Chicago Typewriter: Episode 16 (Final)
by gummimochi
Here we are at the last chapter of Chicago Typewriter, where our characters have one final shot to look into their past lives. Words will go beyond the page in this finale as our trio reconciles the truth with the guilt they’ve carried into the present. As we approach the last page of this beautiful tale, I have to ask—does a story ever really end when we carry these characters in our hearts?
FINAL EPISODE RECAP
A tear escapes from Hwi-young’s eye as he breathes his last. Some time later, a box of his possessions is dropped off at Yul’s home where Yul sits in a daze. He opens the chest to find the gold pocket watch, the typewriter, and a letter from Hwi-young.
In it, Hwi-young writes that he decided to leave his three most prized possessions with his friend before leaving to Manchuria. He remembered the day they saw this typewriter for the first time and admits that he was overjoyed when Yul bought him that machine. Knowing that he would never be able to repay his friend’s endless generosity in this lifetime, this typewriter is all he can give him.
Hwi-young has a request, however: “I hope you’ll complete the novel I never finished with this typewriter you gave to me as a gift. Write our story in my stead; our times together, show the world that we lived on this earth, that we lived in a dark reality, that we suffered real pain, that there was hope in the midst of despair, that we chased after happiness in the midst of danger, that we lived our lives and fought with all our strength.”
Clutching his chest, Yul sobs as Hwi-young requests that his friend remain by Soo-hyun’s side and make sure she is never alone again. He regrets that he didn’t tell Yul enough how much he trusted him “so let’s make sure we come out alive to meet again. No, even if we die, let’s meet again.”
Hwi-young writes that he already has a response ready if he’s asked by god if this lifetime was a happy one: “I was happy that I met you two.” If he is praised for his valiant efforts, then he will make a request—should he be lucky enough to be reborn, he wants to be with them again.
At the hospital, Seol is filled in about the heated exchange on the rooftop that led to Se-joo’s fall. She relays the message to Ji-seok and Secretary Kang about having Se-joo tested for internal bleeding, but that’s when Se-joo rises from his hospital bed.
Assuring Ji-seok that he isn’t a ghost, Se-joo tells them the honest truth about how a ghost possessed his body and saved him from certain death. Cue simultaneous open-mouthed reactions, followed by Ji-seok concluding that Se-joo needs psychological help. Ha.
Worried that he might’ve actually killed a man, a frightened Tae-min rushes to his workspace. He grabs his passport (so you can flee the country?) only to find himself face to face with Jin-oh, who sourly remarks that Tae-min looks like he’s seen a ghost.
Now Tae-min remembers that he saw him in Se-joo’s office and yells, “Who on earth are you?” Jin-oh replies that’s the wrong question to ask; given the current circumstances, he should be asking if the man he pushed off the roof, Se-joo, is safe.
Frazzled, Tae-min claims that Se-joo fell of his own accord, but Jin-oh bellows that he should’ve checked if Se-joo survived the fall instead of running away from the scene. Jin-oh doesn’t buy the excuse that Tae-min was in shock and notes that Tae-min tried to do away with him by running him over.
The fact of the matter is Tae-min tried to take two lives today, and Jin-oh lets out a disappointed sigh when Tae-min asks if he has any proof because Tae-min hasn’t changed one bit: “You’ll commit a crime and try to cover it by committing another crime. You make excuses instead of apologies, you forget rather than feel regret. As always, you know nothing of penance.”
Jin-oh grabs him by the lapels, but that triggers his memory of angrily grabbing Young-min in the interrogation room. Tae-min uses that moment to try and escape, but he opens his door to find detectives here to arrest him for kidnapping.
Se-joo and Seol return home with Ji-seok, who still can’t believe that Se-joo survived his fall with a minor head wound. When Seol goes weak from her worries, Se-joo rushes to her side and snaps at Ji-seok to leave. Ji-seok immediately frowns. D’aww.
The pair is hooked up to IVs later that night, and though Se-joo is upset she put Se-joo’s life in danger again, she is grateful that Jin-oh was there to save him. He wonders where their resident ghost has gone, and Jin-oh shows up as if on cue. Seol is worried when Se-joo asks if Jin-oh is still flickering in and out, but Se-joo jokes that their ghost runs on batteries.
Later, Se-joo shares with them how he saw vivid memories of his past life during his fall. His scintillating preview of action, melodrama, and tragedy puts Seol and Jin-oh on the edges of their seats.
We later learn that Se-joo left out a few key details, like who was responsible for Hwi-young taking his own life on that cliff. Seol enters his room just then, and he wryly asks if she’s hoping to sleep with him tonight.
He’s amused when she lets out a nervous giggle and invites her to his bed to chat. She’s still worried about who she shot dead in her past life and asks if he has any theories. He tells her not to worry about whether or not she’ll remember, and she says he only remembers the memories where he comes off looking cool.
Inching toward her, Se-joo shares that Hwi-young’s dying wish to the heavens was to be reunited with his friends in that lifetime. He realizes that prayer was answered because Jin-oh is here and Seol is sitting here before him. Swooooon.
He leans in with the line that he’ll “do something for our homeland” but Seol foils his attempt to kiss her. Seeing him pout, she initiates the goodnight kiss. Stop being adorable.
Jin-oh notices the cracks in his arm deepen and worries if seeing Young-min in his past life means that Young-min was the one who murdered him.
When Tae-min’s parents visit him at the police station, Tae-min’s mother is convinced that her sweet son would never commit a crime and he’s been framed. What else is new, crazy woman.
She sits there spinning ridiculous theories until Tae-min can’t take it anymore and screams at her to quiet down. Writer Baek ushers his shocked wife away to speak to his son alone, but Tae-min softly admits that he ran someone over. He requests a meeting with Se-joo, believing that Se-joo would know who that man was.
Elsewhere, Bang-jin is out grocery shopping with Dae-han when she serendipitously sees Mom stocking the shelves. She surreptitiously takes a photo and sends it to Seol.
Per usual, Ji-seok barges into Se-joo’s house and does an about face when he sees Se-joo and Seol fast asleep in his bed. Putting two and two together, he runs back and trips onto the floor.
Se-joo and Seol wake up from the noise and sit up, surprised to see the other in bed. He wonders when she joined him in bed, to which she counters that it was his idea to stay up talking all night. She fires back that he’d offered to sleep on the couch and wonders when he crawled into bed. Pfft.
That’s when Ji-seok makes his presence known and Seol slips away to check Bang-jin’s text. She gets Mom to meet her that evening and tells her that she’ll decide how to handle the truth of her past life, so it’s Mom’s turn to share her memories.
She knows Mom was the mole who betrayed their group and she was captured by Young-min, but she reminds her mother that she is her daughter, not Soo-hyun. Her past identity may have vowed never to forgive the maternal figure in her life, but that isn’t the case with her.
What she previously couldn’t forgive was how Mom abandoned her, but Seol needs to hear Mom’s side of the tale and that way Mom can move on.
Se-joo and Jin-oh are having a similar conversation at home, where Jin-oh says he wonders why he still can’t remember the details surrounding his own death. Se-joo asks if he has to remember in order to move on into the afterlife, which suggests to Jin-oh that Se-joo does know something.
When Se-joo hedges, Jin-oh presses for more information. Se-joo asks if his friend is prepared to hear the truth, and Jin-oh nods.
Neither of them is aware that Seol has arrived home and can overhear their conversation. After repeating the portion that Yul turned himself in, Se-joo prefaces that what follows is his own theory. He believes Yul succumbed to Young-min’s demands because Yul couldn’t bear to see Soo-hyun suffering.
Jin-oh refuses to accept that possibility, but Se-joo notes that the safe house was raided the day their group was supposed to flee to Manchuria, and the only other person who knew of that location aside from Hwi-young… was Yul.
