Chicago Typewriter: Episode 5
by gummimochi
Sticks and stones may break some bones, but words can get under a bestselling author’s skin. Putting on a brave face won’t be easy when the whole world has got an eye on the latest chapter of his career, and secrets threaten to bubble up to the surface. Blind aim won’t be enough for Se-joo to keep his enemies at bay, but a steady hand can help him prevent his life from unraveling at his feet.
EPISODE 5 RECAP
As Tae-min stews over his father’s criticism, he thinks back to ten years ago, when he was caught sneaking a peek of Se-joo’s rough draft of Fate. Se-joo allowed him to continue reading while keeping a watchful eye out for any reactions.
A few minutes passed before Se-joo finally asked for his opinion. Upon hearing that Tae-min had read several pages, he let out a defeated sigh, believing the narrative was a lost cause if it didn’t capture his reader by the second page. And if Tae-min didn’t seem to like it, then there was no way Tae-min’s father, Writer Baek, would.
In the present, Se-joo burns Jin-oh’s latest pages. Tae-min fumes as he hears his parents argue downstairs in the study, where his father refuses to participate in a joint interview with Tae-min regarding the novel Fate. When Tae-min’s mother inquires why her husband is so abrasive with their son, he in turn asks her about destroying other people’s lives by working with a skeevy reporter.
But Tae-min’s mother sees nothing wrong with doing anything for the sake of their son’s future. “This world is about ability and talent!” Writer Baek barks back, adding that Tae-min would be better off quitting altogether if he needed his father’s legacy just to make a name for himself.
Returning to his room, Tae-min darkly tells Kitty Seol to go away because he can’t play with her today. Her constant whining grates at him, so he grabs her and chucks her aside. What the fuck. Not cool, bro.
Later that night, Bang-jin forbids Seol from taking any more calls since they’ve all been from angry Se-joo fans. Seol thinks her impecunious state and inability to follow through are a result of being a traitor in her past life, but Bang-jin counters that the opposite is true: The descendants of independence activists are poor today while the rich are the descendants of those who sold out their country.
She thinks Seol should quit the errand service and go back to being a vet. She’s excited to hear that Seol has already decided to work at the animal clinic on a part-time basis, and skips out to buy some beer to celebrate…
…And sees Jin-oh standing there outside. When Bang-jin asks why he’s here, he points at her, which makes her blush… only to realize that he’s pointing at the towel on her head. Lol. He explains that he was kicked out of the house, which prompts her to ask if he’s married.
He says he isn’t and asks if Seol is asleep. Bang-jin frowns at that and pouts when he asks if Seol is happy here. She heads inside to fetch Seol before Jin-oh can say otherwise.
Meanwhile, Seol hones in on the pocket watch whose second hand eventually stops ticking… and then spins backward. We blast back to the 1930s to Soo-hyun during target practice. She hits all the bottles save for the last one, so Jin-oh comes close to help her aim, advising her not to be afraid of the recoil.
At his mark, she fires. The bullet hits the target and Seol snaps back to the present. She’s told to greet her guest outside, but there’s no one there. She turns to head back inside when a melodic whistling grabs her attention. She heads around the corner, where a blast of wind knocks the hat off her head…
…And lands back in the past, where Soo-hyun picks it up. She sneaks into Carpe Diem and reports to Jin-oh, who is pleased that their mission was a success. He notices her bleeding arm, but she doesn’t let him examine it immediately because the police are still following her.
Soo-hyun runs into the hideout to switch guns and bandage her wound. The police follow behind her and draw the curtains… to the ladies dressing room where she politely asks them in Japanese to leave.
She later sings on stage while keeping a watchful eye on the police officers enjoying a drink. She sees Jin-oh talk to Hwi-young, who takes out his pocket watch… and Seol is brought back to the present by the sound of Bang-jin’s mother’s voice. Realizing that Seol is seeing glimpses into her past life again, Bang-jin’s mother finally tells Seol what she said to her when she was a little girl: that she killed someone she shouldn’t have in a past life.
Seol wonders why her mother brought her to a shaman instead of a doctor, but her mother didn’t believe that clever young Seol just had an overactive imagination. So when Seol’s mother came to her, Bang-jin’s mother assured her that Seol wasn’t a shaman.
She’s told that upon death, the soul crosses the river Lethe whose water causes forgetfulness. Usually, a person doesn’t look back unless they have any lingering regrets in that past life, and if they do, those residual memories are taken with them into the next life.
In Bang-jin’s mother’s eyes, it’s no use wondering what caused those memories to spill over—rather, Seol is better off living this life to the fullest, without any regrets. Seol muses, “Could it be lingering regret or intense devotion? Or could it be… that there were people or stories that I didn’t want to or am not supposed to forget?”
In his office, Se-joo picks up the burnt scraps of paper from the floor. One piece grabs his attention, however, and his mind fills in the fragmented sentences: “My homeland may be lost, but my words will not be taken away from me. If I cannot write, I am no different than a ghost. In a liberated Joseon, I will madly write whatever I wish.”
With that, we flash back to the past to Hwi-young and Jin-oh’s conversation during Soo-hyun’s performance. Hwi-young has a deadline to meet tonight, explaining to his friend that he’s restricted to writing third-rate novels because he’s been blacklisted as an author.
He repeats the same words Se-joo read earlier, believing that he’ll have freedom of press once Joseon is liberated. Evidently, Jin-oh is a writer himself, but his future plans slightly differ from his buddy: He plans to pursue love, namely with Soo-hyun.
Alarmed by the flashback, Se-joo drops the burnt paper. Just outside, Jin-oh prays that Se-joo will continue writing because “this novel must be completed… for me to live.”
Se-joo wakes the next morning to see his secretary cleaning up the office. He’s later told that it seems Reporter Song and Tae-min’s mother are in cahoots with each other, which he considers as unsurprising news. He decides against a lawsuit, which has his secretary wonder if it’s because it could implicate Writer Baek, his former mentor.
He dismisses her, but his secretary pipes up that Ji-seok might use Seol to pursue a lawsuit on his behalf. Speaking of whom, Ji-seok sits down with Seol in his office and advises her to do just that, assuring her that the publication company will foot the legal fees: “You saved Se-joo’s life twice now. Let’s make it three.”
Se-joo barges in just then, declaring that he won’t be suing anyone. He drags Seol out of this office and threatens Ji-seok to drop the suit or their working relationship is over.
He takes Seol to an empty conference room and instructs her to do the same. He doesn’t elaborate on why, and Seol doesn’t see why she needs to blindly follow his orders. She calls herself a victim too, telling him that she’s constantly bombarded with angry calls and that her safety is at risk too.
He cuts her off, telling her to name her price. Hearing him talk about money only irks her since she wants to help him reveal the truth. “I’m telling you I don’t need your help!” Se-joo barks back. She lectures him for being so quick to anger, but Se-joo doesn’t need a lesson in how to deal with scandals—they all subside with time.
Seol says he should try to help her understand without using absolutes then—that is, unless there is some truth in those accusations: Does he have an actual ghostwriter? Se-joo gulps while Seol argues that he should respond with bold confidence rather than silence if he truly believes the rumors are groundless.
“Why do you have to help me?!” he hollers. Seol spits out: “Because I don’t hate you enough, okay?!” Se-joo lets her do whatever she likes then, on the condition that she never come see him again because things haven’t been going his way ever since they met.
Se-joo drives back home trying to convince himself that he can set everything back to the way things were. He sits at his desk to work, determined to push past his writer’s block no matter what. Taking a deep breath, he starts typing.
He’s awoken the next morning by Ji-seok, who calls to remark that his latest submission isn’t as compelling as his previous chapters. Ji-seok figures the ghostwriter scandal has been hard on him.
Saying that he sent the wrong file, Se-joo promises to send in the correct one in two hours. He then heads back to his workspace and the burnt scrap of paper flashes in his mind. He rifles through the trash in search of that remnant, but it’s gone.
Se-joo heads back inside to find Jin-oh waiting for him. Jin-oh offers him another copy of the pages Se-joo burned… on the condition that he can stay here with Se-joo until the novel is complete. He knows that Se-joo needs this next installment—furthermore, Se-joo needs his help to finish this novel.
Se-joo angrily takes the pages from Jin-oh and reads them, then transcribes the text on his computer. He writes the email, but his finger hovers over the “send” button. He can barely choke back tears as he thinks of Seol and how she always admired his work and always rooted for him.
Ultimately, this week’s installment of Chicago Typewriter doesn’t go up. Seol gets irritated reading the countless scathing comments and leaves an encouraging comment for Se-joo online.
Seol makes sure to scope her surroundings before leaving the animal clinic keeping her face mostly covered. She sees Se-joo waiting for her outside, though… and walks away. LOL. She’s annoyed when he follows her and does an about-face to confront him about it, asking if he’ll mark this up as one of her delusions. “No, you’re right,” he says matter-of-factly. “I am following you.”
When she reminds him of how he told her not to come see him, Se-joo says that’s why he came… to see her (aw). Or rather, he came so she can see him. Oh, well. He sticks to her like glue, which prompts her to ask how he knew where to find her on her day off.
He says he has something to ask, even willing to apologize first if that’s what she wants. She isn’t surprised when he explains that he’d like to understand a woman’s psyche better, for you know, research purposes. He then tells her the premise of his “story”: A global male star finds out that he has one day to live and wants to do something for an ordinary female fan.
Seol all but rolls her eyes at the oh-so-familiar setup, asking him if Se-joo is going to die tomorrow. He tells her to answer the question, and she says she’d probably brag about getting the celebrity’s attention to her friend.
That’s how they end up at the restaurant where Bang-jin works. Bang-jin is still annoyed at her friend who “must’ve betrayed [her] country” in a past life, a statement Se-joo doesn’t agree with. If anything, he thinks Seol would’ve been an independence fighter—more specifically, a sharpshooter.
“How do you know about my past life?” Seol asks. He brushes it off, saying that he guessed based on her history. She asks if the character Ryu Soo-hyun in his novel is based on her then, and Se-joo draws the line there, telling her to eat.
