Pachinko Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Chapter Twelve

Love can still bloom even during the darkest days on Pachinko Season 2, Episode 4, “Chapter Twelve,” and not necessarily always of the romantic variety. (Though this episode does have its share of kissing in it, which is honestly a nice change after three weeks consisting of mainly horror and despair.)

Caring for someone doesn’t always involve romance, though, and that’s in equal evidence in this episode, which is full of deeply rich emotional moments for every character. (Though, because Noa cannot catch a break his big emotional realization is an awful one.)

One of the most interesting aspects of Pachinko’s second season is the way the show expands upon the existing story of Min Jin Lee’s book. It’s most evident in Solomon’s arc, given that Season 1 of the show essentially covered the bulk of his story (as well as Hana’s death). 

But most of the events that take place during the Baek family’s stay in the Japanese countryside have also been added specifically for the show. From Sunja learning to drive to Noa’s discovery of Hansu’s capacity for violence, few of these things we see onscreen this week happen in the original novel, and many of those that do are deepened and enriched in new ways in the Apple TV+ version.

It’s an impressive example of expanding the way this series is expanding the scope of its particular fictional world for television, and it’s all done with intense respect for its characters and larger themes.

(It also happens so deftly that even those of us who have read the book might not immediately realize that what we’re watching is essentially new material in many places.)

In the novel, Hansu is responsible for finding Sunja’s mother, and the heartfelt reunion scene between them does take place — sidenote, but how wonderful is it to finally see Sunja cry tears of happiness and relief rather than of sorrow and fear? — but the addition of the family dinner to which he is invited adds a special layer of warmth between him and Sunja.

While Hansu has always been a presence on the periphery of Sunja’s life, he’s become more directly involved in Season 2.

He’s a regular visitor to the rice farm where the Baeks are living, he’s bonding with Sunja’s kids, and he seems quietly thrilled watching Sunja and Yangjin reconnect. It’s enough to remind some of us (read: me) how much we actually liked this romance way back when. 

It’s enough to remind Sunja too, apparently. 

After she takes Hansu up on his offer to give her a driving lesson (in the middle of the night, but sure, why not!), she tries to express that she is truly grateful for all the help he has given her and her family, and for the effort he puts in to make her life better than it probably ought to be at the moment. 

Sunja, not being a great driver, manages to steer the car into a ditch trying to avoid some debris in the road, and she and Hansu must work together to push it free.

Then they kiss, because it’s so obvious that’s what all of this has been leading up to, and so clear how much both of them still seem to genuinely care for the each other, despite the other life stuff that’s going on. 

Speaking of things that aren’t like the books, I don’t remember being this invested in Sunja and and Hansu’s relationship in the novel — certainly not after she marries Isak — but I just cannot let it (or them) go while watching Pachinko. 

Perhaps it’s because Minha Kim and Lee Minho have such fantastic chemistry. Maybe it’s because the show has taken pains to show us the more vulnerable elements of Hansu’s character, from the devastating earthquake that shaped his childhood to the way his Korean heritage prevents him from being accepted or respected by those he does business with, whose success he is responsible for.

In some ways, his feelings for Sunja seem to be one of the only genuinely pure — or at least good? — things in his life, and it’s hard not to root for that.

Yet, it’s also true that Hansu can be violent and dangerous; he beats the foreman he thinks stole from him within an inch of his life out of frustration.

And, not for nothing, even if Sunja did decide to be with him, she’d still never rank higher than second place in his life. Given how clearly in love with her Hansu is, it’s easy to forget that he has an entire other family out there somewhere, one that likely has no idea Sunja exists and never will. 

Sunja and Hansu aren’t the only pair doing some illicit kissing in “Chapter Twelve”. Kyunghee finally gives in to the attraction that’s been simmering between her and Kim for weeks now. And it’s such a relief! 

Honestly, they’re both such nice people who’ve been through so many traumatizing things, they deserve to snatch a little bit of happiness for themselves. Even though, given that Kyunghee’s husband is still alive, their relationship seems as doomed as Sunja and Hansu’s.

But it’s really hard not to root for Kim’s quiet insistence that all he wants is Kyunghee’s happiness and for the sadness that lives in her eyes to lift. That kids, is romance. 

Stray Thoughts and Observations

• Noa just breaks my heart. Every father figure he’s ever had has either left or betrayed him. But, given that he doesn’t witness Hansu’s violence like this in the book, I”m intrigued to see where the show takes the relationship between them next. (Particularly since Yangjin has already clocked Hansu is his father.)
• The dinner scene between Solomon, Naomi and Sunja in Tokyo is the most I have ever liked his character. (And possibly the most I’ve enjoyed watching the 1989 timeline thus far this season.) The interplay between Sunja and Naomi is particularly rich — well acted, and full of a keen awareness of the space between these women’s lives, the things that Naomi is allowed to do that Sunja would never have dreamed possible. Solomon doesn’t deserve either of these women in his life, probably but he should hang out near both of them a lot more.
• The child version of Mosazu is hands down one of my favorite characters on the whole show — it’s amazing how much depth and personality they’ve bestowed on an eight-year-old. From him determinedly sharpening stakes to fight Americans with to his dreams of seeing a lion in Africa, I just…I want so much more for him than running a pachinko parlor in Osaka one day. 
• I’m so glad Sunja called that nice Kato-san! She deserves a nice man in the twilight of her life!

What did you think of this episode of Pachinko? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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New episodes of Pachinko stream Fridays on Apple TV+.

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