He repeats that this is merely a theory, but Jin-oh is caught up in the idea of the one who shot him. And that’s when Seol enters the office announcing, “It was me. I was the one who killed Shin Yul.”
She says her mother helped patch the gaps in her memory, and we see that Yul have Soo-hyun released from custody. Given clothes and money, she’s told to live her life however she wished, but she ends up in front of Carpe Diem, which is now boarded up.
She picks up a newsletter that announces Hwi-young’s death and storms into the club to retrieve the Chicago Typewriter. While Yul fulfills Hwi-young’s final wish to continue writing his novel, Young-min re-opens Carpe Diem as a safe house for the Japanese police.
Calling this day the happiest day of his life, he rallies the others to eat and be merry. Just then, a half-masked Soo-hyun crashes the party and fires the submachine gun into the crowd. She shoots down the officers along with the man Young-min uses as a human shield.
She keeps her gun trained on Young-min, who hides behind the bar and picks up a gun. He waits a few moments before rising to his feet, gun in hand, only to find the club empty and the submachine gun lies on the bar counter.
And then Soo-hyun appears from behind pointing a gun at his head. Young-min chuckles, saying that guns aren’t very ladylike. She tells him to put his gun down before she blows his brains out.
Young-min does as he’s told and offers to let her live, but Soo-hyun has nothing to lose now. He says this moment reminds him of Hwi-young’s death, and Soo-hyun responds by shooting him in the temple. Damn.
Once Yul learns that there’s a masked vigilante assassinating those in the name of the youth independence fighters, he heads to the old hideout behind Carpe Diem. Finding the boxes of firearms empty, Yul decides to wait for Soo-hyun here at the club.
Having heard the rumors about a masked assassin, Madam Sophia walks the streets in fear. A rickshaw stops in front of her, and a gun-wielding hand extends out of the carriage. It’s Soo-hyun, who reminds her that those who betray their comrades must be punished.
Madam Sophia cries that she was also deceived and her son died anyway. But it’s too little too late, and Soo-hyun hopes they meet under better circumstances in their next life, then pulls the trigger.
Now we arrive at the moment of truth as Soo-hyun bursts into the old hideout where Yul is busy typing away on the typewriter. Yul is neither surprised by her arrival nor by the gun pointed at his head.
He turns to face her and shares that Hwi-young left behind a gift for the both of them. He believes she should have the gold pocket watch, and when Soo-hyun asks why he betrayed them, he insists that she end it quick.
Angry tears fall from her eyes as she repeats the question, and Yul answers, “Because I couldn’t stand… to see you dying before my eyes.”
Soo-hyun barks back that it shouldn’t have mattered—he shouldn’t have spilled the beans anyway. But Yul hollers, “Comrade Ryu Soo-hyun! Hurry up and execute your mission. That is an order.”
Soo-hyun’s hand shakes as she accepts the order. Pointing out her quivering hand, Yul places a hand over hers to steady her hand, reminiscent of when he first taught her how to shoot. He reminds her to keep her eye on the target and not to be afraid of the recoil.
He orders her to shoot, and when she hesitates, he asks if he should do it himself. Soo-hyun takes a moment to collect herself, which pleases Yul because he can see that cold-hearted look in her eyes again.
He removes his hand and she asks if he has any last words. “Punish me by your hand,” Jin-oh says. “That way, I think I can be at ease.” Just like before, Soo-hyun states the words of execution… and shoots.
As his head falls on the typewriter, Yul apologizes to Hwi-young that he couldn’t keep his promise of remaining by Soo-hyun’s side. He made her cry instead, and he couldn’t complete his novel either.
He vows to fulfill both promises should he be reincarnated “and I’ll do everything I can to protect you two so that you two can be happy.”
After Soo-hyun loudly mourns Yul’s death, she heads to the mountains carrying the pocket watch. She takes refuge in the shade of a large tree surrounded by flowers and closes her eyes.
Hwi-young walks toward her and bends down to softly touch her hair. She opens her eyes and says, “You came back.” Hwi-young: “I said I’d come back.” Tears well up in her eyes as she tells Hwi-young that she killed Yul, who was like a brother, father, friend, and comrade to her.
She blames herself, but Hwi-young wipes away her tears, reminding her that she knows she isn’t responsible for either his death or Yul’s. She asks if he’s going to leave again, and he nods. She touches the corner of his sleeve and asks to go together.
“No,” Hwi-young gently replies. “You need to survive and live to see a liberated Joseon.” She says she’s too sleepy and rests her head. The pocket watch falls out of her hand, and years pass before Seol’s father picks it up.
Shell-shocked, Jin-oh asks Se-joo if he betrayed him, Hwi-young. He then turns to Seol and says he made her, Soo-hyun, get her hands dirty. He realizes that he’s responsible for their deaths, and then the thunder claps and Jin-oh glows before them before falling onto the floor.
Seol calls in Bang-jin’s mother and carefully explains that Jin-oh collapsed from shock. Bang-jin’s mother says Jin-oh’s days are numbered—soon he’ll return to nothingness. She advises that Seol and Se-joo grant their spirit friend his final requests.
Se-joo sits in front of the typewriter, and when Jin-oh walks in moments later, he asks why Jin-oh didn’t say anything. Jin-oh says it wasn’t all bad because now he knows why he voluntarily tied his fate to this typewriter. “I wanted to ask for forgiveness from you both,” he explains. “And to keep my promise to Hwi-young.”
He believes he kept his promise to let Hwi-young have Soo-hyun in their next life, and says that he wants to meet another woman in his next life, words that get Se-joo to chuckle. Se-joo levels with his friend, sharing that Hwi-young trusted his friend to the bitter end even though he knew that Yul betrayed him.
“Hwi-young has already forgiven you,” Se-joo clarifies. “And I have no reason to forgive you… because you’re Yoo Jin-oh, not Shin Yul.” He tells Jin-oh to give the self-pity party a rest and find a way to avoid turning into nothingness.
He asks Se-joo to let him borrow this office so he can fulfill his promise to Hwi-young to finish the novel, then sits with Seol to thank her because her memories completed the puzzle.
She apologizes for causing him pain, but Jin-oh now speaks as Yul: “Soo-hyun-ah. It’s not your fault, you merely did what you had to do back then… so don’t feel guilty anymore. Forget your past and live in the present.”
“Please do the same, Shin Yul hyung-nim,” she replies, “because your betrayal was your way of saving me.” Seol says Soo-hyun knew that; even in the moment that she pulled the trigger, Soo-hyun was both sorry and grateful toward him.
“To me, you were a respectable teacher, a faithful comrade, and a gentle hyung-nim.” She was able to live a magnificent life thanks to him, and she thanks him for taking her in and liking her so much. Moved, Jin-oh softly strokes her hair.
Se-joo agrees to see Tae-min, who leans in to ask who the man he ran over really is. He says that man haunts his dreams and tells him to repent, though he believes he’s done nothing wrong.
“Is admitting your wrongs that hard for you?” Se-joo asks. “Is saying sorry that hard?” He tells Tae-min that there are people who have waited decades hoping to be forgiven or risk their lives to keep silly promises. Life isn’t always filled with rosy days; it’s best to admit your mistakes and move on.
He hopes Tae-min can find value in his life in order to start over. He leaves Tae-min shedding a tear in his wake.
Se-joo returns to a quiet house and searches all over before sighing in relief when Jin-oh appears with a smile.
Now that Jin-oh has completed Hwi-young’s novel, he and Se-joo share a beer together. Jin-oh says it took 83 years to fulfill his promise to his old friend, so Se-joo declares it’s time for Jin-oh to keep his promise to him.
He takes out their first contract and reminds him of the very first clause of living and working together until their novel’s completion: “Han Se-joo and Yoo Jin-oh’s novel isn’t finished yet.”