Seol’s next demand is to walk down a crowded street with him to make everyone green with envy. He asks why they’re wearing masks then, and Seol reminds him that they’re both currently in hot water because of a certain someone. He stops at those words, pulls down his mask, and says: “I’m sorry. And…”
I love you? Seol thinks to herself. AHAHAHA. (Im Soo-jung’s last drama was I’m Sorry, I Love You.)
But no, Se-joo points to an arcade and drags her to the shooting game, placing the gun in her hands. He’s even picked out a stuffed animal prize and asks her to win it for him.
She picks up the gun and lines up her target, but she can’t stop shaking, so Se-joo places his hand over hers and holds her close to steady her posture. Omo. He puts a hand on her shoulder and instructs her to relax, which prompts her to remind him that she’s the pro here.
Se-joo says he knows the basics too because he’s written plenty of gangster novels, and when she moves, telling him to do it himself, he aims her at the target again.
He advises her: “Fear comes from a lack of trust in ourselves and anxiety of the unknown. If you don’t want fear or anxiety to consume you, you have no choice but to trust yourself.”
At his mark, Seol fires and hits her target with precision. Next thing we know, Se-joo carries out that huge stuffed animal and teases her that she was supposed to tell him why she gave up pistol shooting when they got to know one another.
But when she offers to become a tad closer, he rejects the offer, calling it bad timing. That makes her wonder if he’s actually dying, and he assures her that he won’t die. He does, however, turn back and call out her name, formally thanking her for everything and promising never to forget that she was his first fan.
Se-joo drives to the publishing company with Jin-oh in tow. Jin-oh has noticed that this week’s installment of Chicago Typewriter wasn’t uploaded, and when Se-joo says he’d better look for somewhere else to live, Jin-oh asks if they weren’t going to stick together until the serial novel was complete. “No,” Se-joo answers. “Because I don’t need you anymore.”
Then Se-joo opens up the doors to a room full of reporters gathered together for an urgent press conference. Jin-oh shields himself from the barrage of camera flashes as Se-joo goes up on stage, then turns to instruct him to come up here and join him. The photographers follow his line of sight.
Se-joo pulls out a seat for Jin-oh, then sits in the other seat. Ji-seok is utterly perplexed while Reporter Song looks on. Se-joo begins his statement regarding the rumors about him hiring a ghostwriter.
Over at Riccardo, Seol worries about Se-joo, completely oblivious to Dae-han presenting her with a new dish he entitled “my heart” which represents his feelings to her. He’s taken aback when she wonders aloud why Se-joo’s words were so “meaningful,” asking her if she doesn’t like the name (because the word’s literal translation is a combination of “meaning” and “heart”).
Bang-jin rushes in to inform Seol about Se-joo’s sudden press conference, and they immediately tune in. Jin-oh winces as Se-joo speaks on how much these rumors bothered him and made him question his career choices. According to him, the only thing that kept him going was the idea that he was the only one who could write his own novels.
Ji-seok braces himself for a possible trainwreck situation, and Se-joo says while previous claims to him having a ghostwriter were not true… they are true now. The reporters are abuzz at the statement, and Reporter Song raises his hand to ask where that aforementioned ghostwriter is now.
Se-joo announces that Chicago Typewriter was written by his ghostwriter and motions to the seat next to him. Everyone in the room freezes. Se-joo takes full responsibility for this situation and asks the media not to go after the woman pulled into this scandal with him.
He then says the man sitting next to him will answer any other questions, and Ji-seok squints his eyes. With that, Se-joo walks out.
After Se-joo gathers his house staff together to bid them farewell, he sits at his desk and opens his laptop… to read the media calling his press statement an elaborate performance to absolve himself of any responsibility. But what’s more startling is this: In the photos, the seat next to Se-joo’s… is empty.
The camera pans around to reveal Jin-oh standing behind him. Jin-oh flatly asks, “Are you okay? You were quite shocked, weren’t you?”
Se-joo rises to his feet and asks Jin-oh to explain the pictures and videos. Grabbing him, he shouts, “Who are you?!” Jin-oh repeats his introduction as Se-joo’s ghostwriter, which Se-joo doesn’t accept. “However…” Jin-oh divulges, “I’m really a ghost.”
COMMENTS
Ah, so our resident ghostwriter truly is a ghost writer, after all. I wish I could say I was ecstatic to find out that we were right, but like I feared, we spent most of this episode waiting for the other narrative shoe to drop and for Se-joo to make the connection himself. I cringed watching Se-joo’s press conference knowing that no one else in that room (or the world) could see him there. Even Bang-jin, who has seen Jin-oh in person, would see an empty space beside Se-joo.
If we’re to take a step back, however, I must say I’m proud of Se-joo for keeping his own conscience accountable and ultimately passing on the opportunity to submit a work he didn’t consciously write on his own. He easily could’ve crumbled and tapped into the words spoken by his past self, but instead, he turned to his real-life cheerleader in Seol and spent time with her to show his appreciation… after acting like an ass by telling her to remain silent in the face of an unfair situation. So I like that Seol would have none of it and challenged his own sense of integrity, reminding him that he wasn’t the only victim of the rumors.
I find it amazing that even with her fear of holding a gun (because it reminds her of her past life) Seol is just as fearless as Soo-hyun was. We don’t have to be told about the similarities that our reincarnated characters share with their previous identities, although their mentions do add a nice touch. I did like how both Jin-oh and Se-joo gave her similar advice to not be afraid and trust in herself, and that encouragement helped steady her hand.
As with any drama heroine, I’m hoping that Seol will continue to play an active part in Se-joo’s life and career, since we’ve all seen many a female character be relegated to the wayside. Her character is the crux of the murder mystery in the 1930s and she’s the biggest advocate available to Se-joo, especially now that he has to deal with the aftermath of the puzzling press conference.
Which brings us back to Jin-oh, whose character we have yet to fully understand. He may be a ghost (that inhabits typewriters and dogs?), but the questions surrounding his character are still the same, including why he came to Se-joo now and why he needs this novel to be completed in order “to live.” His character is the main mystery that makes the gears turn in my head and try to put the puzzle pieces together. If we accept the possibility that Jin-oh was the evil spirit outside Bang-jin’s mother’s door, it’s possible that he had ulterior motives during the 1930s. A part of me hopes that’s just a farfetched theory because I do enjoy Jin-oh as a lovesick leader with a mischievous flair, but who is to say that can’t all be a ruse? (But I really hope you’re just a boy in love, Jin-oh.)
Seeing Tae-min’s true darker colors makes me wonder if he had something to do with the past too, though it’s quite possible that his storyline only affects the present. I legitimately gasped when he treated Kitty Seol so cruelly, and I don’t think it’s pure coincidence that the cat and Seol share the same name. There are plenty of little mysteries to uncover in Chicago Typewriter, but right now, my chief concern lies with Se-joo and his sanity. Down the rabbit hole we go…
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Tags: Chicago Typewriter, Episode 5, Go Kyung-pyo, Im Soo-jung, Yoo Ah-in
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
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1 gadis
April 22, 2017 at 5:04 PM
This is definitely my fave eps. I especially love Seol and Se-joo's faux date. It's sweet that he felt the need to give precious memory to Seol before he does something that possibly ruin his career. Though I think, partly he just wants his first fan to remember him in his best state. It's really ironic that the one he sought for when he needs some reassurance was the fan he met not long ago. I couldn't help but teared up a little when he switched to jondaemal and thanked her sincerely.
I'm also pleased that we got to see strong female friendship here. I love Bang-jin and Seol's scene. They are so honest and supportive. You can always get jealous and annoyed at your friend, but thinking about their well-being will always come naturally no matter what.
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Miranda
April 22, 2017 at 5:30 PM
I liked the shaman too. She's so no-nonsense; she'll avoid rehashing Seol's disturbed childhood because what's the point, but once she sees that Seol is remembering the past again, there is absolutely no hesitation: have some booze, apparently you killed the wrong guy in the past. Now let's talk about how to live your life with that knowledge.
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sojuboy
April 23, 2017 at 5:38 PM
'Cannot get pass her Micheal Jackson nose. It's so close to falling off.
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alert
April 22, 2017 at 7:25 PM
You know they're best friend for life when Bang Jin was so upset with Seol because of Yoo looking for her, but still remind Seol to put her cap on. It's like she's mad, but she's still concerned about Seol. Awwwwwww
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 8:39 PM
You don't need grand gestures or exaggerated declarations to show your love for your friend. These little gestures always get me, especially when one is still stewing in a teeny weeny bit of jealousy for said friend. Haha.
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ash
April 22, 2017 at 8:32 PM
Yess loved their little date. And agree with you that it was both done for JS's and his own sake!
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 8:43 PM
Yes! That's really sweet of SJ, to give precious memories to Seol before his press conference. Even though he is about to ruin his career, he still thinks of her first and her feelings about his possible actions and ruminations.
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hibeautiful
April 23, 2017 at 11:28 AM
This is my favorite episode too. I loved everything in that faux date.
I'm sold. Finally.
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sojuboy
April 23, 2017 at 5:53 PM
This is by far, the best show on terrestrial TV right now.
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fleurvoyeur
April 23, 2017 at 6:53 PM
Can't agree more! Booo to Koreans who failed to see this gem :p
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2 anothernicole
April 22, 2017 at 5:10 PM
Well, I'm happy we got yoo's identity sorted out, in that we can get into deeper things. But I cringed my way through that press conferences too---too too brutal. I cringed when Tae-min was with the cat, too, (didn't think about the name similarity until I read the recap, but yes, it's gotta be key important, right?) but I have to say, I'm super impressed with the actor's ability to convey that range of emotions and the contrast with so few words!! Ok then just a few scattered thoughts (1) How awesome is Jeon Seol?!?! Is there anything that she doesn't do? ? Every time we see her do something new, i think she's just been thrown into the situation or is being really resourceful, but it turns out she's an expert in that thing. First it was the gun, then the vet stint, and in the 1930s, I LOVED that she actually was part of the musical act—not just a runaway using their dressing room for cover. i could not love that more. (2) Did anyone else notice Tae-min's bookshelf and love it? I mean, I love the design itself; super cool. But i love that he's the one character whose books are out of the usual "order" or "convention"; askew from the norm. Such a nice detail by the set team--who are quickly becoming my heroes. This set is so great! (3) In the 1930s, jeon seol is hiding stuff in a room that's presently Se-ju's writing room, right? Did i imagine that? (4) Se-ju and Jeon Seol's "date" was soooooo cute. I'd go on and on, but I know this is already too long.
