This is what’s written on decider.com about this opening of this show.
The Gist: Mi-jeong (Kim Ji-won), Ki-jeong (Lee El), and Chang-hee (Lee Min-ki) are siblings all struggling to make a life they love. Mi-jeong is socially awkward and avoids going out, socializing only when her coworkers convince her to and feeling bland and sad by the time it’s all over. Chang-hee is unlucky in love and kicks things off this episode with a very public, unpleasant breakup, while Ki-jeong’s bitterness towards life seems to seep into every one of her reactions. The fact that they all live quite far out of town only adds to their social struggles, and the three of them seem pretty miserable in their lives.
Over the course of the pilot, each of the siblings wonder what their lives might look like if things were different; if they lived in town and weren’t constantly being dumped because of how far out they were, if they could open their heart to love, if their finances were different. They’ve lived like this for as long as they can remember, but when we meet them, it seems like things may finally be at a tipping point; these siblings have secrets, and there might be someone who wants to help them turn their lives around and make things interesting for once.
…
Continue reading here if you wish: decider.com/my liberation notes/review
Its verdict is to skip the drama.
I say, however, to each his own. I’m not following the recommendation of that writer because I think this drama can shed light on the “N-po sedae” phenomenon in South Korea. Aren’t you curious to know what an “N-po sedae” is?
I’ll break the expression for you.
“Sedae” means “generation.” But in context of this neologism, it refers to a socio-economic group of millennials.
“Po” means “to give up” or, in this context, “to sacrifice.”
And “N” is just like in mathematical equations. It’s a variable number. Substitute “N” for any number like 3, 5, 7, and you’ll come with the number of things to give up or sacrifice.
Thus,
A 3-po generation (or sampo sedae) refers to the millennials who have “given up” on three things: courtship, marriage, and children.
A 5-po generation (or opo sedae) refers to the millennials who have given up on all the previous three items (i.e., courtship, marriage, and children) PLUS home ownership and employment.
A 7-po generation (or chilpo sedae) refers to the millennials who given up on all the previous five items PLUS human relationships and hope.
Here are my sources, if you want to read more about the N-po sedae.
http://english.hani.co.kr
https://www.koreabang.com
Now, in my opinion, this drama shows us how three siblings are countering the malaise felt by these 3-po, 5-po, and 7-po generations.
1. Take for instance, the eldest, Ki Jeong (KJ). She’s the opposite of the 3-po generation.
She wants to date, to marry and (eventually) to have children of her own. She doesn’t want to give up on her ideal.
The first time we see her, she was describing to her girlfriends her disastrous blind date. She said she didn’t mind that she was set up with a divorced man but he was a divorcee with a child. And the existence of a child was for her a dealbreaker.
KJ: Nothing’s more precious to you than your own kid. But that kid means nothing to me since it’s not my kid. We already have a such a huge thing dividing us. A woman and a man are trying to live together, but if their priorities are different, how could that ever work? Hey! His kid is an eight-grader. You know what they’re like. You can’t tell if they’re animals or a malfunctioning cyborg….
She droned on and on about her date, not realizing until it was too late that a father and daughter were sitting beside their table and could hear every word she said.
I won’t be surprised if she ended up falling for this man, but his daughter will be the stumbling block.
What’s the metaphor for her singlehood or her “3-po” angst? I think it’s her hair.
Her hair is a symbol of her beauty which she thinks is fleeting. Having her hair redone at the hair salon was her attempt at “liberating” herself. Unfortunately, the hair salon messed up her hairdo. Perhaps it was cosmic karma for trying to escape the harvest that day.
2. The middle child, Changhee (CH) shows resistance to the 5-po generation.
He knows that living outside of Seoul is negatively affecting his love life. He wants to purchase a car to remedy that. But I don’t think he earns enough at his current job to afford to pay the installment of a car without his father’s financial backing.
For him, I can foresee that liberation will mean finding a place of his own, preferably in Seoul, where he no longer must adhere to his parents’ strict house rules, and he can turn air-conditioning on whenever he wants.
The metaphor of his struggle? The sunny-side-up fried egg from an expired bento box. lol.
