This review may contain spoilers
Struggles we all live with
STORY:This drama is interesting as it intersects the wholly real parts of everyday living with some of the less believable areas. I'm to assume this is to keep view entertainment for a fairly slow moving drama in terms of the amount that is happening. The FL is a very sweet and quiet girl and has two siblings one brother and a sister. We find that over time as the show progresses this isn't her character, she was born in a difficult period of her families life. She didn't know the love her siblings had she shut herself down, and it's hard to not look at her softly. She desperately seeks companionship in GU and we see a quiet and understanding develop between them. I found this part of the story to take the narrative elsewhere I found having GU lead this very outlandish life to take away from the show at times, but I also found it to be fun and yeah it is silly and there are charms to unrealistic plot events. I do wish it was a bit more restrained in that aspect. I found the plots of both siblings to be very well done and frankly I though they were done better than the FL and GU, they were more grounded and relatable, both struggling in their own ways that you could see them as a person you've known.
CHARACTERS:
FL:
It was very nice seeing her grow into herself, taking up more space with the confidence she has
BIG SIS:
The funniest character and most relatable, I love the way she expresses herself
BIG BRO:
Similar to big sis, he's super relatable, i think a bit less funny and his humorous manner is so catchy
GU:
I found his character to be interesting in it I wish it was done with more subtlety but I thoroughly enjoyed his time with the FL it was very touching.
MY FEELINGS:
Really amazing show, that show how life is lived and how we come into our own selves and learn to pursue love, our own personalities and to move into your own being rather than what pain has made you become.
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Slice of life with no easy answers to life's questions
This slice-of-life style drama feels very real. The three siblings approaching middle-age, disenchanted with their careers and love lives, feel stuck in their small town and want to break free, so "liberation" is a personal goal for each of them. Bittersweet in many ways, with hints of happiness throughout, even in the tiniest doses. I enjoyed the brother's story-line the most, his highly-strung philosophical rants about life and love are truly insightful. Learning to accept one's fate and realizing that there is a good reason, or at least an important reason, for you to be where you are right now struck a chord with me.My complaints involve the story structure, but I think that was the main idea of the entire drama - that life can happen in bursts, and not necessarily with any reason to back it up. Great acting and a mostly quiet tone throughout.
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A Quiet, Lingering Reflection
When I started My Liberation Notes, my first thought was, Why is everyone so depressed? But as the episodes unfolded, I began to see the depth in their struggles. Their perspective on life wasn’t just gloomy it had layers of meaning that felt so real and human. By the end, I found myself understanding and even connecting with their quiet search for happiness and freedom.Lee Min Ki really stood out for me. His performance as Chang-hee was so natural and heartfelt that it pulled me in completely. He brought such life to his character that I couldn’t help but root for him.
As much as I loved the show, the ending left me feeling a little incomplete. Like many K-dramas, it felt rushed, but maybe that’s the charm it leaves you thinking about it long after it’s over. I just wish there had been a bit more romance. It had so much potential, and a deeper exploration of that could’ve made it even more special.
This drama is not for everyone. Its slow pace and introspective tone might not appeal to everyone’s taste, but if it finds the right audience, it hits deep.
My Liberation Notes isn’t a typical drama. It’s slow, reflective, and lingers with you. It makes you pause and think about life in ways you might not have before, and for that, I really appreciated it.
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Quietly Inspiring
This is a warm, quietly inspiring, deeply sad, and incredibly precise in what it sets out to do. Like a good drama -it knows its brief and hits it again and again with nuance, restraint, and emotional intelligence. For me, it stands as one of the strongest slice-of-life dramas out there, and easily one of the genre’s best.The writing is beautiful, the direction is assured, and the pacing is just right: never rushed and never indulgent. Every character feels thoughtfully constructed, but a special mention has to go to Chang-hee, the brother. While everyone shines in their own way, his character was the most endearingly complex and emotionally enduring for me. There’s something so painfully human about him, so layered, so quietly resonant, that his arc stayed with me long after the credits rolled.
I also loved the delicate balance the drama strikes: a touch of romance, a hint of whimsy, but always grounded in the rawness of the human experience. Nothing feels forced or overly sentimental. It’s subtle and deeply felt. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind a rewatch ; I feel like this is the kind of drama that only grows more poignant with time.
Now, why isn’t this a 9 or a 10 for me? One thing. The insertion of a particular character who was the sister's best friend’s boyfriend felt soooo unnecessary and a bit like overkill. His presence seemed to exist mainly to force growth in a character who was already progressing beautifully on their own. That arc didn’t need the push, and the detour felt like filler more than enrichment.
Still, those are minor qualms in an otherwise beautifully made drama. I’m not typically a slice-of-life person, but My Liberation Notes completely won me over. Add in a gorgeous soundtrack, and you’ve got something truly special.
This could be very much worth your time.
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My Liberation Notes: Had high potential but failed to deliver
I enjoyed the first half of this series very much, but the second half was below par. I liked the three siblings characters, but it was obvious that both Yeom Mi-jeong and Mr. Goo were depressed, and I did not enjoy the story line of his alcoholism which made the show depressing at times. None of the three romances turned out well for the three siblings in my opinion. The dialogue was good, but the plot was very disappointing. I did not like the last episode at all, and I felt sorry for the three siblings who struggled so much from the beginning to the end of this series. I rate it a 6.Was this review helpful to you?
slice of life story
Story was so real, acting too.. but i missed the lead actors actually worshipping one another.. it just remained in FLs words..Brilliant cast brilliant acting brilliant story. the whole idea of worshipping instead of loving was so unique .. i kept looking forward to ways they would worship each other.. to me the mother of FL to some extent worshipped, father worshipped his work but worshipping in a relationship requires so much maturity.. you dont find fault, you dont feel you are compromising..