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msbeatrice81
April 22, 2017 at 5:21 PM
RE: #3, I noticed that, too! The window has the same metalwork in it, at least - not sure whether it's the same room in a diff time or if they just threw that in there to hint at the parallels, but it's a fun detail!
I love this ep so much - the style, the character development, etc. I'm glad that we know the most about Seol's character, because frequently it's the male characters we get to know more quickly, and it's nice to see a female character who already feels like a complete woman who has already become an amazing person without the aid of a man. Can't wait to see the next ep!!
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edgepee
April 22, 2017 at 6:18 PM
ALL the bookshelves are awesome. These are the ones I noticed so far; will list the location:
1. Han Se Ju's writing room
2. Jeon Seol & Bang Jin's room (personal favourite)
3. Baek Tae Min's room (writing studio?) *THAT orange bookshelf!*
4. The really tall ones where Tae Min and Se Ju shot the ad
5. The bookstore where Se Ju bumped into Tae Min in episode 1
6. Writer Baek's writing room
7. Jeon Seol's dad's mountain cabin
Did I miss anything out?
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anothernicole
April 22, 2017 at 6:27 PM
i was wishing i had kept a list—this is awesome!! thanks for sharing
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edgepee
April 22, 2017 at 6:49 PM
hehe you're welcome :)
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alert
April 22, 2017 at 6:28 PM
OMG the bookporn in this show! They leave me salivating to have one too!
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anothernicole
April 22, 2017 at 6:38 PM
seriously!! at the end of this show we need a bookshelves gif.
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alert
April 22, 2017 at 9:10 PM
At at least a kiss in the library LOL
liar song
April 22, 2017 at 7:10 PM
Love all the bookshelves in the show! (The book nerd in me is coming out)
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edgepee
April 22, 2017 at 8:13 PM
8. The bookstore Jeon Seol & Bang Jin worked at.
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 8:45 PM
All the book shelves are daebak! Different rooms have different shelves. A lot of thought must have gone through the writer's head about the pattern and formation of the shelves. I wonder if there is anything significant to the shelves allocated to each person.
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gadis
April 22, 2017 at 10:44 PM
The set staff must have a blast designing all that. Not only the bookcases, all the set is awesome.
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anothernicole
April 23, 2017 at 8:16 AM
i agree! and while i don't know if every bookshelf has a significant design for its owner, i do think tae-min's does. his is the only shelf where the books are stacked on each other, up and down. and he's the one who's not a proper writer, really. his writing career is "off" and his bookshelf is not the norm either. i get a sense of the books on his shelf bearing weight of the other books, just as he does. they can't stand on their own, just as he hasn't.
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 9:52 PM
I wish I paid more attention to those shelves as well, maybe it's time to rewatch the episodes? -rubs hands in glee-
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JiaYou
April 23, 2017 at 6:26 AM
BOOKWORM GOALS AF! My personal fave was Seol and Bang Jin's room too!
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fleurvoyeur
April 23, 2017 at 8:16 AM
Tae Min and Se Joo shot the PSA in Korea's largest library called "Book Park" http://incorp.interpark.com/gate/kaos/bookpark.html
Definitely a heaven for bookworms!
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I Will Goryeo You
April 23, 2017 at 8:38 AM
The bookshelves where Se Joo & Tae Min shot their ad was located in "Book Park", the largest bookstore/library in Korea.
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phantasystar
April 26, 2017 at 2:30 PM
I think Tae-Min might be Soo-Hyun boss in the past. When Jin-Oh greets her in the club, he says something like their boss is going to be pleased. It would be really crazy if this boss was the one who made her choose who to kill in the past.
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3 alert
April 22, 2017 at 5:20 PM
OMG Tae Min is totally gonna be that bad guy of no return the moment he tormented the cat (*gasp*). Killers are baddies, but cat-bullies are eeeeevil to the next level!
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fleurvoyeur
April 22, 2017 at 5:54 PM
Cat-bullies are unforgiveable!
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wilson
April 22, 2017 at 6:56 PM
I was literally yelling at my screen 'you hurt that cat and you are dead to me'. Next level eeeeeevil indeed!
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 9:57 PM
I straight up called him a little shit. With all that talk about how psychopaths first hurt animals and eventually move onto humans, I wonder how evil Tae-min will get. I hope he won't become a murderer! Though maybe in his past life...
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gadis
April 22, 2017 at 10:48 PM
I wish Jeon Seol would eventually adopted Baek Seol. I couldn't stand another cat cruelty from Tae-min.
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 8:47 PM
I was shocked at the brutality TM meted out to the cat. So unnecessary and so cruel! Even though we don't get to see the scene in the show, it must have hurt terribly for the cat.
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 9:54 PM
I don't think they really had him throw the cat, at least I HOPE NOT. -eyes production team-
Poor kitty Seol, my cat lover heart can't take it. ???
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gummimochi
April 22, 2017 at 10:03 PM
No, they wouldn't capture animal cruelty on film. But the sound alone makes me angry at Tae-min enough.
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alasecond
April 22, 2017 at 10:31 PM
i am glad he came on happy together with his dog.. :P poor animal lover turned into animal abuser.. and it was cute..he and his dog were dressed up same :P
agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:40 PM
I know right! Urgh. I feel honoured that you replied!
I think I might have misinterpreted @s9313071e's comment a little. ?
agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:41 PM
Awww that sound so cute @alasecond! Poor guy indeed, having to act as an animal abuser. ):
agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:42 PM
*sounds
ar
April 23, 2017 at 2:50 PM
I thought he was going to kick the cat, which would already be horrifying, but he seriously used his hands to hurt his cat.
The pet casting dept is nailing it - Baek Seol is one of the cutest cats I've ever seen. That mysterious dog is also incredibly cute and sort of goofy looking. Sort of like Go Kyung Po.
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panshel
April 23, 2017 at 3:16 PM
I want Fluffy Dog back!
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ash
April 22, 2017 at 8:50 PM
I know right! That was so bad! ?
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Yanca
April 22, 2017 at 8:53 PM
I totally agree with you, but the thing with tae min is that we can tell he's mentally not all there nd I think its genetic coz the mom is psycho. I think moms paranoia nd manipulation made it worse thats why he has control issues nd he hurt cat seol when it didn't listen to him. I blame the dad for letting things get out of hand ignoring mental illness does not make it go away, maybe tae min wouldn't be so bad if mom had been treated. I like this drama because I can see first hand why tae min is the way he is and not find out from being "told" by another character. Im looking forward to finding out more about how mom managed to mess everyone's lives up in the present time line (mb also 1930 nd I can bet she was a betrayer it seems right up her alley)
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alasecond
April 22, 2017 at 10:33 PM
more than mom's treatment, daddy always compares tae mmin with SJ.. maybe if he didn't do that.. TM could grow up into his own person..
it is actually his blatant preference either for being a writer or for being a better writer that pushed TM into losing it
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ijaymia
April 23, 2017 at 9:53 AM
Exactly!!! I can't wait for Seol to find out ehat a jerk he is. I read a comment on an online forum about korean audiences not liking Se joo's character because he is too abrasive. Well i think better Sejoo than Taemin, with Sejoo, u know where u stand, he is unpretentious, meanwhile Taemin could brew rat poison for u in coffee pot and serve you with that sweet sweet smile of his...the apple didn't fall far from the tree with this one...more about his character was exposed in episode 6
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agudewafflemix
April 23, 2017 at 8:07 PM
Can't wait for the recap for episode 6 to be up so we can all talk about Tae-min. He's giving me the heebie-jeebies.
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4 lunaticandra
April 22, 2017 at 5:24 PM
Of course Yoo always use typewriter when he make the manuscript. The old spirit doesn't know how to use laptop... -_-
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Miranda
April 22, 2017 at 5:33 PM
Well, the spirit seems to know how to use the fax machine (for the first installment), so that's a bit of a quirk.
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lunaticandra
April 22, 2017 at 5:43 PM
The spirit knows how to learn fast... -_-
Though I am more curious about where does he suppose to keep his wardrobe. He sure has a lavish amount of suits for a ghost.
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ash
April 22, 2017 at 8:51 PM
Lol I too was wondering! ?
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 8:48 PM
Maybe the manuscript is faxed by his assistant?
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Miranda
April 22, 2017 at 9:34 PM
I thought I had the typewriter thing cracked: Jin Oh "types" on the typewriter, producing a copy that Se Joo can see but no one else can (nothing in the trash when Se Joo goes looking). But then I remembered that after his injury, the first installment in the series was typed but then faxed. So who faxed it?
Because no one else should've been able to see that other than Se Joo, as far as we've been able to tell. Right? His housekeeper only picks up the balled-up typewriter paper, not the scorched bits, and they're not in the trash later (and that's kind of good to know, because throwing burning papers into the air inside a wood-paneled library is not a good idea, so I guess we should be happy it's ghost paper?).
Maybe it's a writing error, maybe there's an explanation I haven't thought of, but I'm not sure how a Week 1 script with no tangible form managed to make it into a fax machine.
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:00 PM
I think the copies are physical copies! Because the paper put in is real, so to speak. Assistant Kang wanted to pick up one of the chapters lying on Se-ju's table to transcribe it into a soft copy in one of the previous episodes, if I'm not wrong.
alasecond
April 22, 2017 at 10:35 PM
the assistant mentioned she faxed it.. when she caught SJ writing on typewriter again.. her use of word "Again"
Yanca
April 22, 2017 at 8:57 PM
Mb the words won't flow if he's not using the typewriter? He's trapped in it for a reason.
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5 Miranda
April 22, 2017 at 5:26 PM
Love this show, absolutely love it. It's ticking along at a perfectly good pace for me, it's shot in the most glorious style, and I actually quite enjoy all of the characters. It kind of reminds me of some of the best serial radio plays, for some reason - I get the same sensation like I'm sipping on a hot drink and totally submerging in a story that's being told in a unique way.
