Mãe (2018)

Healing comes when someone starts to care

You want to know what a mother’s heart is like, in this drama it is shown that becoming a mother starts with caring for a child, not just giving birth to one.

This left me crying from shock, happiness and sadness. So many emotions come over you. Beautiful story and interesting topic. It shows different perspectives of family, and tackles topics like adoption, abandonment, abduction and child abuse. I was in tears for most of the series. Much of the scenes and acting were too graphic and shocking for me, but the ending made up for it. The feeling of what a mother is was well transferred!

The actors did their job very well, the emotions were amazingly conveyed. Becoming a parent can be a scary and difficult thing and this drama showed this in many ways. It made you understand the story from different perspectives, and brought people together. There are broken families all over the world, but this series gave me hope that there can always be a way to be united again, or rescued, when someone is daring and wiling to care. Loved every character, and although difficult to watch, even the bad characters how evil they may have been, I could understand. The drama does show very bad abuse towards children, but still does not condone it or sensualize it. The drama gives a deeper understanding of motherhood and the importance of family, while having shown revelations of the past. I have rewatched it several times. Would recommend this drama.

Leia Mais

What is motherhood?

It's been a long time since I've rated something a full 10 out of 10 but wow. The amount of emotion I felt watching this and the amount of tears I shed...this drama has immediately skyrocketed atop my list of favorites.

The plot and pacing were perfect. There were absolutely no filler moments and even when we were following other characters like the biological parents or the detectives, I felt like more was being added to the story (and to my stress).

Every character is extremely three-dimensional and well-written, and through the way they were intertwined we were able to see the different ways in which "family" could be formed or broken.

The best part of this drama is its moral questions — questions about whether Soojin's actions morally vs. legally, about cycles of abuse, about parenthood and its responsibilities...there were so many scenes and moments of dialogue that were really thought-provoking.

But the best part of this, undeniably, is Soojin/Yoonbok and watching their relationship develop into mother/daughter. It was beautiful, it was heart-wrenching, it was PAINFUL. But the chemistry between the actresses was top notch and the acting performances were amazing.

Thematically I absolutely love that this is a female-centric drama, and I would recommend everyone — literally everyone — to watch it.

Leia Mais

This is the frist time i ever cried after watching a Korean Drama with so much sweet pain along with some smile behind.This is a kind of Drama which left you some deep emotions. I proudly saying that Call Me Mother Aka Mother is one of the best series ever made in the world. It is travelling through all the human emotions. everyone will fall in love with all the character especially that littile kid And Her true Mother.

Mother is the official remake of a Japanese drama released in 2010 and i think this is first time i Seeing in series that a remake is better then the original version.More over so far i didn't watch the orginal Japanese version but so many critics reviews are saying that the Korean Version is the best then the Japanese.

Mother telling a story of a 38 year old lady who took a littile 9 year old child and run away from her biological Mother because the child is suffering Abuse from her own mother. The Police and Media is chasing after them . From the first few eipsode the story is so normal and we have so many confusions so far like why she took her,what is her intention,if they caught what will they do. The truth is that they are looking for a safest Place to hide and not to show up ever again.

After the 8 the episode once we enter into the Main plot we will worry about them and also our feelings and emotions will defenetly travell along with them. Episode 11 To 16, I can't forget each and every moments of these episodes. Am speechless to express the Experience that i got while watching the finale Scenes. Its like an edge of the seat moments for me.

Here the presentation is a Deep Dramatic and realistic way. Pls watch it and experience with your true emotions.Over all It is a must watch korean Drama you will never forget, a worth watching experience guaranteed to all drama lovers.

Leia Mais

"I always wondered how birds could fly and how it felt for them to fly such long distances. And I wondered if I could fly away too, one day."

Amazing. Beautiful. Brilliant. Breath taking. Wonderful.