He plans on saving Jin-oh by writing this novel, and he later lets out a satisfied sigh once he’s done. He makes Jin-oh promise him one thing before letting him read it: for Jin-oh to tie himself to this story he finished because that way Jin-oh can still live on.
He wants Jin-oh to wait inside this novel until Se-joo’s time comes and they are reunited: “Promise me that you’ll come back then.” His eyebrows furrow with concern when the cracks in Jin-oh glow once more, and the three of them head out to a fishing spot, just like Hwi-young wanted once their homeland was liberated.
Seol suggests that they bet on whether or not Jin-oh will be reincarnated, and whoever’s line moves first, wins. Jin-oh is appalled that his friends would gamble with his future, and whereas Se-joo isn’t sure that Jin-oh will be reincarnated, Seol hopes that he will be. Jin-oh bets that he will.
Jin-oh can feel himself start to break, but keeps it together as Se-joo thanks him for pulling him out of his writer’s block, and it was thanks to him that Seol entered his life. Seol excuses herself, and Se-joo thanks Jin-oh for breaking down the walls of his heart.
Se-joo warns, “So don’t you dare disappear again without a word–” but finds the chair empty. Se-joo instructs Jin-oh to send a sign to let him know that he’s still there, but nothing happens.
Seol returns to find Se-joo barking at the empty space and drops her things to hold him. She points out that Jin-oh’s fishing line is moving.
One month later, Se-joo speaks of Yul at a book signing event for the full-length novel of Chicago Typewriter: “He was my muse, a ghost, and my friend who crossed eighty years to get me back on my feet. Miraculously calling me through an antique typewriter, that special time was a pillar of strength enabling us to live in the present.”
He dedicates the novel to his dear friend Jin-oh, and Seol sends him two thumbs up. They go for a stroll that evening, and Seol worries that his fans will feel betrayed if they see them together.
She feels bad about being so happy, and then trips on her shoelace. She says someone must be missing her, and Se-joo bends down and repeats the words he said the first time he tied her shoelace: “There is someone who does. A person who has been waiting for you for almost 100 years. Someone who can’t leave because of a tenacious fate.”
Asking if that person is a mystical being, she wonders what could’ve happened to Jin-oh. Se-joo hopes that he found his way into his novel, and she asks if he’s happy there. Deciding to leave that question up to the coin gods, Se-joo declares that heads means Jin-oh is fine and tails means he failed.
He flips the coin, and they check to see which one it is… and we cut to Hwi-young typing the last few words of his novel in Carpe Diem. He prevents Soo-hyun from trying to catch a sneak preview, telling her that she can buy a copy if she wants to know the ending. Lol.
Footsteps approach, and Yul appears to join his friends, who ask him what took him so long. “I had a dream,” Yul answers, and Soo-hyun jokes that their homeland will never be liberated at this rate.
“Don’t worry,” Yul confidently replies. “Liberation will surely come.” Asked what he dreamt about, Yul thinks, “A dream where you two are living beautiful lives in a liberated Joseon.”
He discovers a picture in his pocket—the one of Se-joo and Seol standing outside Gwanghaemun… which he now appears in. He thinks, “A dream where even for a brief moment, I was with you two… and the hope that we will be reunited sometime in the distant future.”
COMMENTS
If I were to describe this finale in one word, it would be this: heavenly. Well, apart from the grueling experience of having to see Hwi-young and Yul’s death more than once. All I wanted from this show’s last moments was to see a glimpse of Hwi-young, Yul, and Soo-hyun together again, so it warms my heart to see the friends live on within the written pages of their own story.
Even if we aren’t told the logistical details of exactly how Jin-oh leapt back into Se-joo’s novel, it’s personally enough for me to know that Yul has rejoined his friends of the past with his conscience wiped clean and looks forward to being reunited with the friends of the present. Being separated from his loved ones would be the greatest negative consequence Jin-oh could face in his will-he-won’t-he-disappear narrative conflict, and when he asked to be forgiven by Se-joo and Seol, I love that they both made it clear that they are not their past selves, but also grateful to Jin-oh because his impact on their lives enabled them to dream of a future.
It’s that sense of hope that was so deeply rooted in the 1930s storyline that captured my heart. There’s no doubt that the Japanese Occupation era was a tumultuous and dark period in history, and yet there’s something powerful about a story that revolved around a group of young voices struggling against injustice and fighting for a day they may never live to see themselves. Even Hwi-young’s parting words carried weight that extends beyond one lifetime, and I can only hope that Soo-hyun did as Hwi-young instructed and lived to see their homeland liberated.
Which brings me to that heart-wrenching confrontation between Soo-hyun and Yul. Many of us guessed that Soo-hyun pulled that trigger, but I don’t think any of us was prepared to watch Yul’s final moments with her to mirror the one memory they both cherished, when he first taught her to shoot. I loved that Yul got a chance to reconcile the circumstances of his death with Seol, and that he was able to work out the guilt he carried for decades.
But that serves to show just how much Se-joo and Seol have matured over the course of this series. The painful memories of their past lives taught them to see the greater picture of what it means to live and how precious life can be. I found the honesty they shared in their romantic relationship and their friendship with Jin-oh to be wonderfully refreshing, since there have been plenty of dramas where misunderstandings are left to fester and the viewers are left frustrated. Even Mom, who betrayed her comrades to save her son (though did she really think that Young-min would keep his promise?) settled things with her daughter, who knew that it was her responsibility to figure out how to handle the truth, not anyone else.
On the production front, I truly loved how the direction enhanced the story that was told. Even when I felt a bit unsure about where this story would go, I held onto the notion that the writing knew where it wanted to take us. And boy, was the payoff worth the wait. Once the emotional ball got rolling, it hardly let us catch our breath. Nearly every word spoken felt important and wanted to teach us something about stories, relationships, or society as a whole. I wouldn’t be surprised if writer Jin Soo-wan wished to use this drama as a platform to explore the ongoing struggles and stressful demands on a writer, because what better chance is there to project those feelings than through an author as your hero?
One of the beautiful things that Chicago Typewriter has done is to shed light on how freedom is an ideal that is hard-earned and that the current generation is privileged to enjoy. Knowing the cost helps us appreciate just how fragile and precious a notion it truly is, and if a fictional tale can stir our hearts, how much more would learning the actual history break our hearts and leave us breathless? In truth, there aren’t enough words to properly describe how this show made me laugh and cry. Let’s just say that Chicago Typewriter hit the bullseye of my heart from its opening chapter to its final page, and my love for it will surely go beyond this lifetime.
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Tags: Chicago Typewriter, Episode 16, Go Kyung-pyo, Im Soo-jung, Yoo Ah-in
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
Hello Dramabeans series
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51 mai-mai
June 4, 2017 at 11:24 PM
I assume Soo-hyun died of a broken heart.
It's a beautiful story and the OST gives soul to it.
Thank you gummimochi for the recap.
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CrimeFighter
June 6, 2017 at 3:49 AM
and the watch "coincidentally" went back to its rightful owner after many decades have passed.....
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52 spazmo
June 4, 2017 at 11:39 PM
this drama was so touching, so heartfelt... nothing but LOVE for this production and cast in spite of its low ratings in korea...
<3
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53 mmmmm
June 5, 2017 at 12:20 AM
Because beanies are very active with comments in this thread.. I think I will come back and read everything again when I'm more prepared.
I used to think that the show is very slow-paced and I got bored after a few episodes. However, the last two episodes were such gold as it left me with the most satisfying ending and made me forget every negative feeling I ever had with this show in the beginning. It was an extremely well=done job. The show is beautiful. I think a show is considered successful if it delivers, and this show delivers. The same goes for actors and actresses, and in this show, they did.
Thank you show. You'll have a place in my heart for a long long time.