I was pretty sure Yoo Jin Oh was a full-on spirit but I think the episode was worth the slow burn to see the reveal. I felt dread the entire second half of the episode, knowing that Se Joo was building up his courage to do the only thing he could to survive with his integrity intact, but also knowing that this could be a total disaster. As it is I think that the media could interpret it as a very showy "I don't have a ghostwriter" statement - the whole stagey gesturing to an empty chair, as though to say "you insist there's a ghostwriter, so fine, it's my muse and he's right here, have at him". Though I guess there's just as much chance they'll call him crazy.
And Seol seems to be a badass in any timeline, which is great. Can't wait to see the past, the present and the ghost all interacting. What on earth does Jin Oh mean by saying the novel has to be written for him to live? And I'm fully intrigued by Seol apparently killing the "wrong man" and the evidence that Jin Oh is carrying a major torch for her in both timelines. Ah, it's just GOOD! I'm hooked!
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michykdrama
April 22, 2017 at 6:56 PM
Yes! I love that Seol is badass but both timelines. Ripping bandage to wrap her own wounds and being able to handle a gun with confidence and sass, and then stepping out as a total knockout to sing and sashay a minute later?
Nevermind Jin Oh and Se Joo, I was swooning!
Plus her standing up to Se Joo in the present! So awesome.
New girl crush! LOVE her in both timelines, totally.
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plumwine
April 22, 2017 at 8:31 PM
I loved that she just took care of her wound and performed like it was any other another night. That woman is centered!
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ash
April 22, 2017 at 8:57 PM
Yes that was really cool!
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ash
April 22, 2017 at 8:54 PM
Agree with everything you said! This in particular " I get the same sensation like I'm sipping on a hot drink and totally submerging in a story that's being told in a unique way."
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 8:54 PM
You are right on about the serial radio play. Initially, I felt something familiar with the show, but I couldn't place a finger on what, but your description hit the nail on the head. Watching the show makes me feel a little nostalgic- perhaps it's because of the 1930s.
I suppose the press will have a field day with SJ's psyche when he presents a ghostwriter who is actually not there and can't be captured on film or photos. I wonder what the fallout will be. Hoping to see that in the next episode.
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6 bubz
April 22, 2017 at 5:27 PM
'Impecunious' is a great word. Thanks for the recap!
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7 alert
April 22, 2017 at 5:31 PM
My favourite scene in episode 5 was definitely the press conference. I love how Jin Oh was revealed as ghost, I know we’ve all suspected it since the beginning what’s with the obvious hints dropped ever since episode, so yes the revelation about Jin Oh in this episode is predictable, but it gets to me not because of what is being revealed, but how it is being revealed.
The press conference was so twisted, but in a good way. Since we’ve established and convinced from the beginning that Jin Oh was the ghost, I tried imagining myself being one of the reporters. Se Jo’s confession can go either 2 ways. The first one, the crowd would think he’s one wacko writer who’s losing his marbles. But secondly, I were among the crowd, I would be in awe of his brilliant answer. I would probably think he’s a brilliant writer being cynical about the whole thing - he told them to ask his ghostwriter, who literally doesn’t exist! If Of course, the irony part was that Se Jo was being completely honest about it, which gives a kind of dark humour over the whole fiasco.
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fleurvoyeur
April 22, 2017 at 6:00 PM
Since the media touted him as a Korean Stephen King, the smart ones should recall King's quote that "ghost is a muse" and wrote about it in their articles. Hahaha!
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 9:00 PM
My favorite scene is the press con too! I have always wondered how the writer is going to reveal Yoo's identity - and revealing it through the press con is clever, on the writer's part. And it kills two birds with one stone - reveal yoo's identity and second, SJ's psyche. The press is going to benefit from the delicious amount of articles they can come up with on his motivation for his press con. Haha
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tsinita
April 23, 2017 at 4:46 AM
I loved the presscon. I thought it was ingenious! It was a perfect way to shut up the rumormongers. It was like a slap on their face with the very same thing they used to ruin Sejo. "You want a ghost writer, here talk to him" Drops the mic and walks out.
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hibeautiful
April 23, 2017 at 11:34 AM
The whole presscon thing is indeed brilliant and ironic. I loved seeing how genuine, venerable, and human HSJ is. He has the most complexity among other characters. I start to like and even root for him, which is a good news since I despised him in the first episodes lol.
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ar
April 23, 2017 at 2:52 PM
On top of his confession, I really like how he asked people to stop harassing Seol. Few celebrities have the guts to do that during a press conference.
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8 lemoncello
April 22, 2017 at 5:31 PM
I'm BLOWN!!!! Now that Jin-oh is "confirmed" as a ghost, I'm really curious what really happened in the 1930's.
Tae-min is so scary... poor Kitty Seol.... ???
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9 anoriori
April 22, 2017 at 5:39 PM
I thought Taemin was just gonna be a bit assy but I guess we're going full evil. I'm guessing he'll have a role in the 1930s timeline so I'm interested to see where that leads. I hope somebody saves Kitty Seol!
I love Seol, but somehow she seems a bit flat? She's very capable and interesting, but I'm worried about what she's going to add to the current storyline. I don't want her to just become Seju's muse and someone to be pulled back and forth between the male characters. Would love to see more Bangjin, Seol and shaman mum scenes in general.
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anoriori
April 22, 2017 at 5:45 PM
Also Yoo Ah In is attractive all the time but ridiculously so in the 1930s timeline, let me breathe man...
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earthna
April 22, 2017 at 5:57 PM
I have him as my phone wallpaper and my heart skips a beat everytime I look at my phone.
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I Will Goryeo You
April 23, 2017 at 8:50 AM
Sameeee! :D
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plumwine
April 22, 2017 at 8:35 PM
I have to agree that 1930's Yoo Ah In is.... mouth watering.
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ar
April 23, 2017 at 2:55 PM
Agreed! Hot damn! I hope he adopts that hairstyle and those glasses after the series ends.
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missjb
April 22, 2017 at 7:02 PM
I'm sad the writer write Tae Min into full evil territory. IMO It's so unnecesary. wishing Tae Min has a sympathy aspect about him. unless they want him relate to 1930's and he is the one who cause the tragedy. oh well, it seems drama need a villain after all.
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10 shalini
April 22, 2017 at 5:39 PM
CT needs more love! It's a slow burn but does a brilliant job at fleshing out its characters (the acting also makes them feel lived-in). For some reason, though I expected the ghostwriter to be a ghost, I wasn't prepared for him to be invisible to the general public. After all, his step-father seemed to see him, as did Bang-jin. So I thought he'd at least be visible to the public even if he couldn't be captured on camera. That made the reveal all the more delicious and somewhat eerie. Because honestly, Seju has a bit of an ego but he's a really sweet person. Seeing him fall was the last thing I wanted so this was the perfect narrative answer!
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alert
April 22, 2017 at 5:48 PM
This episode was so delicious because it's taking time to build up Sejo's emotions; from the realisation that he really is having writer's block, the temptation of using the ghostwriter, the coming-back to who he is as a writer and what he's going to do about it. Personally I don't think this episode was all about the revelation, it was how it gets revealed. It puts Se Jo back to his beginning, as he reflects back to why he wants to write in the first place.
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fleurvoyeur
April 22, 2017 at 6:04 PM
[em]It puts Se Jo back to his beginning, as he reflects back to why he wants to write in the first place.[/em] This drama feels like a journey.
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 9:09 PM
I wonder how we are moving forward from here. Writer's block is no joke. How is he going to continue his career, even when he has the realization of why he wants to write in the first place?
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:04 PM
As someone who is stuck with the same problem, I wonder too. No matter how much I try, I couldn't and can't just power through the block like Se-ju did in this episode. Sigh.
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alert
April 23, 2017 at 12:37 AM
Oh yes, had that block few times too. Sometimes you need a break and start over. So i think Se Jo is basically starting over?
agudewafflemix
April 23, 2017 at 8:04 PM
I hope he is and I hope he comes out better from the experience like past Seol hoped and prayed for. :)
Grapes
April 23, 2017 at 8:55 AM
Love your comment ?
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Ennui Young
April 23, 2017 at 8:25 PM
I have to agree with you here again ! Writing is all about the process--not simply the process of crafting words and sentences, but also the mental process of confronting or coping with those inner demons. In Se Jo's room, the left wall hangs a portrait of James Joyce, whose technique of the stream of consciousness aims to show a kind of psychological realism that is truer than the linear-structured classical realism (like Charles Dickens's novels). In a way, up to episode 6, all the wacky incidents, all the disjointing flashbacks and fragmented memories portray a kind of process that forces Se-jo to ask, probably for the first time, "why he wants to write in the first place" as you put it.
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11 Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
April 22, 2017 at 5:40 PM
Baek Tae-min, screw you! I was rooting for you!! We were all rooting for you!!!
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earthna
April 22, 2017 at 5:54 PM
I was feeling bad for him but then the cat... Taemin, no!!
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Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
April 22, 2017 at 6:36 PM
I know right. I felt awful for him before I found out he stole Fate from Se-joo. I was wondering why Se-joo was so mean to him when it seemed like he was just trying to be friends with him. Hurting animals is an absolute no for me.
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blo
April 22, 2017 at 6:01 PM
Same here! I wanted to like him, but now he's out! That cat was incredibly cute though.
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missjb
April 22, 2017 at 6:14 PM
But Si Yang playing him when he revealed his facade though, Chill! Shame his character is so bad LOL...
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:06 PM
He better not hurt kitty Seol anymore! :rage:
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12 bubbles
April 22, 2017 at 5:41 PM
Me thinks his first concern will be his own sanity as well. I wonder though....does the world think he is crazy or do they maybe think he is pulling a joke, some kind of sarcastic self-defense? If I were Se-joo's manager I would at least try to make it look like the latter.
Is that also what Seol thinks? She was smiling when she was watching that press conference after all.
btw. Se-joo leaning against the wall and smiling at Seol was really cute.
