Chicago Typewriter (2017)

It's more than the summary.... I regret waiting so long to watch this.

I have to start by stating the summary just didn't pull me into the drama. I read the summary and immediately thought, "yeah, this drama is not for me." I honestly thought it would be a very boring and unappealing drama.

Boy, was I wrong!! If it weren't for my friend watching it before I did, I never would have picked up this drama. She told me "it's right up your alley. Trust me." As she has been right many, many times, I finally decided to watch it. If I don't like it, we'll drop it and watch something else.

Han Se-Ju' hairstyle distracted me at first. I was like "WHY?" But honestly, it grew on me by the end of the drama.

Okay enough rabbit trails...

The most exciting part of the drama for me was the past life aspect. I have not watched many dramas with that component, but the ones I have watched didn't keep my attention for long. I was lost in the back and forth movements from present to past and back to present. However, Chicago Typewriter did no such thing. The flashbacks were well placed. They were short when they needed to be but detailed. And the longer flashbacks were well placed within the drama. There were parts of the past life story line that were predictable and then there were parts that were surprising.

Also, the part of the summary that had me not wanting to watch the drama was the writer's block. How can that be an interesting plot line? I understand the depression, but how can they make a 16 episode drama about writer's block? I laugh at my thoughts. Seriously... hindsight is 20/20. I should not have let that stop me from watching this back in 2017.

I won't spoil anything. SO I don't want to focus too much on the ending. But I will say, I was satisfied. Beyond satisfied. If the ending was any different, I would have been extremely disappointed. This ending, while bittersweet, was the most appropriate ending (I believe) for this type of story.

The OST added to the drama. It didn't distract from the story. It added depth and made certain scenes more impactful. I just loved the music. I found it to be well placed and beautiful!

I'm not much of a writer, unlike Han Se Ju, so I will leave you with this. Chicago typewriter is a beautiful drama that is delicate, yet intricate. It will capture your attention fairly quickly (especially if you like supernatural qualities in dramas). It's emotional. It's thrilling. And in the right places... it's funny. I wouldn't say I was on the edge of my seat, but I was emotionally captivated.

I hope you enjoy this drama as much as I did.

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A Beautiful, Meandering Journey to Make Peace with the Past

Good Things:

• The bromance. ML and SML share a close and complicated friendship that spans lifetimes. It's given equal weight to and at times overshadows the romance; one of few Kdramas that might give you second lead syndrome with both FL and ML.
• The genre/trope grab bag. Romcom? Check. Political thriller? Sure. Whodunit Mystery? Of course. Ghosts? Yep. Magic? You betcha. Time Travel? Why not? All of it is worked into the narrative, and none of it feels gimmicky or out of place.
• The metaphorical journey. Not only are the leads scarred by personal tragedy, they represent the shared trauma of a nation under occupation. In their struggle to understand and make peace with it, they personify the transition from war-torn past to more hopeful present.
• The red threads. While FL, ML and SML are the heart of the story, there's a tapestry of connection that touches the lives of other characters as well. They all have a part to play in how it all plays out again.
• The vintage fashion. Proof that three-piece suits are always in style.

Bad Things:

• The pacing. One of the most uneven starts in Kdrama, because of...
• The parallel plots. The past is an epic tragedy unfolding, the present is light-hearted romcom where FL, ML and SML all take turns being the third wheel. The two stories feel disconnected at first and take a while to reach equilibrium.

Interesting Things:

• Jin Soo Wan also wrote Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) and Kill Me, Heal Me (2015).
• Kim Chul Gyu also directed Mother (2018) and Flower of Evil (2020).

Recommended if you're a fan of Goblin, bromance, layered narratives or plot-driven romcoms and have the patience for very meandering start as the story gets all its ducks in a row.

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Really fun period mixing ghost drama.

This drama was super fun to watch even though the story got pretty emotional toward the end. There's a lot of comedy, the actors all did a really impressive job playing off each other, the music was really well done. The female lead is just annoying enough to keep you entertained. The male lead is your typical conceited jerk K-drama trope guy, but he gets more interesting as the show goes on. The supporting characters all had really fulfilling and relevant storylines. The sets and visuals were all really appealing to look at. The god was gorgeous. But more than all of that, the storyline was exceptionally well done and interesting with plenty of comedy to break up the more serious moments.

The only thing I didn't like much about the show was the male lead's haircut. It was such a bad look for him that I skipped over this show several times before I gave it a chance.

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Really a unique drama AND (Definitely UNDERRATED)

First episode I was little bored with what is going on, but as I keep watching it went really well, ending of the first episode is what made this drama interesting and kept me into it. After that it was really a fun story, there is comedy, romance and all sorts of emotions. I really enjoyed the music as well, it felt different than typical kdramas. At the end, I will say that this drama is very underrated and deserves to be considered one of the best drama. You can really feel the vibe when all three main characters reunites after such long period of time, I could really feel the happiness. I really wish there were more dramas like this one.

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Go Kyung Pyo MAKES The Show!