3. Then there’s MiJeong, the youngest in the family.
To me, she could easily have been a member of the 7-po generation. That is, a person who has given up on 7 things, namely, courtship, marriage, children, home ownership, job satisfaction, her interpersonal relationships (note her avoidance of clubs and lack of hobbies), and her dreams.
I know most viewers pegged her as an introvert. But I think there’s more than that. She wouldn’t have minded membership in those clubs. But a night-out with other club members would have required her to rearrange her own transportation on the way home, and that was too much of a bother for her.
Coworker: Haven’t you joined any clubs? Why not? There are many good clubs.
MJ: I live quite far away.
Coworker: Where do you live?
MJ: In Sanpo.
Coworker: Is that by Yongin?
MJ: It’s near Suwon.
Unlike the 7-po generation, I don’t think she’s given up on relationships and dreams.
a. We’re shown how she copes with her job dissatisfaction: she creates an imaginary lover. In a monologue, she described an imaginary lover whose love and support get her through the a trying day at work.
MJ: If I imagine that I’m sitting here working next to you, even awful tasks like these turn into something beautiful. Work becomes bearable. I’m playing a role of a woman who is loved. A woman who has everything she needs. Right now I love someone, and that someone is supporting me. So I want to imagine I’m at peace. That I’m already enjoying the good times that I’ll be spending with you. That’s how I want to think of it. Rather than going through exhausting, difficult times without you, isn’t it more admirable that I’m finding strength thinking of you?
That said, I agree with @Welmaris that inventing an imaginary friend isn’t a healthy coping mechanism. Personally, if I had a daughter who’s experiencing a disconnect from reality like MJ displayed in this scene here, I would have encouraged her to visit a licensed counselor or mental health professional to see if she’s suffering from depression or anxiety, and how she can get help.
But for the sake of the story, I’ll go with MJ’s unusual way of dealing with stress from work because from the writer’s point-of-view, this approach is a “good” thing for MJ. I’ll revise my stance as the story progresses.
b. Additionally, in Episode 2, we’re shown that her attempts to form a relationship with the alcoholic Mr. Gu.
This is what @Welmaris wrote about it in the other thread.
Mi Jeong is not propositioning Mr. Gu with an equal relationship, although she does suggest it will be mutually beneficial: he will make her feel whole; she will give him purpose. She is unapologetic about his being the inferior in the relationship. She is to be godlike to him, if he fails to worship her, she anticipates his life to be hellish. He will live to serve her needs; his emotional needs don’t concern her. She must become his new addiction. That’s a big, unhealthy ask from someone she barely knows. A person as mentally unstable as Mi Jeong appears to be needs more therapy than getting a doting boyfriend or devoted disciple.
Source: https://bitchesoverdramas.com/2022/04/18/my-liberation-notes-aka-welmaris-lib-notes-eps-1-2/
Again, I agree with @Welmaris that this is a rather unhealthy demand from a man she hardly knew. In real life, if MJ were my daughter, her behavior would have signaled a red flag to me, and a visit to a mental health practitioner for a wellness check.
For now, however, I’ll withhold judgment on this writer and treat this scene purely as a plot device to get MJ out of her introspective shell and to start the ball rolling.
I get that, from the writer’s perspective, MJ’s unconventional proposal is her way of “liberating” herself from the rut that she’s in.
Taking care of Mr Gu’s meals, sharing the grilled meat with him,
summoning up the courage to ask his help about her mail, involving him in her bankruptcy mess (note: he’s the only one around her who knows about it), worrying about his bloody nose, and getting mad at him for drinking — all these indicate that she’s not as indifferent or detached from the world as she thinks she is. She hasn’t yet given up on relationships and dreams like the 7-po sedae.
So, what’s her symbol? I say it’s the plates that she keeps bringing over to Mr. Gu’s house and picking up afterwards.
Her mother said that she would remind him to return them but he always forgot. For somebody who shows utmost consideration for his employers, this forgetfulness appears deliberate. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s been keeping the plates because MJ would come to get them herself.
