For Love, For Liberty, For My Life - tvN's "Chicago Typewriter"
- Nga Nguyen
- Dec 10
- 8 min read
"Chicago Typewriter" starts out with the best-selling author, Han Se Joo (Yoo Ah Im), who is saved by his devoted fan named Jeon Seol (Im Soo Jung) from a disillusional, mentally unstable intruder in his home. He has fallen in a horrible writer's block, unable to write anything for his next masterpiece until a mysterious ghost writer, Yoo Jin Oh (Go Kyung Pyo), starts typing on the antique typewriter he recently bought. All of them realize that their past lives were interwined during the period of the 1930s when Japanese occuption of Korea. Their stories explore the fighting spirit of their love, freedom, and friendship among Korea's changing history.
Writing Your Passions
Han Se Yoo is immediately captivated by the antique typewriter. What's interesting is he hears voices and sees unexplainable visions of a man resembling him and a woman who is wearing men's clothes. This is his past life, Seo Hwi Yeong, a talented writer and the boss leader of a well-known Korean resistance group called the Joseon Youth Alliance. I love how Ryu Su Hyeon, who is Jeon Seol's past life self, asks him about whether or not he knows the name of the gun she is assembling. He answers "No". She then says, "The sound of gunfire is said to be similiar to the sound of a typewriter, so it's called "Chicago Typewriter"".
With his small trip with his dear friend and companion, Sin Yul Yeok, in their first sight of the same typewriter he is going to buy eventually in the future, he says a similiar dialouge. "They say that pen is stronger than a sword. It doubles as a weapon, and it's certainly a very useful tool in changing this world." Here is a bit of a history lesson I am aware of. Back in the 1930s, people exchange secret messages with the help of a newspaper article. What he is doing besides writing a novel based on all of them (basically, an autobiography), is extremely risky for his life. Among the dangers he will face, he is willing to do the job because he holds deep passion for his comrades alongside with his fight for change for his nation. He views life is too short to be afraid of what others may think of you, instead put yourself out there and experience life to your own pace. Indeed, he is an intelligent man who lives his life by the words "Carpe Diem". In Latin, it means 'seize the day'.
As a a creative writer, I agree with his statements. That's why in the writing profession, it is the job of a writer to be cautious of what words they choose to write about whatever they choose to write because it always has the potential of being influential to someone else. Do note that taking responsibility of their reputation is another factor as well. Just like the Internet, their name is associated with the works they put out for the world to see. As writers, there should not be negative emotions and or feelings (unless the writer wishes to do so) associated with writing their works. I don't think any writer would like to feel regret for writing a published work. Going back to the conversation, words are powerful in the world we are living in right now. We , human beings, attach our intreptations and meanings to certain words and phrases. Also, this is one of the several ways of how connections are made. One of 5 types of love languages is Words of Affirmations, meaning that people feel afffection when their loved ones give them compliments and sincere encouragement.
There are many reasons why I am writing my Chinese-English Novel. One is I am writing for them because I care of them very deeply. Yes, I admit that I am a huge fan of the Chinese drama series "The Untamed" (also known as "陳情令 or Chan Ching Ling"). I hold this Chinese drama deep in my heart because it is one of the very few where I cried, laughed, and engaged with. You know the feeling of you get when meeting someone or something feels so familiar like you met them before somewhere. But, it is the first time, you are meeting them. It feels like fate? I think this is what you call déjà vu. How I best described the feeling is there's a strong bonded familiarity I have with this drama. The main storyline with many side stories are so memorable to me. I resonated with many of the characters (also the villians too, surprisingly). Because I respect the privacy of the celebrities and production team associated with this work, I will not mention their names. As a dedicated fan, I want to produce a work of fanfiction to support them. I always wish them happiness, good health, and protection. I want the legacy of "The Untamed" to live for a long time, so that others can experience this Oscar-worthy drama series for themselves.
Episode 6: Remembering the Old
He takes the manuscript and sets it on fire with the help of a lighter, tiny paper snowflakes float in the air and falls down. Also, he feels like he is losing his sanity because only he sees him and no one else can. So, he is stuck seeing Yoo Jin Oh and does not know how to get rid of him. When the Writer's Block gets to his head and nothing comes out, Han Se Yoo decides to break the antique typewriter out of anger and frustation that now he has an actual ghost writer named Yoo Jin Oh, who is writing his story for him. He just cannot accept a ghost writer now exists in life.
He slowly lowers the typewriter, seeing more of his flashbacks of his past life. Yoo Jin Oh buys the typewriter for him, which fulfills his long dream of being a writer after dropping out of graduate school. After successfully stealing a page of his novel, she reads it with enthausiasm and awe. She then makes a public announcement, saying that "I have found a ray of light in that darkness...Like a fire that will brighten Joseon someday a great writer is born. Cheers to Seo Hwi-yeong who will be a great star in the future!" The three of them celebrate them under the sea of shinning lights from the chandeliers with a bottle of champange. He then asks him whether or not Jeon Seol is in their recarination memories? Yoo Jin Oh answers him, "Yes. Her name was Ryu Su Hyeon."
