Xiehou Ta de Shaonu Shidai

Mom, I'm Sorry is an emotional roller coaster that beautifully combines fantasy with harsh reality. Cuican(whom I will refer to as Henry) is a young man who, only upon facing the imminent loss of his mother, realizes just how much she means to him. In an act of profound sacrifice, he bargains with a lifespan dealer, surrendering four decades of his own life to restore his mother’s youth and health, transforming her into a vibrant 20-year-old with a second chance at life. From here, Henry dedicates his remaining, limited days to making sure his mother lives life to the fullest—even if he has to hide ... the true cost from her.

One of the show's standout elements is how it portrays the mother-son relationship. Having been sick most of her life, his mother never had a chance to truly experience her youth or live for herself. Her struggle is made more poignant when we learn that she, too, made sacrifices for her own mother, giving up her hard-earned college savings to help a parent who wasn't particularly kind to her.

The series does an excellent job of exploring the theme of appreciation and forgiveness. Henry's journey is as much an apology as it is an attempt to make amends for the time he took his mother for granted. His character development is one of the most compelling aspects of the series: he grows from an indifferent son to a compassionate, selfless young man, deeply aware of the importance of family, friends, and life itself.

While the show effectively captures the essence of love and sacrifice, some aspects feel rushed. With so many events packed into each episode, there were times when it felt as though the emotional impact was diluted. Perhaps stretching the story over more episodes or an additional season would have allowed for deeper, more resonant storytelling. That said, my perspective shifted by the final episode—it managed to pull everything together beautifully, leaving a lasting impression and satisfying my expectations.

Overall, the story felt like a letter from a son seeking forgiveness and redemption, a beautiful yet bittersweet story about love, family, and the ultimate price one is willing to pay for a loved one’s happiness. It’s a series that will tug at your heartstrings, blending lighthearted humor with profound themes that are likely to leave you in tears.

Lately there have been very high quality donghua based on manhwa webtoons, and this continues the trend. It's a well animated show with beautiful music and a heartwarming story. It's the kind of show you might want to watch with your mom. And you might want to start treating her better.

In the prologue, we are shown that the mother takes great pains to raise an unfilial boy, and on her deathbed he wishes on a star to sacrifice himself to give mom the life she deserves. In anime parents are usually absent or abusive, so we don't often get to see this kind of parental ... love and filial piety. It's a fairy tale story, with morals and magic, but with a setting and characters more grounded in the real world, which makes it much more relatable.

The show is mostly plot-driven, with characters responding to the situations that arise. A weakness is that some parts of the plot feel arbitrarily thrown in to keep things moving or create difficulties.

The character designs are very nice and have young adult human proportions. Mom is beautiful and Can is quite handsome. Can is already very filial by the beginning of the show, but his flaw is being too protective of Mom and being prone to violence. Mom hardly has flaws at all, being confident, kind, strong, and wise, but maybe brash. But the character traits don't really affect the plot much. The voice acting is good.

The music is great, with a couple good insert songs which you can find in the forum discussion below.

The ending is anime original, and is very satisfying and conclusive.

Story: 7
Animation: 9
Characters: 8
Music: 10

This show presents a unique blend of heartfelt family drama and supernatural fantasy, delivering a poignant narrative about redemption, sacrifice, and the bonds between parent and child. The series sets a solid foundation with its intriguing premise, what would happen if you could give your parent a second chance at youth? It's a fresh twist on the familiar theme of familial love, where instead of parents guiding their children into adulthood, Gong Hyo-chan must step up and support his newly rejuvenated mother.

The role reversal adds complexity to the protagonist's character development, which makes his arc very compelling, he starts as an indifferent son who only ... comes to appreciate his mother once it’s almost too late. His decision to sacrifice his life for her is an act of desperation, but as the story unfolds, it transforms into an earnest journey of atonement. His redemption is gradual and believable, as he navigates the college world alongside his youthful mother. While the supernatural element is key to the plot, the heart of the story lies in the exploration of generational relationships, respect for one's parents, and the value of time.

Gong Hyo-chan's mother, Yeon Geum-Ok, despite her youthful appearance, retains the wisdom and compassion of a seasoned parent. This dynamic leads to some endearing moments as she continues to act like a mother, not just to her own son, but to other students, subtly guiding them toward adulthood. It's a refreshing take, as many stories that involve "youthful" parents tend to reduce them to childlike behavior. Here, the mother is steadfast, using her new life to offer guidance rather than seeking frivolous self-indulgence.

Finally, although it is bittersweet, the ending is quite fitting, as it reflects the cycle of parenthood, allowing both characters to close their arcs in a way that reinforces the show's core message about love, family, and moving forward. Overall, Mom, I’m Sorry is a solid, emotionally resonant show that tackles the complexities of family relationships in a supernatural context. It’s at its best when focusing on Gong Hyo-chan’s internal struggles and his relationship with his mother, though it does stumble when it drifts into side plots that dilute the emotional core. Fans of the source material might note that the anime tones down some of the darker elements from the original, likely for broader appeal, but it still captures the heart of the story. If you’re looking for a touching, if occasionally uneven, exploration of family and self-growth, this series delivers.