Pachinko
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Instead, I think of Minha Kims tortured, freckled face asPachinkos Sunja.
Foremost amongst them: What is Solomon thinking, at literally any point?
What will be of his involvement with Yoshii?
Where and how did Sunja get the pocket watch back from Koh Hansu?
What ended up happening to Isak, and to Noa?
(This last one worries me the most.
1945
Chapter Nine opens on a snowy train station in Osaka.
In a hat and scarf, Hansu checks on a cargo shipment of dark-colored minerals.
The Soviets or the Americans?
Instead of retreating, he shuts down the haters by quite literally standing up to them.
He explains the different items in his lunch box from the top of his desk.
This isbeoseot gangjeong, he says.
Its usually spicier, but theres no more chile peppers.
Even lacking heat, its still a triumphant bite.
Not afforded the same luxury of foresight, meanwhile, the Korean community prepares to fight.
Mozasu puts on a formidable display of temerity against a dummy fashioned out of straw.
When she briefly takes her eyes off her son, she spots a poor-looking family.
Though life is difficult, this young mom is upbeat; she wants to smile for her children.
Naively optimistic, she proposes they sell bootleg rice wine at the black market together.
Sunja is on her last batch of kimchee, but shes cautious.
Its inarguable rice wine it is.
He drives her to a beautiful, big house.
At this point in the episode, the letters in my handwritten notes start getting progressively bigger.
Eloquently, they announce, itS GOING TO BE KOH HANSU.
To no ones surprise, Sunja wont go.
She doesnt want to abandon Isak on the chance that hell be released from jail.
Id feel bad for him if he werent so infuriating.
1989
In late-80s Tokyo, Solomon is scheming away.
Solomon wont be easily deterred.
Not only that, hes on a warpath, determined to intercept Solomons efforts.
Luckily for him, though, Tetsuya is feeling smug.
Golden leaf showers over their abalone sushi piece, an annoyingly heavy-handed touch to an otherwise subtly performed scene.
In Osaka, Mozasu is opening a brand-new pachinko parlor, and Solomon comes for the opening.
Solomon knows Japans economic bubble is on the brink of bursting, and the check makes him nervous.
But this is only the start of what will turn out to be an eventful night.
Tetsuya reaches him on the phone in the parlor.
It happens a bit later, in the grocery store with Sunja.
I went to Yale University!
Of course, Solomon isnt unjustified, but Sunja isnt happy about his outburst.
He rips up the check shed given him along with Mozasu and throws it in the trash.
Next, we see him locking eyes with Abe-san at the award ceremony.
Its so satisfying to see that just his presence there is enough to throw Abe off his balance.
Pinball Thoughts
I really lovePachinkos opening sequence.
I never skip it.