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An amazingly executed slice of life drama
Kim Ji-won always coming at it with the amazing choices of roles, I will forgive her for the content drought that she gives us annually due to her always choosing the best roles.I was initially was not interested in this show, even with Kim Ji-won as the leading lady. However, for some reason that I don't entirely remember, I decided to watch it - I think it was for the relationship between Lee Ki Woo and Lee El's characters. Anyways, the story is so raw and organic for anyone questioning the meaning of their routine day-to-day lives. I have never watched a slice of life drama that tackles the subject so well. I'm sure everyone can find themselves or any worries they have in their lives throughout the drama and find some solace or resolution. It really brings about introspection in the viewer. I love how real the characters are and the elements of comedy incorporated into the drama.
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Too much alcohol in too many scenes
Could not watch anymore because it worships alcoholism and alcoholics.Shows like this sends a very dangerous message for kids.
Watched this after My Mister. That show is also nonstop alcohol and again worships alcoholism. But that show had better story.
I could understand drinking after work but shows like these take it to another level and both this and My Mister seems to say alcoholism is normal and it's no big deal.
Super dangerous show for young people to watch.
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Stream it.
I’m glad I listened to myself. This drama drew me in and I have no regrets in choosing to watch “My Liberation notes”.The recurring theme of the drama is love. Simple love. The love that any person craves or has craved at one point in their life. I am no different and hence found myself relating to the characters of this drama in more ways than one. The drama is about a group of people from different walks of life trying to find love but most importantly trying to learn how to love their lives.
Liberation: to break free.
Although the theme remains simple, the story is complex and the characters carry depth and each and every relationship, be it family, lovers, friends, or colleagues, have very realistically set. To put it simply, after each episode I think each person will have a different view of the characters.
Even though the drama is very heavy, there is (IMO) the perfect balance of humor. I’m especially in love with Lee Min Ki and how he has managed to play his character so well without taking away any of his depth. The story also offers a certain amount of suspense into who Mr. Gu actually is and I can’t wait to see it play out.
Hearts will be broken but more will be healed. Of that, I am sure.
Watching this drama is like watching myself mirrored back to me. I used to constantly voice out to my friends that if the world ended right then and there, I would die with no regrets. Hearing these again warmed my heart a little. “Ah I’m not alone”, I thought. It made me feel a little less lonely.
The cast consists of seasoned actors that no doubt will deliver till the very end. I cannot find a single thing that has put me off in this drama.
I especially loved the end of episode 3 with the music, it gave me literal goosebumps.
Summer is coming, and I think this is the one you want to be watching during those sweaty afternoons when you want to be swept away into something that will comfort you.
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As slice-of-life as it gets!
From all the kdramas I have watched My Liberation Notes is the first drama that for me was undoubtedly a 10/10 rating. The writing of this drama is so masterful that I am in awe. It’s so well-woven that the storylines connect to one another so smoothly and the drama flows just so gently. I loved every single character and every storyline, which is something that has never happened to me with another drama before. It was wonderful to see the characters developing and eventually finding themselves.The drama is slow, and nothing much happens, just like life, which is why I feel that this is the ultimate slice-of-life drama. We get to peek into the mundane lives of these three siblings living in Sanpo and traveling to Seoul every day, and the lives of people around them. It can get sad, happy or even cruel just like life. But this drama comforted me and made me feel better without being preachy or over-the-top. It reminds you that it’s okay to live life your own way as long as you are at peace with yourself. It portrays these realistic relationships that can’t fit into frames set up by the society. The characters go on this journey where they figure out what they want and whether or not they want to live by the conventions forced upon them. I loved how realistic the relationships in the drama were because in life nothing is black and white, and being in love doesn’t magically make everything go smoothly in life.
The conversations and dialogues in the drama were so witty and so relatable for me on a personal level. As someone who is depressed and has felt like I don’t fit in with the rest of the world, seeing such emotions put into words, I felt understood, I felt that maybe there are other people out there who feel the same way too.
Overall, My Liberation Notes is a feel-good, comforting slice-of-life drama that helps you slow down and catch your breath. There aren’t many mind blowing twists or complicated plot lines, but it manages to keep you captivated with it’s honesty, mundanity and refreshing wholesomeness.
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Loved it!!
I can't just tell what I like about it. This drama made me think that everyone will experience the same situations like questioning their existence and just living their lives because they are born. I enjoyed this drama so much.. A slice of life.Actors acting is top notch and writing is fabulous.
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Heartfelt Reflections
My Liberation Notes" is like having a heart-to-heart conversation with a close friend, delving deep into the intricacies of life and your own existence. It leaves you with a comforting warmth, yet beneath the surface, it stirs something within you – an invitation to reflect on the profound themes it explores. I've absolutely fallen in love with this story, its characters, and its unapologetic portrayal of life's imperfections. It doesn't shy away from the difficult moments that make you feel isolated and lost, but it gently reminds you that you're human, still on the journey of self-discovery.The script is brilliantly crafted, the cast delivers outstanding performances, and the music enhances the entire experience. "My Liberation Notes" is a captivating blend of elements that come together to create something truly amazing.
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