Pachinko
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Solomons plot line in this episode, for example, felt stripped of momentum.
Similarly, Isaks long, painful death felt masochistic by the time it reached its inevitable end.
But a lot happens before either of these conclusions comes to pass.
Let us go through the events of Chapter Ten.
Mozasu plays war with his friends, one of whom wears an eerily prescient gas mask.
Isaks lips are cracked, his eyes yellowed, and his skin is a somber gray.
But this is Sunja were talking about, and she wont give up so easily.
Neither, she reminds Kyunghee, would Isak: He has beaten death before, she reminds her sister-in-law.
The boys stay home with their aunt while Sunja goes off to find a doctor.
Rushing into the church, Noa begs Pastor Hu to come along and pray with his father.
Ive tried so hard to be good, he says, unbearably.
The Lord cannot look away this time.
Meanwhile, Sunja is on her own mission.
Its a cold move, even for Hansu.
I guess in line with his character.
Isak tries to remind him sagely that true wealth is to be loved.
Mozasu speaks for us all when he counters: I want to be both loved and rich.
I keep having to swallow large knots in my throat whenever little Mozasu is in scene.
But for all of his advice, Isak leaves Mozasus dreams for the future intact.
Its Noa whose innocence shatters all at once when Pastor Hu finally makes it to the house.
Almost immediately, Isak identifies him as the traitor.
He looks hurt and ashamed.
Isak forgives him immediately; their conversation is a favor to Hu, a moment of true grace.
Isak is so good; hes basically saintly.
Part of Noa and Mozasus burden is carrying that oppressive goodness.
Granted, hes still young, but Noa is not happy to follow his fathers lead.
Understandably, he tells Hu that he will never forgive him, ever.
Isak tries to plead with him, explaining that mercy is not a gift or power.
Mercy is an admission … survival comes at a cost.
He makes sure to point out that what had been done to Isak was a terrible thing.
Sunja promises him that the boys will thrive.
Im not sure what we learn about him by watching him take his slow, painful last breaths.
Its an air raid, no longer a threat, now a reality; they must run to shelter.
Sunja doesnt want to leave her husbands body, but Kyunghee pulls her away towards safety.
1989
In Tokyo, meanwhile, Solomon is doing his own begging.
Plainly, Solomon tells him: I came to beg for mercy.
But his motivation, it turns out, is plain and simple.
But thats also why showing Solomon any mercy is impossible.
Abes bludgeoning of Solomon is a message to the rest of Tokyo:Dont fuck with him.
Her sense of resolve is so outsized thatsheshould be the one intimidating others.
Trying to explain himself, Solomon argues: Isnt that how it goes?
That, of course, is exactly what the landowner had been trying to explain to Solomon all along.
Immediately, Solomons gears start turning.
The man is just obsessed with finding a little scheme.
Solomons machiavellian plan is to sell the plot to Abe and then re-spread the rumor of the corpses widely.
But not unlike the landowner herself, Solomons determination is made out of steel.
He will not rest until he can get what he wants in the way he wants it.
Abe-san will have no choice but to praise him for a hand well-played.
From the way he has approached business, it doesnt seem like much gets past Abe.
How could he have missed this seemingly huge asterisk in the description of this land?
