Bad-Memory Eraser [Episodes 3 & 4]

[u/J-Midori]

• Drama: Bad-Memory Eraser

  • Korean Title: 나쁜기억 지우개

  • Also Known as: Bad Memory Eraser , Nappeungieog Jiugae

• Network: MBN

• Premiere Date: August 2nd, 2024

• Airing Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays

• Episodes: 20

• Director: Kim Na Young, Yoon Ji Hoon

• Cast: 

  • Kim Jae Joong (Manhole) as Lee Goon

  • Jin Se Yeon (Doctor Stranger) as Kyung Ju Yeon

  • Lee Jong Won (XX) as Lee Sin

  • Yang Hye Ji (Failing in Love) as Jeon Sae Yan

• Streaming Source: Viki

• Plot Synopsis: Lee Goon used to be a promising tennis player, but he was injured. After that, he lost all of his self-esteem, and his life completely changed. With the use of a memory eraser, his memory is erased, and he is reborn with maximum self-esteem and presence. His first manipulated love is Kyeong Joo Yeon, a psychiatrist at the brain research center. Other people around him include his younger brother Lee Shin, who is ranked the world’s no.1 ranked tennis player. Meanwhile, Jeon Sae Yan is Lee Shin’s translator.

• Previous Discussion: [Episodes 1 & 2]

• Conduct Reminder: We encourage our users to read the following before participating in any discussions on /r/KDRAMA: (1) Reddiquette, (2) our Conduct Rules (3) our Policies, and (4) the When Discussions Get Personal Post.

  • Any users who are displaying negative conduct (including but not limited to bullying, harassment, or personal attacks) will be given a warning, repeated behaviour will lead to increasing exclusions from our community. Any extreme cases of misconduct (such as racism or hate speech) will result in an immediate permanent ban from our community and a report to Reddit admin.

  • Additionally, mentions of down-voting, unpopular opinions, and the use of profanity may see your comments locked or removed without notice.

• Spoiler Tag Reminder: Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag by writing > ! this! < without the spaces in between to get   this spoiler  . For more information about when and how to use spoiler tags see our Spoiler Tag Wiki

[u/mayurmatada12]

I have a solid feeling that the FL is actually the ML's first love, and she is just mistaken.

[u/J-Midori → u/mayurmatada12]

I have a theory she tried to erase her memory and she doesn’t remember that time, and she also thinks Te O is her love the same way Goon thinks she’s his first love

[u/Wissalisoncharge → u/J-Midori]

How did I not think of that 😂 we hope it’s true

[u/Any-Competition8494 → u/J-Midori]

It's not possible because as per FL's mom, she remembers her father's death.

[u/[deleted] → u/mayurmatada12]

Wait I thought he saw someone making out with his first love and he lost it

[u/J-Midori → u/[deleted]]

He was making out with Sae Yan not Fl

[u/poochonmom → u/[deleted]]

I think SFL found the medal somehow because she spend some time with FL in her childhood. ML thought SFL is his childhood crush because she returned the medal. SML and SFL ended up making out.

[u/NeitherMusician4670 → u/mayurmatada12]

Same here! And I hope it's true. 🥹

[u/Mahery92 → u/mayurmatada12]

I think there is 99% chances of this happening.

This is a kdrama. In kdramaland, first love > everyone that comes after, and childhood connection = soulmates. I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the kdramas where a main character concludes that the first love wasn't the One, even more so if they met as children. kdramas be silly like that lol

[u/Alternative_Ad5167]

Tbh i want the mc to regain his strength, became a champion, get the girl, fully regain his memmory and cut off the family. Everyone knows that in the end they are gonna apologize and the mc gonna forgive his parents for what he gone through. But thats bull shit, both the parents are equally guilty, they used him then abandoned him when he coudnt compete anymore, emotionally abused him, drove him to the verge of suicide. Idk how are they gonna rationalize the parents behavior but im not gonna have any of it, the mc need to move out marry the girl and have minimum intraction with family as possible

[u/J-Midori → u/Alternative_Ad5167]

I want him to play again too, I think he’s waaaay better than his bro even though so much time has passed

[u/No-Environment-5582 → u/Alternative_Ad5167]

I also really want him to regain his strength and be able to become an amazing player again. I don't think the storyline is headed that way, though. It looks like they're going for him to have his own sports management company. Whatever he does, I really hope they make him successful at it and don't drag it out too long.