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javinne
June 5, 2017 at 1:52 AM
I never mind the slow-paced rhythm, but I have to agree that the second half of the whole drama feels better, because you are already wrapped in the story, yet, we might tend to forget we need the first half in order to understand.
As an artistic creation, it is indeed a very beautiful production. Very very beautiful...
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mmmmm
June 5, 2017 at 7:09 AM
*finger heart*
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mmmmm
June 5, 2017 at 6:34 AM
Oh.. thank you so much@gummimochi for your hard work. The story has been nicely recapped because of you. Thank you :)
I'd also like to thank this beanie community for directly/indirectly encouraging me to continue watching the show. As stated, I got bored during the first half of the story and was seriously considering dropping this one around ep.5, but seeing all those positive comments about this show week after week made me want to know and see more of the show and so here I am, weeping like a child some hours ago and thought it would be a mistake if I dropped the show earlier. This beanie community has always been nice. Every beanie has his/her own saying whether they like or dislike anything about any drama but never did I receive harsh comment or inappropriate discouragement. So let us walk toward the brighter future and let us witness the more good and heartwarming dramas to come. *cheers*
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54 Yuki
June 5, 2017 at 12:57 AM
I was sobbing non-stop like an idiot for the last half of the episode ????
But the moments that made me cry a river were definitely when Soo Heon killed Yul and Se Joo asking Jin Oh to stay in the novel and reincarnate. I was so sad and stressed when I heard about the possibility of In Ho going to nothingness, they really scared me with that one, if our precious ghost had disappeared I would have hated the writer forever.
And what about the scene where Soo Heon went to kill Yul, my heart broke into pieces. I still struggle with understanding her decision, since Yul did it only to save her life. I might have hated him forever, but never be able to kill him. Well, I can see that she decided to be a revolucionary above all, and not letting her feelings in the way of her job, but in the end, I have to confess that it makes me like her less. Hwi Young for example had decided to leave the leadership of the organization in order to finally act as a person and save his friends. Why did she had to choose the opposite path, and kill our dear Yul?? ??? I'm inconsolable right now about this. It was so sad to watch Yul die.
The end was not bad considering the alternative, so I am more or less ok with it. But I don't like the idea of the ghost trapped in a story, no matter how good it is. So for my peace of mind, I want to believe that he spent a while there and later reincarnated to meet his friends in a new life.
In the end, this show goes to the category of the ones that I adore, but I don't think I will muster the energy to watch again, because of the tragedy and sadness looming on the story. I will follow the writer and the actors in the future, they have become favorites of mine.
And I am now a fan of Go Kyung Pyo ?, he made me love the ghost dearly, not sure if it's mainly because of his acting talent, how the character was written, or his charms (that sweet smile, that height and the manly voice make my heart flutter, what can I do ? ).
Well, it's time to say farewell to CT and keep its message in the heart: carpe diem.
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ar
June 5, 2017 at 1:20 AM
I think Yul also believed he needed to be killed. He was also a revolutionary, and as a revolutionary, he wanted to adhere by the Joseon Youth Alliance's code (though he slipped up when he revealed HY's name and the hideout) and didn't want to make an exception for himself. When SH wavered, he spoke to her like an Alliance comrade rather than a friend to remind her of what the code is and what she had to do.
I'd like to think of Jin Oh just vacationing in the story. I think Se Joo wanted the story to be like a sort of rehab for Jin Oh until he's ready for the next step.
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Yuki
June 5, 2017 at 2:03 AM
I know, but I can't avoid thinking about it ? why would you want a liberated country if not for your loved ones to live there. It's a very messy situation, I understand that she already decided to give her life for the cause and Yul did not have the right to choose to save her over the others...I guess it was a fucked up situation with no good solution and they were damned no matter what.
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erikforce
June 5, 2017 at 7:58 AM
A part of me believes that Soo Hyun shot Shin Yul partly as an act of mercy and friendship. She can see that Yul's guilt from betraying Hwi Young and the Alliance has left him a broken man in the inside, devoid of the will to carry on living.
Beyond her anger towards Yul's betrayal ( for a benign reason she is clearly aware of and understands) and fulfilling the code of conduct, it pains Soo Hyun even more to see her lifelong friend suffer a miserable existence after all that has happened, so that I believe drove her to eventually pull the trigger. I truly don't think she would have shot Yul if he himself didn't want to end it all.
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55 vannerie
June 5, 2017 at 12:58 AM
Thank you show for a wonderful sixteen hours of thought-provoking viewing and emotional engagement. Thank you gummimochi and fellow beanies for sharing the journey. The 1930s story will always have a stronger pull on our emotions because its characters are truly heroic. We don't know how we as individuals would react and behave when confronted with the choices they faced on a daily basis. Maybe we would be more like Young-min or Madam Sophia or Yul but we hope we could be a Hwi-Young or a Soo-hyun fighting uncompromisingly for freedom. For our main protagonists, writing the past together enables them to change themselves in the present and to move forward with their lives (Jin-oh too as he has fulfilled his promise). I loved the writing, the acting, the production, the music, the hair, the sets, the dog. I expected the best from Yoo Ah In and Im Soo Jung and wasn't disappointed. I'd only seen Go Kyung Pyo in Jealousy Incarnate before this but he was so very good as Yoo Jin oh. I look forward to seeing him in Strongest Deliveryman.
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alert
June 5, 2017 at 2:45 AM
Totally agree with you. It's all about choices we made in life, and regardless of whether we made the right or the wrong choice, the more important thing is being responsible of that choice. Everybody makes mistakes in life, but it's how you deal with it. Tae Min for one, made the wrong choice, but refused to acknowledge or deal with it. Yul made the wrong choice too, but he's a better person (or ghost) when he picked up the responsibility and be accounted for it.
Looking forward to see GKP in Strongest Deliveryman too. I hope it's good!
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vannerie
June 5, 2017 at 3:39 AM
I was thinking a bit more about this. Sometimes we do make mistakes and we have a chance like Jin-oh to apologise and try to make amends. I think it's about self respect. Can you live with yourself if you take a certain path. Can you learn from your mistakes and try to change. Tae Min continues to blame everyone else and fails to take responsibility. We understand Madam Sophia but Seol's mother (who had retained memories of the past) had an opportunity to help and support her daughter but chose not to do so.
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osmanthustea
June 5, 2017 at 4:08 AM
I loved Se-ju's advice to Tae-min. It was enough to put things into perspective for himself, for Yul, and for Tae-min/Young-min, but it wasn't rose-tinted with some last-minute change of character for Tae-min.
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56 javinne
June 5, 2017 at 1:47 AM
I knew I was going to cry... maybe in a near or far away future I will watch you again, show... I really have appreciated what a beautiful artistic master piece you are. Beautiful music... beautiful scenery... very sad and passionate. I will miss this melancholic time, but I will reflect in what See jo learned: don't live inside walls, don't live as a ghost.
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57 joongkicookie
June 5, 2017 at 2:11 AM
It was the perfect finale for this show... Full of love and forgiveness and it has been able to close *almost* all lose ends. (I wanted to know what happened to Sang Mi...)
I was glad to be part of the trio's story. But what I really loved about this show is the friendship between Hwi Young-Yul and Se Ju-Jin Oh.
In fact, out of all the scenes in this episode, the one that broke my heart the most was the fishing scene. How can he leave him like that?? HUHUHU
But yeah, to the most underrated drama of the year, good job!
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58 michykdrama
June 5, 2017 at 2:36 AM
This Show will forever have a special place in my heart. It was so much more than what it said it was going to be at the start- a story about a writer and his antifan and a typewriter that connects them.
I was reeled in by Yoo Ah In, the beautiful visuals (bookshelves!) and the quirky offbeat nature of it, but then got captivated by the story of heroic sacrifice, of friendships that transcend generations and even death, of living life for a greater purpose, all set to the most perfect soundtrack imaginable.