A writer in a slump, a happy-go-lucky woman, and a stranger in a suit all have something in common, but what exactly is it? A dark secret between half-brothers, and a deeper, darker secret from 80 years ago during a revolution begins a series of events that years later can't be stopped. The power of love and friendship has brought three souls back together decades years later and the bonds made are unbreakable as they reconnect. Whether drawn together by fate, or by chance, is up to the viewer to decide.

Go Kyung Pyo STEALS the show! From his constantly serious and deadpan delivery in "Love in Contract" to this expressive character, I couldn't stop laughing. The story is a fabulous spin and was so unique and adorable to me. It had its passionate moments, the true feelings of frustration when one suffers from writer's block or creative panic, and the heartbreakingly tragic moments that I didn't expect at all, especially in the first half of the drama. I also didn't expect myself to get drawn into the story as aggressively as I did, but I started it late last night and couldn't stop watching. I'm still awake now, and writing this review.

Many people would consider this to be a somewhat 'reverse-harem' concept because there are SO many suitors. The main female lead must be like catnip to cats only to men. This is a common trope in MANY kdramas and cdramas. However, I've often felt that if you're going to watch a love triangle story, then it's the QUALITY of the suitors, not the QUANTITY. And whereas two are basically filler (one of course is a bad guy), the two main leads love passionately.

Whereas at the beginning one is a hate-to-love, the other is someone who loves wholeheartedly and unquestioningly. Even when he refers to their past life, he refers to the FL as 'THEIR comrade and lover'. There was no questioning of where his, their, or her loyalty lie. He simply accepted that they all loved one another, whether as brother, friend, confidante, or comrade -- together they shared love (and her love), and he never questioned it.

That is a rarity in itself. I've only seen a character like this created ONCE in Western media, much less in a kdrama and that was in the movie "Savages" (2012). It is unusual for a drama to ever accept the 1st/2nd lead's love for the main character. Whether it be a female or male first lead that is being 'fought over' -- there is rarely ever a middle ground or a complete understanding that the love by both characters for the lead is acceptable. It is more often verbal or physical fighting that happens in a drama.

The storyline itself was fun for me. I particularly enjoyed the mention of Stephen King, and even quoting him. As a Stephen King fan, I was surprised by this and enjoyed it immensely. If you're looking for a love triangle that's not really a love triangle (it is but it isn't -- I don't know how to explain it unless you watch it), with a unique storyline, hilarious and awkward moments, with adorable characters and BEAUTIFUL architecture featuring a LOT of books, and many quotes from wonderful authors -- this is the drama for you.

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Un drama vraiment sympathique

Je viens de finir Chicago Typewriter, et franchement c’était une jolie découverte.

Alors, il faut aimer le fantastique, les fantômes, et adhérer aux vies antérieures et à la réincarnation. Si c’est votre cas, vous serez comblés !

Je trouve déjà l’histoire bien écrite, et ce parallèle entre ces 3 personnages dans deux vies différentes extras. Le tout est bien ficelé et j’ai adoré les deux périodes, même si j’ai une petite préférence pour la période 1930. L’ambiance y est vraiment extra, ainsi que les décors, j’ai vraiment été transportée dans cette période. La machine à écrire, apporte une note nostalgique sympathique.

Je découvre ici l’acteur Yoo Ah In et j’ai beaucoup aimé. Même si sa coupe de cheveux des années 1930 lui va carrément mieux que celle de 2017 ^^
Je redécouvre ici Go Kyung Pyo, que j’avais deja aimé dans pas mal de dramas, et il était très attachant ici.

Le triangle des trois personnages principaux est une très belle amitié qui fait chaud au cœur.

La romance, est quand même bien présente dans l’histoire, mais très légère dans le drama. J’ai trouvé cela dommage, mais cela n’enlève en rien les magnifiques liens entre les personnages.

Bref, ce drama était un drama de qualité et une jolie surprise. A découvrir.

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This s my first review on MyDramalist.  
I remember this drama on second page under top drama in2017 so I decide to register on this site and write  a review. 
I watched Chicago Typewriter weeks before Christmas. Its really beyond expectation.  

Ohh I like  the main actors. I watched Yoo ah in Six Flying Dragon I keen on character he played.
Somehow Korean know how to make a good drama.

Almost forget OST ......yes CT got the best OST ever . Satellite, rhe melody is so lovely  (lyric not that great???? )
I love Boni Pueri. This Czech boy choir is so great. I spent time listen to the ost over n over again on Youtube.
Thumbs up !

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The reason I started watching this drama was because of Yoo Ah-In. After seeing him in Six Flying Dragons and The Throne, I knew his talent is extraordinary. When I heard this has a bit more romance in it, instantly, I wanted to see how he portrays himself in another character.

It took me a bit of time since this show was out in 2017 and here I'm watching it in 2020. The reason why I didn't jump to it straight away when it aired was the concept of past and present lives. I got a bit tired of it as several dramas had that concept.

However, Chicago Typewriter blew me away with how well the plots came together. I actually was more invested in the storyline of 1930 than the present. I believe the writer did this splendidly keeping viewers on the line of wanting to know more of what happened.

