This review may contain spoilers
Living life, and accepting it for the journey if it, is the journey completed
Make no mistake, this is a slice of life through and through. And if you're not one to be pulled in with characters over action—if you don't like the introspective and sometimes crushingly realistic journey of these characters change, or if you don't like heavy symbolism and an ending that isn't the clear-cut "life is all good now", then this drama might not be made for you.It was very much made for me, though, and I'm sure a lot of others too.
First off, let me appreciate the writing for a minute. The level of skill, and dedication to craft it takes to create a story that's so emotionally resonant—where every disappointment, every bit of happiness, every piece of love, contempt and grief that the characters feel—you feel. Line by line, it's impressive, but character to character too. Even if the ending was heavy on the symbolism—none of it felt cheap, and all of it can be pieced together with fragments of the earlier episodes. The Netflix subtitling, even when very notedly wrong in some places, still manages to encapsulate some of the great feeling of this drama.
"I wish I could go back in time and sit quietly next to your younger self."
"Rather than going through exhausting, difficult times without you, isn't it more admirable that I'm finding strength thinking of you?"
"Come eat. This is me worshipping you."
It's not just the writing that should be lauded though. Everything culminated beautifully in this drama; the acting, the direction, the music. It feels like you're watching a work of love.
These are characters on a journey of liberation, which is a constant process of identification, acceptance, change—then the cycle keeps on going, and never stops until right at the very final destination. Even if that cycle feels monotonous, like it's unchanging and you're caught in a world of apathy, there is a freedom, a beauty and a joy to be found in it too. This drama feels like a therapy session I needed, and it has given me a lot to take on with my own journey of liberation.
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This is best of the best.
I already watched three times while waiting for last two episodes. The story,characters, dialogues and music; god I love them all. You can feel all kinds of emotions in this drama. And I want you to feel it with me. Go and watch. Sure you will like it, if you're a real fan of drama.Hrr.., this is all I want to say but they said I can't submit unless I write 500 characters.
So, I love all the characters but I love Mr.gu, male lead the most. Yes, you can see it in my username haha. Whatever, I worship you Mr.Gu ^^
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An introverts dream
In eight simple weeks, I spent my weeks longing for the weekend to come by quickly just so I could watch 2 hours of My Liberation Notes. I haven’t felt this deeply about something in a while, Park Hae-young is an incredible writer who consistently puts out profound work that I just know I will tune in.My Liberation Notes touches on the mundane and depressing notes on life and work that just about anyone can relate to. The feeling of getting up in the morning knowing that all you can think about is getting home so you can go back to sleep and escape life for eight hours. That as soon as Monday comes around you cannot wait for Saturday. It’s not often I ever feel represented in the shows I watch but seeing Mi-jung navigate life and liberate herself from the pain that is life was so personal to me because she spoke true words that I felt everyday. Life is so painful and working is a chore when you don’t necessary enjoy the life you’re given.
From an introvert who also finds this life depressing, dull and unfair. I’m so thankful I was given something to watch that gave me an escape but also was able to see myself in this story.
A+ for the cinematography, OST, phenomenal cast, writer and director everything about this was so perfect to me.
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MASTERPIECE! NEW CRUSH UNLOCKED= MRS GU
This drama is the definition of a great character driven drama. The drama doesnt have a specific plot exept of course for the fact that Mrs Gu comes into their lives. Even without a main plot this drama manage to make you fell in love with it and the characters, it can make you excited to watch more, to watch all of the characters struggle in a very realistic way. There is nothing that i can find unrealistic about this drama, each character stayed true to each self till the end, most dramas create characters and as the plot progress they change them, they make them more soft or more loving etc, but this drama just kept everyone the same, maybe with some differences but no one change entirely and that is exactly what makes this so realistic.The characters were so well written with great depth and the chemistry between all of them was great. But what surpriced me the most is how relatable they all are. We watched them in every aspect of their lives, when they were sad and lonely but also when they felt loved and happy, There are not enough words to express how well written and interesting all of them were, i will always have them in my heart, i learn a lot of things from them, the way they talked about their feelings made me realise that sometimes i have the same thoughts (especially with Mi Jung) and that it is okay to struggle sometimes, if only you have at least 5 minutes of happiness each day.
