In the opening scenes of "Family Matters," the first episode of Family Matters Season 1, we are transported back to the year 1996 at the Special Trainings Battalion. Here, a woman addresses a group of young children, telling them that their families have abandoned them. She assumes the role of their mother, warning them against the idea of running away. Among these children, a little girl with an X mark on her chest stands out, determined to defy the woman's words. This flashback sets the stage for a story that weaves together themes of family, abandonment, and the quest for belonging.
In the present day, a family is seen driving, listening to news about a serial killer known as the Doom-veloper, who has claimed nine victims and is on the hunt for his tenth. The family's concern, however, is not with the serial killer but with their children's behavior in their new school, hinting at a troubled past.
The family's dynamics are further explored as they deal with a minor car accident caused by another driver. The next morning, two detectives discuss a new case of a missing girl, Yu-jin, who was last seen on the Kumsu-ro trail with a suspicious man following her. Yu-jin's mother is certain her daughter is in danger, but the police are hesitant to act since it hasn't been 24 hours.
Ji-woo and Ji-hoon, the family's children, prepare for their first day at school. Their mother, Young-soo, attempts to bribe Ji-hoon with a laptop to keep an eye on his sister and report back to her. The relationship between Young-soo and Ji-woo is strained, a point emphasized when Ji-woo stops her mother mid-sentence.
The grandfather, Gang-sung, advises Young-soo to be honest with the children about their situation. Meanwhile, the father, Cheol-hee, is focused on opening his vet shop and receives a call from a real estate agent about a dog. At school, Ji-hoon confronts the school bully, Kyu-tae, and fights back, while Ji-woo deals with Kyu-tae's attempts to blackmail her with a compromising photo. The class president intervenes, and Kyu-tae backs off, but not before Ji-woo warns him to delete the photo.
The local pastor visits Cheol-hee's vet shop with his dog, which has started biting people. He leaves the dog for treatment after receiving a call about a missing church member. Gang-sung, familiarizing himself with the new neighborhood, checks for CCTV cameras, hinting at a need for surveillance. Detectives investigate the Kumsu-ro trail, finding blood and broken jewelry, but they are unsure whether Yu-jin ran away, was kidnapped, or was murdered. One detective believes she is the Doom-veloper's tenth victim but is dismissed by his boss.
The church gathers to pray for Yu-jin, but the real estate lady, a church member, has ulterior motives. Along with two other entrepreneurs, she is using the church's charitable contributions to acquire properties, unbeknownst to the church members who believe their donations are for a new, larger church.
The episode takes a dark turn when it's revealed that the new family in town has been keeping the man from the car accident in one of their animal cages. Kyu-tae soon learns the consequences of crossing Ji-woo when she fights back against him and his bully friends, breaking one of the bully's fingers and knocking Kyu-tae out. Ji-hoon finds the bullies already dealt with and advises Ji-woo to take Kyu-tae home to their mother. At home, Cheol-hee and Young-soo suspect Pastor Yoon of abusing his dog. They are surprised when their children arrive with an unconscious Kyu-tae and explain the situation.
After hearing about Kyu-tae's actions, the parents are furious. Ji-woo convinces her mother to handle the situation as she did with the rude man from the car accident. Young-soo ties Kyu-tae to an examination table and cuts out a pound of his thigh, inscribed with the word "sin." Ji-woo is disgusted, but Ji-hoon seems to enjoy Kyu-tae's suffering.
"Mom's Recipe" is a gripping start to Family Matters, setting the tone for a series that promises to explore the depths of family bonds, the consequences of past actions, and the dark secrets that can lurk beneath the surface of an ordinary family. The episode ends with a chilling reminder that appearances can be deceiving, and that even the most seemingly perfect family can have a twisted recipe for dealing with their problems.