There was only one minor reason why I didn't give the plot a 10/10, it had to do with the past and present people. I don't want to give any spoilers but personally, I thought it was a bit too "coincidental". The music fitted the timeline and captured each moments, however, it's not the best I've heard. To be fair, I couldn't give it a 10/10 because there are other dramas that no doubt excel in OST.

All the other casts were brilliant. Im Soo-Jung impressed me with her crying scenes, the emotions went straight into my heart. The friendship between the main characters truly lifted my soul.

Let's just say, I bawled my eyes out and wasted many tissues. I didn't expect the last few episodes to be that magnificent but what can I say? Yoo In-Ah is my my weakness, all his gestures and the looks in his eyes. Hoping he'll do more dramas because a movie length is just not enough of him! Give me the 50 episodes, 1 hour long each please!

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Great story a must watch for kdrama fans

This is a 2017 South Korean drama with 16, 70 minute episodes

Han Se-joo / Seo Hwi-young (Yoo Ah-In) is a famous author who hits a slump shortly after he meets one of his top fans, Jeon Seol / Ryu Soo-hyun / Anastacia (Im Soo Jung) Jin Seol was an Olympic level shooter who lost her desire to pursue the sport when holding the gun would bring on flashes of disturbing memories. Jin Seol is thrilled when her delivery service leads her to drop off a package at none other than Se-joo’s house. However, Se-Joo is not a fan of people in general and particularly this fan who finds excuses to seek him out. The package contains a typewriter that Se-Joo admired in an antique shop but was told it was not for sale. Seems the owner had a change of heart. The typewriter is not just any typewriter but holds a secret that ties Se-joo, Jin-Seol and a third character associated with the typewriter, Jin-oh / Shin Yool (Go Kyung-pyo) together. Collaborating on a novel about their past may break Se-joo out of his slump, allow Jin Seol an excuse to be around Se-Joo and reveal how and why the three are drawn to each other.

Spoiler 🚨. I liked everything about this. The reincarnation angle was interesting and the back story with the ghost was compelling. It was clear that their past story would be sad so it did not fall too heavy when the sad part occurred because it was expected. It kept you guessing just enough to make you want to keep watching. The love stories were believable and relatable. The friendships were heart warming. Getting a slice of life of that era in Korea was interesting.. The only thing that detracted and kept the ending from feeling thoroughly happy was not knowing what the future held for the ghost. It is a thoroughly engaging story with great character development, an intriguing premise and interesting plot. I highly recommend this for a wide audience but those interested in modern history, that like mystery, action, supernatural elements and romance will particularly enjoy this one.

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For me it started slow. At the start of this drama, I wasn't really attached to it. I just watch the episodes for the sake of Yoo Ah In ( because oh god, in all dramas of him I watched, he's hottest in Chicago Typewriter). But as the story progressed (around episode 5) I got attached to it and I found myself glued the whole time. While I was watching it, I was reminded of my country's National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, like at first I thought "wait is this based on Jose Rizal's story?".  Like Hwi Young he is a doctor and a writer. Although he is not a leader of any movement (but was accused as a leader, leading to his death), he wrote novels which changed and influenced the revolutionist at that time, also like Hwi Young, he is a great and brilliant man. I think if this drama will be aired in my local channels, many will also find similarities with Hwi Young and Dr. Jose Rizal. ( Hands up fellow Filipinos! Did you feel that too ?) Anyway, the reason why I mentioned that is because of that fact that I liked this drama. It feels good, surprising, exciting to find a drama from another country that also reflects my country's history.  Although I did not have first-hand experience  with the Japanese occupation of my country, I really emphatize with the it. I read of real stories of what happened during that time and I am sure that it is similar to what Korea have been through. Although those weren't explicitly seen in the drama, I know the cruelties of the Japanese during that time.

I hope my review will not scare those drama fans who doesn't like history type of dramas. This drama is not about history at all (which is boring), it is not about what we've read on books (which are politically corrected). It is a story that focuses on the point of view of the youths stuck in that era. An era were in falling in love is a luxury, and they got no time for that. Also it showed how privilege we are now, that we are living in a liberated country (yes I hope the one reading this also lives in a liberated country). So thank our freedom fighters for that. Kudos to this drama, I hope I will see such dramas in the future too.

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Beautiful and Otherworldly

This is one of my absolute favorite shows. I didn't know what to expect and just tried it out randomly, and I'm so glad I did. The music and cinematography alone give this show a leg up, especially with the flashback scenes. The show has a quality I haven't felt from any other show. It's at times dreamlike and ethereal; mystical and playful but also grounded in the harsh reality of the past.

I really love all the main characters, and all of them have an emotional and important place in the story. The female lead is one of my all time female leads, because in my opinion she's authentically fierce and interesting. Sometimes a female lead is called strong while she doesn't actually do all that much, but that's not the case here.

The story started with a few threads of mystery and ended up tying them together in a satisfying way. The audience is given hints of what happened, but I was still taken aback at how emotional the whole story was. Chicago Typewriter is certainly not the most depressing show I've watched, but I really couldn't help but cry for the characters at some point. This show just ended up being really fun, intriguing, and emotionally satisfying.

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