Pachinko
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In the Baek household, learning is sacred.
But scholarship isnt the only kind of learning in evidence at the farm.
In Chapter Twelve, people learn mostly about one another.
Naomi learns about Solomon and vice versa; Kim and Kyunghee take one step further in their mutual knowledge.
Its not incidental that this is the first episode in which we see Sunja cry ofhappinessandreliefrather than despair.
Also happily, a lot of kissing goes on this week.
Still, because this isPachinko, my guy Noa cannot catch a break.
Part of being known, Hansu might be starting to realize, means being seen even in your shortcomings.
Mozasu doesnt look convinced.
Noas new friend, a jerk in Mozasus estimation, is the chicken thief and Noas erstwhile bully.
The kid apologizes to Noa, who unsurprisingly accepts it with sweetness and grace.
They shake hands on their new friendship and go look at some larvae together.
Meanwhile, its pretty eventful at the fields.
Kyunghee is being scolded by the foreman for an unknown reason, which Kim does not like to see.
Sunja runs toward her mother, sobbing in relief at being together again.
Even tough guy Hansu cant hide his emotion seeing them embrace.
Later that day, the boys fuss around their grandmother at the dinner table.
When Mozasu doesnt know the Korean word forlion, Yangjin tells the boys never to forget theyre Korean.
Overhearing the conversation, Sunja looks concerned, though Im not sure why.
Even Hansu comes to sit with them.
He offers to show her how to drive, and she hops in.
Noas friend takes him out to catch fireflies, and Kyunghee runs into Kim on her walk.
He realizes immediately that he has spoken one word too many.
Terrified, Kyunghee scolds, Just because weve shared some stories, do not presume a friendship.
Im not the only one hoping for some good old harmless indulgence.
They push it together, and once theyve succeeded in releasing it, HansukissesSunja.
She kisses back, stopping only when they hear a twig snapping.
Noticing Sunjas instant regret, Hansu makes a not-unreasonable argument: You deserve some happiness as well.
You dont have to give everything up!
Hansu is encouraging Sunja to cede, for once, to her feelings and her spirit.
Noa and his friend follow the noise and watch the scene from behind some bushes, startled.
Noa cant take it he runs off, and his friend calls out to him.
He looks hurt, vulnerable for once, towering over the foremans limp body on the ground.
Yangjin washes her daughters hair.
Morning dawns on the day of the rice harvest, the start of a new cycle.
The rice shed, where all of the harvest was stored, has caught on fire.
Kyunghee is inconsolable; she doesnt know how she can bear this.
She runs off into the woods in the middle of their cleanup, and Kim follows her.
Did I ask you to follow me?
she snaps at him.
However, the stakes are too high for Kim and his love for Kyunghee.
Unlike her, he doesnt believe in the afterlife; this is all hes got.
He needs to seize his life without regrets.
When he holds Kyunghee, she looks relieved.Finally,they kiss (!).
1989
In Osaka, Sunja is asleep in front of the television.
She wakes up with a startle and calls Solomon, leaving a concerned message on his machine.
As if she has just remembered something or gotten an idea, she starts rounding up several Tupperware containers.
It takes him by surprise: He was expecting Naomi.
Before she can explain more, the doorbell rings.
She helps Sunja with chopping the zucchini, but shes not great at it.
Sunja can tell immediately, from her delicate hands, that shes not too used to the kitchen.
When he joins Sunja and Naomi, he doesnt even look rattled.
They enjoy their meal; Naomi loves the food.
She doesnt want him to lie to her; he should just be honest with himself.
She surprises even herself with the time of her call, but Kato is as cheerful as ever.
Hes happy to hear from her.
Naomi and Solomons date ends tenderly and successfully.
Pinball Thoughts
I find some of the music cues in this show very distracting.
