrets.
Almost Ordinary Family
While Young-won holds a press conference, Sa-kang visits Tae-oh in prison and makes him confess that it was Se-na who killed Yo-sub. Se-na kidnaps Do-hyun to lure Young-won to the vacation home. Jae-jin confesses that Ji-eun performed ghost surgery for him and gives up his license. Meanwhile, Sa-kang decides to leave the family.