This has to be one of my favorite dramas. It was an emotional roller coaster, I have on the edge of my seat for every single episode.
The story and message is absolutely beautiful. I thought it will be a tragic ending so I delayed watching the last episode. The ending was light hearted but beautiful. I shed so much tears in every episode.
The plot is so intense, there's always a cliff hanger in every episode. Waiting a week for the next episode felt like a 1000 years. The suspense is real!
The actors are brilliant. Everyone played their role wonderfully. I am so amazed at Heo Yool acting skills. Such a young child could make me move to tears. Her acting is so natural. She portrays Yoon Bok emotions out superbly. I hope she continues to act and become a successful actress.

The message the drama conveys to the audience is significant to the real world. And is still an ongoing issue. Child abuse. Children all over the world are being abused and neglected, but the child doesn't speak up. The drama really puts this into perspective. Kudos to the director and writer.

I love how it also approaches child adoption positively. The happiness and significance of when you adopt a child. And the importance of being a good mother.
"There are people who think that a woman becomes a mother only when she gives birth to a child. But A woman becomes a mother when she gives all of her to an existence smaller than her"

"A long time ago, there was a baby rabbit that wanted to run away. "Mom, I'm going to run away." When the baby rabbit said that, the mother rabbit said, "If you run away, I'll come after you, Because you are my cute child." Then, the baby rabbit said."Then, I'll become a fish and swim away." Then, the mother rabbit said, "If you become a fish, I'll become a fisherman, and Bam! I'll catch you."

Leia Mais

Motherhood comes in differents aspects.

I did not see the Japanese version and I'm not fluent in English.

Honestly, the drama didn't move me at much as it did for others because I couldn't get into how SooJin was portrayed and I found some of her actions self-centered.
One line that I agree with wholeheartedly in the whole drama was "Getting to Iceland isn't the problem rn."
I won't say that I don't understand why she did what she did, but I would've not let a little girl recently abused alone, in a hotel room nor in a park, when I know we're on the run AND she's traumatized. It was so disturbing for me to see her being left alone multiple times, when she could've been brought along. Her only goal was to escape to Iceland, no matter what and I understand that, but she left a tray of problems behind her everytime she passed somewhere. The start was beautiful but it was getting very frustrating for me.

The drama however, conveys really well the dynamic between all the characters. I do not hate a single character except Seol Ak. We can see how the relationships play, how the power between moms - child or just partner - mom can influence a life VERY strongly so I did like that.

Leia Mais

Don't forget your tissue boxes

I'm not going to go too in depth with this review because simply writing about Mother won't give it the justice that it deserves. I watched Mother months ago, but my heart still aches whenever I think about it (I promise that I'm not crying as I write this review). I believe that Mother is the true definition of an unforgettable series. Every element of the show, from the story to the music, enhanced each other in such a way that without even one element, the show wouldn't be the same. This unity within the show might be why it's so unlike any other Asian dramas out there. Along with how unified the show is, I felt that the story was amazingly executed. No matter how interesting a story is, if it's not executed properly, then it's meaning will be lost. So, it's truly amazing that the story of Mother is carried out so well that the meaning isn't lost. I also appreciated how every character and every part of the story always related back to one thing; the "kidnapping." Sometimes, shows get so carried away with their side stories that it becomes really confusing. So, it was refreshing to see that everything in Mother always related back to the "kidnapping" in some way. Honestly, I still don't understand how something as genuine and as brilliant as Mother could ever be created, but it was created, so we should give ourselves a chance to appreciate this masterpiece.

PS: I gave a low rewatch value rating because Mother is so special that I wouldn't want to ruin it's impact on me by rewatching it.

Leia Mais

Well... What can I say about this drama... Where I can start to explain how I was positively influenced by the content. It was emotionally rich and I think it is a good project because it shows an important relationship in the world: being mother-child.

