Hi Bye, Mama! (2020)

Tears.. Lots and Lots of Tears

So much crying. To be fair when I was first watching the trailer for this drama I wasn't sure if I had just zoned out and misunderstood what I was listening to but I thought that this drama was different from what it actually ended up being and because of that I was incredibly confused watching the first episode.

The drama is pretty good. You grow attached to a lot of the characters even the ones that I was unsure if they were even gonna show up for more than one episode. I liked watching the story play out and seeing how it takes a toll on each character emotionally and mentally. Although a lot of the reactions are not necessarily unexpected it is still nice to see it play out and share that experience with the characters. One of the characters that I was not expecting to actually feel bad for was the step mom. One of the moments where I realized that I genuinely felt for the character was near the end where she finds out that Cha Yu Ri was actually alive and you could tell that she was feeling bad for what she would only describe as taking her husband and child from her. However no one else saw it this way because they know, as well as the viewer, that thats not how it played out at all. So as all the characters are apologizing to her because they feel bad for not telling her the truth before but also because they understand what she might be feeling given the information. I truly felt bad for the character in that situation.

I'm terrible at writing reviews so I don't have any nuanced closing statement so I will put in my one "gripe" with the show which is arguably not really all that bad but is something I have to mention. There is a lot of crying in this show. Like I knew this show was gonna be sad, but wow I don't think I have ever experienced a drama where at every episode there was going to be a scene where one or more characters were going to be crying to their hearts content. It was to the point where I could imagine that they had to make sure these actors and actresses were properly hydrated considering the amount of tears that would be rolling down their faces at any given moment. I for one as a viewer am all for sad and emotional dramas. I consider myself an emotional person in the sense where I am more than happy to cry tears of joy or sadness while consuming media. I'm not one who does it often but when I do it means that whatever I was watching was pretty good and so it heavily skews the way I personally grade shows. That being said this was the first time that I felt that I couldn't even cry even if I wanted to because of just how exhausted I was from all the crying I had done watching this show. It also doesn't help that I was watching this show in the span of like 3-4 days, I feel like if I had watched this weekly maybe I would have felt differently. The show is really sad though and a lot of the scenes where characters are crying are justified and don't feel forced, its just that I don't think my body had it in me to cry anymore. This gripe I had with the show is hardly a criticism for the show and it was more just something I couldn't write a review without mentioning.

tldr: very sad, very enjoyable show but expect tears, like a lot, like get some water so you don't pass out from dehydration bc you cried so much a lot.

also my rewatch score is low mostly because I don't like re-watching shows

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This drama makes you rethink about your life. What have you done for the people around you and what have you done for yourself. It makes you evaluate whether you have been happy and whether your closest friends and family are happy because of you.

Spoiler

It’s a really great drama with good acting. I’m not giving it a higher score because there’s one plot point that I really dislike, which is the fact that Seo-woo can see ghost and would continue on seeing ghost if Yu-Ri didn’t die again. I personally didn’t see a problem of her seeing ghost. I think she would be able to live a normal life once everyone around her is aware of the fact and could teach her how to differentiate them. So for me the incentive of needing to die is not strong enough.

End of spoiler

I really like the plot that Yu ri comeback to live 5 years later, instead of a shorter period. Here we could see the conflict of the living already moving on with their live and how they need to adjust to the fact that their beloved came back to live. It makes you wonder what would you do if you are in the same situation, as Yu Ri or her family and friends. Both have their own problem to deal with.

I think the pacing could be better. There’s to much build up on the first half that they rush through the ending. The ending feels lackluster compared to the beginning. It doesn’t have the sense of urgency, it just feels like a series of plot point needed to be stitched together to give an ending. I wish they give more time to develop the third act.

The casts are great. Especially Lee Kyu Hyung as the main male lead, he potrays Jo Gang Hwa, Yu Ri’s husband, so well. We could really feel the conflicting emotions and thoughts that run around in his head. I also really like Shin Dong Mi who played as Go Hyun Jung, Yu Ri’s best friend. She’s like the big sister to everyone, keeping her cool, but also conflicted. I’m not a big fan of Kim Tae Hee as Yu Ri, especially in the later half, because I think she didn’t convey enough of her resolve, she just look lost and crying all the time. She’s better in the first half I think, when she doesn’t have to play such heavy emotions.

The sound tracks are good, nothing stand out for me, but I really enjoy it and it brings more ambiance that fits the series. Good cinematography, not much of a scenery, but it fits the feel of the show.

I would rewatch this drama. It would always makes me rethink about my life and makes me reflect on what I have done along the years.

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A non-horror ghost story, but is not for the faint of heart. This show is funny but deeply scary. Scary in terms of the reality of death.

Overall it is enjoyable and eye opening how important our life is with our loved ones.

Life is short, make the most of it.

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A non-horror ghost story, but is not for the faint of heart. This show is funny but deeply scary. Scary in terms of the reality of death.

