I love this show because the characters all feel like me, feel like people I’ve met. Mi-jeong is introverted and desires to break free (from what? she’s not too sure) while still staying true to herself. I have felt that before.

Chang-hee’s “I see the way they all look at me” outburst was deeply sad, revealing just how insecure he is. Most people are probably not judging him, but it sure feels like they are to him, and it shapes all of his relationships. I feel that all the time.

Ki-jeong’s loneliness, the way she also seems to tie her self-worth to how other people perceive her, is something I think we can all relate to. And, after all, who of is wouldn’t be a “pick-up girl”? That was THE funniest conversation I’ve seen all year and I STILL laugh thinking about it. “I’m laughing so I don’t cry” seems like a great way to describe this show and how it uses humor so well.

I read an article recently about trauma plots in fiction, and how in so much media (especially these days, especially in k-drama) the characters are defined by a specific trauma that happened to them in the past that resulted in their present unhappiness.

I find this sentiment reflected in the currently-airing Tomorrow, where suicidal people are only suicidal because of a specific problem in their life, and once that one problem is resolved then everything is fine!

But you know, for most people, that’s not how it works. And I don’t think the trauma plot is inherently BAD—people do experience trauma and it’s something worth addressing, but I don’t think it’s what shapes most people. Whether it’s depression or a general sense of ennui, not being happy with your life is usually not something that can be traced to a specific point in your life that brought you to where you are today. It’s not a particular problem. It’s a culmination of many, often mundane and ordinary, things.

And I think what makes this show so great is that it shows this. I think this is also why some people don’t really like our siblings. I saw someone on a different website call them ungrateful, because their lives aren’t that bad and they have no right to be sad! It made me laugh, wondering if they had never been dissatisfied with their lives.

We don’t need tragic backstory to “explain” our characters’ personalities—what we see about them in the present, how they interact with the world around them, is enough for us to grow to understand them. It’s enough for us to root for them and want them to find happiness, or at least some sense of satisfaction.

This show doesn’t avoid the trauma plot altogether, of course. I think we’re definitely heading there with Mr. Gu. But the fact that the show dares to paint the mundane lives of our siblings as something they want to escape from really makes it uniquely true to life. It avoids making our characters one dimensional. The siblings all feel like me, feel like people I’ve met before, much more so than 95% of other fiction out...

Ah, love, so ordinary yet so complicated. At a glance, this seems like a story about trying to find love. Yet the more revelation we got from our characters, the clearer it was that this is actually a journey to love yourself. Which, in retrospect, could be much more difficult to do.

Mi-jung continued to be a very fascinating but also relatable character. Maybe it's because of how quiet and introspective she was, but she has a way of talking where she seemed to use the most unusual concept to capture something that probably a lot of people felt but never really articulated before. She used such abstract and high concept, and yet she has a way of making it sounds grounded in reality? Just like the way she asked to be "worshipped". Or when she proposed to make a "liberation" club. She sure has her own interpretation of it, but even before her explanation, her unexpected word did strike a chord with people around her. (I'm tickled that the liberation club turned out to be some sort of voluntary group therapy, which was probably one of the best decision these 3 people have made recently.)

I like the way Mi-jung's proposal evolving through the time as she find new "excitement" in life. From her desperately asking others to put meaning into her life and made her feel worthy, to her trying to make others feel whole (even if it's only subconsciously at this point). It might not be the recommended action for someone in desperate need of help to help others first, but it seems to be working for her. The more she helps Gu and people in her club find meaning and happiness in their lives, the more she find new meaning and glimpses of genuine happiness in her life in return.

This weeks eps also made me realize how Mi-jung seemed to be transforming into so many versions of herself in different companies. She stays quiet and helpful and unobtrusive around her family (though her siblings find her potential explosion very scary). She is charmingly quirky and quiet in an amiable way with her work colleagues, but completely open and chatty with Hyuna (which shocked me because that's the first time Mi-jung looks so un-self-conscious and relaxed). She is raw and honest in an almost uncharacteristically aggressive way with Gu, while being mostly introspective and calmlu self-aware around her club members who used to be total stranger for her. I know people have different facets they show to the world depending on what "role" they are fulfilling at the moment, but the different aspects of Mi-jung seemed almost extreme in comparison, and fascinatingly so. I can't fathom those who said she was plain and bland, because watching this, she is anything but.