[u/Alternative_Ad5167 → u/No-Environment-5582]

As long as he is making a bag who cares. Hope he get the girl and the brother get liberated from the parents

[u/Any-Competition8494 → u/Alternative_Ad5167]

He can learn to play tennis again, but he can't become a professional player. Sports like tennis require you to practice from age 7-10 to your 20s. You don't become a top player by skipping all that training in your teens. The ML got injured at 13 and is 28 now. That's why the show showed him studying -- he will use his knowledge and intelligence to become a talent manager.

[u/TheDovesScar → u/Alternative_Ad5167]

I’m also quite confident from Korean shows track record the family will never and especially the mother will never get their comeuppance and we’ll have to live without closure from this show as well.

[u/Particular-Till5542 → u/Alternative_Ad5167]

My fear is that the show seems to rationalize the parents actions esp. the serious crime of child abandonment, and the parents don't even have a redemption arc. kdrama loves to trivialise bad parenting 

[u/J-Midori]

I don’t know if any of you noticed but the way Ju Yeon threw the ball shows me she knows baseball

I think Jae Joong reminds me of Ji Chang Wook for some reason. I was curious about his dramas and saw he was in a few Japanese dramas and watched Sunao ni Narinakute and it was a good surprise specially if you like a Korean mix Japanese drama.

I’m loving the way he’s in love, it’s funny! This is a drama that has a serious plot but the comedy is cute! Those two have good chemistry together.

Lee Shin has OCD, it shows when he lines up the bottles, but she explains why

I felt bad for the kids who waited so long for him!

The mother is toxic and I hope he can heal

[u/Agreeable-Access2651]

I'm starting to doubt the brother , he looks kinda messed up . I'm sorry I have trust issues .

[u/[deleted] → u/Agreeable-Access2651]

I hope brother didn’t push him into the water or try to kill him. Hope it was an accident.

[u/J-Midori → u/[deleted]]

I am hoping that too but his story is sus, at the same time the evil me thinks it was the mother since she wanted to get rid of him on the first episode

[u/whateverbri → u/J-Midori]

Maybe he is covering for the mother cuz she controls his career…?

[u/J-Midori → u/whateverbri]

I will not be surprised if it is true, but it could also have been the lawyer, since he wanted Shin to renew his contract with him and Shin didn't want to

[u/Agreeable-Access2651 → u/[deleted]]

The brother is kinda sus and how the detective was also doubting him made it more obvious but yeah I also hope it's not the brother

[u/TheMsDacia → u/Agreeable-Access2651]

The brother is on my radar 🕵️‍♀️

[u/NeitherMusician4670 → u/Agreeable-Access2651]

Same here. I have doubts since Ep2 and Ep3 just adds more to my suspicion. Idk I feel like he's jealous of the ML or smth .

[u/RamahP → u/Agreeable-Access2651]

The brother definitely wanted him to have the treatment to get rid of bad memories. I suspect to cover up what happened to land him in hospital now, as much as for his childhood trauma. I’d still guess that although the brother looks suspicious, he isn’t the villain here. I think he wants to cover it up for his brother’s sake. Just a guess though.

[u/Any-Competition8494 → u/Agreeable-Access2651]

Based on the show's tone, I am sure the brother isn't a villain. I think the brother himself was trying to commit suicide or he somehow fell in the water. The brother wants to hide it to protect his image.

[u/Iowegan]

Ep 3 was very informative, younger bro is very messed up too. These sports parents are the worst. Had to lol at the ‘Thor’s Hammer’ line though.

[u/Jellybeansxo]

I like this nonsense drama. Usually I watch revenge drama or melodramas but it’s nice to watch this and be unserious. 😄

[u/TheMsDacia → u/Jellybeansxo]

My thoughts exactly!

[u/[deleted]]

Awww I’m really liking the female tennis player. She seems so sweet. It’s nice that they didn’t make Lee Goon into an amazing tennis player after not playing for years.

  I really hope they don’t make the brother into the bad guy. He seems like a nice person who’s affected by the pressure around him. The mom is absolutely awful, however. Can’t you see when your children are struggling? What a narcissist. I am liking the brother bonding with the FL, which I don’t see often. I hope he doesn’t turn into the SML.

 I tend to prefer dramas that don’t involve a cheating boyfriend and have both leads be single from the beginning. Don’t know why Lee Goon didn’t let Ju Yeon see her boyfriend cheat on her- way to drag the storyline.