And the story to me ended on the perfect note, by bringing us one full circle- we got our cake and to eat it too- in a sense the present day is like the sequel to the 1930s timeline that we would have wanted to have- we got to see the Trio reunite and heal their old wounds, have a chance to celebrate the freedom they fought so hard and sacrifice so much for. So to me, their story is now complete, although for Se Joo and Seol their life together has only just begun. But they will treasure each moment like it and their last because they know how hard it was for them to get there.
And lastly, the bromance in this needs to be highlighted because Se Joo/Hwi Young and Yul just about tore at my heart every scene they were in. I didn't expect to love them together and be moved as much as I did, but this bromance to me was one of the best. Bromance amongst war, despite loving the same girl, despite betrayal and even death. Now that's going to be a hard one to top.
Thank you Writer Nim, I will be following your next work closely for sure. It's been a great ride.
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coolbeans
June 6, 2017 at 12:47 PM
"Bromance amongst war, despite loving the same girl, despite betrayal and even death." - omg you're gonna make me cry again...
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59 aami
June 5, 2017 at 3:08 AM
Cried like a baby yet again.
I can't help but go gaga over Hwi Young and Yoo Ah In's portrayal needs a standing ovation. I liked Se Joo, he was funny, smart intelligent and charming but I couldn't help but fall irrevocably in love with Hwi Young who was much much more and beyond in just the small amount of time he was onscreen. His letter to Yul tear me up just thinking about it.
I want to see more of Yoo Ah In in a 1900's or 20th century period pieces. My only complain is we got less screen time of Hwi Young and I want to rectify it any possible way.
I hope that Kim Eun Sook (Goblin) who is preparing for her next project think of YAI and cast him as her lead. Wouldn't that be epic? Please let that happen drama gods. I won't ask for anything else for this years xmas. Promise.
Lastly... show, you were so great, shame that the ratings were low. I will miss you terribly. And thanks for the recap every week @gummimochi. <3
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fleurvoyeur
June 5, 2017 at 6:20 AM
Hmmm.... Not saying this to bring down Kim Eun Sook, but judging from the way Yoo Ah In picked his past projects, I'm not sure if a writer like Kim Eun Sook, could draw his interest.
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I Will Goryeo You
June 5, 2017 at 9:20 AM
Yoo Ah In rocked both characters. I can't imagine anyone else portraying Hwi Young and Se Joo as memorable and impressive as he was. The finale episode has less Hwi Young because he gracefully died in the previous one, but it just added a really strong impression of him ❤️
Oh yesss I wanna see more of Yoo Ah In rocking the mane of glory in a 19th or 20th century period dramas too!
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60 missowlhead
June 5, 2017 at 3:23 AM
My spouse keeps looking at me funny because I've been randomly weeping all weekend. This story and these characters just got me right in the heart.
In about 6 months, I'll rewatch it with everything in context to piece together the whole time line. I might be able to watch it without crying, to watch it with my head, not my heart. I sure as hell can't do that now.
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fleurvoyeur
June 5, 2017 at 6:10 AM
Oh my god, my sister too was wondering why I've been randomly weeping all weekend XD
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61 cocomo
June 5, 2017 at 3:33 AM
I cried so much during the finale. It was an absolutely beautiful drama ?
Though I'm confused about some things. So Yul went back in the novel and will now relive everything? He knows what will happen so will he prevent the deaths from happening? But then how will he meet with them in the future? Or since he is trapped in the novel it's different from real life and it will have no impact on the future?
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vannerie
June 5, 2017 at 3:44 AM
I think the book is a place where he may be able to recover his strength and heal himself and from there be a springboard for him to achieve reincarnation.
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alert
June 5, 2017 at 4:40 AM
Imho, Jin Oh stays in the novel knowing exactly that it's a story of their friendship, not going back to the past. Nothing's changed, but at least now he's able to be in the happy chapters of their life, and can choose not to be in the painful part. Even if the events keep on happening, at least he knows that the novel has a happy ending, so it gives him hope, and not pain or guilt.
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62 osmanthustea
June 5, 2017 at 4:05 AM
Bittersweet that Chicago Typewriter has ended.
I was really struggling to watch these last two episodes because I get so involved in the characters that the bull-headed "rescue" and betrayals were painful. Like @Itenoria mentioned in her comments to the previous recap, knowing that there'll be tragedy is one thing, but to actually watch how everything unfolds is really not easy.
But I think the writer really did a good job of wrapping things up. There's no way to avoid the harsh truth about what happened in the 1930s, but at least we got to fully appreciate the why and how through each of the primary characters.
I don't remember the last time another drama delivered the "happily ever after" ending so well too ─ many end up with longwinded montages of weddings and babies, but I like the writing's restraint, and the quiet dignity of the ending. Yul got his closure, forgiveness, and the opportunity to bask in the company of his most cherished friends. And while there's no certainty about what happened to him, the little suggestions ─ the the movements on his fishing line, his 'return' to the 1930s with his photo intact ─ offer just the right amount of hope and ambiguity. It feels so much more real than if everything were perfect, or perfectly clear.
And everyone delivered their roles so well. To me, Yoo Ah-in did a great job of differentiating his Han Se-ju character and Seo Hwi-yeong character, from the way he talks to his mannerisms. Which made it all the more believable when he told Jin-oh/Yul that there's nothing for Han Se-ju to forgive.
I've only seen Go Kyung-pyo in Reply, which frankly no one looked good in, so I wasn't really rooting for him when Chicago Typewriter first started. But he turned out so dapper and cute puppy, and awesome buddy! Sadly, this plot didn't give him many opportunities to show off his range of acting, but his anguished, crying betrayal was extremely moving. Im Soo-jung too - she didn't make much impression on me, neither great nor bad, but she really delivered in these two episodes. Through her eyes alone, you could really see the myriad emotions and internal conflicts running through Soo-yeon's head as she trained the gun on Yul.
And thanks, @gumimochi, for your beautiful paragraph on the show's theme about freedom and nationhood.
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growingbeautifully
June 5, 2017 at 5:46 AM
Speaking of bull-headed rescues. I kept screaming in my head... when will kdrama heroes stop just running off to rescue someone without informing someone where they're going and what might happen? There are helpful souls on the phone with them, and with just a sentence, these could send backup, but no, the hero has to do the rescue solo.
It's one of the points I take issue with in most shows. Surely not all heroes have to be so fool-hardy. I know it's done so that the level of suspense and dramatic effect is heightened, but it's so annoyingly foolish! ? ?
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osmanthustea
June 5, 2017 at 6:44 AM
Too true! Come to think of it, it seems like Descended from the Sun was actually among the few shows where the hero enlisted help for the rescue.
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63 gumgum
June 5, 2017 at 4:41 AM
I think I share most of the beanies' sentiments here in that I too will miss this show and its characters quite terribly. Tears throughout the ep, tears while reading this recap. I think the trio's relationship, both past or present, made the strongest impact on me - that's love, man. They would do anything for each other.
Thank you so much for your recap and insight, gummimochi.
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gumgum
June 5, 2017 at 5:21 AM
On a sidenote I wish the shows produced where I'm from could achieve even a quarter of what this show did in terms of using history as a backdrop. There's so much narrative potential in history and culture, I hope one day we learn to use that in more of our creative content. Perhaps audiences don't like watching some parts of history retold because it could turn out boring, or because of how dark a time it was for the country, but CT did such a good job with the writing, the characters, the weaving of two timelines, that despite the early slow burn it was still a gripping story that saw hope during a struggle for freedom, and how that struggle came to fruition.