It was a drama that showed how the concept of "motherhood" can be understood in different ways. What is the meaning of being a mother? What is being a mother? Who is a mother? Through all the episodes it was interesting to see how being a mother can be a difficult but important role for the children. It was a good time investment to try to understand how it can be declined the relationship between a mother and a child.

It was important to understand the personal experiences that shape the view about motherhood. Seeing how the various traumas and the happiness in various periods of life can influence and define the individuum and the decisions that will be taken in the future.

About the casting, I can say that the various actresses did deliver the characters' emotions and particularities in a good way. particularly the main roles: Lee Bo Young and Heo Yool. Very happy about that.

Last but not least, this drama is a remake of another Japanese project. Personally, I did not watch the original version, so I can not compare the two stories and productions, but I think that the two projects would always have their strong points and critical points.

Leia Mais

This is a heartbreaking drama. It's also one of the best and most emotional dramas I've seen in a long time. One defining characteristic of this drama is that everything happening in it was just so crude, so spontaneous. The characters were literally deciding on their next steps as they went along - from Soo Jin and Hye Na, Soo Jin's family, the police, and even all the way to Seol Ak. This sense of unpredictability is what kept me glued to this drama.

However, what makes this drama so beautifully painful and complicated is that it left me confused as to what's right and wrong. The main characters were all doing something morally right but legally wrong, or even legally right but morally wrong. Soo Jin steals Hye Na from her parent and guardian, but saves her from future harm. Did we all literally just justify and condone kidnapping if it's for the greater good? Soo Jin's sister reports her to the police and the investigation goes public. Rightfully so and by all means report a kidnapping. But what happens to Hye Na who might've actually been saved from future harm? A lot of side characters had to step up and make big decisions, all of which tested their morality and sense of justice. Jo Han Chul and his partner were both adamant about fulfilling their roles as cops, but throughout the chase, both eventually got swayed.

Is it right to be wrong, or is it wrong to be right? Cry a bit, or cry a lot. Laugh a bit (those siblings at the barber shop / saloon), or laugh a lot (what's there to laugh at?). What I'm truly getting at is just watch this goddamn drama.

Leia Mais

As someone who is a big fan of romance dramas, I didn’t expect myself to be so immersed in a storyline of another genre. However, I found myself crying and hurting for all the characters in almost every single episode – and after completing the drama in about 3-4 days, I can confidently say that Mother is on the top of my favorites list. I can’t even begin to explain how well-written and well-executed this drama was. After experiencing Lee Bo Young’s amazing skill and talent as an actress in various other dramas, I set the bar pretty high for Mother – and I was not disappointed. Not only did she take on her role with confidence, it also seemed as if she truly felt the pain and love that a mother would feel – a connection with her character that made each scene even more touching, raw, and emotional. I’ve seen several BTS cuts of her crying, even after the scene had ended – this only made me appreciate her even more as an actress. Furthermore, Heo Yool did an excellent job at portraying the reality of abusive domestic relationships. For someone so young, she has so much talent and resilience to be playing such a heart-wrenching role. All of the supporting actors and actresses did an amazing job as well; even though I loved some and hated most, I truly appreciate how each character was executed in a way that contributed to the story line. Cut out all the fluff, fillers, and bullshit – this drama gives you the true reality of how screwed up family, friends, and romantic relationships can be; it also personally made me appreciate the people in my life more. Re-watch value would be a 2/10 because I’m not trying to add to my one liter of tears here (if you catch my reference, I love you). In general, I would recommend watching this drama; it’s definitely an eye-opener.

Leia Mais

Beautiful and haunting from start to finish, Mother is a drama that's in a league of it's own. This drama isn't for those faint of heart and it works best that way—the problem of child abuse and how it effects children even all the way to adulthood, to the inner workings of children and how they understand more than we give them credit for, to the true meaning of the what it means and takes to become a mother in both positives and negatives is at the heart of this drama and makes it so incredibly beautiful to watch. There's twists and turns at every point, and you'll be holding your breath throughout every episode, and like myself, you'll probably have a good long cry after during some episodes.