I personally don't think he was all that bad when he was asking her to not sue, I am pretty sure she didn't even played with the thought of doing that before his manager asked her and it was clear that she would have done that for his sake not hers. To help him. He said he didn't want her help and she was curious why he felt that way but didn't think that a ghost writer could actually be the reason, even if she mentioned it herself she never believed he actually has one. I understand both characters in this moment and I feel it's a bit unnecessary to make him out to be the jerk here. I feel like I have a much bigger tolerance for his character than others on this website....I just never thought he was that mean...his concerns always seemed half-ways reasonable even if his manner of conveying them was sometimes too harsh. Maybe I just empathize too much with him to find him annoying.
I like the literal ghost writer but he is sometimes too lax with Se-joo's life....why wait until after the poor guy points to your invisible ass in a press conference before you tell him this little important detail of your not-quite-corporeal form of existence? He really does seem to want to mess with Se-joo but I don't think that Se-joo will appreciate that kind of prank.
Tae-min's psycho attitude came a bit out of nowhere for me...I am almost sad. I kinda liked the guy even if he was a liar and a cheat for taking Se-joo's work as his own....I had thought that maybe his parents played a bigger part in that but so far it seems like it was all his doing and they might have only covered it up later.
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plumwine
April 22, 2017 at 8:42 PM
LOL! I love your take on Ghost Yoo and his lack of explaining his personal details.
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13 fleurvoyeur
April 22, 2017 at 5:49 PM
I cried a LOT in this episode. I didn't expect I would, but when SJ cried, it really broke my heart. And the way he looked at Seol when they parted way, it just pierced my heart. This episode is SO good. I don't know why some people said Seol's character was weak, because all I see is a kind woman who gives strength to a man with kind words. Not to mention, past Seol is a real badass!
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earthna
April 22, 2017 at 5:53 PM
I cried without realizing it too. His desperation to forward a better manuscript, even going through garbage, dropping his pride to the ground... Ahh. Ah In's acting is so on point.
And wow. Did Seol ever look weak? I've always thought she's a total badass.
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fleurvoyeur
April 22, 2017 at 6:13 PM
Oh some comments here and there about her not being sassy enough in the present. (With her strong sensitiveness and emphaty towards people and animals, she could be mistaken as a weak girl, but in fact it's her strength)
Yeah, we can feel SJ desperation during the whole finding to sending manuscript scenes!
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earthna
April 22, 2017 at 7:07 PM
Exactly! Plus to be able to keep on starting over after her dreams get crushed is an obvious strong point. She couldn't hold a gun because of her visions so she became a veterinarian instead. She can't stop hearing the cows cry so she got a different job. She's strong enough to face failure and start over. That's what I call strong.
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alasecond
April 22, 2017 at 11:08 PM
not sure if that is facing failure or escapism
Ennui Young
April 22, 2017 at 8:29 PM
YA has stellar performance in this episode. From Tsundere comedic sociopath, childlike tenderness, to emotional heavy lifting--he has it all.( No wonder Knetizens left comments and raved about his acting range.) His voice and delivery of lines, like Lim Soo Joong's, add icing on the cake. Especially the way LSJ reads poetry or lines from books is so "intoxicating" with impeccably clear pronunciation and intonation-- I love her! I also like how both leads have different "voices" between 1930s, now and ten years ago. You can feel different "personalities" simply by the way they talk.
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I Will Goryeo You
April 23, 2017 at 8:55 AM
The author of the book that Im Soo Jung read tweeted about CT last night :D I love the passages that Seol underlined/highlighted for SJ <3
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ar
April 23, 2017 at 3:00 PM
I was cringing watching his desperation and felt such pity for him when he struggled over whether or not to send that email. I was so relieved when he didn't give into temptation.
I don't think Seol is weak. Maybe her role as Se Joo's fan makes her appear that way. But I like how she seems to be good at some many things. She was a sharpshooter and then a vet. And when Se Joo was hurt, she figured out a makeshift way to make sure he didn't get further injured while they were isolated.
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14 earthna
April 22, 2017 at 5:50 PM
This episode was amazing!
I love the way they transition from present to past like how certain things trigger their memories. Also, I like the explanation the shaman gave to Seol regarding her visions. Regrets, attachments, and things you don't want to forget even in death... Ahhh super nice.
So proud of Sejoo for admitting to having a ghostwriter though seriously, it's his story with his own words.
Taemin! Not the cat! Bangjin is MVP. I love her! Can't wait to watch the next episode.
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alasecond
April 22, 2017 at 11:09 PM
wats mvp
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earthna
April 23, 2017 at 12:15 AM
Most valuable player, used in sports but can also mean had an awesome role. In here, I meant I liked her best. :)
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15 dukseonnoona
April 22, 2017 at 6:02 PM
That date was totally a dream come true for every fangirl!
How cool can 1930s Jeon Seol get? Independence movement sharpshooter and then club singer as a cover? Just jjang!
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16 alert
April 22, 2017 at 6:12 PM
On Se Jo being a bipolar character, I simply found him to be eccentric. Yes he’s weird, and an egoistic diva. And don’t let me start on how he gets dramatic and angry every now and then. But at the end of the day, those might be traits of a genius writer that he is. I like that he remains true to himself; he’s a principled, no-nonsense writer who blurt what he wants first before thinking. In a way, it’s kinda like his writing as well. Some writers write whatever come to mind first, then only thinking of what they have written.
Se Jo starts as a sweet guy when he was in his humble beginning, and along the way when he builds up his writing empire, he was into revenge and proving himself to be the best that he tends to forget why he started. Hence, So Jin Oh and Seol were like reminders that pulls him back to the ground. The whole drama might be trying to answer the questions like “What do you write?”, “How do you write?” and “Why do you write?” and the responsibilities that come after writing.
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fleurvoyeur
April 22, 2017 at 6:17 PM
This! Love your analysis.
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Ennui Young
April 22, 2017 at 7:40 PM
@Alert I think Jin Soo-Won (the writer of Chicago Typewriter) would have been very moved reading your comments. At least I am. *sniff* You totally speak my mind. Thank you. (Are you my ghost writer? just kidding. LOL)
Se Jo starts out in episode 1 as an a successful popular writer with a celebrity status. He's a formidable machine, a cash cow for his publishing company. He's never questioned "what" he has written until one of his maniac fans commits murders under the influence of his novel. In episode 5, Hwi-Young (SJ in the 30s) bows to the censorship of the colonial regime by writing trashy romance (for he's formally blacklisted) despite his genius talents.
As you put it brilliantly, the question shifts from "can you write?" "How much can you write?" to "what you should write?" It sheds light on the impact, the social responsibility of a writer or any artist. This show is more than a story about connecting the past and the present. The journey to "unearth" the buried memories of the past lives is also the journey to find the "soul" of writing for Se Jo.
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alert
April 23, 2017 at 12:48 AM
And you explained it even better!
It's interesting that you bring up the striking similarity between Se Jo and Hwi Young, despite coming from different era and basically 2 different people. The paralelism in both 30s and current time is also strong as also depicted in Seol/So hyun's character. They might have different personalities, but interestingly they have similar idealism when it comes to writing (and life). I think it's going to be interesting seeing this perspective from Jin Oh, as the one who exist in both time period, whether he exists as a muse ghost or as a ghost who's trying to amend his past. Or maybe both.
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Ennui Young
April 23, 2017 at 7:52 PM
whoa. I love having the discussion with all the beanies here. <3 In a way, this drama is also about how an artist has to make a difficult choice between "idealism" and "realism." Can we stay true to the ideal that makes us write or create in the first place, or make a realistic compromise by treating art as a mere means to money-making or survival? Can we find the middle way? The conversation between Seol and Se jo in the Subway ten years ago has already raised this fundamental question. Seol/ So Hyun is more than a love object for Se Jo or Hwi Young, but a beacon of conscience and a reminder of the idealism he once embodies.
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I Will Goryeo You
May 1, 2017 at 9:07 AM
I truly wish you would write all your precious CT analysis in one essay someday <3
17 UmbrellaMan
April 22, 2017 at 6:23 PM
Tae-min's creepy and crazy scene with his cat gave me total Let's Fight Ghost vibes. Can we please leave kitties alone?
When Se Ju agreed to Yoo being his ghostwriter, it totally seemed like he was making a deal with the devil, a la Faust. I was so glad he didn't go back on his morals and decided to reveal it to the world (even if it didn't go quite as planned).
Was the song Seol heard whistled right before she saw the past "Fly Me to the Moon"? I hope my ears are mistaken, because that song was not written till the 50s.
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alert
April 22, 2017 at 6:48 PM
Yes! It was Fly Me to the Moon.
It's either a mistake, or he picks it up while being stuck in the typewriter back in Chicago LOL.
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18 lenrasoon
April 22, 2017 at 6:26 PM
I loved this episode!
And I must say, what Tae-min did to the poor cat was really shocking, i wasn't expecting that at all, so i wonder if his past life involved Se-Joo, Seol and Yoo in the 30's.
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19 michykdrama
April 22, 2017 at 6:31 PM
Yay!! Thank you for the speedy recap gummimochi!! ❤️
Love Love loved how Se Joo literally chose to sacrifice his career instead of take credit for someone else's work. He took the first step to realizing he isn't just only about his writing, even if he was rather dramatic about the whole thing- press conference, big reveal, cryptic outing with Seol. But it fits in with his character totally, and I love that he is a big righteous softy under the outer prickly layer.
Se Joo ended up driving off the road and nearly dying previously to avoid hitting the deer, where as Tae Min decides to go psycho evil and fling his adoring kitty away. Wonder who is the truly mad one? They really couldn't be more different could they? I want more insight into Tae Min but he seems to be channeling mom nowadays. *shudder*
Finally Seol's really got her hands full- 2 guys and a ghost liking her? Lol. Talk about a complicated love square. But at least in this case, it's easy who I'm going to root for. Although I'm all for an epic 1930s love story between her and Jin Oh! Give Se Joo a run for his money.
Who am I kidding, im firmly in Se Joo's corner! That look he gave her in 1930s when he saw her all dolled up- she was so pretty- it made me swoon. And I also want that soft toy rabbit/seal that Seol won him! Haha. Under the pretext of getting it for my boy. Of course. ?
Can't wait for Episode 6!