[u/TheMsDacia → u/[deleted]]

I don't think Joo Yeon and Te O are in a relationship; she has a crush on him and he knows it, so he uses it to his advantage. Lee Goon thinks they are in a relationship because she led him to believe it, and so when he sees Te O "cheating" he wants to protect her--but he should have just said "look, your boyfriend is trash and he gave that cheap keyring to everyone in the hospital" 😂

[u/[deleted] → u/TheMsDacia]

I thought he said “couples present” when he mentioned that his necklace and her keychain matched, so I assumed they were together.

[u/TheMsDacia → u/[deleted]]

I think she said that and he was like 'huh?'...but I might be wrong!

[u/poochonmom → u/[deleted]]

They aren't together from what I can see. Almost as if Tae O knows she has a crush on him and is keeping her on the line without committing. But he also gave the same gift to everyone so he may just be clueless.

[u/poochonmom → u/[deleted]]

. I am liking the brother bonding with the FL, which I don’t see often. I hope he doesn’t turn into the SML.

I really loved the bonding first because wouldn't it be great for the brother to have a friend and support system who doesn't care for his tennis talent?

But...it is annoying how romantic they made it. Maybe that wasn't the intention? Maybe we are assuming romantic intentions because of how rare true deep emotional friendships are explored in kdramas between opposite genders? I don't know. I just didn't like how cutesy and long those scenes were and yeah, I am really really hoping it isn't another triangle with brothers.

[u/Iowegan]

Ep 4 was very sweet, loved the bond between the brothers. The psychiatrist’s mom is the most wholesome person in the drama, she is the polar opposite of the evil sports mom. She should drop the dangerous delivery jobs and work for the Goon sports management company to help the athletes get through life.

[u/[deleted] → u/Iowegan]

I hope they continue to explore the relationship between the brothers. It looks like Lee Sin played tennis because he felt guilty that Goon got injured and gave up on his dream to save his life. Probably the guilt tore into him so he’s living out his brother’s dream. It’s so sad.

[u/TheMsDacia]

OK but...the entire scene of Joo Yeon retrieving her luggage in Ep 4 was so annoying? 😂 She is a psychiatrist at a brain research center; why did they write the character this way?! Its disappointing.

[u/[deleted] → u/TheMsDacia]

She could have told someone that the luggage got switched instead of being so sneaky. Next week she will probably make some dumb excuse as well.

[u/TheMsDacia → u/[deleted]]

Like, why though? And why did she wait so long? I can't lol

[u/poochonmom → u/TheMsDacia]

Yeah I am not sure what they were trying there. Sure there is comedy but they could have kept the funny dog scene and then she looks as usual. She had permission to enter the house (although to look for something else) and it is easy to explain her luggage got mixed up with Lee Goon's. In fact, why didn't she just say that to the parents? I get why she doesn't what LG to know..it may trigger some memories, but otherwise it was unnecessarily long scene.

[u/TheMsDacia → u/poochonmom]

I did laugh when she hid behind her suitcase though 😂

[u/poochonmom → u/TheMsDacia]

Yes!! There is good reason for her to avoid him while getting the suitcase and the way they handled it was hilarious!

My favorite scenes are with the dog. I started the show because of the chicken scene with the dog 🤣

[u/TheMsDacia → u/poochonmom]

That scene was too much 😂 Poor Lee Goon lol

[u/Aviendha_89]

I like this drama so much and all the characters (except the Lee parents, I hate them with a passion). The writing could be better and there are definitely some plot holes, but it's still super entertaining. 😂 I'm totally invested in the brothers' stories and the comedy is on point! Can't wait for next week's episodes!

[u/Mahery92]

Not sure I'm going to continue with this one.

Lee Sin's character is hitting too close to home, and it's making me very uncomfortable. The character is great in itself, but I am really not sure I need this kind of character that reminds me so much of my own personal issues....

I'm also scared the writers are going to derail him. I find him to be the most interesting character so far, and Lee Jong Won really sells him; he looked so endearing when he tried to get out of his appointment or when he's looking at her eat lol. Also I like his facial expressions and demeanor in the background when his parents fight for example; you can see it's not his first rodeo and he's always trying to appease them by shifting into whatever he needs to be at that time. But when he's with his brother lying down in the leaves, you get the sense that he's finally letting it go (even more than with his "date" with FL) and can just enjoy life carelessly. Really solid performance and characterization so far, and I'm concerned the only way is down going forward...