Why do they feel like people I know? Instead of just characters? The somber, contemplative vibes of this story has me by the chokehold, and in a very quietly, different way, than say... 25-21 did. Kudos to the actors & the director for directing them the way he is.... I can rarely ever see traces of the actors beneath each of their perfectly acted roles.
I never thought I'd find a script full of dialogues, that was so relatable, on so many levels. Strangely, I find myself chuckling silently & nodding my head ever so frequently. It's a drama-experience first! :') I can see why such stories are incredibly rare; they do not fit into the Hallyu frame of model, where every nook of South Korea is romanticized to the n-th degree. In fact, I think stories like these are grounding enough to make you realize that people are pretty much the same everywhere, once you peel away the outer, superficial layers of skin color & culture.

Ps. The little nugget of info this week was quite interesting- It seems parents want their kids to move out & experience city-life. However, the trio of siblings cannot, for whatever reason. I think I have a good feeling what each of their reasons may be! :'D
P. Ps. OST 3 is on a repeat-loop!

What an outstanding show. It delivers the deep feelings sprinkled with just the right amount of humor along the way.

And Mr. Gu. Credit to actor Sohn Seok-gu. I can't recall of a time where an actor made just staring out into space look so compelling. I can't wait to find out his full story.

I was thinking a word to describe this show….and this comes across my mind surprisingly - addictive!!!

I never thought I’d be that addictive to a drama of this nature but I can’t put it to the back of my mind until next week. I keep thinking about these characters, I want to know what happened to Mr Gu, I want to know if the three siblings will find their happiness, I want to hear dad saying something, I want to see mum smiling brightly, I want to see the other two Liberation Club members laughing hard even just once…

This is the spell that My Liberation Notes cast on me after just 4 episodes.

If anything, the three siblings share one thing in common - the superlative ability to self-reflect and see through who they are. Those around them are not in the same class.

To the Korean-speaking Beanies, is ‘worship me’ the right translation here?

Thank you for the weecap!
I wish this was one of those series that's released all at once. I'm in the middle of a kdrama drought atm which makes waiting for the weekends even more painful. I'm super curious about Mr Gu's story. Who/what is he running away from? Even though Mr Gu doesn't say much he's observant, especially when it comes to MJ. He hit the nail on the head when he said Dad and MJ act like they've done something wrong when they're asking for what's rightfully theirs. I think a big part of MJ's problem is her passiveness but this week we see her start to take some actions, starting with the liberation club. The chemistry between MJ and Mr Gu is so intense that I often find myself watching with bated breath. Even when no words are spoken you can feel the tension, particularly in the scene where MJ ushered him inside from the storm.

One of the impressive things of this drama is the family eating scenes. You can feel the earnestness and satisfaction of each around the dining table or eating in the field. It’s an important daily rituals of farming families, I guess. And I can’t stop imagining how wholesome those home cooked meals are - and they always do a close up of their making the cold drinks before working in the fields. And MJ certainly enjoys the home meals much better than those she has with her work colleagues.

Clearly, one of the reasons why the siblings never quit home.

Gu, Gu. What did you do?

Thanks for the weecap, @quirkycase

I was expecting Ki-jung's boss to be a lecherous b*****d, but no, he's actually a pretty decent person, and looks like he could become a good companion/confidante to her. Which is nice.

Chang-hee self-sabotaging his relationship... *sigh*. I wish I could yell at him through the screen that he's good enough, that he's worth something, which is hypocritical because I'm sort of the same way. I know what it's like to battle with low self-worth, so when he gave that speech, it broke my heart.

I like Gu's response to Mi-jung after she asked him to worship her. She doesn't know him. He could be a terrible person. I wasn't sure how it would play out last week, but after seeing it, it seemed like the sort of thing he would say.

I like Gu the more I see of him, which is in part because it's freakin' Son Seok-gu, and also because he's such a mystery and I want to know more. Plus, alcoholism aside, there's something about his quietness and his determination to mind his own business that I find Very Attractive.

