3 Reasons to Watch Pachinko Season 2: The Best Drama of the Season With 100% on RT
It's an extraordinary project you can't afford to miss.
On August 23, the second season of the series Pachinko – an adaptation of the novel of the same name by author Min Jin Lee – began.
The large-scale project tells the story of several generations of a Korean family and its matriarch Sunja – from 1915 to 1989.
1. The History of One Family is The History of an Entire Nation
Pachinko does not simply tell the story of several generations of one family. Through the story of Sunja, her sons, grandchildren, and lovers, the creators of the series show a much larger picture – one of the most difficult periods in Korean history.
Since 1910, even in their own country, Koreans were simply a labor force forced to submit to the colonizers. One of the most tragic memories in little Sunja's life is the execution of a fisherman who lived in her father's boarding house.
After getting drunk, he allowed himself to say the "wrong" words. Denunciation was encouraged, no one wanted to be disgraced, and any unrest was nipped in the bud. The fisherman was quickly identified and killed.
2. The Main Character is an Ordinary Woman Who Saved an Entire Family
Sunja never received an education – even at the age of seventy she could not read or write. But she was hardworking and had a strong character – in her youth, despite her miserable situation, she did not bow down to the Japanese guards.
Sunja is not a superhero. She is an ordinary woman who was once left alone with a pregnancy, but did not even think about getting rid of the child. She took a harder path when she had to fight for her life. But she remained a good wife, mother and friend.
As a result, Sunja lived to an age when neither she nor her loved ones needed anything. Even in her old age, Sunja remained a support for her family.
3. The Driving Force of the Plot is Love in Its Various Manifestations
Pachinko is filled with love – it is the force that colored the family's everyday life during difficult times. Love for her father shaped Sunja's character – he once promised to do everything possible to protect her from adversity. She promised the same: to make sure her children would never need anything.
Her love for her mother was no less touching and tender. One of the saddest and brightest scenes of the first season is Sunja's wedding. The girl was forced to marry, and immediately afterward she had to leave her home.
Her mother wanted to give her a piece of joy and gave her a small portion of Korean white rice, which was only available to high-ranking officials.