4. As for Mr. Gu, what is he then?
He belongs to the 9-po generation (or the gupo generation). You will have to look it up yourself to see what what two additional things he’s giving up in life. 🙂
But here’s a clue…
This was vey interesting @pm3.
As someone who relates to Mi Jung a lot, I feel compelled to justify her actions. Having an imaginary friend is surely an unhealthy coping mechanism but for some it rather comes naturally for those who live their lives vicariously through their inner rich world. That may just sound like an euphemism for depression but it’s much more for introverts and socially awkward people. In fact, I believe extroverts may do it too but they are more inclined to live in their reality. One thing, I know, Aquarians do that a lot lol and that’s where I think it comes rather naturally.
But at least in Mi Jung’s case she’s making an effort. I’m not as sold on her relationship with Mr Gu. I hope it’s more platonic and he’s not her saving grace as a man is for a woman traditionally in dramas. I appreciate her club more because it’s her effort in getting out of the rut.
Also Mr Gu, you’re so right about him being a 9po. He clearly isn’t 10po because he has the desire to live as he keeps on working in Sanpo sinks. If he had to give up all, he wouldn’t have bothered to work either.
So according to you Ki Jung and Change Hee do not come under the nth po category and Mi jung is at least at a 5po right now, right?
Thank you pm3 for posting. I’m glad to have another thread to discuss this drama. 🙂
In episode 1 or 2 Chang Hee said MJ grew up not having any friends her age so she befriended the village fool. MJ creating an imaginary companion could stem from her childhood. As a result of not having many peers her age growing up she’s also not quite comfortable socially (I don’t want to say she’s socially inept). I think when she tried to participate with the other club members she was awkward and out of place. She’s unable to fake a smile, a laugh like the rest to fit in.
” When that jerk’s paid all the money back will I be fine? I think my life will still be the same. I’ll still never have felt whole in this crappy life with these crappy people acting like they’re so great and just talking away thoughtlessly.”
Perhaps she’s referring to her co workers who talked and judged behind her back. Another example of her not fitting in was when she couldn’t relate and join in on the conversation where their biggest concern was what colour bikini to pack for vacation. Coming from an introvert I think MJ is not just introverted she’s also socially awkward but sometimes I get the sense she doesn’t care to try and fit in as well. Those people are shallow and live different lives from her own.
@packmule3
I googled 9-po but I couldn’t find anything. Perhaps I’m using the incorrect terms? Is it health and/or self? 🤔
@Dreamer205 Clearly Mi jung not having many friends while she was young shaped what she is today. Friends in childhood really help in socializing and prevent the awkwardness around people that may later result in life. Plus, there’s also the thing that Mi Jung is like her father. He is quiet mostly but also doesn’t know how to speak for himself. So does Mi jung.
Also you can find 9 po in the links packmule has given above for reference. I found it in the very first one, the hani korea one.
I watched Ep1&2. This drama is oddly addictive. The conversations are stilted and sparse. Much of the drama occurs in the background. In what’s unspoken. The silence. The forced smiles. The grind. The hyperbole. Ironically it actually requires more of the cast in order to portray their despair and despondency. Thus far it’s been well done. I stayed away initially because I was not in the mood for anything so morose. But for some reason (probably because my curiosity about the laconic Mr Gu) I am drawn to their plight and am cheering them on inwardly. For each of them to find a reason for living. Mr Gu wears a cross. I am wondering if that’s a prop and has any significance?
😂 Right, @nrllee? I thought for sure I wouldn’t like this because it was slooooow and lacking in vitality. There’s something suffocating about their living situation in Sanpo. The sign on their work truck says “Sanpo Sinks” and I thought it referred to their atrophied lives, not just the family business. There’s not much of mobility since the grownup kids are stuck in their jobs, stuck in the long commute, stuck in the rural area, stuck in the farming chores.
But there were moments — mostly Mr Gu’s scenes — that grabbed me and made me look twice.
Yes, his cross was interesting, right? Before his long jump in Ep 4, I wondered whether he was an ex-priest in disgrace.