This kind of drama needs excellent actors to portray the characters. Lee Minki and Lee El the loud ones, they have superior brains that can memorize long dialogues or monologues or everything in between.
Kim Jiwon, Sohn Seokgu, Chun Hojin, the quiet ones have amazing talents that even a flicker of their eyes can convey their emotions.
I love the Liberation Club. For introverts, even saying a simple hi can be a tremendous task and being a part of a big crowd can be very exhausting. At the same time, we want to be easy going guys. Feel jealous of people that can strike a conversation at the snap of the fingers. We want to be liberated from our tight-lipped and seemingly stiff emotions.
If I really have to complain about the drama, it’s the OST. Where are they, writernim?
I need more than sound of crickets to play as a bgm.
I have my own playlist folder of MA and AOH OSTs.
Dear Moon of MA remains my all time favorite.
Maybe I of AOH from Roy Kim plays almost everyday.
Other than that, it’s a healing drama for me.

This drama is so good!

I was surprised by Ki-Jung's boss. He's cleary a seducer but it seems that he really likes women and it's not a game for him. I'm pretty sure a lot of men would have ran away from Ki-Jung with a bad excuse to not answer to her. But he didn't, he listened to her and apologized.

Ki-Jung saying how the 3 siblings are better than Tae-hoon for a marriage, but already completely under his charm. :p She will have to coax the teenager girl!

Chang-Hee is struggling after his break-up but in his job. It's so frustrating when you are professional, but people around you are not. He's trying his best, but just one snake can make doubt everybody with one remark. The fratry loves to complain to their friends. It was funny when he asked his friend if he was talking too much.

Mi-Jung and Mr Gu... One step forward for three steps back. I love how she always made him so shocked with her offer/demand. But when I thought they agreed to greet each other... he never did 😥 But I have hopes, what a jump!

Liberation club is my absolute favorite thing. The fact that none of her co-workers understood what she meant made it even better. I was saying the words right along with her, freeing yourself, even the journey to freeing yourself is incredibly meaningful. I love how Mi Jeong is her father's child whole Ki Jeong and Chang Hee are their mother's children. I am a super fan of quiet acting because conveying emotions by simple facial expressions is so heartfelt when done well and it is done well here. I love love this drama. Also as soon as Gu said he would get it, I knew he was going to jump, lol, I didn't think he would make it though. That was a fun scene.

Right now all I can remember is what our ahjussi from the Liberation club said: "There will be people who frustrate you anywhere you go, and those people will never change. Then that means it's me who has to change, but I don't want to let go of this anger I feel. My anger is perfectly reasonable." I also want to be liberated from my job.

I'm Mi Jeong most of the time, but Chang Hee and Liberation ahjussi felt more relatable this week. Like some of the other comments said, I guess I'm all of them. We all are.

My favorite character is still Ki Jeong. Everything she says is so interesting, I want to be her friend and listen to her all day. I would like to see the world through her eyes just once.

Started this show over the weekend and I'm greatly enjoying it. It's the first kdrama (I can think of) that tackles existentialism. Each of the siblings are dealing with an existential crisis to varying degrees of severity, with Mi-jeong is having the worst of it.

I find the show relatable and funny. When Ki-jung was talking about the severed head? I totally got what she was saying. When Chang-hee and his dad were fighting about his direction in life during dinner? I felt that.

***
Ki-jung: She is (desperately) looking for a husband and people are giving her bad advice on how she should go about it. Dating is extremely personal, and "general" advice don't hold up at an individual level. People were telling her the "severed head" story was an inappropriate date story, but I actually think it's a brilliant tale. I totally got the story and think it is indeed, the emblem of a grand romance, and Ki-jung needs to find someone who appreciates that story because that person will appreciate her kookiness.

Chang-hee: I'm getting signals that he's spoiled by his mother. Despite his frequent ranting and complaining (which I enjoy), Chang-hee is pretty self-aware. In ep4, he acknowledged that he must also be a "loser" if he's working with "losers", and asked his friend if he was talking too much at the end of his rant.

Mi-jeong: She's an introvert and sensitive soul who is struggling with a full-blown existential crisis. It is so bad that she's reached a point where she is passively suicidal - like she said - if she lived in a high-rise building she might just step off the balcony. She lacks meaning and human connection in her life, her misery and loneliness are eating her up alive inside-out. There's a storm brewing in her that's about to break.

Mi-jeong is an introvert, but her introversion isn't the crux of her problems - there are plenty of well-adjusted introverts who aren't so depressed. For Mi-jeong, she's socially awkward, and maybe even socially anxious. She is someone who hasn't figured out the mechanics of how social interactions work to "fake it", which is why she's a total fish out of water at work. Her co-workers aren't necessarily bad or superficial people - they've just learned (subconsciously or consciously) how to fake it. I wonder about Mi-jeong childhood social development because her siblings turned out okay, socially.