(And people ask me why I like KDramas so much, obviously because a lot of these shows are done well and present a variety of options that we don't seem to have, hahaha)
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64 bubbles
June 5, 2017 at 4:51 AM
It was kind of ridiculous that they would let her go though....when they knew she was their sniper.....
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MMMkitty
June 5, 2017 at 5:37 AM
Comment was deleted
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MMMkitty
June 5, 2017 at 5:40 AM
I have been thinking about that ,too.
I think they let her go because Joseon Youth alliance disbanded after the death of their leader and lead members ,so they may assume that a woman alone can do nothing.
It was said that the influence of Shin Yul's father is great in the government ,too.
However, they didn't know the fact that love between our main trio was so strong , especially feelings between Hwi young and Soo hyung.
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fleurvoyeur
June 5, 2017 at 6:15 AM
I think they didn't let her go that instant. As we see, Yool returned to his family and stayed there for several days before Hwi Young's belonging/letter arrived. I presumed they held Soo Hyun for a long while before releasing her after they made sure none of Joseon Youth Alliance still alive. Also as @MMMkitty said, because Yool's father had big influence in the government.
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fleurvoyeur
June 6, 2017 at 9:12 PM
Edit: As we see, Yool returned to his family and stayed there for several days before Hwi Young's belonging/letter arrived AND before he heard Soo Hyun's vengeance.
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65 aquietfortitude
June 5, 2017 at 5:34 AM
How do I recover from this? I think I'm gonna take a break from k-drama. Everything else pales in comparison.
Stares blankly.
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littlebeansprout
June 5, 2017 at 6:04 AM
Yes, I can't even contemplate starting another show after this... not to mention nothing that is currently playing seems to be remotely interesting by comparison... can we start a CT withdrawal support group?
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alert
June 5, 2017 at 6:29 AM
I've watched most of the airing shows now, tried to comment on recaps but felt a little at lost. Here feels more like home.?
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littlebeansprout
June 5, 2017 at 7:09 AM
It really does! I joined DB just for this show, hehe... no one in my "real life" is interested in watching it (even my friends who like kdramas... they rather watch the Ji Chan Wook drama or whatever)... so, having you all here is a blessing!
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66 growingbeautifully
June 5, 2017 at 5:36 AM
Thanks so much gummimochi for so faithfully recapping this series and giving us your good insights.
It's so wonderful to have live-watched a show that has satisfied on so many levels and so consistently especially in it's second half. This show has fulfilled what so many of us watch currently airing shows for... to be on the spot and to enjoy, discuss and feel with a community, the greatness of a great show, unfolding before us. As others have said before me, this show has amply delivered. Being left with a feeling of profound gratitude after watching, is a tremendous gift.
A few thoughts to add to the many kudos here... I love how the title of this show totally makes sense and is appropriate, since both the gun and the typewriter play important 'roles' in the plot.
In the same way... why the writing is great is that it has been fully consistent and coherent. Whatever of significance that is mentioned at one time is not forgotten but receives a resolution or a nod of acknowledgment at another time and very naturally.
I'm thinking of the history of the gold watch that we find slowly pieced together for us. Also the coin flip, to determine fate, or the fact that Gyun Woo is not forgotten. And every word of the past or present eliciting a promise or a wish takes shape in the actual fulfilment of that promise. (The only exception being uncertainty over whether Soo Hyun was able to live to see Joseon's liberation.)
The tying up of so many bits of unfinished business satisfactorily is truly a tour-de-force of writing. I don't think the resolution for anyone was forgotten. Perhaps the only question I'm left with is, why did Soo Hyun not retrieve that watch? Did she wake up or did she die under that tree? Surely if alive, she would never have forgotten that watch or left it there.
As in all shows, what is most satisfying to me is the character growth. At first it felt pretty sudden for Se Ju to warm up to Seol, but we find that he had been putting up a wall out of distrust, and that Seol had broken through it somewhere along the way. It was only a matter of time that Se Ju would also warm up to what was once the scary, unwelcome ghost and regard him as a most desired life-long friend. There are meaningful resolutions and believable continuations.
I did feel that the necessary coincidences were somewhat forced in the beginning. I guess it's to be called fate rather than coincidence. It was fate that of all the Chicago eateries, Se Ju should have had his book signing at the one which Yul haunted. And of all the delivery people who could have brought the typewriter to Se Ju, it was fated that it should be Seol. However this was fate well-used to give us a rollicking semi-scary-funny ghostly beginning, bringing our main characters together and set the stage for the way they would interact.
And you know what, there was great PPL as well. It was amazing to see a phone take complex verbal instructions and carry them...
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growingbeautifully
June 5, 2017 at 5:37 AM
And you know what, there was great PPL as well. It was amazing to see a phone take complex verbal instructions and carry them out! LOL. But it fitted in with the plot... so good.
Altogether, it was very nicely done! So with a heart full of gratitude, I say again Thanks to all the Production Team for a truly beautiful show. Your talent and hardwork and this story that has brought us so much contentment, will never be forgotten. ? ?
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fleurvoyeur
June 5, 2017 at 6:05 AM
Don't forget the Subway PPL where for the first time Jeon Seol and Se Joo talked from heart to heart. I think that was when he saw Jeon Seon in a new light.
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alert
June 5, 2017 at 2:36 PM
And the PPL in the trash scene. That one was awesome LOL>
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fleurvoyeur
June 5, 2017 at 6:04 AM
Very well said! And yesss when PPL is done right, it became one memorable scene.
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mmmmm
June 5, 2017 at 6:25 AM
Very well said. I do agree with your comment.
I love it when you compare 'necessary coincidences' with 'fate'. I don't know if I will feel this positive if this comparison is made in other dramas but, for this drama, the notion fits perfectly well.
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CrimeFighter
June 6, 2017 at 3:43 AM
well...dramaland always have lots of "coincidences", without all these coincidence, there won't be more juicy storyplot for viewers to enjoy....
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I Will Goryeo You
June 5, 2017 at 9:26 AM
Very well said! ??
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67 Nayuki
June 5, 2017 at 5:48 AM
This drama is beautiful in so many aspects. Thank you for every tears, laughs and messages you gave me through your remarkable journey, show.
You'll be missed. always.
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68 fleurvoyeur
June 5, 2017 at 6:01 AM
Thank you so much for recapping Chicago Typewriter @gummimochi :) It didn't get me hooked from the first episode, but once it started to show that it has the heart, I was drown in it. At first Se Joo was so apathetic about life and hope, he dwelled on his past, hated and blamed people, and trusted no one. He wrote for money and fame, he didn't care about the impact of his works. But once Ghost Yoo and Jeon Seol walked into his life, he gradually changed and returned to who he used to be. From his past life where he witnessed the awesomeness of independence fighters -Hwi Young, Yool, and Soo Hyun- he learned to love, to trust, to forgive, to be grateful, to hope, and to make the most of the present time. Kudos to the writer, ALL the fantastic casts and PD. And Yoo Ah In, thank you for giving us top notched acting and giving me this beautiful conviction of yours!
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69 UmbrellaLei
June 5, 2017 at 6:56 AM
Such a beautiful, bittersweet ending.
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70 Tina
June 5, 2017 at 6:58 AM
Love this show :(
Just a question, they didn't mention what happened to Jang Mi did they? She's technically still on the loose? She should have been caught huhu :'( Just a minor detail that bugs me, but other than that everything was perfect.
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I Will Goryeo You
June 5, 2017 at 9:29 AM
I think they have arrested Jang Mi too around the same day they arrested Baek Tae Min, but the drama didn't conclude it in the story :)
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alert
June 5, 2017 at 2:38 PM
LOL Jang Mi popped into the show like a ghost, and she left the show like a ghost too, that her story was concluded behind the scene LOL.
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CrimeFighter
June 6, 2017 at 3:41 AM
I agree...don't even know how she got caught by the cops...