The stories the three siblings had were so interestings. My personal favorite was Mi Jung story mostly because not only i can relate to her the most but also because her story had Mrs Gu aka the NVP of the whole drama, my new crush, they storyline and the whole worship thing was so beautiful, how they felt whole when they were together and miserable when they didnt had each other, how they always talk about their feelings and never judge each other, omg they were so beautiful together, definitely one of my favorite couples in every Kdrama i have watched. Ki Jung story was good too, i would like to see more of her relationship with the child but i liked that they made it realistic and didnt make the child magically accept her. Chang Hee story was the least favorite for me, i think maybe i couldnt really connect with him after all.
The end was quite disappointing for me, i wanted more, but it wasnt bad, i think it was a little anticlimactic but at least we have an open ending so i can imagine all of them found liberation (and there is room for season 2 too, i would love to see more of them). * i was really afraid that something bad would happen at the end especially to Mrs Gu bad i am glad everyone was okay (everyone exept from one -cry-)
Anyway i can write a whole book about this drama and how much it touched my heart but i will just say that it a beautiful journey with great messages that i will cherish for life. I highly recommend this one.
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Not for everyone, but really well made
This type of drama is much more of a trigger to me than Tomorrow. THIS is depression, in its sutil and real way. And it's life, folks. That being said, it’s not my favorite kind of drama. I have to be mentally prepared to watch it. I like dramas to forget about life and have a pleasant time, but nevertheless, watching this is good for self reflection, but I wouldn’t rewatch it :)I also think they did take alcoholism and depression lightly (the second one being almost a trait of someone's personality).
One really good point is that although the story doesn't have much speed, I ate this up in two days, which means the pace is quite good (great job of writing and directing).
And beware: if you don't like realistic characters, don't watch this.
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I now need liberation from this drama
I started this without any expectations but this slow burn quickly burned its way through my heart. This show is definitely not for everyone but I plead you to give it a try. Some say that it's depressing but I would argue that that would not be an accurate description of this show because it brought me so much laughter and I felt so much hope. The slightest sliver of light, the slightest smile, is more than enough to light up everything and makes things feel like it'll all be okay in the end.We have 3 siblings living in the outskirts of Seoul, who are living a rather mundane life, tired of their 1.5hr one way commute into Seoul everyday. Just like we all do, they question their life goals, career goals, and love life. I believe everyone will be able to relate to bits and parts of each sibling. Gi Jeong is the eldest daughter, a hopeless romanist that lives with her heart on her sleeve. Chang Hee is the middle child who constantly feels like he is always down on his luck and nothing ever works out to plan. Lastly, our Mi Jeong who is silently but ever so bravely treading through her lukewarm life. In this small town, where people only ever leave, we have Gu, a visitor that mysteriously shows up and is welcomed into their little family and changes their lives forever.
Gu lives next door and is hired by the sibling's father to help out in his cabinetry/sinks factory. He is a man of very little words and literally does not say a single one word in the whole first episode but he is essentially the functioning town drunk, who you can find every night walking back and forth from the convenience store buying 2 bottles of soju at a time. One day, Mi Jeong reaches out to Gu for a favor and this is the start of our unconventional love story, a story so full of love and yet the word love never to be heard. When Mi Jeong tells Gu to worship her, i thought to myself maybe thats a mistranslation, but the more i watched their interactions, I do think worship is what they had. The words like to cherish or revere all seemed not enough anymore.
I feel like I can go on and on about all the good things about this show and my love for all the characters. Every word, every little detail was meticulously thought out yet effortlessly portrayed. I have been watching dramas for 15 years and it is very rare to actually love every single character. Don't get me wrong, every single character has their flaws, in fact, I thought Chang Hee was kinda annoying for the few few episodes, but to take his own words, he is like a drizzle. You think it isn't raining much but before you know it, you are already drenched. Slowly but surely, you start to see Chang Hee in a different light and you are just so proud of how far he has come. I have decided to be like Mi Jeong, to love and to accept everyone, flaws and all.
