We’re back with a new K-drama review, this time writing about the JTBC series ‘My Liberation Notes’. When I tell you that I’ve been completely obsessed with this drama, I want you to know it’s not an understatement.
Kim Suk-Yoon directed the 16 episode series. Last year he also directed the series ‘Law School’ which I thoroughly enjoyed. The writer of ‘My Liberation Notes’ is Park Hae-Young who also wrote one of my all-time favorites ‘My Mister’. Needless to say, this is quite a match.
Plot
Our story follows three siblings who commute everyday from Sanpo to Seoul in order to go to work. The long trek each day is draining and they all feel directionless in life.
The eldest daughter is Yeom Gi-Jeong played by Lee El who we wrote about here. She’s desperately looking for someone to love while also having very high standards. Gi-Jeong decides to love just anyone or she’ll shave off all her hair.
The middle one is Yeom Chang-Hee played by Lee Min-Ki. He’s the only son and recently came out of a relationship. He’s not always the smartest and tends to go off on tangents to sort out his thoughts.
The youngest one is Yeom Mi-Jeong who is portrayed by Kim Ji-Won. She feels stuck in a rut and has only had bad relationships with the last one owing her quite a bit of money.
In Sanpo, helping out their dad in his bathroom furniture shop, is also the mysterious Mr. Gu (Son Suk-Ku). He hardly speaks and hasn’t shared anything about his past. He drinks himself into oblivion every evening.
Mi-Jeong has to join a club activity at work but doesn’t really want to. Together with two other introverts she starts the ‘Liberation Club’ where they can write about the things they want to be liberated or freed from. I love this trio by the way. They raise some interesting topics.
Mi-Jeong wants to feel whole and decides to ask Mr. Gu to worship her. And if he doesn’t want that, she can worship him.
Overall
I absolutely adore this show. This slice-of-life drama had beautiful cinematography at times and often felt like a theater show rather than a tv series. There are some beautiful monologues in there that will have you questioning your own life and your own choices.
The burdens they portrayed were realistic and hit home. Living can be quite hard, especially if you can’t seem to find rest.
The actors did a superb job in this drama. The sibling interactions felt real and it was like I was looking at my own siblings sometimes.
I have got to give it up for Mi-Jeong and Mr. Gu’s arc though. Their interactions were the highlight of each episode and had me literally squealing at times. They were just so adorable. I think what made their relationship so appealing was the intimacy. It was all in the little glances, the small actions, the forward words that seemed so comforting.
What I also enjoyed was how the end wasn’t some sort of big revelation or wedding where they live happily ever after. It felt very realistic in its unresolved way. How does life get resolved anyway?
Expect to laugh and cry with one of my favorite K-dramas of 2022 so far.