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Rainbow Unicorn
June 6, 2017 at 6:52 AM
I think it was mentioned in the passing that she was arrested too but her charges were minimal as compared to Tae-Min cuz he was the one who threatened her & instigated the kidnapping..
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71 Bubblegum
June 5, 2017 at 7:10 AM
Such a good show! So, so underrated, Chicago Typewriter is. I was a bit confused over the ending, but thanks to your recap I understood it. Would love to see Yul being reincarnated though sobz
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72 Roxanne
June 5, 2017 at 7:19 AM
" we carry these characters in our hearts " ... That's the problem of dramas with this kind of ending, that we take the characters in our hearts, and we do not know how to carry the end. The melancholy of remembering that the 3 friends of 80 years ago had such a sad ending, and that we have to fire them like this. And that the friends of the current era, they were incomplete and we also had to say goodbye ... Seeing dramas as a hobby is not easy, we always risk not being able to overcome a story, to marry to the characters and have to leave the story behind... ='(
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73 ndfongie
June 5, 2017 at 7:49 AM
urghh... another great choice from tvn dramas. I always like the range of genre tvn dramas have. I feel they are more daring in choosing the dramas they aired.
Again, I am very happy that I stumbled upon this drama. Did not really expect anything from CT but I loved how the past and present is connected. You can really see the difference when Hwi Young and Su Hyeon were during the Kyungsung and Se Ju and Seol in present. I can really sense the different aura both of them have in both times while keeping Yul in the same well-mannered gentlemen. These just showcase how good the castings were and I really enjoyed myself watching CT.
Looking at how the drama keeping its pace from Epi1 until finale, we can see that the writer knows what he wanted from the beginning. The final few episodes with all the revelations really made me lost count of time. All I felt was "What?? An hour has passed??" I would really like to thank the writer, director, producers and crew on your hardwork on bringing a great drama to us. It was really well done. Ohh, and really thank you for making Hwi Young and Su Hyeon so badass. That last 2 episodes, I was applauding the whole time. They were sooo goooodddd!!
I have been catching CT every weekend and it looks like there will be something missing this weekend onwards.. I will miss Seo Hwi Young, Ryu Su Hyeon and Yul. Thank you Joseon Independent Fighter! Thanks to you all that Korea is liberated.
With that, thanks CT team and have a great rest. All the best in the next project! <3
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74 Elgarmummy
June 5, 2017 at 9:11 AM
Beautiful show. I cried buckets and my husband also agreed this was a great show. We loved the soundtracks too. This show gripped me from the first episode, probably due to the bookshelves. They should win the best stage design. I must admit I had read about Yoo Ah In's ugly hairstyle turning people off, but I was ok with it after being distracted slightly.
For the ending, I'm thinking it is an alternate reality written by Han Se Ju. Hwi Young said he had finished writing the novel, which was incomplete previously. For Yul to see that happening and have that photo, it must be the 'present time' in 2017 but just that he is hiding in the novel to recuperate. He is happy because his friends don't blame him anymore.
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75 Alessar
June 5, 2017 at 10:01 AM
A lot of people talked about how they preferred the '30s storyline to the modern one, but I liked them both. I felt like I needed the modern day elements to encapsulate the historical parts because it was SO DAMN TRAGIC. It hit me like a truck when they all died in the past and it was a big help knowing what their future was and a buffer I really needed. For me, it leavened the tragedy with hope and the success of a free future.
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76 O_o
June 5, 2017 at 12:12 PM
This was a beautiful drama well written, acted, shot and directed throughout. The ending especially was one of the best renditions of Zhuangzi's dream of butterfly I have ever seen. Also the sincere advice from Seju to Taemin to accept his past wrongdoings, apologize for them and to move on was, I think, a meta piece of advice from the writer to the Japanese government which to this day keeps denying and covering up many atrocities and crimes against humanity committed during its war of conquest and occupation of many Asian countries during the later 19th century and early 20th century.
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77 rayofsun
June 5, 2017 at 12:49 PM
I have no words for how well this show was done. It had ups and downs, but I definitely think the pros outweighed the cons. Firstly though, thank you so much for the recaps! It's been a fun ride.
The actors were phenomenal, the story was engaging and tugged on all the right strings. I'm going to miss this trio so much.
Jin-oh/Yul: What a sweetheart. By far my favorite character. His soft and gentle personality, his adorable bromances with Se-joo and Hwi-young, and even his one-sided love with Seol were all fantastic. I felt that he was the most engaging character. His expressions were awesome too lol
Se-joo: I did find him inconsistent during the beginning, but his character growth was awesome (and hair growth. His hair grew a lot wow). The moment he called Jin-oh his friend and wanted to live with him forever...ugh my heart <3. I really enjoyed his character. Hwi-young as well, who especially at the end made me feel all the feels.
Seol: She was so cuute! My only complaint is she stayed pretty much the same throughout the series. She never really displayed many signs of character growth, but she was adorable to begin with so I guess I'm okay with that. I just wish she had more spotlight. She was an awesome character though, and her interactions with the other characters were really satisfying for some reason. I liked how she handled most of the situations she was in. Tae-min for example, how she kept turning him down but was never aggressive about it. Rather, she did it in a gentle and subtle way. I can relate to her a lot.
And most importantly, Gyeon-woo: What a dog. Good doggo. 10/10 good doggo. What a dog. A+++ dog acting skills.
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CrimeFighter
June 6, 2017 at 3:38 AM
I actually Soel in her past life becos she is quite badass as a sniper...haha....she is more gentle and softhearted in her present life....and yes Gyang Woo...that doggie, I was watching My Sassy Gal and I realised Joo Won's character has nearly similar name as this cute doggy...I immediately was reminded of this cute fluffy furball that also contributed to CT.....
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CrimeFighter
June 6, 2017 at 3:39 AM
*actually prefer
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78 Novijka
June 5, 2017 at 1:37 PM
I just loved the final and every part of ChT<3
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79 Lily left the valley
June 5, 2017 at 10:49 PM
@gummimochi: Thank for you the recaps!
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80 halfmoon
June 5, 2017 at 11:39 PM
One of my favorite kdrama, for sure.
I hope all 3 will reincarnate this time around and get to live their friendship, happily, together again.
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81 gear
June 6, 2017 at 12:49 AM
I quietly enjoyed the drama, the recaps and the comments. Though I didn't like where the story turned to in the second half (that kidnapping part), the execution of the 1930s story was perfectly done. I got carried away by everyone's acting. Thank you for recapping the show, DB. And though I may not agree with some opinions, I thank you for many insights I learned from all the Beannies which got me enjoying the show more. Thank you, Team Chicago Typewriter!
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CrimeFighter
June 6, 2017 at 3:35 AM
we don't even know how the stalker's younger sister got caught and thereafter pointed Baek Taemin as the instigator of the kidnapping, cos we saw her walking the other way when she saw the cops around the building where her apartment was....
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82 warm matcha
June 6, 2017 at 1:46 AM
im currently reading this recap with SG Wannabe's song as the BGM! heart-tugging but at the same time tremendously beautiful i must said.
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83 Shindy
June 6, 2017 at 2:39 AM
Just thank you Chicago Typewriter ♥
You gave me everything. It was a roller coaster of emotions: I smiled, I laughed and I cried a lot..
I'm glad they gave us such a satisfying ending. Hope that in the future three of them could meet once again..
Now I feel so empty..
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84 CrimeFighter
June 6, 2017 at 3:29 AM
Ok, please don't scold me first, but my colleague and myself thought that the ending is just so-so for us, maybe cos we like clearcut endings and not these kind whereby the writer leave it to us to decipher the ending *???* (of Yul )..... and also I think epi 15 is better than the finale as the finale is a little anticlimax kind.....but the comments above does not mean that I don't love this drama. I still love CT as an unique piece of gem, waiting for more (koreans) to discover *meaning the viewership rating in korea*. It is not the usual kind of clinched Kdrama.