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accordingtoall
April 22, 2017 at 7:14 PM
The love square could be called a love septagon if you count Bang-Jin liking Jin-Oh and just adding their past lives for good luck.
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UmbrellaMan
April 22, 2017 at 9:03 PM
Per your earlier request: I didn't notice any real literary references this episode. I did get some Faust vibes when it seemed Se Joo was going to cave into Yoo's demands to be his ghostwriter - selling his soul to the devil.
I can name some of the music used in the episode though: flashback club music, "Sing Sing Sing" made famous by Benny Goodman and the tune whistled, presumably by Yoo, was "Fly Me to the Moon".
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:11 PM
Don't forget about poor Daehan! That makes it 3 guys and a ghost hahahaha.
So so proud of Se-ju as well, liking him more and more despite his outbursts.
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Jamie Opso
September 12, 2017 at 6:13 PM
I'm writing this months later, but...
That very oversized stuffed rabbit strongly reminded me of the classic movie "Harvey," in which the main character's best friend is a giant man-size rabbit no one else can see or hear.
In a show with so many callbacks to the past, both books and movies, I'm pretty sure that was a deliberate choice (with Yoo Jin Oh, the ghostly ghost writer and all).
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20 kanej
April 22, 2017 at 7:14 PM
Ooh, congratulations to all beanies who correctly guessed that Yoo Jin-oh is indeed a 'ghost' writer! I really, really want to know why he's the only one among the 30's trio who has not been reincarnated. Just what unresolved issue is hindering him from moving on to the next life, unlike our leads? Perhaps show is making a clever twist to the whole concept of ghosts and past lives, contrary to the ones that I am accustomed to from past dramas.
As for Baek Tae-min, I didn't expect him to be evil, heck I even got goosebumps watching him treat his cat that way when he seemed so fond of her back in the clinic. No matter what happens, no one should ever abuse an animal, there's simply no excuse for it! Poor Baek Seol ?
On a side note, can I just say I absolutely adore Im Soo-jung's voice! ? It has this soothing quality that made her lines even more heartfelt, especially when she talks so fondly to Se-ju ?
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Miranda
April 22, 2017 at 7:29 PM
Tae Min gets more disturbing with every episode. It's interesting that when his mother's talking to his father, she throws in a line about being put into a mental hospital - is there an actual illness there that's not being addressed, and if so is it hereditary?
His interaction with the cat was completely bizarre. He spends all of this time coaxing the cat into interacting with him, then when the cat actually does exactly what Seol told him she'd do (get less lethargic and want to play), he focuses all of his frustration on her and flings her. That wasn't even a spur-of-the-moment bit of violence, either - I think we all felt it building, but were kind of in disbelief that he'd actually carry through. Then he did.
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UmbrellaMan
April 22, 2017 at 8:48 PM
I was thinking the same thing. If the family has a history of mental illness that might account for Tae-min's mental collapse. Like mother like son. She clearly suffers from paranoia and delusions. And let's just hope he doesn't turn psycho and kills his cat.
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plumwine
April 22, 2017 at 8:52 PM
That's what made it so scary and affective; the slow violent buildup. Kudos to the actor and thanks to the director for not actually showing it.
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 9:17 PM
He was not in the mood to play with the cat, but that's no excuse for the violence meted out to the cat. I like this slow build up to reveal his character, though I hope he won't go full blown evil. I can accept shades of gray.
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Miranda
April 22, 2017 at 9:43 PM
I think that's what freaked me out the most about it - he was verbalizing why he didn't want to play with the cat, and you kind of expect someone who can audibly capture his emotions like that to be able to manage them better. But instead he came across as though he's got a split personality of some sort, where he intellectually understands everything that's happening but his lizard brain just goes for the impulse anyhow. That felt like two personalities, coexisting and sharing a lot of emotional juice, but somehow also ignorant of each other as a moderating force.
That's not a common duality, and sets up a curious contrast with Se Joo, who is soon also going to have a second personality in his head that no one else knows exists.
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:19 PM
Nice analysis, Miranda!
21 Itenoria
April 22, 2017 at 7:45 PM
What I loved the most about this episode is the same thing that made me sad: how happy and carefree Se-Joo was during their date. It shows how much potential he has, and the kind of person he would have turned out to be if life hadn't destroyed him and the Baek household hadn't scarred him. The Se-Joo we saw on that faux date is Se-Joo with his guard down and I do hope that at the end of this whole mess, that's the Se-Joo we're left with: Se-Joo who lets down his guard around the people he trusts. Also, I still cannot for the life of me figure out if Jin-Oh is a benevolent or a malevolent. Sometimes he seems so friendly and harmless but then we see him back in the 30's as the leader with th effortless smile even as he works behind the scenes, and then we see him now with that hint of creepiness behind the smile he leveled at Se-Joo and I'm back to being confused. Knowing that this story's coming from the writer of Kill me Heal me who has a way of turning everything we know right on his head has me holding onto my seat because I've got the feeling that it's going to be a wild ride.
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22 rayofsun
April 22, 2017 at 8:08 PM
That ending though I'm screaming
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23 Thisthat
April 22, 2017 at 8:15 PM
I'm loving the trajectory the show is going. Each eps so far gets better and better. I am impressed at how the actors, writing, directing and OST/instrumentals are all grasping our emotions with depth and meaning pulling us viewers in for a wonderful ride~
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24 plumwine
April 22, 2017 at 8:19 PM
Ohohohohoho - He is a GHOST! Did anybody else jabber away at their screens when he started the press conference?
Tae Min - you are dead to me.
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25 ash
April 22, 2017 at 8:27 PM
Shooting scenes - I loved both. 1930s one with Yoo had this calmness to it. The way he touched her hand under the gun and the way he looked at her was soo soft and beautiful. The present version with SJ is more aggressive, he is more dominating.
SJ's little date with JS before the press conference - so cute, adorable and very touching. But more than that I loved how it showed the growth of SJ. He acknowledged how important JS is to him. I think this is the episode I loved SJ the most. And man, YAI is sooo soooo good! All his microexpressions are so on point!
1930s - so absolutely LOVE this story line. I want JS to fall for Yoo in the 30s, while SJ plays the second lead.
Yoo - the way he kept blinking at the camera flashes. Awwwwwww. Why so cute Yoo! Why! ?
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ash
April 22, 2017 at 8:29 PM
Also, Gummi, I couldn't have agreed more with this! "A part of me hopes that’s just a farfetched theory because I do enjoy Jin-oh as a lovesick leader with a mischievous flair"
Please let Yoo be a good person! ?
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alert
April 23, 2017 at 12:51 AM
Yes, I wish the same!
I didnt get the evil vibe from Jin Oh, so I'm assuming the "evil spirit" was only referring to him being the wandering ghost.
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ash
April 24, 2017 at 2:25 AM
Yeah. I think if I'm not mistaken Se Ju also referred to him as an evil spirit in the next ep. So maybe like you said it's a general reference towards ghosts. Fingers crossed!
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26 growingbeautifully
April 22, 2017 at 8:29 PM
Thanks gummimochi! Seems like while Tae Min earns our wrath and condemnation over cruelty to kitty and intellectual property theft, Se Joo wins our respect and approval for his integrity.
Who's muse is whose? Seol as Soo Hyun definitely is the character of Se Ju's Chicago Typewriter serial, but it was written more by Yoo Jin Oh. She also worked with Ji Oh in the freedom fighting... who inspired whom or perhaps they inspired each other.
Or... Yoo Jin Oh (as an astute Beanie noticed) could be the real soul of writing and alter ego of Se Ju (and therefore a muse). In which case, these 2 need to come together in order for Se Ju to get back to his old form. As long as Se Ju keeps rejecting Yoo without finding out why he's around, his writing will lack spirit (you can take that literally too, hah!)
I like to stick to the idea (mentioned elsewhere) that Yoo can only live as long as Se Ju writes, because he really is the embodiment of Se Ju's creativity and his muse.
= = =
I'm liking that some of this dramaverse logic is starting to make sense. For instance I was wondering why there were so many objects that were animated by a spirit. It looked like over-kill. Machines, house, dog etc and the spooky portrait. It now makes sense that because Yoo could not be seen, he had to use the sweet doggie to get Seol into Se Ju's house a few times. We see that he has the same facility to keep opening doors and entering at will. The other things were inhabited to get people to take a course of action and the portrait was just the ghost being cheeky.
I still think something like the watch, in search of it's owner, and able to suck Seol or Se Ju into 'real' memories has not yet been explained fully, but nevermind. Or maybe the watch is the same as anything Yoo has touched and can incite re-living the past in thought.
I did notice that after the accident, Yoo came in from outside the house and not from the typewriter, as if he had been busy outside, causing an accident exactly where Seol would find Se Ju and save him again. If he's a good spirit that was rather cavalier of him.
So Yoo now has been setting up his own series of events to bring his past life friends together. I posed the question before ... why is it that he's the only one not 'reborn' into a present life. More questions,.. why now, to what purpose? Something needs to be re-enacted with these 3 characters and resolved perhaps, and it all hinges on what happened over 80 years ago.
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growingbeautifully
April 22, 2017 at 8:43 PM
Questions that keep cropping up for me...
Is this about the process of writing?
Is this about ghosts and resolutions?
Does it have to do with how Se Ju wanted to be an original writer that no one could imitate, but perhaps he had become a writer who had imitated someone but refused to acknowledge it? He had rejected the idea (especially the stalker's insistence) that he had taken the ideas of others and been inspired by them.
However in the past, he had opted for playing it safe to be low key and to write 3rd rate novels rather than to take up the Freedom Fight with his friends.
In the present, there's the matter of the timing (and of course our kdrama must-have ie, coincidence) where by the time he was in Chicago, the stalker had sent emails (which he may or may not have read). Nevertheless, Se Ju refused to acknowledge that anyone, least of all the stalker had inspired his successful novel.
As coincidence must have it, he has his book signing event in the restaurant owned by the person who also owns the very typewriter that Yoo's ghost inhabits. And the stalker who says Se Ju killed him off in the book, threatens to kill him with his words as well and commits suicide.