I am very hopeful that somewhere out there, all our characters are striving to be a happier and better version of themselves, taking one step at a time. In contrast, I will be in a kdrama slump for a while, as I am sad that MLN has come to an end. Time for me to find my own liberation.
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A MASTERPIECE
I started watching this show because I'm a huge fan of Lee Minki and all I can say is... this is a masterpiece.The writing, directing, acting... everything is precious.
They put all the talent in a project and BAM! My Liberation Notes is created.
All the actors were amazing and all the characters were interesting. Everybody had a story to tell, and I felt confortable watching every single second.
It is beautiful to watch, there are a lot of incredible quotes. You laugh, you cry, you imagine...
I'm really happy to see Minki as Changhee. I think this character was made for him in all aspects because his portrayal is beyond amazing. I'm excited to see his new project.
Congratulations to all the cast and crew! ♥
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This review may contain spoilers
Life piece for those who fell stuck
I am a fan of slow pace dramas with a slice of real life. So I started this one with big expectations and by the end I think this one will stay at my top 5 dramas.First of all I could relate to characters so much. The feeling of being stuck in the routine… I think all of us at some point feel that. So I could just watch and think “ah, I am
Not the only one who feel this way”. As an introverted person, I could see myself in MFL almost in every scene.
The romance part was interesting in terms of acting, because it’s not all fluffy and touchy, but it still shows. So that a good job from actors.
And of course the main point here is that we do not get a “happy” ending, more of an open one. Still for me it is a happy ending.
This drama is about process, not destination.
We see how people break free from their misery of everyday life and find themselves, start to understand their emotions and feelings, pay more attention to themselves and find new way.
It’s not an easy going drama. Although there are a lot of happy moments, it gets a little more “depressing” in the last couple of episodes but still I am very very grateful for this drama.
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Son Seok Koo -- I absolutely want to see him on screen again, but I doubt any character he plays will be as smoldering sexy as Gu. This was the first time I've taken notice of his acting (that I knew of at the time), but I thought that he hit it out of the park. Saying a million things with just a look.
Kim Ji Won, Lee El, and Lee Min Ki all did a wonderful job playing the Yeom siblings in a relatable and sympathetic way. I enjoyed watching each of them grow and evolve.
I tend to love slice of life dramas. I watched this in the middle of 3 such shows that were more melo than I am usually on board with. I thought for sure that I would need to break up this trio with a comedy, but I never did. MLN has been my favorite of them. I looked forward to new episodes every week. Even when it seemed like there was barely any movement in the story, as each episode was just so quiet. It relaxed me to see the siblings living their lives and trying to break free from the monotony their lives had become. It was just so dang relatable on this basic level that I was sucked in, wanting to see what choices they would make. What would change in their lives to allow some joy to come through in their exhausted drudgery of life they were living.
It was just a beautiful drama.
If you can handle the quiet, slice of life style, this one should be on your list.
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Exquisitely written slice of life
It’s been a long long time since i watched a series that moved me so much as this.the writing, the characters with all their oh so human flaws, the brilliance of the actors, the cinematography - everything was just mesmerising. There’s no razzle dazzle , simply a beautifully written and acted piece of work. The emotion this series brought out of me left me feeling drained at the end of every episode, ive Just finished the last one and the only way i can think filling the space each weekend is to watch it all again and thats precisely what i plan to do………Was this review helpful to you?
We grow up when we realize that adults don't know what to do either
As children, we hear our teachers give us instruction with such confidence. “These facts are the things that happened. These numbers add up to this sum. Our governments follow these rules that we call laws.” Outside on the playgrounds, we make up new games and the rules are made up on the spot. But around adults, it appears that there are systems and pieces that fit together and when we grow up, we’ll know the answers to how things work and where we fit.And then we reach adulthood ourselves and find that adulthood is lot like the playground games where we’re all making it all up as we go as often as not. Some of us excel at it and a lot more of us struggle to figure out who we are and how we find success or even just live in such a world. At the same time, we find moments, ephemeral as they may be, of unexpected grace and beauty and kindness.