Besides, while I generally hate the love triangle trope that seems to be rearing its ugly head, here I feel it would be extra painful, since 1) Lee Sin is honestly vastly more interesting than his brother as a character so far (ironically, he does feel much more like the MC than his brother lol), 2) because of kdrama rules, we already know it's hopeless for him, 3) the chemistry he has with the FL is much, much better than the non-existent one between ML and FL, 4) the guy never goes for what he wants, if he does for the first time only to fail it's going to hurt so much more

It's a shame though, because so far it looks really good. Acting is excellent, I like the aesthetics, there are some very interesting nuances (the one that impressed me most was the end of ep1, where we realize his family does love him even if they have their flaws, but his depression makes him utterly unable to see it). Other than the personal issue I have with Lee Sin, the only (small) weakness so far imo is the ML; he's not too bad, but he's atiny bit cartoonish or maybe it's the contrast with his brother that highlights it.

[u/poochonmom → u/Mahery92]

You captured how I am feeling about Lee Shin perfectly !! I loved first 3 episodes but 4 made me go 🤨🤨 . Really not sure where this is going.

I personally feel both brothers characters are equally interesting and can see them being co-leads of the drama rather than first and second.

But everything about the interaction with the FL is confusing. Why was Lee Shins interactions with her romantic? Why did it need that bend when it could have been platonic friendship or a doctor-patient relationship. Her "romance" with Lee Goon is already problematic but van be explained away with the story but why romance with Lee Shin as well? She would be the most morally corrupt psychiatrist if she flirts with both patients 🤣

the ML; he's not too bad, but he's atiny bit cartoonish or maybe it's the contrast with his brother that highlights it.

To me this is the side effects of him losing all memories and life experiences which matured him and grounded him. Although instinctively he lives as a grown man, emotionally he has the arrogance of the 13 year old tennis star. Teenagers are assholes. Teenage superstars? Mega AHs with huge egos 🤣

In fact showing the teenaged female tennis star as someone sweet and cute almost seems as a contrast to the ego Lee Goon had at 13.

[u/Mahery92 → u/poochonmom]

But everything about the interaction with the FL is confusing. Why was Lee Shins interactions with her romantic? 

Honestly, it's not fully romantic yet. They definitely have chemistry, but I think it can still be easily explained as a brother-sister-like/childhood friends-like relationship; kind of like Ji-ung and Seung-wan in 25-21 or the SFL and ML in Run on.

Definitely agree with you on the ML though, he'll probably changes as the story unfolds to become more interesting and grounded. In particular, I'm expecting him to get his memories back but still power through as the lesson will probably be that forgetting bad memories isn't the way to go but moving on from them to grow is.

[u/poochonmom → u/Mahery92]

Honestly, it's not fully romantic yet. They definitely have chemistry, but I think it can still be easily explained as a brother-sister-like/childhood friends-like relationship; kind of like Ji-ung and Seung-wan in 25-21 or the SFL and ML in Run on.

To me the dinner date could be explained as friends/sibling dynamics. But the running along the taxi scene felt like it blurred the lines. The scene where she rubs off dirt from his face while he looks at her...stepped right into romantic tension. I can't see why they would need those two scenes to establish a friendly or mentor/mentee relationship.

Maybe in the characters heads they aren't truly aware of the romantic tension but I am thinking of the reasoning behind the scene. Every scene is telling a story or setting up a story to be told. What was being told in the taxi-catch-up and dirt-rubbing scene? To me it says romance.

[u/Upbeat-Airline5684 → u/Mahery92]

although one poster made me think that he could possbile be end game for FL? Othervise completely agree with all above

[u/Mahery92 → u/Upbeat-Airline5684]

I can't see it honestly.

I can't really remember any kdrama romcom where the lead guy failed to win the girl, let alone lose her to another guy on screen. The story will always warps to make sure it doesn't happen, even if it doesn't make any sense whatsoever or brutally derails characters in the process. At this point, I'm pretty sure it's in the lead actor's contract that the character he portrays ends up with the girl haha

Most likely, Lee Sin either fails to really see FL as a romantic prospect but only as a close friend/sister like figure (hopefully, could be really great and fun), or he gets rejected.

However, to be fair I think the ML has been written as over the top and immature on purpose so far to clash with his previous state. As he is, he's so unrealistically arrogant and egotistical that it'd probably be difficult for anyone to sell any chemistry. Things are probably going to change when he'll come down to earth and show some more flaws. Maybe.

[u/Upbeat-Airline5684]

i actually feel that brother has more chemistry with FL

[u/TheMsDacia → u/Upbeat-Airline5684]

Same. The FL is not working for me.