With this confluence of events, Se Ju's 'hell' breaks loose, and his ability to write does 'die' (so much so that he thought a writer unable to write might as well be dead), but at the same time, the Yoo spirit gets on the job to ensure that Se Ju does not stop writing, even if he has to be the literal ghost writer to keep him going, for his own survival, it seems?
Super interesting and addictive!
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:31 PM
It was mentioned that Hwi-young was blacklisted, that's why he had to be careful about his writings. I'm guessing he was involved in the Freedom Fight before the blacklisting and probably still was after, in his own way. Just had to lie lower to avoid punishment and maybe death?
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27 I Will Goryeo You
April 22, 2017 at 8:42 PM
Can we take a moment to appreciate CT as a woke drama? These two dialogues/lines truly echo Koreans sentiment:
1. Bangjin: "The descendants of independent fighters live more poorly now. The descendants of the betrayers are richer and live better lives. If you wanted to be born rich, you should have been a pro-Japanese faction in the past life."
Fact: the anti Japanese sentiment is still strong in Korea towards Chinilpa/pro-Japanese until now. They believe/see that the Chinilpas live comfortable life in present days and it just adds the fuel to their long anti Japanese sentiment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Japanese_sentiment_in_Korea
2. Hwi Young: I'm on the blacklist and there are eyes on me. What else could I write?
Yoo: Is that why you're writing dime novels? Why don't you just giving up writing altogether?
HY: Even though we lost our country, no one can take away my words from me. If I can't write, I'll be no different from a ghost. When Joseon is liberated, I'll write whatever I want with passion.
Y: I guess there will be no blacklist once Joseon is liberated.
HY: Of course not. That's what it means to be liberated.
Fact: Under pres Park Geun Hye’s administration, nearly 10,000 cultural figures were blacklisted and “classified” as being critical of the government.
Also, now we know that past Se Joo is an independent fighter too. His weapon isn't a gun but words.
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Miranda
April 22, 2017 at 9:12 PM
Yes! I thought those were great hooks, and definitely resonated. I thought the blacklist one was particularly good.
Though I'd have to give this week's "Woke Drama" nomination to "My Secret Romance", of all insane things. Yes it's another one of those manhwa-inspired romcoms with a chaebol and a ditz, but there were TWO examples of sought consent back-to-back, which is rare enough in a K-drama that I cheered at the screen like a loony.
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I Will Goryeo You
April 23, 2017 at 9:06 AM
It looks like CT is throwing shade on the current political situation in Korea, so these two remarks are very interesting. I haven't watched MSR yet, but I will check it out :)
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ar
April 23, 2017 at 3:07 PM
When HY said that line about no blacklist, I felt really bad. Even after Hwi Young was reincarnated and after 80 years, the blacklist is still there. And in recent days, he has been unable to write at all.
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28 chousaurus
April 22, 2017 at 9:08 PM
i want all of yoo ah-in's glasses in this drama hahaha
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s9313071e
April 22, 2017 at 9:17 PM
I thought his glasses are rather old-fashioned.
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Miranda
April 22, 2017 at 9:38 PM
I'm transfixed by his pants, which sounds like I'm being devious but is actually just because he keeps wearing suspiciously Hammer-esque pants - unstructured and then somehow gathered and tailored at the waistband. It's interesting because it's not a style of our current time but it's also out of step with the 30s, maybe even a little 1800s hanbok-y. It makes sense that his character would have access to fashion that's on that sort of highly designed experimental level, but it's meshing well with the time-travel too. His modern self and his 30s self are instantly very different people, even without the haircut.
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michykdrama
April 22, 2017 at 11:21 PM
Yes! I've definitely noticed his fashion as well, and his pants too, with them being so high in the waist. Plus his necklines are conspicuously v necked and lower than our current times. Perhaps 1970s-esque?
And you are right, his present day character is completely different from his 1930s, regardless of hair. Much more cynical, jaded and world weary, covered up by a splash of smugness and swagger. His 1930s self still gives me wide eyed puppy vibes (though I can't say I'm not influenced by his gorgeous floppy hair).
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stpauligurl
April 23, 2017 at 5:55 AM
I don't know what era that fashion is with the narrow waisted and full legs - but he wears it well! The stylists are doing a fantastic job of dressing him! I like those v-neck tops and pants. I guess I just like him all over the place.
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dukseonnoona
April 23, 2017 at 12:21 AM
Been trying to keep a count, but i couldn't keep up. Have you been counting? :D
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29 lunatic4kd
April 22, 2017 at 9:34 PM
Maybe it's just me - but those scenes in the club remind me of the club in Gaksital (Bridal Mask). That's a lovely memory!
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dukseonnoona
April 23, 2017 at 12:22 AM
No, not just you. The 30s scenes are actually making me want to watch Gaksital again.
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30 agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 9:44 PM
Thank you for being so fast with the recap @gummimochi! :)
It was my first time noting down my thoughts and reactions as I was watching the drama and boy oh boy reading those notes now amuses me. It's going to be a longggg comment guys!
I) I'm not as civil as other beanies, I'm just going straight out with it. BAEK TAE-MIN YOU SICK FUCK. Kitty Seol did not deserve that at all. Yes, I guess this is the start of his descent into evil, if his stealing of Fate does not count. His inferiority complex though, wow.
II) What is the relationship between elder Writer Baek and Se-ju's mum? Mrs Baek said they are lovers, is he Se-ju's father?
III) Bang-jin brought up an interesting point about the descendants of both pro-Japanese and pro-independence. It leads me to wonder, Tae-min and Se-ju are both rich now while Seol is poor. Granted, Se-ju's wealth is self-made while Tae-min's seems more because of his parents. Did Soo-hyeon not betray her country after all then?
IV) Poor Bang-jin and her jealousy. Yoo, no tact bruh.
V) Yay to more 1930s! Judging by her reaction to him steadying her posture, did Soo-hyeon like Yoo? Yoo definitely liked Soo-hyeon, Hwi-young too. Hmmm.
VI) Does the music at Carpe Diem never change? It always sounds the same hahaha, with the exception of when Soo-hyeon sang. Also, somebody please save her indeed, if the guy always smells of hair oil hahahaha (the lyrics). She is so badass, wow I'm in awe. Did she not leave a blood trail for the police to follow?
VII) Ajumma's comment on regrets, passion, and unforgettable people and (sad) stories. Which is/are true for Soo-hyeon? I think it's a mix of all. Can't wait to find out!
VIII) Oh Hwi-young. What did you write/do to be on the blacklist! Something full of spirit, if what we've seen of him is anything to go by. Does his "if I can't write, I'll be no different from a ghost" remind any of you of pre-writer's block Se-ju? I like that our characters in their current lives still share similarities with their past selves, and also the way the show mirrors certain things like Yoo/Se-ju steadying Soo-hyeon/Seol. Seol did it everyone!
IX) Why does the novel need to be completed for Yoo to live? Reincarnation?
X) Onto some fashion stuff. Is it just my eyes or did Seol wear a jacket with a similar pattern to the dress Soo-hyeon wore to sing to meet Ji-seok? Are those tastefully-placed holes in your vest, Se-ju? I'm amused.
XI) Se-ju was indeed being an ass, how could he use money!!! At the same time, him thinking of Seol and perhaps fearing her disappointment in him, and wanting to spend time with Seol before his fall were so sweet of him. It felt so good to see him write, as someone who is also facing very very bad writer's block. This part of the dialogue hit me as well, "fear comes from the distrust of yourself and the anxiety about the unknown. If you don't want the fear to take over you, you must trust yourself." Please heed your...
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 9:45 PM
own wise words and continue to write, Se-ju, you motivate me to keep trying.
XII) PPL in the trash hahahahahha. Sorry, just amused.
Now on to commenting on other beanies' comments!
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 9:49 PM
Also props to @alasecond for predicting Tae-min's evil nature in the recap for the previous episode. :)
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ar
April 23, 2017 at 3:15 PM
II) I think Writer Baek was Se Ju's mom's past boyfriend. I think she passed SJ off as his kid, but DNA revealed that he wasn't even Writer Baek's kid at all. But Tae Min's mom still believes that Se Joo is Writer Baek's son. It is too coincidental for a kid who supposedly isn't his son to happen to be a gifted writer too, just like Writer Baek.
III) I think past Soo Hyun was an independence activist. SH spoke in Japanese to the guys who were chasing after her. So I'm assuming those guys were Japanese or pro-Japanese Korean people.
IV)
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agudewafflemix
April 23, 2017 at 8:00 PM
Thanks for the reply @asianromance. :) Ooh where did you get the info for II from? Sounds interesting, seems like Se-ju's mum had her motives too. I'm disliking Mrs Baek more and more hahaha.
As for III, I do know that she is! Such a badass one at that. I was just wondering because Seol kept saying she must have betrayed her country in her past life (more of an expression I know) but maybe she didn't because she is not rich in her current life? Hmmm.
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31 darcylove
April 22, 2017 at 10:05 PM
So the evil soul is Tae Min, isn't it??? Woah. How can he do that to a kitty..... He is so evil and kwak Shi Yang surprisingly seems to fit into this evil role.... He can act good which is believable and still be an evil one.... This reminded me of 'Oh My Ghost's Im Ju Hwan'.... The characters are similarly constructed.....
When he looked at SeJu's draft of Fate, i lost all faith in him... Why did he have to take away another writers novel, that too being that writer's first...... Sooo cruel.... Being a writer or an aspiring one should know the significance of stealing others work.....
And that's why I love SeJu... He simply is awesome..... I loved it when he didn't send out that manuscript..... Hope he doesn't change his ideas after knowing that his ghostwriter is really a ghost......
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32 neener
April 22, 2017 at 10:09 PM
They just topped ep 4 with this! My oh my, am I gonna change my fav episode every week? If that's the case, bring it on Show!
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33 Aroha
April 22, 2017 at 10:18 PM
My favourite episode so far....... He was a literal ghost writer OTL... So does that mean he was already typing on the typewriter before it was delivered to Se-joo?
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:46 PM
I think he "awoke" when Se-ju came around. He wants and needs that novel to be written and I guess Se-ju is the only one he wanted to write it with? So prior to Se-ju's appearance, maybe he just did nothing.