The acting was beyond amazing. Lee Boyoung, Heo Yool, Lee Hyeyoung and Go Sunghee gave spectacular performances from start to end, and you really got a great sense of all of their characters and the complicated nature of all of their relationships. Even the more 'support' cast had wonderful performances and not one character was hopelessly thrown in with no real purpose—even the characters you think may have little to no point end up having a significant role as the story continues along. Also special props to Son Seok Koo (who plays Lee Seol Ak) for such a great performance and depth he gave to his character to the very end.

This drama isn't something I can rewatch easily, considering I had to take it in small doses, but it was a beautiful watch and something I would recommend to anybody who wants to see a drama really focused on an issue, with great female characters across the board, and with a story that will touch you to your core.

Leia Mais

This drama was in watchlist since it first started airing back in 2018. The plot itself was enough for me to know that this drama will be emotionally draining. Fast forward to 2023, after being recommended to watch it by a lot of my kdrama friends, I finally decided to watch it.

The drama was surely draining for me, but not in a bad way. This is an extremely good drama, and maybe would end up in my top 10 dramas if I were to create a list for that.

Coming back to the drama, I loved the fact that this wasn't just a single dimensional saving the kid from her abusive mother (and her partner) plotline. It was a lot more than that. While the title Mother (or Call me Mother) may suggest Kang Soo Jin's decision to become Kim Yoon Bok (Kim Hye Na)'s mother, but the title actually has got a lot more broader significance to it.

Throughout the drama we come across and get to see different kind of mothers:

1. Kang Soo Jin: An Ornithologist (bird researcher) who works in a school part time for a few days while planning to go to Iceland and continue to work on her research. Due to her childhood trauma of being left behind at an orphanage by her biological mother, she has decided to not become a mother.

But when she sees a kid who reminds her of her abusive childhood, she decides to become a mother for the child, and goes to the extent her of kidnapping the kid (with her consent) in order to save her from her abusive mother and her partner. Throughout the drama we see Soo Jin struggling and trying to find the best way in order to get away with Yoon Bok, and also make sure she loves her a mother.

2. Shin Ja Young: She is Hye Na's biological mother. She is almost completely opposite to what Kang Soo Jin is a mother. Her partner broke up with her on the day Hye Na was born and must have struggled a lot making a living as a single mother. Things get worse when she gets dependent on a man, who is not only a child abuser, but sort of a serial child killer as well. While at times you sort of do understand why Shin Ja Young is the way she is, but that doesn't really justify her actions towards Hye Na.

Multiple times the drama shows that Hye Na was never a priority for her. She doesn't care much even when the Police suspect Hye Na to be dead, and doesn't even care if she is alive or not as long as she is away from her.

3. Nam Hong Hee: She is Kang Soo Jin's biological mother. While in the starting episodes we get to see the events of Soo Jin being left behind at the orphanage from her and also from Sister Clara's Point of view, things get clear when you get to know the truth about it once we get to know Nam Hong Hee's side story.

She had to leave Soo Jin at the orphanage since she had killed her abusive partner who had hit both of them, and so was going to confess to the police. She wouldn't want Soo Jin to be left alone with no one around to take care of her, and also didn't want the "murderer's child" tag to be put upon Soo Jin. That was the main reason for her leaving her daughter at the orphanage.

Once she got released from the prison, she finds a place near Soo Jin's residence in order to at least get to see her daughter grow up. While you may hate Nam Hong Hee in the start, but as things get clearer you cannot help but feel sorry for a mother who had to kill her partner who was hitting her child, and as a result had to go to prison. She didn't really have a choice back then, and did what she thought would be best for her child. Maybe she knew this would traumatizing for her child, or even knew she would be hated for that and never get to see her, but at that time, her priority was to ensure Soo Jin would have a place to sleep, get to eat and be safe.

