I write this review nearly two years after I first watched Chicago Typewriter - on second viewing, and as I mulled over the show for these years, I find that the drama still retains its powerful emotional core. With the second viewing the tears are stronger, because I know where it is headed and what all the pieces of the puzzle mean. Despite some flaws (is anything really perfect?) Chicago Typewriter is, at its heart, a story of friendship and love that traverses two lifetimes. There is longing, and for one character the journey towards redemption is marred by his own deep regret. Indeed for all the three characters, they find themselves when they find each other - this is such a deep, unwavering friendship and love. The present only makes sense when we know who we have been in the past, and yet as Se-joo reminds Yoo Jin-Oh, he is not Shin Yool. One can look at the past and the present as two halves of the story, and yet never live in the past, the story tells us. Acknowledge it, accept it, learn from it and move on. I loved Se-joo’s last meeting with his foster brother- he had emerged in the end a fully developed person, who was kind, considerate and self-aware. Undoubtedly his two friends made him thus. He learned to trust again, to love wholeheartedly and without fear. You don’t need too many people- just one or two who truly understand you. This was a complex story- weaving of pasts and present, and what wonderful characters! Even if not through reincarnation we all change, and both Hwi-young and Soo-hyun are examples of this.

This series, in my opinion, stands as one of the greatest, whether English, Korean or otherwise. Truly an outstanding show that will stay with you for a long time. Deep, philosophical, poetic, meaningful, and I must say, melancholic. Excellent performances by Yoo Ah-in (Han Se-joo/Seo Hwi-young), Im Soo-jung (Jeon Seol/Ryu Soo-hyun) and Go Kyung-pyo (Yoo Jin-oh/ Shin Yool), and all three shine in their emotional moments. Kwak Si-yang and the other supporting actors were excellent too. Outstanding cinematography, excellent direction, and oh, what a fantastic soundtrack. Just listening to the songs, particularly ‘Satellite’, ‘Time Walk’ and ‘Writing Our Stories’ takes me back to the series, and I realise that as a viewer I am pulled into the story, and it feels nostalgic, and melancholic: sitting with friends you love and doing something meaningful. Unlike other shows, this has very few people on whom the three leads can depend upon. This one isn’t about boisterous appeals of humanity but subtle ones. Highly recommended, but be patient, as everything makes sense when the show is over.