Mi-jeong is a passive agent in her own life and the whole "get liberated" movement is the journey of her becoming more active and seizing the reins on her life.

***
MLB is shaping up to be a gem promises a lot of intriguing character studies.

I just really love this show. The characters feel so relatable.

I would love to be a part of this liberation club tbh and I am really cheering for them to succeed in breaking free.

Tae-hoon's daughter is obviously going to be against what every is budding between him and Ki-jeong and I honestly can't blame her.

Chang-hee revealing how insecure he feels was painful

Ps: Tae-hoon is winning the lottery right? 😅

In rethinking Mr Gu's jump at the end of episode 4, I remembered the the fantastic/magical jump Park HaeYoung wrote into one of her earlier dramas. That drama is Another Miss Oh and there Oh Hae Young leaps and soars through the air into the arms of Park Do Kyung, also at the end of episode 4.
Coincidence?

I am such a fan of this show. Someone said all the main characters would be secondary characters in any other drama. We are pulled in by their mundane lives because they are like us. The mom is so good-hearted; the dad seems to be struggling with some secret of his own. The writers seem to be reminding us there is no such thing as an "ordinary person".

Not even half-way through all the comments but I must share a book:
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain.
Our son brought it along on a meet-up vacation as he was entering the work world after college. We all read it and had so many wonderful discussions. I believe it helped him understand how to value his contributions, and understand the yacky folks.
By the way extroverts never try to understand those who need to recharge with quiet.
I found a book aimed at the YA market and gave it to several of my middle-school students. If it did for them what that one long weekend did for our son (and us) I will think I've made a contribution.
Perhaps Quiet has been translated into as many languages as we need.
All we quiet people.

Absolutely love this drama so far. On the contrary I don’t find it slow or boring. Can’t help comparing it to Our Blues which I somewhat couldn’t connect with the characters and got bored.

Back to this, I’ve never seen LMK, LE & KJW in this type of role before and I think they are killing it! The depth of emotion without saying anything is so clear on their faces. And the other actors are doing an excellent job as well.

Also, love the humour in the show. Don’t think it can be classified as black humour?? But along that line….grey humour perhaps 😄

And of course I must gush that SSK is smouldering hot!!!

I felt secondhand annoyance for Mr. Gu during these episodes. First Mi-Jung appears with her demands to be worshipped, and then chatty Chang-hee barges in with a million questions. Can't a guy drink in peace?

But seriously, I love the interiority of these characters. Their actions and comments are so intriguingly unpredictable - there's clearly so much more going on under the surface (even beyond Mi-Jung's narration). I am enjoying how the show is teasing out these moments, showing us the continuation of conversations that at first appear complete but which are actually for more complex than they initially appear. I'm looking forward to hearing more about Mr. Gu's backstory, and also seeing how the siblings get over themselves and start moving forward in their lives.

This drama goes from relatable to too-relatable-it-hurts for me. I watched the first two episodes and I was curious. They didn't bore me, yet I felt like I had to like this show because of the hype/writer. (I haven't watched My Ajusshi yet.) I liked this week's episodes though. There were great moments. Humorous and poignant ones.

It's ironic that Mi Jung's workplace is called Joy when she doesn't get that. There or anywhere. For most of the characters, really. Can't wait to see more of her. Her character is still mysterious and unpredictable.

I cheered when Gu told Mi-jung off for her selfish request. It was all about making her feel whole, yet never considering how he would feel having to worship someone. "Have you ever made anyone feel whole?" was the perfect response. She needs to work on herself before expecting wholeness from another person. Fortunately, Mi-jung reflected and offered to worship Gu back.

Unlike Mi-jung, Chang-hee asked Gu's name, then settled for calling him "hyung" after he didn't give it. Chang-hee's apology was sweet when he told Gu they should drink together sometime and get to know each other.

I am Sang-min down to wanting to cancel their first meeting due to the rain. The answer to liberation is always to quit your job. Tae-hoon was smart in suggesting they form their own club and just not do it.

Wow, Ki-jung's director's dating advice was on point. I admire her honesty about her love life with her boss who seems very easygoing.

