Pachinko Recap: Kept Promises

As a seasoned observer of human behavior and a connoisseur of complex relationships, I must say that this narrative is as intricate as a Möbius strip – it twists and turns, revealing new layers with each pass.

Last week saw Pachinko really stepping on the gas, but in Chapter Fourteen, it seemed to ease up a bit, making for a more leisurely pace. Compared to Chapter Thirteen, this episode was nearly ten minutes shorter. The narrative flowed gently, revealing new details at a measured pace, ensuring that the main emotional arcs remained consistent throughout its duration. This season, for the first time, the events in both timelines seem to be unfolding at an even rate: Solomon’s story progresses at the same speed as Sunja and her family’s.

It seems I’m struggling to follow the storyline involving Solomon and Abe-san, as it appears to be overly complicated and stretched throughout the season. The motivation behind Solomon’s thirst for revenge against his grandfather Isak’s philosophy of mercy adds depth to the character, but the subplots about loans, Korean landowners, and Shiffley’s –– which are not as prominent in the novel –– are becoming confusing.

1950

At the noodle shop, Yangjin, Kyunghee, and Sunja are all on edge as they await news about Noa’s admission to Waseda University. Kyunghee is tormented; Yangjin is optimistic; Sunja wishes everyone would just drop the subject since it’s causing her anxiety. The hope that Noa will enlarge his world, thereby expanding their own, is a significant factor in pushing him towards school. In other words, the idea of breaking free from personal limitations is the main focus in “Chapter Fourteen”: Is it achievable? Is it beneficial?

In a state of captivation and apprehension, Kim Changho might ponder similar thoughts as he watches an organizer speak at a Koran revolutionary gathering. His expression suggests a life about to undergo transformation. Enlightenment can be unsettling, and later, when he’s engaging in a confrontation with someone clearly displeased, his mind may wander to other possibilities for his future. When Kim hands over the money-filled box to Hansu, it appears as if he yearns for something else. Sensing Kim’s growing daydreams, Hansu assures him that there are greater opportunities ahead than merely using his fists and proposes a girl as a gesture of truce, a move typical of Hansu’s manipulative nature. Kim accepts the girl but seems unconvinced. Upon returning home, a meticulously arranged meal awaits him. He takes a bite from an apple in the manner reminiscent of “Call Me By Your Name” –– Kyunghee can sense the sudden surge of erotic energy emanating from her room, where she lies awake and alert.

The following day, Waseda’s entrance exam results are announced. Once more, Noa is in the large examination hall filled with students, scrutinizing a list of numbers on a notice board. The suspense is palpable as we don’t know which number belongs to Noa; his discreet, barely-there smile when he finds it underscores this. Unlike his boisterous younger brother Mozasu, who erupted into the market shouting “Long live Korea!”, Noa maintains a calm and reserved demeanor. However, the family’s jubilation following dinner reveals the emotions Noa had kept in check. They peruse Waseda’s brochure collectively, everyone smiling until Noa discovers an extra 2,400 yen fee for additional costs. The joyful atmosphere quickly subsides, and Yangjin suggests reaching out to Hansu for assistance, but Sunja and Noa decline. Instead, Noa proposes finding a job near the school, but Sunja is worried about overworking him again. She reassures her son that she will find a solution without involving Hansu.

That evening, a thought crosses her mind. Using some remaining sugar, she decides to create candies, with the hope they’ll be popular enough to establish another candy stall next to the bus stop. Yangjin queries about the restaurant, and Sunja appears melancholic. Despite it being dark in the kitchen and only seeing her in profile, it’s evident that she’s struggling to suppress a lump in her throat as she works on the taffy. Perhaps in a few years, once Noa finishes school, the dream of owning a restaurant might become a reality. Asleep in bed, Noa hears the house settle and move around.

Simultaneously, Hansu encounters personal difficulties as a man in a suit requests leniency from him. It’s not entirely clear what transgression Hansu committed, but the scene serves to introduce Yoshii Isamu, a family trying to seize control of Hansu’s business in the black market. With this information, Hansu instructs Kim to gather all details about this man. As the story of Pachinko unfolds, such instrumental scenes become increasingly prominent. The specific actions of the man or Hansu, the identity of the family related to Hansu, or the nature of the black markets are less significant than understanding that Hansu is a formidable figure who can compel someone to betray a potential adversary. This mirrors the ambiguity surrounding Solomon’s storyline with Yoshii in later years. The subtleties of character behavior are crucial indicators of their true nature, and at times, this show overlooks these nuances.

Compare the overt dialogue of that scene to Yoseb silently observing as Kyunghee washes Kim’s bloodied shirt. From where he stands, Yoseb can’t hear their conversation, but he can read the tension in their actions –– like the way Kyunghee reluctantly takes back the shirt from Kim and gently touches his injured hand. Even the discussion between Hansu and his father-in-law in the next scene has a subtle undercurrent. Although Hansu may have reservations, his father-in-law intends to support Kurogane-san, the political aspirant. Moreover, to solidify his allegiance, Kurogane will marry one of Hansu’s daughters –– a move reminiscent of how Hansu’s loyalty was purchased. When Hansu voices his objections, his father-in-law responds firmly: he has always respected Hansu’s private family matters and left his only “true” son untouched, and he’s not inclined to reconsider this leniency now.

