My Liberation Notes Episode 3 review: Kim Ji-won's Mi-jeong finally finds the club where she belongs

3/5

Story:

In the latest episode of the Korean drama on Netflix, Gi-jeong is seen seeking love, going on dates and confronting her boss about why he gives gift coupons to everyone at work except her. Meanwhile, Kim Ji-won is seen avoiding her strange alcoholic neighbour Mr Gu whom she had requested to accept the job of 'worshipping her'. She realises what's she seeking and finds a club at the office where she belongs.

Review:

The new episode of the Korean drama, My Liberation Notes opens with Mi-jeong avoiding her strange neighbour Mr Gu while she is with her sister Gi-jeong, making you wonder if Mr Gu has accepted the offer in secret. But turns out, he had declined it, saying he wants to do nothing. He calls himself an a**hole and says he is not different from other guys that she has dated. He also asks if at all, she even knows his name and why he is living there without revealing his identity. Embarrassed, Mi-jeong leaves and tries to avoid confronting him, ever since. She even decides to go out drinking with her colleagues and misses the last train back home. She seemed happy and calm doing so for the first time and it was exhilarating and cathartic to watch.

Gi-jeong goes on a date after a long time and messes up. She then runs into her boss on her way home and confronts him about why he never appreciated her work as he does with others. Her boss then takes her out for a meal to make up for it and the formal dinner turns into an informal conversation between the two about love and relationships.

The new episode fleshes out the characters even more and the slow narrative helps understand them even more. The episode gets you thinking deeply about our own lives. It is quite relatable. It also talks a little more about Mr Gu. The alcoholic, though jobless and lonely, follows a routine and is seen ensuring that Mi-jeong's letter that he has hidden in the kitchen cabinet does not get into the hands of her brother when he stops in the pretext of looking for a drinking buddy while enjoying some AC in his house.

The show emphasises better productivity of the employees by indulging them in some fun clubs in this otherwise monotonous job. Mi-jeong gets called again with the other two nerdy colleagues who do not know what clubs to be part of. Mi-jeong is seen deep in thought while the other two have this fun banter as they try to check out the clubs and later, zero in on forming one and never really participating in it. It reminds one of one's childhood as they find excuses to not be a part of it. The scene is adorable. Mi-jeong then comes up with the Liberation club for the three of them where they can find freedom in whatever they require. It comes at the right time after establishing the controlled lives that Mi-jeong is living, always worried about missing the train and bus back home, which were the primary focus in the first two episodes. So, it is understandable why she is looking for an escape with her Liberation Club.

The ending of the show is great as Mi-jeong realises and finally finds the apt club that she can be a part of and so do her other two colleagues. The way the three are seen talking about the Liberation Club, leaving the HR clueless is a fun watch.

Verdict:

The show seems to get better and the slow pace of the narrative helps to strike a deep emotional chord with the audience.