Thanks for the weecap, @quirkycase!

I am in love with this show, so captivating that I can't wait for the next episode to start. Seriously the siblings are cold also their father but they are all playing their roles well 👏 I'm enjoying it

I am completely engrossed in the quiet contemplative vibes of this drama. I don't find it depressing or boring and it seems like a lot of the other beanies are enjoying it too, I wish the ratings would also go up because this drama deserves it.

While in the first two episodes I connected with Mi Jung the most. This week's episodes made made me connect with Chang Hee and Ki Jung. I would totally be a pick-up-the-severed-head type of girl and therefore do not understand why that topic would be weird or boring lol. As for Chang Hee he's loud and abrasive but also surprisingly sweet(?). Like when he's talking to that lady who always calls him I think it's not just because he considers it part of his job, he is just also decent person (that being said, the lady needs to understand boundaries and Chang Hee needs to not pick up everytime). Another scene was when he changed the tv channel for his dad after they fought. That was so sweet. His dad true to character is rigid to a fault and just would not ask someone to help while Changhee is his mother's son and can't not help. Anddd speaking of the dad, isn't it funny how the man is soon much more accommodating with Mr. Gu, a stranger, while being much more harsh (?) With his son and even his wife. People I tell you, you can never quite understand them.

Thanks @quirkycase for the recap.
I laughed at the gazelle comment. Gazelle is very elegant :) just saying!

I am not sure what to make of that ending. It also went from slice of life to action there. I hope there is some solid explanation for that scene.

I like how I feel like I am watching the siblings life up close and personal. It sometimes feels too close. I like all the siblings. They have their quirks (for lack of a better word) but are real and are self aware. They are all struggling to find the grove, their life’s meaning/purpose or what makes them go on living, their Ikigai.
It is all painfully relatable.

I am loving how the actors are bringing the characters to life.

Gu - two of the siblings have made an attempt to interact with him. I wonder if there will be more interactions with him and the siblings. I didnt want this to be just him and Mi Jeong. So I was thrilled when Chang-Hee broke the ice. Lol, the mosquitoes and wallpaper joke.

Always been a fan of Seok-Gu. It’s a joy to watch him here. I would love to sit and have soju with him without a word being spoken. He sounds like perfect company. 🥰

I love this show and its characters a lot a lot a lot.

But... WHY is everyone so obsessed with severed heads? I understand that it's a metaphor for devotion but really? To love someone so much you'd CATCH HIS SEVERED HEAD?? Why is he gettint beheaded? Wouldn't you have to get REAL CLOSE to the killer to pick up that head?

WHAT WOULD YOU EVEN DO WITH THAT HEAD? My loved one is GONE their head isn't going to change that?

I'd rather grief without it, there's better mementos than BODY PARTS.

If we combine the siblings into 1 person... they would be me. I'm a mix of all of them! I'm not as dark as MJ, but I do feel like I'm trapped & idk what makes me feel like that (though maybe Sangmin answered it for me: to quit my job). I'm happy but unhappy, and I don't know why I'm unhappy bc technically there's nothing wrong with me or my life

When it comes to relationships though, I relate to KJ. I think I also feel like I'm often being "skipped over" / not seen as a woman/potential lover. And when she thinks it's because she's not pretty enough, I just want to hug her because on my lowest points, that's how I feel too. What she said abt her hair never complimenting her overall looks... I ALSO FELT THAT!

Changhee and his tendency to self-pity... I'm not proud of it but I do tend to be like this too sometimes. I know I shouldn't, and if I continue doing it I'll end up like him (sabotaging his own rs and all that jazz) but there are times when I can't help it.

I relate to all of them and while it's their "misfortunes" that I relate to, I also know that life isn't all that bad for me. Hopefully we'll get to see them grow and I'll grow with them too 🤍

Despite the reflective and almost sad and depressing tone of this drama (in a very good way), I appreciate that the funny moments are truly funny, like the scene with the three work outcasts and the club lady, when Mi- Jeong said Liberation club and the club lady was like " I am sorry what?" 😂😂😂 her face expression, and the other guy to add that Korea was liberated when she prompted to explain what the liberation club was about 😂😂😂😅. I mean I was laughing out loud and still laughing as I think abt that scene. This is true creative genius right there from the writer. I mean kuddos to her!