A Love Torn Between Desire and Fighting for the Country's Independence
Young Ryu Su Hyeon declared that she is going to find and marry the man who saved her life from the woods. As they hide from the Japanese spies, she covers his mouth with her hand to keep him quiet, now seeing how would he would look like if he wore a mask. She realizes that Seo Hwi Yeong is the same man who saved her life. As the truth dawns to her, she removes his glasses and says, "It's you, isn't it?" Confirming with him that it is indeed him and the man are the one of the same person she has been looking for. She takes off her hat and pulls him into a deep kiss. Without any resistance, he holds her tightly into his arms and deepens the kiss.
I wouldn't lie that I squeaks so much in this romantic scene! Even though Seo Hwi Yeong is a logical individual who thinks using his brain, rather than his heart, I think he always has a soft spot for Ryu Su Hyeon. He does not pursue his feelings for her, but he always makes sure she is happy and safe. This scene does a phenomenal job at building up the tension between them as well as their blooming, yet subtle romance. Because they live in a such a vulnerable period of time, it is understandable that they cannot show their affection publicly becausen number one, it would have pose a danger to both them to "eyes of the enemies all around them" and two is Ryu Su Hyeon is very cautious and holds herself back from pursuing in fear of it will ruin their plans to revolt against the enemy.
That "Kiss that Saved the Century" scene... really shows he truly does love her as a woman, and not as his comrade. I see their type of love as a "Deep Connection". In their many interactions together, they care about each other's wellbeing and their love language is no doubt is Acts of Service. What I really love about their relationship is they both open-minded to each other's ideas. For example, Ryu Su Hyeon volunteers to disguise herself as a singer to distract the enemy territory in the banquet party, giving Seo Hwi Yeong and Yoo Jin Oh as well as their other comrades time to disrupt with an official declaration for resistance. In other words, they are willing to dive deeper in dangerous territories and risks to achieve their shared main goal- liberating Joseon, their home country once and for all.
“But in our next life…” Ryu Su Hyeon gently says, “if we are born again in a liberated Joseon, promise me that you’ll see me as a woman. Don’t hesitate, don’t shut me out, don’t lie to me, and don’t be sick on your own.”
“I want you to be honest with me and tell me everything. Promise me that you’ll do everything you couldn’t do in this life in the next.” She finishes her sentence as tears piling up in her heartbroken eyes. Seo Hwi Yeong didn't asks her, “Why do you keep talking about the next life?”Breaking the wall in his heart, he orders her to make a promise to him on the spot: "Make sure you come back alive. That's an order."
These words... oh my goodness, I don't know if this is why I choose slow-building romance over those clingy fast-paced romances off the the second or third episodes. As Seo Hwi Yeong leaves, he lets his fingers gently brushes over her. This scene is loud as clear as day: The tension between them grows even more denser than ever. They both admit to each other that they care about the other person more than they are willing to say out loud.
'To Fight for What's Worth Fighting For' : Memories of the Past
Sin Yul Yeok/ Yoo Jin Oh's POV:
"What would you like to be if you were born again after Joseon got liberated? If I will be born again, I'll ask the sky to allow me to be with you guys even in my next life."
The Korean typewriter mysteriously types on its own, writing continuously "Send me to Han Se Yoon", which freaks out the shop owner. Yoo Jin Oh recognizes him and Jeon Seol as his comrades from the past, making him quite remminiscent of his past memories.
In particular, the scene that showcases his bold attitude to prevent the past mistakes from repeating themselves is when he caught Baek Tae Min, attempting to steal Han Se Yoon's novel manuscript. He scares off him by fluttering all the papers around him. The thing is ~spoiler alert here~ Baek Tae Min was their sworn enemy in their past lives. He was much more of a scumbag, working with the enemy side and getting secrets passed down to the higher ups. He always held jealousy and hatred towards Han Se Yoon even if they are brothers in the present.
He absolutely refuses to let Baek Tae Min (or his past life name Heo Yeong Min) take advantage of Han Se Yoon. That is why he is so persistent in being by Han Se Yoon's side, protecting him from potential dangers. Which he failed to do so in his past life. He was forced to speak of the leader of the Joseon Youth Alliance in order to protect his comrade and the love of his life, Ryu Su Hyeon from dying in his hands.
Feeling betrayed by her own friend, she eliminated him on the spot. Thus, this is how his soul resides in the Korean typewriter. Yoo Jin Oh, heartbroken and alone, hearing news of Seo Hwi Yeong's passing, he made a promise to himself that he will finish the novel he was so passionate about writing. The novel was about their lives. After Jeon Seol finds out out the truth, she forgives him, now understanding that he did it in order to protect her. He manages to return to the past in peace and manages to keep the photo they took together.
Overall, I highly recommend watching "Chicago Typewriter".
Comments