My Liberation Notes further emphasises my bias towards side characters/secondary MCs in a well-written story. While Mi-Jeong is definitely the lead, most relatable to the audience, I cannot wait to see how her siblings’ stories unfold instead… And Mr. Gu, of course.
Mi-jeong is a very layered character, feels trapped in the rigmarole called life and has a visceral need to get liberated, that much is evident. But her story, at least for now, ends there. She is, at the moment, only showing growth in her scenes with Mr. Gu. Neither her lone friend, Hyeon-a, nor her colleagues or family, add any value to her storyline in the present narrative (I know, I know, we’re only 4 episodes in).
Ki-Jeong & Chang-Hee on the other hand, there’s mystery still around them. They have that big chaotic energy™, more character to their personalities, and are more flawed than Mi-Jeong. Of course, there’s also the one subjective trait—stronger performances from Lee El & Lee Min-Ki respectively.
Now, I’ll be honest, I’ve never liked Lee Min-Ki in the few series that I’ve watched of his (well, one really, that I dropped because I was turned off by his flat acting), but here, he surprisingly brings Chang-Hee to life. This is the first time I’m actually seeing him actandact well, and that comes as a pleasant surprise. It makes Chang-Hee more endearing to me. I also relate to his low self-confidence and just general social anxiety. He wishes he were more approachable, but doesn’t know how. I actually don’t find him to be obnoxious, but more like that stuck-in-the middle sibling, who is trying to find himself in (and a way out from) a brazen elder sister and a mature/moody younger sister sandwich.
Coming to Lee El, she is the most compelling to me, to be honest. She has a MAGNETIC screen presence that I don’t see in the other two. I think the only one who matches it, is Son Seok-Koo (interesting trivia, they’ve acted together in another series, although I don’t think they were paired in it). She is full of herself, judgmental (he is your best friend’s younger brother and a single father, you don’t want to get into this), doesn’t read the room well enough, which often lands her in trouble, keeps whinging about love and men, wants to look pretty (don’t we all?), and wants something to happen to her for once. Hidden under these antagonistic traits is a pure heart that does not want to intentionally hurt anyone or think ill of anyone, it just wants to beat. It’s the little things the writers have done right with her character that make for a fascinating watch.
I want to see how the other two siblings get on, more than I am interested in Mi-Jeong. Then there’s Mr. Gu, who warrants a whole post for himself <3
