Ep 1. Episode 1
Chicago Typewriter is a South Korean television series that revolves around three main characters who were writers during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The show is set in both the 1930s and the present day, with the first episode taking viewers back to the 1930s.
Episode 1 introduces the audience to the first of the main characters, Han Se-joo. Han Se-joo is a writer, struggling to finish his latest novel and facing a severe case of writer's block. This opening scene is fast-paced and showcases the depth of the character while also introducing the intriguing concept of a writer struggling with his own creativity.
The story then jumps back in time to the 1930s, where the young spirit of the Resistance Movement, a group of Korean citizens fighting against their Japanese occupiers, is alive. The audience is introduced to Se-joo's doppelganger from that time period, an optimistic and idealistic young man named Seo Hwi-young. He is brimming with excitement at the prospect of getting his writing published, a sentiment that contrasts with the frustration of his modern-day counterpart Se-joo.
Further juxtaposing the timelines, viewers are introduced to the third main character, Jeon Seol, who appears as both a resistance fighter in the 1930s and a ghostwriter in the present day. Seol initially tries to get her work published under her own name but is forced to dress as a man and publish under a pseudonym, causing her to adopt a disguise that she uses for the rest of her life.
The slick transitions between the different eras infused with snippets of clues and hints towards metaphysical themes draw the viewer into the narrative. In the 1930s timeline, both Seo Hwi-young and Jeon Seol are active members of the Resistance Movement while, in modern-day Korea, Han Se-joo has befriended a man named Baek Tae-min - a wealthy man with shadowy connections.
As the story progresses, the events of the past and present seem to intertwine, with Se-joo seemingly able to communicate with the ghostwriter Seol through his old typewriter. This intriguing and otherworldly element sets the tone for the rest of the show and leaves audiences with plenty of questions to ponder on before the credits roll.
Overall, Chicago Typewriter's first episode is a captivating and thrilling introduction to the show's magical elements and historical setup. The viewers are transported into a world of writers and their struggles, with the Resistance Movement's struggles serving as a backdrop for the intense character development. Additionally, the show's seamless transitions between periods and use of dark and emotional themes add more depth to this intriguing piece of Korean filmmaking.
