Episode 1 of “Pachinko” season 2 is finally here. Created by Soo Hugh, the first season of this Apple TV+ series followed a multi-generational narrative by jumping back and forth between different timelines. Based on Min Jin Lee’s eponymous novel, it follows the lives of Korean immigrants who left their homeland with the hope of survival. The first season mainly covered the events from the lives of Kim Sunja, Solomon Baek, and Koh Hansu. With her husband being arrested for his communist connections, young Sunja decides to sell Kimchi to make a living.
The second season follows the characters a few months after the events of the first season’s ending. Solomon looks for monetary support for his new business plan. Young Sunja struggles to make a living by selling kimchi. Her financial woes lead her to some unexpected issues.
Spoilers Ahead
Pachinko (Season 2) Episode 1 “Chapter 9” Recap:
Chapter 9 begins with the events from 1945 toward the end of World War II. We see Koh Hansu (Lee Min-ho) return to Osaka from an overseas trip and arrive at a train station. He meets an associate to speak about their near-future endeavors. The atmosphere is tense, and the future is uncertain for the country. Amid this, Sunja (Kim Min-ha) still makes a living selling Kimchi at the local market. Sunja and Isak’s son (Steve Sang-Hyun Noh), Mozasu (Eunseong Kwon), starts attending school. Sunja cares for him and his older brother (her & Hansu’s son), Noa (Kim Kang-hoon). However, with the shift in the country’s volatile market, she cannot get the cabbage she needs to prepare kimchi due to short supply.
Sunja informs her regular customer, Mr. Kim, of this. He gets concerned about how she is going to survive. Although she and her sister-in-law have a fighting spirit, it may not be enough for them. After Mr. Kim leaves, Mozasu calls him a spy in jest. Sunja tells him never to say that to someone who treats them kindly, especially in the tumultuous times they live in. Suddenly, she sees planes hovering in the sky. Everyone in the market gets scared, thinking those are American and starts running away. Moments later, the aircraft showers them with letters, asking them to petition their emperor to halt the war. It means the Americans are coming to take charge of their land.
Solomon’s Future
Previously, we saw Baek Solomon (Jin Ha) getting fired from the Shiffleys (his American office) after he failed to get them a deal for Han Geum-ja’s (Park Hye-jin) house in Tokyo. Soon, he crossed paths with Mamoru Yoshii (Louis Ozawa), a businessman, who proposed the establishment of more Pachinko parlors in the overseas market. So, Solomon requested support from his father, Mozasu (Siji Arai). But Mozasu refused it and urged him against pursuing this plan due to his conflicted history with Yoshii’s family. So, Solomon now seeks financial help from other investors.
During his pitch, the investors ask him where his sympathies lie since the same emotions affected his deal for the Shiffleys. He tries to convince the new investors with a diplomatic response. Still, they refuse because of his relationship with Hoshii. Now residing in Tokyo, he desperately tries to find financial support for his venture. Since Solomon can’t get funds, his old friend Tetsuya offers his help in exchange for the kindness Solomon showed him in the past. Soon after, Solomon travels to Osaka to his father’s new pachinko parlor. There, he receives a pleasant surprise.
Sunja’s Life
In 1945, residing in Japan, Sunja’s son still faces discrimination. His Japanese classmates tease him with bigoted remarks about the smell of his Korean food. As an act of protest, Mozasu stands up on his desk. But his teacher punishes him for doing so without understanding his side of the story. Later, Noa also gets teased because of his Korean roots. His teacher overhears that but doesn’t intervene. Later, before Noa leaves the classroom, he has a word with his teacher. Noa says he wants to be a pastor like his father. However, his teacher expects him to be more focused on his studies. He advises Noa to consider the opportunity to study at a Japanese university.
The teacher offers Noa a book to read. Right after, Noa opens it and realizes the truth about his teacher, who also has Korean roots. However, just like Noa, he hides his identity and code-switches to get a better life since he is not allowed to exist as his true self. Meanwhile, Hansu invites some influential guests for dinner at his house. Afterward, he eavesdrops on a conversation between them and learns about a possible bombing of Japan. With the looming threat of destruction, the local Koreans teach self-defense techniques to men, women, as well as kids. Mozasu enthusiastically takes part in it.
Pachinko (Season 2) Episode 1 “Chapter 9” Ending Explained:
How does Sunja get released from the jail?
Sunja crosses paths with an old friend, who is now a victim of domestic abuse. While discussing their lives, Sunja reveals that she is barely scraping by due to the supply shortage issue. So, her friend suggests making rice wine to sell at the black markets with other women. Although it is illegal, the friend sees it as a need in their dire circumstances. Back home, Sunja discusses this plan with Kyunghee (Jung Eun-chae), who opposes it because of the evident risk. Still, Sunja decides to work for the rice wine market. Unfortunately, soon after, she gets arrested. While other women get some prison time, she is released shortly after without any prison sentence.
Sunja realizes that Hansu is responsible for her release. She gets an invite to meet at his house. There, he reveals that he has been using Mr. Kim as a way to check on her, see how she is doing, and offer her financial help. During her visit, he reveals the impending threat of bombs that will likely kill them. So, he offers her family the help to relocate. She refuses his help out of her loyalty to Isak, who showed her kindness and stood by her side even at her lowest points.
What happens after Solomon’s fundraising attempts?
When Solomon travels to Osaka, Mozasu offers him a substantial amount for his business. For that, Mozasu took out a mortgage with his parlor as collateral. So, Solomon feels a burden of responsibility. Mozasu and Sunja (Youn Yuh-jung) try to ease his burden with their unconditional emotional support. Shortly after, Tetsuya pulls out his funding for some familial reasons. While under that stress, Solomon joins Sunja at a convenience store. There, a Japanese baker treats her like a scum because she is Korean. So, Solomon gets furious at the baker. It may have to do with his own experience of racial abuse at the hands of the Japanese. While trying to process this trauma, he remains worried about his future plans.
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Pachinko (Season 2) Trailer:
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