Overall it is enjoyable and eye opening how important our life is with our loved ones.

Life is short, make the most of it.

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A non-horror ghost story, but is not for the faint of heart. This show is funny but deeply scary. Scary in terms of the reality of death.

Overall it is enjoyable and eye opening how important our life is with our loved ones.

Life is short, make the most of it.
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A non-horror ghost story, but is not for the faint of heart. This show is funny but deeply scary. Scary in terms of the reality of death.

Overall it is enjoyable and eye opening how important our life is with our loved ones.

Life is short, make the most of it.

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*SLIGHT SPOILER*


I really like this show. How it portrays the emotions of the characters and how you don't really know what will happen yet. And that's exactly my problem. I don't who will end up with Gang-hwa and what will happen to Yu-ri. I know that's the point of a TV show. But wont it be to sad if yu-ri dies again. Or she ends up with gang-hwa and Min- Jung doesn't or will yu-ri be replaced again. this drama makes me anxious because although the ghost part wont happen in real life. Being replaced does happen and it is extremely sad. i recommend this if you like the joy of family being together, comedy, and grief. ps my fave character is Geun-sang he's so funny in his own way and its cute as well.:)

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The drama is too sad, it tells you what does it feels to lose your wife. It a long, hard journey just to live your life. It hard to live, it hard to see the small things, everything.
The actors are great, they poured everything into the characters. Kim Tae Hee is great after 3 years, damm. KEEP IT UP!!!

Thank you for all the actors, staff members, and production crews, everyone who work hard for this drama. It must been hard to shoot for the current situation, and I know that the directors must have a great ending already. I can tell what is the ending, but I heard that we are getting something better.

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Hi, mom, I love you!

GOSH. We all know that this drama is tearjerker worthy from the title. It does but it also brings such a warmth to my heart.

Voiced in the main character's narrative, this drama has a bias of value from Cha Yuri, the deceased mother. We will be treated like a friend, who sympathize and bleed with her. But not rarely, also smile for her in between.

The dynamics from the characters are so impressive. The portrayal of family and their issues will make the audience the exact dilemma. It represents the value of the Asian family as well. I do reflect a lot about life and love upon watching this drama.

Super lovely, ESPECIALLY BABIEEEES! Super cute. I think this drama will restore faith about love within your family. I hope so, it's just important <3

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can''t make this up that was hands down one of the few dramas that made me tear up from each ep and it was worth it you can really feel the emotions through the screen !!! from the acting to ost to writing even the supporting actors everything is wrapped around well. only "downhill" was when they cry everytime but ig it's necessary since it's a melodrama. it made me think abt how will my choices affect others esp my family, how will they act after i do smth irrational the individual stories truly tackles abt your life decisions :(
anyways if you're willing to enjoy family bonding, helping friends, emotional romance then watch this !!

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I was initially so so reluctant to start it.It wont be a happy one,the title literally says "hi bye mama" And I got spoiled for ending.I read all the comments and all of it was about the drama being a tearjerker.

Finally I gave it a try, And I havent watched any other drama that made me cry this much, every episode. This broke my heart to pieces and put them back to break it again. But I do not regret it one bit. This was one of the most beautiful drama therein.

The entire story of her love for the child was so much ,I wonder if any love story can ever even come close to a mother's love.

Yu ri had such a hard time,being a ghost and not able to take care of seo woo,watching her family breakdown and mourn her. She watched them trying cope up,failing, her husband slowly fall in love. And all of it silently,with no one knowing of her existence. All the characters cry in this drama and I cried along with them every time.
Her friendship with Hyeong jeong was so lovely.
And finally her husband was flawed. Initially I was so angry at him for remarrying but like yuri , I Couldn't hate min jeong because she was so good to seo woo and a nice person.All of them were too good,I couldnt even try to blame any of them.
Seo woo was too adorable, every time she smiled she took my heart.And I came to know its a cute boy who played the role of girl in this drama.How adorable!

Best of all, yu-ri's mom and yuri together was so heartwarming. I loved the writer's earlier drama 'Go back couple',especially the mother-daughter scene.This drama took it up a notch and made it too beautiful and sad.And yuri always seeing her daughter while her mom has always been seeing yuri made me wonder about my mom too. What an arc! -Mother's love brought her child.

And the acting was too good. Kim tae hee as yu-ri was so real and beautiful soul. All others characters also acted well, I liked her best friend and mom the most.

And finally, this drama taught me a lot of things. To cherish life more, to be happy and tobmake people happy. In the end we all arent going to live forever, how many of us going to be mourned like yu-ri then?

I'll always come back to this drama on a bad day, sad day, just to see their story and maybe shed some tears or two.

" A woman who lost her husband is a Widow,
A man who lost his wife is a widower,
A kid who lost his parents is orphan,
But there is no word for a parent who lost their
kid, know why?
Because no word can describe it. No word can
describe the excruciating pain."

