My Liberation Notes

I greatly appreciate On the Verge of Insanity for tackling the challenges of surviving the corporate world from hierarchy/bureaucracy, dealing with change and difficult personalities, countering negativity, keeping the workforce engaged and motivated; nurturing and developing new skills in young talent, and first and foremost trying to but miserably failing to manage employee relations effectively. It’s quite clear Ban Seok is the driver, if not the architect, for lack of a better word of this story. I love the matter-of-fact yet uncompromising way he goes about his business and is undoubtedly more of a human resource professional than the trained professionals themselves. He is the moral compass that will ultimately guide not just Ja Yeong but all those who cross paths with him. I really like this drama. Stellar acting all around.

But wouldn't that be because she's awoken feelings in him no one else has before

This was a bit weird, for lack of a better word ... the scenery, the cinematography was just beautiful but other than that, I am not sure the story or plotline was well put together. It felt disjointed, like as hard as I tried, I just couldn't get to the just of things; maybe it was me being dense.

I don't think Park Jae Eon made himself to be anything other than what he is; whatever Na Bi has gotten herself into, she went in with her eyes wide open, that's for sure because as I see it, they've awoken different yet very similar beasts in each other, and as they say, lust shouts, love whispers. Only the heart knows the difference, and we are about to find out which is what for either or both of them -- I guess that's what the journey is about.

same thought, I will have to re-watch

Absolutely, it always works both ways, I don't believe for a second that she is doing anything she doesn't want to do.

You and I both

Mine was a great drama to the end; kudos to the screenwriter, director, and actors for bringing this fantastic story to life. As sad as I am to see it come to as appreciative of the important message it leaves us with that one can never truly own anything if they don't own themselves first, and to love others, one must first love themself. I enjoyed and relished all the actors who did a great job making me believe them each in their own way but Kim Seo Hyung the most.

Wow... I have goosebumps from watching this episode. I love this installment; Voice 4 has definitely upped the ante even the music choices are brilliant. Welcome back to Baek Sung Hyun in the role of Shim Dae Shik; he looks fantastic. The long hair suits him. Credit must be given when due, and Lee Ha Na deserves all the credit for impressively playing the role of the detective and the villain simultaneously. She has unquestionably kept this series as exciting and successful as it's become over these past four years.

Oh, I'm glad I miss Park Seo Joon.

They are, especially Yoon Sol

Hey dear ... I hope all is well on your end. I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on Han See; she is far from a mess, be it in this drama or her role in The World of the Married Couple. The fact that she was the most hated actress speaks to how good of an actress she is, but if by "mess" you mean the characters rather than the actress, then I will have to say the two roles are so completely different that the only thing they have in common is Han See.

I love Na Bi as a character, and I think Han See has something to do with that, which makes her pretty good at what she does. Song Kang is a great talent -- he was terrific in Sweet Home, fantastic in Alarm Love 1 and 2. Despite not having watched Navillera, his acting got pretty good reviews, so I'm not sure why anyone would bash him, but I get it there are some actors one either loves or hates nothing in between. I have a few of those myself, lol.

I sensed from the first episode that Sol and Ji Wan might have feelings for each other, but they might just be the best of friends. I highly doubt it's just that, though. They seem to have known each other for a very long time. I am interested in their backstories but Sol more than Ji Wan.

I like UEE, looking forward to her and the drama

Yoo Ah In -- enough said, I'm in!

This drama is so alluring. I knew that was a dream, but what a dream it was indeed, so vivid. Most often than not, if not always, we like a character because of the actor or actress playing them, so it's far and few between when one comes across a character they really like as opposed to the actor. And it's not that I don't like Han So Hee, I do very much so, but I especially like Yu Na Bi, the character. I find myself captivated by how she reacts to the happenings around her; her facial expression, eyes, thoughts, and even how she talks—more than anything, I find myself invested in this sensuous rollercoaster of emotions she is taking us on. I liked how Bit Na described Jae Eon; it explained him perfectly.

I am assuming you weren't going to watch 4 before 2 and 3 because if you were you were headed for a spoiler regardless since the FL narrates a recap at the beginning of each season of the prior season and it definitely assumes you've watched the prior seasons, but I get what you mean it's quite a spoiler in the synopsis for those who haven't watched 3.

Yet another thrilling episode: I’m enjoying this 4th season almost as much as I enjoyed the first. Despite the horror of “the wild dog man’s” actions, my heart went out to him; for an adult to treat a child like they were an animal, what hope did he really have but to believe he was an animal himself. As they say, you are but what you know. Credit goes to Kim Jung Hee for playing the role of a man transformed into a wild animal so convincingly. I get the sense each episode case will somehow end up directly or indirectly tie into our main Circus Man case.

yes

It was indeed quite satisfying actually - I thought she was his sister, ex-wife never crossed my mind at all, but I should've known from their reactions to each other it was because of a one-time intimate relationship.

As an HR professional who has experienced both sides of the aisle, I entirely understand the sense of betrayal, distrust, insecurity, anger, sadness, and unworthiness that all the parties experience in this drama, from the laid-off to the survivors and those who enforce them. In that sense, it's a drama that touches a nerve, especially when Choi Ban Seok first finds out he was transferred and secondly when he sees his belongings laid out on what used to be his desk. I also know what it feels like as an HR professional for one's work to be trivialized. I hope this drama can help shed a more positive light on HR as a profession that gets the brunt of negative attitudes, even when they aren’t the ones who make the policies or decisions and office politics, which more often than not is bloody-minded but weak on content.