Discussing Noa’s decision: It appears he spent the entire night contemplating the potential financial impact of Waseda on his family. In the morning, he declares he won’t attend. He feels it’s unfair to Sunja’s restaurant aspirations and wrong to leave his mother alone with the family’s responsibilities. Sunja seems taken aback by this, finding it hard to believe, given that attending university could provide a top-notch education and lift the entire family out of poverty. Later, when Sunja shares this news with Hansu, he becomes indignant, insisting it’s not a choice but a duty. Tae Jun Kang, portraying Noa, convincingly conveys an understated yet tangible anxiety: perhaps what scares and worries Noa is the thought of being so far from his family, a feeling shared by many freshman university students.

However, Sunja suspects there’s more on Noa’s mind than just the tofu stall. She decides to pick him up from work instead. When Noa seems displeased at the thought of staying because of the tofu girl, Sunja uses this moment to explain why it’s essential for him to leave his family’s side. The confinement of their small world is a recurring concern for Sunja –– Isak’s faith had broadened her perspective by introducing the concept of Heaven and by taking her to Japan. However, Osaka, their neighborhood, isn’t it: it can’t be, isn’t, Noa’s heaven. Additionally, she made a promise to Isak that Noa and Mozasu would prosper no matter what, and breaking that vow is unthinkable for her.

1989

Reflecting on Sunja’s earlier mention of her confined world, it’s heartwarming to see her world continuing to grow even in her later years. As “Chapter Fourteen” begins, we find Sunja and Kato enjoying margaritas, a delightful sight. The food in this series always looks appealing, but witnessing Sunja sampling guacamole on a tortilla chip for the first time is truly inspiring. Embracing the essence of novelty, Kato labels their outing an adventure, and he’s ready to cover the costs, even if it means charging it to his credit card. Throughout Pachinko, the characters have faced numerous trials, but Sunja and Kato’s date left me with a profound sense of emotion. It encapsulates those simple yet transformative moments that broaden your horizons once you start falling in love. Sharing a margarita and a burrito with someone who makes you laugh and makes you feel cherished, or like your life is being reborn, might seem insignificant, but it embodies the very essence of human experience.

Although not everyone is enjoying their day as much as others, that’s certainly true for Mozasu. Deviating from the book’s portrayal of Mozasu as an unreachably wealthy man, here he receives a past due notice from the bank. Sunja delivers him lunch at the parlor and playfully informs him about her outing, which she then follows by cleaning surfaces in a tipsy manner. Initially, Mozasu seems amused, but when he discovers a gift wrapped present from Sunja, purchased at a leather goods store, addressed to Kato Tatsumi, he becomes visibly upset. Mozasu then calls the private investigator he had previously hired to locate Hana, demanding detailed information about this mysterious man, echoing Hansu’s earlier request in the episode. However, I have my doubts about Mozasu’s strategy. For one reason, this investigator failed to find Hana during the previous season –– it was Solomon who ultimately led them to her. Furthermore, Mozasu offers the investigator extra money for a quicker report, but considering his current financial situation, it seems questionable whether he can afford such an expense, especially given the precious nature of his mother’s happiness at this moment.

On this particular day, Solomon finds himself in a challenging situation when one of Yoshii’s associates, Sugihara, unexpectedly shows up at his apartment. Sugihara brings photographs of Naomi with another man – Kunizane Tsuyoshi, her other boyfriend. Solomon had believed that Yoshii had fully distanced himself from the yakuza world, but Sugihara cautions him against such assumptions. It appears that Yoshii is not hesitant to take whatever actions are necessary to maintain his position, and he will not tolerate any attempts to undermine or betray him – especially when it comes to his coveted golf course project. Although Sugihara was sent by Yoshii to convey a message, his words may have been motivated by compassion for Solomon. Both of their families had immigrated to Japan from Korea prior to the war, and he understands that survival sometimes involves difficult choices.

Straightaway, Solomon phones Naomi, urgently requesting a meeting tonight, just as Sugihara suggested. However, she declines politely, stating they’ll meet up over the weekend instead. Unsatisfied with her response, Solomon trails her into an elegant restaurant where she dines with the Kunizane family. In the mirror of the dining room, Solomon catches Naomi’s eyes, and she appears taken aback, then regretful –– but eventually she averts her gaze and continues eating. To Solomon, this small act of secretiveness is intolerable.

Later on, at his apartment, he shares with her the truth, which is that Naomi’s marriage to Tsuyoshi has always been about strengthening her family’s power, much like Keiko’s union with Kurogane. The underlying meaning suggests a political alliance rather than a romantic one. Facing her parents’ expectations, Naomi feels she cannot defy them, even if it goes against her feelings; such a move would mean giving up everything she has. Solomon sadly muses, “If you weren’t you and I weren’t me.” It’s important to acknowledge that I was wrong about Solomon potentially ruining this relationship – it turns out Naomi was the one who made the initial mistake. I admit my error!

Or I would, were it not for what Solomon does next. He asks Naomi to call in Abe’s loan. He just won’t let go of this, though Naomi asks him to try. She is too afraid of the repercussions for her own career –– people would know that she had a hand in Abe’s destruction, which would damage her reputation –– so she will stop Solomon’s rampage if it comes down to it. On the phone with Tom later, Solomon suggests that if Naomi won’t budge, they will have to “get rid of her.” For a second, I thought this meant Solomon had totally lost it and wanted to put a hit on his ex-girlfriend, but all he means is they should accuse her of financial impropriety so she will be fired and sent away like Tom was from the United States. He looks hurt as he says this, but he says it anyway, and I don’t think there is a more powerful bonding agent between two men than anger at a woman. My question for Solomon is: Why don’t you focus on getting a job?

2024-09-28 05:54

Pachinko Recap: Kept Promises

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