Sunja shrugs it off as a “bad clam”, but there’s trouble down in the Fish Market. Koh Hansu has been gone for a week and in that time everything has turned chaotic. Prices have gone up, Koh Hansu is nowhere to be seen and Sunja struggles to keep her food down at the smell and sight of seafood. Sunja can’t help but worry about what might happen if Koh Hansu comes back.
Eventually Koh Hansu does return, much to the delight of Sunja. She can hardly contain her happiness. She does though, for the sake of their hidden romance, and when they’re alone the pair end up kissing and romancing.
As the rain pours down, Koh Hansu hands over a beautiful pocket watch for her, promising to help her learn how to read the time. With a gift handed over to him, Sunja has a gift for him too – she’s pregnant. He hugs her, confident that they’ll have a boy.
Sunja is upset when she learns her best friend Koh Hansu has a wife back in Osaka and three daughters too. She’s not sure if she’s ready to get married again, after all the pain she went through with Koh Hansu.
Koh Hansu, the richest man in Yeongdo, has announced his intention to buy Sunja the biggest house in town and make her life perfect- but he won’t include marriage into the equation. Sunja is not sure what to make of this offer, but she is intrigued by Koh Hansu’s seemingly genuine interest in her well-being. ..
Sunja returns home, but finds that her mother has already heard the news. A stranger arrives at their doorstep with expensive clothes and books, and Sunja is left to explain what happened.
Isak, a Christian from the North, collapses at the front door of his family’s home and is taken inside for medical attention. It is apparent that he has tuberculosis and for now, he rests up in the family’s home.
Sunja sobs in silence that night, feeling betrayed. Eventually she does admit the truth to her mother. She’s distraught, especially when she learns that there’s no chance of marriage. Interestingly, Isak happens to be listening from another room, given how thin the walls are.
Sunja heads to the docks again today to get the ferryboat and have lunch at a noodle shop with her cheerful friend Isak. He encourages her to join him, and she is looking forward to it. ..
Koh Hansu and his friend, who he had been looking forward to seeing for weeks, part ways after an extended stare.
Isak, Sunja’s lunch partner at the cafeteria, admits he knows she is pregnant and suggests giving up her child to a family without children. Sunja bites back, unwilling to give up her baby and pointing out that she will do anything she can to make sure his life is good - just like Hoonie did for her. ..
Kyunghee passed away in 1989, a sad moment for the family. The pastor showed up at the house to say a few words before leaving.
Eventually, Solomon and Sunja work together and change Kyunghee’s sheets and clear the room out.
The hotel deal is going to be a tough one. Solomon concedes defeat and the woman won’t budge.
Sunja is a strong woman, and she knows how tough the past was. She is eager to help Solomon, and so he convinces her to come along with him on his plan. Sunja is willing to do anything to help Solomon, and so she agrees.
Sunja and Solomon traveled to Tokyo to sit with an elderly woman and discuss her life experiences. ..
They discuss how hard things were during Japan’s colonization, but Sunja starts crying. Sunja recalls the difficult times during Japan’s occupation of her country and how she has been struggling to keep her emotions in check. She talks about how the memories of the occupation have taken a toll on her and how she is now struggling to come to terms with them.
Solomon eventually speaks up about how times have changed and that he’s offering this old lady a fortune. The thing is, the hatred and pain from Koreans toward the Japanese cannot be bought out and this whole scene is so beautifully written, especially when Solomon is reprimanded for looking down on Sunja’s tears. “She earned those tears,” The old lady says.
Sunja tells Solomon that she has always loved him and wants to die peacefully in her own house. She takes her side over Solomon, telling him that he is a good man and she raised him well.
Koh Hansu is the father here of course, but there’s still that tinge of ruthlessness that’s clearly been brought on from his influence.
When Solomon returns to the office, he learns from Mr Andrews that the woman is selling her home after all. ..
Naomi is impressed by Solomon’s tenacity, although the closing of this important deal is tarnished by another call from Hana. She’s not happy for him, and as she starts coughing down the phone, it’s clear that she’s ill.
The Lady sold up because she was promised a trip back to her homeland by Sunja, and she’s going along with Kyunghee’s ashes.
As the episode closes out, we cut back to 1924 one more time as Isak suggests that Sunja forget about Koh Hansu and instead, turn her attention to him instead. He wants to do right by the baby – and by Sunja. Eventually she nods.
The Episode Review
In 1989, the Japanese invaded and occupied Korea. The Korean people have suffered greatly as a result. This story is about the pain and hurt that the Japanese have inflicted on them.
The story has been a wild ride, with so much happening in such a short amount of time. I’ve never seen anything like it before and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.
In 1924, the truth about Koh Hansu comes crashing out and with it, a whole world of pain for Sunja. Sunja is now fatherless and Isak has come along to help her out. ..
Sunja has not given us all the information we need to know about her husband, and we’re left with a lot of questions.
Pachinko is a brilliant watch and with next week’s episode clocking in at over an hour, it should make for an absolutely fascinating and enthralling watch. Roll on the next chapter! ..