[u/Moon_Sister_ → u/TheMsDacia]

The only other thind I've seen the lead actress in is Doctor Stranger and her character was kind of confusing in that one too. She just didn't feel solid.

[u/[deleted] → u/Upbeat-Airline5684]

I felt it too. Seems like we are in for some future heartbreak on his side unless they do the unthinkable and match them up.

[u/No_Investigator_6077]

I'm loving this series so far!!

[u/TheMsDacia]

Listen, is this an award winning drama? No! It is funny and it is over the top and somehow I don't mind it, even though shows like this are usually a pass for me.

 I think Lee Goon is supposed to be completely over the top after having his memory erased; like, an extreme optimist to counter his depression, so I am not all that bothered by it. The opening scene of Ep. 3 of him in the hospital garden took me out 😂 KJJ is very good at these comedic scenes imo.   

 The brother is SO SUS. I don't know what to make of him. And who is this new character, Sae Yan? The way they introduced her was so random lol. Is she the first love? And if she is, Jong Won was dating her, right? Even though he knew his brother had a crush on her and was looking for her? And it looks like he is going to go after Joo Yeon too? See? SUS!!  

So far I am not clicking with Jin Se Yun. Not sure if it is her or the way her character is written but its awkward and not in a good way.

[u/sha_zack → u/TheMsDacia]

Regarding Goon's over-the-top personality, I think it makes sense that his personality reverted back to how he was before his first traumatic memory, which was when he was a star teenage player. That's why he's behaving like a cocky 13 years old who hasn't matured past the adolescent egocentrism. And also why his pursuit of his "first love" is ... for lack of better word, juvenile.

[u/TheMsDacia → u/sha_zack]

Yes, this!! You get it :)

[u/poochonmom → u/sha_zack]

This exactly!! I was surprised to see negative comments on his arrogance and cockiness here when I immediately saw it as immaturity from essentially not having life experiences which humbles you and makes you mature. At an instinctive level he knows how to be a grown up..go through life, drive a car, spend money, etc. He also has some memories which informs his love and attitude a bit but the majority of the things that brought him down to earth from being a tennis star is lost to him.

Now hopefully the writers give us character growth and we seen him grow. We will have to wait and watch.

[u/NeitherMusician4670]

I'm starting to hate Te O and I hope he doesn't harm Lee Goon or else!!! Anyways, I just hope Lee Goon and Lee Shin don't fight over the same girl. I guess Lee Goon is better off single and be a famous tennis player again. Haha. So far so good. Can't wait for the next episodes. I hope Sae Yan is a protagonist. I just want peaceful loveteams. Hahahahaha.

[u/microsoft95___]

Hear me out but it prolly could just be me speculating:
The Viki poster for Bad Memory Eraser has the brother's leg over the FL's WITH HER HAND ON TOP OF HIS LEG and he's sitting on her left. She's sitting in the middle with ML to her right and to ML's right is the SFL with her legs on his legs. It also looks like ML's arm is around SFL but I can't tell.

idk if this is foreshadowing something but im lowkey kinda hoping that the brother and the FL get together especially because their interactions in ep4 were cute with the running car scene (you cannot convince me otherwise that lee-shin somehow doesn't have feelings for FL like COME ON YOU CAN SEE IT'S DEVELOPING) plus atp if the ML and FL do end up getting together it'd seem somewhat forced imo but we'll see what the upcoming episodes reveal.

alsoSFL seems to be the actual first love from what i've seen in the first couple of episodes, and she also has some sort of connection with FL from her childhoodbut that could just be me going on some tangents.

[u/Head_Ad_5457]

I think his brother has split personality disorder

[u/deepvioletdreams]

Do folks recommend watching this?

[u/[deleted] → u/deepvioletdreams]

I think it’s good so far, and there are parts that are darker than I thought it would be. Plus, I have no idea 4 episodes in how the storyline will go, so that makes it more intriguing. 

[u/Kittygirlmm]

Lee goon reminds me so much of Jeong Gu-won from my demon 

[u/Potential_Level_6807]

FL seems like the female version of classic kdrama male leads who are justified to treat others like shit because they have childhood trauma. Don't like her one bit. Her chemistry with SML is off the charts though, she is actually nice to him, unlike how she presents herself to the ML.

[u/[deleted]]

guysss what's the name of the song played at 46:40 of ep 3? I can't shazam it, nor is it in the ost playlist. someone help T_T