“My Liberation Notes” is an exploration of this reality we live in and it is a stunningly beautiful rendition. Few dramas can combine such lush cinematography with immaculate editing, astonishingly original dialogue, a marvelously composed score and backdrops that might be ordinary in purpose, but are stunning with the vividness of their color. Even had it been sixteen episodes without characters or dialogue, there’s a bevy of gorgeous photography and musical accompaniment worthy of viewing pleasure.
As for the narrative, three unhappy siblings that live in the countryside divide their lives between long commutes to unrewarding jobs in Seoul and toiling on the family farm with a taciturn father and persevering mother. As adults, they all find themselves unsure of their place and their purpose. The oldest sibling is Ki Jung who has a talent for loudly saying the worst possible thing in a public place. The only son, Chang Hee, is a grown man that usually behaves like a squirming, uncomfortable child in church that simply wants to leave. The youngest and main character is Mi Jung, a soft-spoken but unbending and fearless woman that’s never found anyone that understands her. Dropped into this mix is a man known only by his last name, Gu, who is incredibly diligent and skilled but also an unapologetic alcoholic.
As for the plot, it’s very strictly and very real slice of life stuff. It’s getting through petty work disagreements. It’s complaining about the heat or suffering from the cold. It’s waxing nostalgic with old friends. It’s yearning for a few minutes of happiness a day or a new relationship. There are few destinations and the journeys rarely follow a particular direction for any length of time. There’s not so much buildups and reveals and cliffhangers. Rather, there’s symbolism and hidden meanings and guarded dialogue. When a shocking event does happen, it’s revealed initially so matter of factly that a viewer not intently watching might even miss how quickly the news had dropped.
The cast performances are outstanding. Lee Min Ki and Lee El, as Chang Hee and Ki Jung, are the extroverts and thrash and churn through their characters’ frustrations, joys and fears. Several supporting cast members shine too, especially Han Sang Jo as a longtime friend and occasional accomplice to Chang Hee, and Chun Ho Jin, as the siblings’ father. And it cannot be overlooked how much Park Soo Young and Lee Ji Hye shine brightly in very limited supporting roles as members of Mi Jung’s Liberation Club.
Kim Ji Won’s performance as Mi Jung is subdued as the character is extremely guarded and only very slowly reveals herself to Gu. It’s a very good performance and certainly one that should stand out on her resume. But despite having some of the best dialogue of recent memory, Mi Jung never comes across as a relatable human. Whether that’s due to Kim Ji Won’s restrained manner or just that the character’s humanity seems broken or whether this is a production that just isn’t interested in having characters that viewers should root for, that’s the end result - with a central figure that’s emotionally distant.
Meanwhile, Son Seok Koo as Gu is downright brilliant. He barely speaks for several episodes but his smirks and squints and head shakes and intensity belie that this is not simply a normal man with little to say. As his story unfolds and his internal struggles are revealed, it’s a devastating performance. None so far in 2022 can come close to matching it.
Overall, there’s very, very little to find fault with in “My Liberation Notes”. It is exquisitely produced from almost every angle. And it is highly recommended.
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melodramatic view into mind of adult working population
My Liberation Notes - 8.5/10 [above average] - kdramaI had been postponing watching this drama for a long time, mainly because the description on MDL didn't seem interesting to me.
Now I can finally share my opinion on this drama.
This drama follows the life of a family living on a farm outside Seoul. It explores their problems with work, friendships, human relationships, and their struggles to reconcile their great ambitions and youthful expectations with the mundane realities of daily life.
The whole drama serves as a mirror into the minds of people tired of troubles of daily life.
This drama is often compared to the kdrama My Mister, though I personally think it's a grade lower. Nevertheless, it's still a nice drama to watch.
Plot - The story follows three siblings as the main leads:
One brother who is angry at his poor life situation and aspires to be rich.
An older sister who wants to find a husband before she hits menopause.
A younger sister who is very introverted and feels suppressed at work. She meets a mysterious man who interests her.
Genre - Slice of life, melodrama, romance
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