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34 ObsessedMuch
April 22, 2017 at 10:25 PM
I dunno if anybody else has mentioned this already as I haven't read the comments- but if Jin Oh is a ghost and no one else can see him, then how did Bang- jin see him outside her house, and that too twice?
Apart from this, such a great episode!
Thanks for the recap @gummimochi :)
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agudewafflemix
April 22, 2017 at 10:33 PM
Her mum is a shaman and had that ability (past tense cause she seems to have lost it, or it has greatly weakened) so I guess the logic is as her mum's daughter, she has that ability too?
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ObsessedMuch
April 23, 2017 at 12:42 AM
Hmmm... okay.. perhaps!
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35 panshel
April 22, 2017 at 11:10 PM
Confirmation at long last. As soon as Se Joo walked into the press conference room, I cried, "I can't watch this!" Forget accusations of hiring a ghostwriter, now everyone's going to think he's crazy! When he drove up to the publishing company and opened the car door for Jin Oh, my first thought was the valet was going to think he was talking to himself. I really wanted to see the girls' reactions to the press conference. We already know Bang Jin can see Jin Oh, and I presume Seol can, too, due to her clairvoyance, but naturally Dae Han can't. So I wanted to see Dae Han say, "What is he talking about? There's no one sitting there." leading to the girls finding out Jin Oh is a ghost. Dae Han is adorable by the way.
It broke my heart to see how torn up Se Joo was at plagiarizing Jin Oh's work. It must have been so hard for him to swallow his pride and accept those pages. It was equally gut-wrenching when Ji Seok openly panned his own work. Ultimately, Se Joo's principles would not allow him to send it. Even with this recent turn of events (Jin Oh being an actual ghostwriter, the public thinking Se Joo is schizophrenic), I hope Se Joo continues to publish Chicago Typewriter, otherwise Jin Oh may cease to exist.
Se Joo has a way with words -- of course since he's a writer. "I came to see you... so you could see me." I don't blame Seol for doubting his insistence that he's not dying because Se Joo spending the day with her and doing everything she wanted was so out of character. I adored the "I’m sorry." "I love you?"
Hell no to Tae Min's animal abuse! Seol, take Seol the Cat away from him! I was already starting to hate him for stealing Se Joo's Fate, but I will never look at Tae Min the same way again.
Thanks a bunch for the recap, @gummimochi!
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I Will Goryeo You
April 23, 2017 at 9:14 AM
The "I’m sorry." "I love you?" had my tummy stitches! :D Se Joo is super adorable during their "date". I want mooarrr!
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36 Jenina
April 23, 2017 at 12:40 AM
I actually think that the step father didn't see Yoo Jin Oh. It was probably the draft of Fate which YJO had put under the table with him.
And this drama needs more love! ? It is slowly climbing up my no. 1 favorite drama of all time. Well, if it doesn't lose it's charm until the end. We only get popular dramas that are overly romantic nowadays even if they are not that good at all which is quite a disappointment. ?
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37 raekaddict
April 23, 2017 at 1:35 AM
Awesome...
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38 kontrarymary
April 23, 2017 at 1:44 AM
Baek Tae Min's nice gentle facade plus the animal cruelty TOTALLY reminded me of the possessed vet Joo Hye Sung in Let's Fight, Ghost! Creepy.
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39 doublen
April 23, 2017 at 2:20 AM
I really liked this episode! Surprised that dramabeans staff is not into Chicago Typewriter (based on what we are watching post).
Se-joo acts as an ass, but there are definite reasons. He got betrayed by adopted family, his work was stolen, and lots of scandal surrounded him - not surprising he doesn't trust people. His first meetings with Seol were initiated by the ghost - so coincidences so accepting for us, from his perspective look purposely planned. As a person from creative profession, I can understand his passion for his work and inability to accept the ghostwriter - the moment he cried and could not send the email was so well played by Yoo Ah In! The character is definitely slightly insane, but he is going through stressful time of writing block, scandals, and weird dreams of past.
Seol as the female lead is truly awesome. She is fierce, smart and strong. She is kind, but shows her displeasement as well. I think she is a first Kdrama character who actually reads and analyze critically a piece of literature. Basically, I can totally relate to her as a person. Also, last but not least, she doesn't have unnecessary aigoo (being not cute type of women, it cringes me to see to much cuteness on TV). Kudos to Lim Soo-Jung for playing her character so well.
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I Will Goryeo You
April 23, 2017 at 9:23 AM
Both Yoo Ah In and Im Soo Jung proved that they are seasoned actors <3
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40 tesshan
April 23, 2017 at 2:22 AM
I guess Tae-min is probably crazy like his mom and deep inside he hates SJ because he is the better writer and maybe the favorite son?
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41 doublen
April 23, 2017 at 2:25 AM
Adding up: I do think the story could have moved faster. There are many storylines that need to be resolved: 1) how did murder happened in the 1930s? 2) More details on friends' participation in independence movement - what exactly happened? I would love to see activities of independent fighters beyond few glimpse of past. The story within the story is quite interesting? 3) Did Jin-oh betray his friends? I kind of feel he did, which resulted in Se-joo of the past being killed by Seol of the past. He carries this burden and can not re-incarnate. 4) Loveline between Se-Joo and Seol beyond their past lives. 5) Tae-min going full evil and showing his face, and eventually falling from grace.
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42 fab
April 23, 2017 at 3:21 AM
OH Gosh that press conference gave me the biggest second-hand embarrassment for Han Se-ju. Never felt so mortified for a character. Bless him.
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43 winie
April 23, 2017 at 4:52 AM
Comment was deleted
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44 stpauligurl
April 23, 2017 at 6:00 AM
I'm totally loving this show. Se-joo goes from one emotion to the next with such swiftness - it shows me how really conflicted he is on the inside. He obviously cares about Seol - but his abandonment issues make it hard to express himself. Can I say how much I love Seol with her strength of character and goodness? She's great.
Then Tae Min - well now we know who the evil person really is - ick and ick again.
The scene that I really loved was the press conference. I was cringing the whole time because you could tell he was the only one seeing Yoo sitting next to him.
ha - I'm enjoying the ride.
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45 JiaYou
April 23, 2017 at 6:23 AM
1930's Jeon Seol is woman crush!!! How awesome can she be? Ohhh. I'm really excited how the supposed "killing" in the 30's happened. And Jin Oh's blatant declaration "I want to date" and points to Jeon Seol singing on stage is melting my heart. I wonder how the love triangle in the 30's happened too!
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fab
April 23, 2017 at 10:36 AM
*nods enthusiastically in agreement with YOO* Love the 30s, they should dedicate a whole episode to that marvellous era.
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46 kingsqueen
April 23, 2017 at 6:57 AM
This show has such a good build up. The press conference went how I thought it would - no one showing up beside him. And I could see the reporters totally thinking he was making a point to say his ghostwriter doesn't exist.
I loved the "date" Se Joo took Seol on. A sort of 'remember me as the writer you saw me to be' goodbye before he outed himself.
I also loved Seol's nightclub act- beautiful song!
And now the "I'm sorry"..."I love you?" line is funnier because I didn't get the joke before. (I know of the show, but haven't watched it and I had forgotten she was in it.) - THIS is one of the reasons I love coming to this site! :)
And Tae Min is definitely a hard core baddie to hurt a sweet kitty. :( But I, too, think there may be some meaning behind why the cat and Seol have the same name.
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agudewafflemix
April 23, 2017 at 9:06 AM
I hope he's not going to hurt Seol as badly as he did Kitty Seol. Though somehow I feel like he would. ?
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47 fab
April 23, 2017 at 7:12 AM
OK, why the hell should Tae-min go to psychopath territory?? So unnecessary, a lot of the closed off mentally ill are actually animal friendly, and especially protective towards their pets. Still hoping that scene ended differently.
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48 Fuujin
April 23, 2017 at 8:03 AM
Thank you so much, gummimochi, for the speedy recap!
I really love this show more and more, which says a lot since I loved it from the start. I'm not concerned about the early revelation of Yoo Jin-oh as a ghost. I don't think this is where the central mystery lies. We still have much more to learn about all everyone's lives in the past and the present.
The PPL does feel excessive...written in well, but still exceedingly obvious.
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agudewafflemix
April 23, 2017 at 9:08 AM
Agreed about the PPL, spoilers but it's only going to get worse for episode 6. ?
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I Will Goryeo You
April 23, 2017 at 9:27 AM
LMAO true that! Subway all the way lolol
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earthna
April 23, 2017 at 10:08 AM
Lazy day so I was eating a Subway sandwich. Cringed so hard when it came on screen.
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agudewafflemix
April 23, 2017 at 7:52 PM
I ate Subway on friday (before watching any of the week's episodes). Is it the PPL is affecting my subconscious?!?!?! ? @i-will-you (tagging you for good measure too, in case you miss this cause it's not a direct reply hahaha)
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49 Yeesuyoon
April 23, 2017 at 11:40 AM
I do feel bad for se joo but the story is gaining momentum..I think Jin oh character is cute and mysterious
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50 aami
April 23, 2017 at 12:51 PM
This was a wonderful episode. The minute Se Joo opens his car door for Yoo to let him out I was hiding my eyes cause I was sure nobody can see Yoo but Se Joo. Nevertheless the ending was still a surprise.
Between can someone help me with identifying the song that was sung in the club by Soo Hyun in the 1930's? Plzzz
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I Will Goryeo You
April 23, 2017 at 11:10 PM
I would love to know the song that she was singing too. I think it's a very very old song that Koreans are familiar with. Maybe we should ask a Korean.
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Rainbow Unicorn
April 24, 2017 at 7:30 AM
Yes please! Someone tell which song that was! It was so catchy!
I'm reaaally loving the 30's flashbacks!
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Laura Hernández
April 29, 2017 at 5:15 PM
Yesss please, if one of you knows, please tell me, I'm in love with the 30's scenes.
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Laura Hernández
April 29, 2017 at 5:22 PM
Heey!!! I found it!!!! Is wind of Park Dan Ma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GpJUGTJWoc
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Rainbow Unicorn
May 1, 2017 at 9:26 PM
You are the best!
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