While both Nam Hong Hee and Shin Ja Young are similar in being mothers who abandoned their child, and also had abusive partners. They are a lot different as mothers. One killed her partner to save her child, decided to give up being mother just so her child could be safe, but the other was ready to sacrifice her kid as long as she could live and get away with her partner.

4. Cha Young Shin: I'll be honest. When the drama started, and we didn't really know anything about her, I thought she was a baddie. We see Soo Jin having flashbacks of herself being abused, and we see Cha Young Shin sort of aggressively look for her. But little did I know how great and sweet of a character she was.

It was just so beautiful to know it was Soo Jin who actually helped Young Shin heal herself when she was crying be herself in the orphanage. Soo Jin thinking her to be a new kid decided to help her sleep and calm her down. I just loved how she loved Soo Jin despite her not meeting or talking to for the past 10 years.

Cha Young Shin was such a lively character, she was full of emotions, she knew how to take actions and when to take actions. She didn't even let her other 2 daughters feel that they were adopted and raised them making them believe they were her biological daughters. She was not not only a great mother to all of them, but was a great grandmother to her grandkids as well as Yoon Bok.


You could at times not understand her, especially when it came to some of her actions towards Nam Hong Hee when she comes to know she is Soo Jin's real mom. But she redeems herself by correcting things, and also meeting up with Nam Hong Hee. Sometimes you see her really crave for love from Soo Jin, you her being insecure and scared to whether Soo Jin really sees her as her mom. It was really great to see Soo Jin finally talk to her and confess how much she loves her as her mother.

All the mothers mentioned above are what make the title of this drama as Mother. Throughout the drama we see how action any of those mothers actually affected and still affects the lives of the characters. Just like how Lee Seol Ak's mother's abusive behavior towards him and suicide made him how he was now. He became just like his mother when it came to abuse, or maybe even worse, and that was when how he later started to kill children for very random reasons like they being very noise or even quiet.

Another very interesting take of this drama was on the fact that who a Mother really is. Is she the one who gives birth to a child, or is it the one who actually loves, takes care and nurtures the kid. We saw how Soo Jin, and Cha Young Shin decided to take care of children who were not related to them. As I said, Cha Young Shin even raised her other 2 daughters as if they were her biological daughters and they never got to suspect that. And then we have mothers like Shin Ja Young, or Lee Seol Ak's mother, who are abusive in nature and hardly cared about their kids.

You don't develop motherly love for anyone just because you gave birth to them. You can develop motherly love for children if you decide to take up the role of their mother, and that is what we got to see in Soo Jin and Cha Young Shin's case. Soo Jin's love for Yoon Bok was so genuine, that she even made a detective question himself for going after her and consider giving up in between, and he would have done that if his senior partner would not have made him continue the investigation. Time after time we see people know Soo Jin and Yoon Bok are not related, but after seeing their interaction together, they decide to turn a blind eye and help them.

Yoon Bok/Hye Na as a character also shows us that kids are not always clueless as they show to be. Yoon Bok always knew what was happening to her, but would always defend Shin Ja Young since she would blame herself for Shin Ja Young's hard life. Throughout the drama we see Yoon Bok feel and understand the emotions of other people, know what kind of people they really are by observing them. Also seeing the scenes of her living in child shelter in the later episodes and helping out kids and play with them, makes you really think how her life would have been if she would have a proper mother or parent who would give her love as much as she gives to others. She might be an abused child, but she is a very cheerful kid who is always ready to help others.

Everything about this drama was almost perfect, from the start to the ending when we finally get to see Soo Jin officially adopt Yoon Bok as her daughter. The only thing I think I would have liked to see the drama explore a bit more is towards backstory of Shin Ja Young. I know we get to see her the flashback scene of her partner breaking up with her just when she gave birth to Hye Na, but I hoped we would get to see a bit more of her backstory to sort of understand her character more. Other than that this was a great drama for me.

Leia Mais