Another intriguing point is he looked up the word “worship” in an ENGLISH-Korean dictionary. Like why? Is this a case of the character mirroring the actor’s life? The actor lived abroad for ten years, and is supposedly fluent in English. Did Mr Gu also live abroad and return to SK not long ago?
Anyway, I’m glad if you can join us here. 👍
@wapz
Ditto! Childhood and adolescence development definitely play a major part in shaping who we are as adults.
Yes I think Mr Gu made an accurate observation there regarding Dad and MJ. When you’re used to being passive and not having your needs met asking for something, even the bare minimum, feels like you’re asking for too much.
Thanks for that! I went back and had a good read through the links.
@Packmule3, would you say Mr. Gu seeming to give up on a functioning liver is giving up on life itself? A competent, contentious worker in field and factory (But dang! Where are your safety goggles?), he hasn’t given up on employment, although we’ve seen a hint he’s set aside a white-collar life.
@welmaris,
Good point about the liver. 🙂 Perhaps his dying and doesn’t care? What disease causes a bloody nose?
Thank you @packmule3 for your comments about this drama. When I first worked a tched K Dramas I became interested in the country 9f South Korea and was taken by many YouTube interviews that showed the despair of Korean young people. Thar surprised m e considering the country is an economic Powerhouse. I then did a short internet investigation about where college grads get work and learned about how dependent the large companies are on contract workers, who in essence are second class citizens. They don’t have economic security, are viewed disparagingly and worry that their contracts will not be renewed. There is little mobility and little possibility of getting a permanent job. Even those with jobs are placed in soul crushing positions. K Dramas like Misaeng show this. If a person is not a college grad, the future is even bleaker. Like what happened during the IMF crisis, immigration becomes more of a possibility.
This drama does a lot with atmospherics. Our siblings n go face hardships living at home, where it is brutally hot in the summer, where outdoor “bathing” is the norm, where they must do hard labor assisting with agriculture. We see the long haul commutes that they have to endure daily-the small bus to train/subway. We don’t know if they’re guaranteed a seat. They must be exhausted, waking early and changing modes of conveyance before their work day begins. Right now we seevtheir claustrophobia. Ultimately something has to give so it is with hope that I’d like to see their individual Liberation journeys. We are now in the set up phase, a bit slow going but with necessary detail and, of course, the mystery of Mr. GU.
Right now, we are seeing quiet moments of desperation. In the end, I realistically hope that v we see them reaching a point where we see a better future for all of them.(I also do wonder if treatment v for mental health issues is affordable, widespread or frowned upon for dirt spoon people. I know from watching a lot of those K Dramas that any physical ailments must be paid for immediately in hospitals and that there lots of self medication recommended by pharmacists and c seemingly without prescriptions ).
@Packmule3, in the world of Kdramas, students get bloody noses from studying too intently, but for adults a random bloody nose often indicates a generic fatal condition. Could be head trauma, like in Start Up. Could be brain tumor. Could be cancer.
The funniest bloody noses I’ve seen in a Kdrama suggested the OTP had a too-vigorous night of sex in My Lovely San Soon.
I don’t think Mr. Gu’s bloody nose was random, but obviously from a fall because he had lacerations and bruising on his face. If he regularly drinks until he’s blackout drunk, I suspect his liver is suffering.
@Welmaris and @packmule3, From the time I started watching K Dramas,I wondered why all the bloody noses. I first thought they had something to do with fine particles in the air, but then I realized they had to do with plot points like stress, drunkardness, disease. I would also guess that the remedy for these nose bleeds is really not effective. Stuffing the nose with tissues isn’t v really the best way to do it but it looks serious on TV. I have relatives with certain allergies that use a cheap plastic device that has been given to them in emergency rooms that close up the source of the bkeed-sort of like pincers. If this fails, the nasal passage is cauterized. This trope will persist but in drama world these solutions would never do.
Watching this show made me imagine Chekhov and Faulkner drinking soju together on a hot summer night in the Korean countryside while listening to minimalist piano music.
