My K-Drama Playlist, Chicago Typewriter| Furlough Edition
One of the ways that's helping me get out of the funk lately is watching K-drama. I admit this isn't the most productive and always healthy for our overall well being, but it doesn't hurt to turn to this distraction every once in a while.
This was initially planned as a list of what I've watched so far during furlough. It still is/will be, I just decided to put more focus on the latest in my playlist – Chicago Typewriter, first. I decided to watch this for two reasons: first, upon listing down the dramas I've watched, I realized how short my list was😄. I love watching tv, but reading subtitles really slows me down. Second, I heard that UP Diliman will offer an elective class on the analysis of Korean dramas and one of the three dramas it requires students to watch is this. I figured if a top state university chooses this and I need to lengthen my playlist, then this should be a great addition.
Chicago Typewriter.
This is a 2017 k-drama about a famous writer named Han Se Ju, known for writing mystery/thriller novels and dubbed as the “Stephen King of Korea”, his avid fan Jeon Seol who prides herself as his first ever fan, and a mysterious ghost writer named Yu Jin Oh.
The story revolved around these three characters and it all started when an antique typewriter was sent to Han Se Ju from Chicago where he first saw it. Seol, who does all kinds of odd jobs part time, received the task to deliver the mysterious package from Chicago to Han Se Ju's house where they first met, and where they all started encountering all sorts of mishaps, a cute and slightly naughty playful dog, and later on, a mysterious guy who claims to be a ghost writer.
The story unfolds a series of incidents that always ended up Jeon Seol saving Han Se Ju that turned the latter's suspicions over her into a bond so extraordinary that seemed to span two lifetimes. Yu Jin oh, on the other hand, who always appeared to be tangled into the strange events occurring, introduced himself as a ghost writer and offered Se Ju to help him overcome his writer's block in exchange of him helping solve Jin Oh's own mystery.
Production Set and Cinematography.
The visuals of this drama is so beautiful. I can't help but be in awe of Han Se Ju's mansion! The endless shelves of books, a mezzanine floor, high ceilings – a perfect haven for a writer! And even Seol's shared bedroom with her childhood friend puts her character in the picture well. Whether it was filmed indoors, outdoors, or the studio set designs, they, alone, tell the story perfectly.
As a non expert, you can already imagine how overwhelmingly astonishing it was to watch the transition of scenes from past to present, the angles and panning done artistically, the special effects and the colors!(it may sound weird, but I tend to admire colors of a film or tv😁). The creators must have had a lot of fun.
Plot and Acting.
One factor that draws me in to watching K-drama is the story. The delivery or the storytelling to be particular. Some of the themes are unique but, really, a lot of them are ideas already existing and are presented in a different take. Reincarnation, the supernatural etc. They tackled and served it to the audience in the freshest way possible.
The acting was stellar. The main actor portrayed an earnest writer that went through hardships in the past so well. You can read through his face the struggles, triumph, some yearning, his good heart and even his humor that doesn't look forced. Same goes with the lead actress. She can make the audience feel Jeon Seol's light-heartedness despite carrying sad memories with her, her comedic side as well, and her sobs! Quiet tears or bawling in grief and regret! Be prepared to cry with her.
Verdict.
After watching the drama, it made me understand why this can make for a perfect class analysis. It has everything from the storyline - history, politics in a colonial period and in a capitalist society etc., film making artistry to great acting. Watching projects like this makes me feel that the creators pay high respects to their viewers. That they don't just make something just to have something. That's also what I feel the drama series is telling me – that there's a way to overcome things like creative block or a trauma, or to achieve something we dream of if we set our hearts in it and be patient through the process.
Coming up: My full K-Drama playlist!
You might like this too:
My Kind of KPop
Previous Post:
What I Eat in a Day | Furlough Edition
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| Gyun Woo, my fave character in the series😊 |
The story unfolds a series of incidents that always ended up Jeon Seol saving Han Se Ju that turned the latter's suspicions over her into a bond so extraordinary that seemed to span two lifetimes. Yu Jin oh, on the other hand, who always appeared to be tangled into the strange events occurring, introduced himself as a ghost writer and offered Se Ju to help him overcome his writer's block in exchange of him helping solve Jin Oh's own mystery.
Production Set and Cinematography.
The visuals of this drama is so beautiful. I can't help but be in awe of Han Se Ju's mansion! The endless shelves of books, a mezzanine floor, high ceilings – a perfect haven for a writer! And even Seol's shared bedroom with her childhood friend puts her character in the picture well. Whether it was filmed indoors, outdoors, or the studio set designs, they, alone, tell the story perfectly.
As a non expert, you can already imagine how overwhelmingly astonishing it was to watch the transition of scenes from past to present, the angles and panning done artistically, the special effects and the colors!(it may sound weird, but I tend to admire colors of a film or tv😁). The creators must have had a lot of fun.
Plot and Acting.
One factor that draws me in to watching K-drama is the story. The delivery or the storytelling to be particular. Some of the themes are unique but, really, a lot of them are ideas already existing and are presented in a different take. Reincarnation, the supernatural etc. They tackled and served it to the audience in the freshest way possible.
The acting was stellar. The main actor portrayed an earnest writer that went through hardships in the past so well. You can read through his face the struggles, triumph, some yearning, his good heart and even his humor that doesn't look forced. Same goes with the lead actress. She can make the audience feel Jeon Seol's light-heartedness despite carrying sad memories with her, her comedic side as well, and her sobs! Quiet tears or bawling in grief and regret! Be prepared to cry with her.
Can't leave out the OST of this drama too!😍
Verdict.
After watching the drama, it made me understand why this can make for a perfect class analysis. It has everything from the storyline - history, politics in a colonial period and in a capitalist society etc., film making artistry to great acting. Watching projects like this makes me feel that the creators pay high respects to their viewers. That they don't just make something just to have something. That's also what I feel the drama series is telling me – that there's a way to overcome things like creative block or a trauma, or to achieve something we dream of if we set our hearts in it and be patient through the process.
Coming up: My full K-Drama playlist!
You might like this too:
My Kind of KPop
Previous Post:
What I Eat in a Day | Furlough Edition
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