WARNING: Spoilers Ahead:
The fourth episode of Pachinko dropped on Friday and I confess, it took me a moment to break away from the shackles of the K-drama troupe to accept the episode’s new twist. The new episode continues to focus on two events – Sunja’s (Kim Min-ha) pregnancy and Solomon’s (Jin-ha) deal with Halmoni whose land is hindering his company’s plans.
The third episode ends with Sunja receiving a marriage proposal from Pastor Isaac (Ian Kim). The fourth episode picks up from that point. The priest is seen trying on a suit for his wedding. During his trial, Koh Hansu (Lee Min-ho) arrives at the store to pick up his order. The priest introduces himself but Hansu already knows his identity. While they were talking, the pastor revealed that his elder brother was a victim who had died during the freedom movement. The pastor hints that he wants to honor his brother’s memory at the wedding, but Hansu manages to change his mind, also secretly suggesting that he let go of the past.
The conversation suddenly stops when the tailor comes in and presents his coat to Hansu. The pastor tells the tailor about his decision and says that he is getting married soon. Hansu learns that the pastor is giving his name to Sunja and the unborn, which apparently shakes him.
The couple secretly exchange their vows in the chapel. The priest shames Sunja for giving birth to a child before marriage, blaming her for all the sins that will be passed on to the family. The pastor tries to stop the priest while Sunja’s mother is too ashamed to see the couple but Sunja admits her mistake before tying the knot. The heart-wrenching scene is filled with metaphors and allusions to a difficult future awaiting Sunja.
After the wedding ceremony, Sunja’s mother goes to the market and tries to buy a two-course meal of rice. At first, the shop owner declined, worried that Japanese business owners would be in trouble if the rice ran out. But when he learns that this may be Sunja’s last meal before leaving for Japan, he eats three portions of rice. The scene is emotional as Sunja is seen growing white rice on her land before leaving for Japan. The next takes place at Halmoni’s home in Japan, revealing that she wants to go to Korea before she dies.
As Sunja prepares to leave for Osaka, Hansu invites her to his office who tries to intimidate her. He calls the pastor a fool and warns Sunja that he will be in trouble if she follows him to Osaka. He tried to remind her that he was offering her and their child a better future, but Sunja retaliated by suggesting that he was going to leave her in shame. Sunja leaves him speechless, preparing for a trip to Japan. Saying goodbye to her family emotionally, Sunja heads to port to board the ship for Osaka. Ahead of her journey, Sunja’s mother gives her many life advice, including taking care of her husband, baby, and her new family.
A weeping Sunja climbs onto the ship while her emotional mother watches the ship disappear. Little did she know that the man who had impregnated her was watching from the side as well. While Sunja’s life is set to turn, the show also reveals how Solomon’s life also takes a shocking turn.
Solomon, who manages to persuade Halmoney to sell his land, is met with an emotional reality check during a meeting that closes the deal between his company and Halmoney. Older Korean immigrants give her a glimpse of the suffering she and many like her, including Solomon’s own grandmother, had to endure when they were forced to move to Japan. His moving depiction of the past ends with Solomon asking if he would persuade his own grandmother to sell her land if she had been in her seat.
A shocked Solomon admitted that he would not, forcing the almost-closed deal to abruptly end. His team looks down on Solomon. Wrapping his head around the events that have recently unfolded, Solomon flees the office only to land in front of a band, dancing in the rain as if freed from his shackles. Simultaneously, the elder Sunja (Yun Yuh-jung) finally returns to Busan and identifies the beach she used to swim in as a child and loses herself in the waves.
Pachinko episode 4 was a slow burn like the previous episode. The series is taking its time to progress with the story which may strike the audience’s attention if they take the same approach for future episodes. On the bright side, the episode helped break traditional K-drama circles by showing that Sunja (Kim Min-ha) and Honshu (Lee Min-ho) don’t end up together. For years now, we’ve been used to seeing the lead actress end up with the lead actor, at least in Lee Min-ho’s case. So when Sunja decides to move in with the pastor instead of playing the damsel in distress and chasing Lee Min-ho’s Koh Hansu, it comes as a refreshing change of scene.
However, it doesn’t look like Hansu will be completely out of her life. Given that she gives birth to her own child and has shown shades of mastery, there is a possibility that Hansu and Sunja’s paths may cross in Osaka. On the other hand, it remains to be seen how Solomon’s life turns out. After a failed deal that promised to change his professional life forever, Solomon could find himself with no job at hand. Will this prompt him to trace his family history? Will he go hunting Hana? Fans will have to wait and see.
Pachinko streams on Apple TV+, with new episodes coming out every Friday.
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