Another similar genre drama on par with it is "Gaksital" aka "The Bridal Mask" lead cast by Joo Won, it is also full of patriotic feels, action and romance (with the same setting of around 1930s when Jap occupied Korea)....but there is no past life or present life involved here....but if you do watch Gaksital, please prepare yourself with some tissues though, I'm sure you would need it more than when you watch CT ;-)
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Sophia
June 6, 2017 at 9:32 PM
Though I'm okay with that guess-playing ending, I also feel ep 15 is the climax and 16 anticlimax.
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85 TM
June 6, 2017 at 3:41 AM
What a nice drama from beginning to end! I think it was quite an unusual story (in a good way) compared to other dramas. I really enjoyed the focus on friendship between our 3 characters. The story set in the 1930's was so compelling that I was scared the ending would feel rushed and it didn't. I felt as if we were completing a puzzle one piece at a time and everything fitted perfectly. I'm going to miss this drama.
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86 Kamehameha
June 6, 2017 at 9:51 AM
I love the story !! I am quite disappointed with the viewers who judge this drama by its rating.... there are a lot of hidden message in this drama and the writer, director and the actor totally did a good job !! Its not the typical human-ghost drama (like others k drama) but it also show you the beauty of friendship, patriotism, love and others. Im very touched with yoo ah in oppa performance in this drama and he showed us that he truly the best actor in korea !!
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87 Lunabird
June 6, 2017 at 1:46 PM
Ahhhh! I'm so late. I was scrambling to finish this series but there were so many interruptions in between. Well, now I'm finally done with the show and just heartbroken (for multiple reasons). I mean I guessed that Soo Hyun was probably the one to shoot Yul in the past, but seeing it happen in real time was so sad. However, at least Yul got to return back into the book with his friends with a cleaned conscience. As for the relationship between Seol and Se Joo, I'm very satisfied with how the show ended it. Since they could never be together in the past due to all the complications despite truly loving each other, they did return back to each other in the present timeline. I though they truly deserved it. Lastly, I just love how this fictional story expressed the difficulties of love, heartbreak, and betrayal. It was a nice tale that showed the journey of young people fighting for freedom. It is so hard-earned with many sacrifices in between. Overall, this show gave us a sufficient ending (except for Tae Min- I liked him better in Mirror of the Witch) This is a definitely a show I will miss
Tears ;(
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88 chousaurus
June 6, 2017 at 7:59 PM
lol seriously this drama was solid in so many ways, from the acting, to the plot to the pathos to the ethos and the twists and turns and emotional impact and portrayal of friendship and love and romance that exists through time and connects people together and i can go on and on but SERIOUSLY SO UNDERRATEDDDD
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89 Ohlalaland
June 7, 2017 at 5:22 AM
Finally, allowed myself to finish the last 2 episodes. I knew it was going to be difficult to watch but wow, such a beautiful and well written story. I am so grateful the present time line was included because it would have been too hard to finish the story with everyone's demise. At least we got to see the 3 of them reunited and fishing in a liberated Joseon.
All the actors did a fantastic job, the music was great, directing awesome and writing amazing. I will miss all the characters.
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90 rlg07
June 7, 2017 at 4:22 PM
I think Yoo is reborn as their child, so they can all spend time together in this same lifetime again.
Also, is it possible to feel patriotic towards a country I have never set foot in? I kept it together until the very end, when there was the recap of all of the real life things that happened on the way to Korean freedom, and then found myself teary. Hanguk fighting!
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91 raks
June 8, 2017 at 12:54 AM
Some of the scenes of this show are pure poetic! can't move on from this one
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92 raks
June 8, 2017 at 1:31 AM
and because my home country also fought for its independence- I can relate to the fact that we are lucky to be born in an independent nation. Eternally grateful for the brave souls who sacrificed their lives so that we are independent. Thank you show for the 1930's segment <3 can't express in words how much I loved it.
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93 kontrarymary
June 8, 2017 at 1:31 AM
Super super nice. Now I can't wait for Go Kyung Pyo and his first drama as the lead actor!!!!
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94 kdramaisawesome
June 8, 2017 at 6:29 AM
I'm starting to re-watch. This is one of those rare dramas that is even better the second time around!
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95 growingbeautifully
June 9, 2017 at 5:48 PM
One week down the road, and I'm still finding gems to appreciate about this show. I was going through some random notes I made while watching the earlier episodes and was struck by the wonderful resolution this writer brings to the ending.
In the 1930s, Ryu Soo Yeon had said that the pen is stronger than a sword, therefore the typewriter is stronger than a gun and she teased Hwi Young that he should not write for fame but to write something magnificient.
It was so apt that this was exactly what happened 80 years later. Se Ju had written for fame, but through the influence of Seol and Yoo Jin Oh, came to write not for the readers but for what mattered most to him... his friends, their history and best of all, to give his best friend a chance to live on and find his redemption. Now that's some real magnificient writing, don't you think?. ? ? ?
I do appreciate that the writer respects the audience enough to have given us little scenes like these, which when recalled, makes us gasp in surprise, that the ending to resolve and satisfy was so well planned in advance. Thank you Writer-Nim!! ?
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96 serenejazz
June 10, 2017 at 2:21 AM
I don't watch a lot of K dramas but I swear I've never marathon any drama like Chicago typewriter T_T I even watch it on the way go and back from work in commuter line just because I can't wait. This gem totally underappreciated because seriously it deserves a lot more attention than dots (which I personally think sucks and I don't watch goblin cause it's written by the same person)
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97 @prkyjn
June 10, 2017 at 5:16 AM
Last weekend, I watched episodes 15 and 16 in one go and had the puffiest eyes after crying for two hours. 1930s Kyungsung was a heartbreak I'm honored to have experienced through Chicago Typewriter.
Now, my weekends are emptier than ever.
But I've got three actors I'll be sure to follow from here on out. See you in their next dramas (as long as their counterparts are likeable)! Excited to see Go Kyung-pyo in his first title role (opposite Chae Soo-bin) next month and will patiently wait for Yoo Ah-in/Im Soo-jung's next drama.
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98 tesshan
June 10, 2017 at 3:13 PM
Love this drama from beginning to end! Beautiful story, cinematography, brilliant OST and amazing actors.
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99 Klike234
June 14, 2017 at 5:19 PM
I'm not Korean. I know nothing or much about their history and culture... but I'll like to thank all the independent fighters for fighting for the liberation of South Korea???
That's the feeling I got from the latter parts of this drama. And I leave with this major lesson : Never be too proud,ashamed,afraid or self seeking to admit your mistakes and apologise. It sets you free and liberates you. #lessonfromBaekTaeMin
Dramas are doing a good job in putting South Korea's culture and heritage and beliefs out there to the world. A wonderful strategy. Kudos to all writers,PDs,actors and crew members for making this real
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100 ivanesca
June 16, 2017 at 1:51 PM
This show had a lot of problems but the 1930s plotline made up for all of them and a little more. I'd watch the shit out of that show. It had all the hooks: revolution, badass female character, Yoo Ah-in with hair, push-and-pull flirting (war flashbacks of Reply 1988 and that goddamn love triangle)... will I ever get over that kiss???
the modern plotline felt flat by comparison and I wish they kept it focused on writing issues. I just couldn't care less about that pathetic kidnapping. then again, the 1930s kiss just about ruined the soft cuddly moments of modern times.
like holy shit... that kiss. that kiss. oh my god. how will I live? how am I supposed to accept the chaste mouth-on-mouth-pressing the other kdramas offer?
I'll miss this show terribly but I wish I'd never seen that goddamn kiss.
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ivanesca
June 16, 2017 at 1:54 PM
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