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Ah...
What could be expected of the title "Hi, Bye, Mama" other than saying hello only to say goodbye again.
It was a truly emotive and beautiful drama.
Although their tears streamed a lot, there were moments which felt much more raw and fresh and real. Those moments really sold this drama for me.
The humour, although minimal, was a great touch. The characters, although flawed, were perfectly imperfect. The story, although incredibly bittersweet, was purely brilliant.
So, as I said hello to this drama...
It is now time to say goodbye.
Goodbye, Hi Bye Mama.
Thanks for being an amazing drama.
Now, it's time to say hello to what comes next~

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Everything about this show was perfect

'Hi, Bye Mama' to me was perfect in everyway, I found no faults with the drama. The whole premise of a mother dying for her baby then coming back to life 5 years later for 49 is very intresting but sad. This is the first show to where I can fully say I did not dislike a single character in the whole show. Normally I would dislike one of the leads in dramas due to the way they are put in the story but with this, instead of disliking them I loved them instead. I would normally not like Min Jeong because she'd be a threat to Yu Ri for getting back with Gang Hwa but instead she was the most graceful person here.

First off with Yu Ri, I couldn't feel anything but sorry for her. She died protecting Seo Woo and then lived as a ghost for 5 years watching over Gang Hwa and Seo Woo to make sure they were okay and what was heartbreaking was when anything bad was happening to them she couldn't do anything but watch because she cant talk nor touch them so she would just suffer while watching them. The whole 49 judgement days were quite cruel because halfway through I realised that it was judging her on wether she would be selfless or selfish and she was probably the most selfless person In the show, every action she did was for someone else and she wasn't greedy in the slightest. Her relationship with Seo Woo was really fun to watch but also heartbreaking aswell, in the 49 days she had Seo Woo didn't know she was her Mom and never called her Mom once so that mustv'e broke her heart everytime. When Yu Ri was saying goodbye to Seo Woo and Seo Woo said 'Goodbye Mom' that was the most saddest moment in the show because that was the first and last time she would hear the words 'Mom' from Seo Woo and it breaks my heart. Yu Ri literally makes us queation ourselves because in the fact that If we left now and came back for 49 days, would we do what she did and be selfless because I know for a fact 75% would be greedy and live thier life like they want to.

Gang Hwa character really hurts to watch at times because he went through 13 years of being with Yu Ri thinking he would grow old with her watching Seo Woo get married and live her life but instead in the blink of an eye his world gets torn down by the sudden death of his Wife. When he met Min Jeong and his time started to start again, he finally picked himself back up but in the back of his head when he was happy with her and every positive emotion he felt, he would be hit with a pang of guilt reminding himself of Yu Ri and he would feel terrible. His relationship with both Yu Ri and Min Jeong are both beautiful in thier own way and are both the lights in which make him feel better again. At the end of the show when he had to accept that Yu Ri is going to die again, you can clearly see that the time in which stopped 5 years ago has actually started again and whenever he thought of Yu Ri he would have a smile on his face.

Min Jeong in my opinion is such an amazing character, evrn though she didn't know Yu Ri was Seo Woo's mom she treated her like a best friend and was glad to have met her. When she found out that Seo Woo's mom has been her friend for a while and it was Yu Ri I have no possible idea how she must of felt when she cried. She loved Seo Woo even though that she didn't give birth to her but despite that she did. She was consistantly very caring and kind throughout the whole show and we never saw a bad side of her. Min Jeong was a main character but was a secondary main and normally I don't like them at first and they get redeemed later on but not once did I not like her, her relationship with Yu Ri was beautiful and after she Yu Ri died again she probably cherished those moments and loved Seo Woo and Gang Hwa even more so Yu Ri didn't have to worry about them.

Just quickly with Seo Woo, I'm going to guess that she got told that the pretty aunt that she was with when she was five was her birth mother as at the end we see that she kept the picture of her and her dad inside the book so that she wouldn't forget her. She probably considers both Yu Ri and Min Jeong as her moms and will cherish them both,

I want to quickly talk about the ghosts. Even though they were not main characters, whenever they had a story to tell I cried for them which is unlike me because I normally only care about the main but the way they told the story of the ghosts and treated them as indivuals with thier own story was amazing. Especially that kid at the start who was the cause of Seo Woo going into the freezer, that kids story had me crying more than any main lead I have cried to which showed just how much thish show cared for its casts.

The OST was just perfect for this show, I liked how they didn't overuse them and used just the right ones for the right moment so the scene would feel more special and that was probably one of the reasons why I cried so much during my time watching this drama.

Overall this drama was just amazing, If your looking for a Romantic Comedy then this is not teh show for you, This show is more a show of healing and shows us what someone would do if they died unfairly and had 49 days to live left. If your looking for a show where you want to like whole cast and love the story without feeling empty at the ending I whole heartedly wish you would watch this show and give it a try.

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