@Snowflower, Faulkner would nod appreciatively at the stream of consciousness rolling out of the mouths of Gi-Jeong and Chang-Hee. Chekhov would feel comradeship with the reticent Papa and Mr. Gu. Both Faulkner and Chekhov would be equally sympatico with, and confounded by, Mi-Jeong.
@Welmaris, it is Mr. Gu who is giving me Faulknerian vibes – he is a stranger with no name and mysterious past. I am curious about the cross on his neck. The Yeom siblings trying to break out of a mundane existence are like characters in Chekhov’s universe. I like your interpretation too.
But the tone of the show is much warmer and hopeful than that of either Chekhov or Faulkner. Maybe there is something in the soju…
@Snowflower, the soju bottle room looked to me like an art installation. The piece juxtaposed the material with the site: alcohol bottles filling a bedroom floor, intertwining drunkenness with dreams. Gu said when trying to sleep he’d curl himself around the bottles as if he were incubating eggs. The bottles’ organized layout shows control, rather than a surrender to chaos. There’s a visually satisfying balance to the collection being centered in the room and arranged in rigid lines; yet the regimentation is suggestive of an army, a powerful and menacing menacing force on parade. The way the sunlight is transformed, reflecting on the bottles, is surprising, magical, and yet disconcerting: green can be new growth in nature, but in art often symbolizes poison.
I was angry at Chang Hee for invading Mr. Gu’s space and imposing his will. Everyone knows–even he, himself–that he went over the line, yet he stubbornly persisted because he believes only his way of thinking is right. This was only one of many displays of CH’s lack of empathy.
As a try, I just watched 20 minutes of episode 1.
Enterprise drink, Bowling, Barbecue, Breakup scenes.
I was hooked. Dialogs and situations are for now interesting. Give me an idea if it’s as accurate in the sequel, it could be a nice drama to watch.
We focus on problem of living far. People who don’t care when you are not in their town. Girlfriend don’t make an effort for rendez-vous. And the funny line about “kids are like animals or robots” and the remaried man. Many details and smart lines that make this not boring.
Directing introduce first scene with voice-over. Many shots on the protagonist saying nothing but “reacting” about what other people say. When she leave, only a girl say goodbye, others are already drinking together. Ordinary situations with a good awkward feeling.
@WEnchanteur, I find this drama starkly realistic. My reference point is the use of public transportation and ,commuting as crushing the psyche. As someone who has experienced long commutes and who knows when missing the last train or bus can be devastating. I look at whether our characters get a seat on the train. I see how making transit connections are so important. We see how commuting can lengthen a work day, making the very act exhausting. And our sibs don’t really get a day off because they’re helping with taking card of and harvesting crops. We don’t get sugar coating here. I think the unrelenting drudgery of the ear,id’s episodes might be a turn off for viewers but it’s worth the slog. I am invested in these characters and their struggles and very much hope to see them find a m odious of happiness.
@WEnchanteur, I’ll look forward to more of your impressions. For people who want blatant action, this may not be a rewarding watch, but I’m drawn in on many levels. The use of music has been spot-on: for example, that scene in Episode 1 when all the siblings are riding in the taxi through Seoul, on their way home after a difficult day, and the ethereal music plays as the lights of the city reflect on the taxi window over MJ’s face. Gorgeous!
The cinematographer and director have done an excellent job making the heat of summer an additional character in this drama. Are there any viewers not convinced of the oppressive heat? That’s good storytelling.
Another bit of good storytelling I attribute to the actors. I suspect that acting with props can be challenging, and props such as power tools that can take off a finger if not handled correctly…eesh! We have to remember that the man playing the father, Chun Ho Jin, has been an actor since at least 1985, winning many awards during his busy career. Yet when I watch him as Yeom Jae Ho installing kitchen cabinets or working in his factory, I fully believe he’s been doing that work for a lifetime. My only complaint is that none of them working in the factory wear safety goggles. Yes, I understand Directornim wants us to see the faces of his well-paid actors, but all those flying bits of wood are dangerous for eyeballs!
@Wenchanteur, I thought you might like this drama. Nothing is wasted despite the slow pace. There are many serious aspects to this script and the director is doing so well portraying them subtly. I feel that there’s pressure building slowly and surely.