Pachinko Season 2 Risks Repeating These Two Critical Errors From Season 1

There are already indications that Pachinko season 2 is about to repeat season 1’s mistakes. Critics widely praised Pachinko season 1 for its stunning cinematography and top-notch performances from its cast, including Emmy-nominated Shōgun actress Anna Sawai. However, there are a few details that deviate heavily from the original 2017 Min Jin Lee novel that made the show a little problematic, and these appear to be returning in season 2.

Pachinko season 1 uses a nonlinear narrative to tell the story of multiple generations of women whose ancestry originates in Korea. The past century of Korean and Japanese history was tumultuous, and the series follows the family through these hardships, from Korea’s pre-Japanese occupation, Japan’s annexation of Korea, discrimination against Koreans in Japan, World War II, and post-war Japan’s recovery and boom. As Korean people, Pachinko shows the family’s struggle on the fringes of Japanese society, and how these issues filter through each generation in different ways.

Pachinko Season 2’s Continued Solomon Focus Is Not That Interesting

Season 1 Also Diminished The Far More Compelling Story Of Sunja’s Firstborn Son

Pachinko season 1 spent much more time on Sunja’s (Youn Yuh-jung and Min-ha Kim) grandson, Solomon (Jin Ha) than the original book. In fact, Solomon isn’t in the book much, and he isn’t integral to plot or character development. It’s likely the series decided to center Solomon as it grounded the story in a modern context, giving it a hook that showed how familial histories impact outcomes across generations. And while fleshing out Solomon’s character for this purpose was useful, Pachinko season 1’s insistence on following the grandson’s life did neither the book justice nor the series any favors.

With Solomon’s character at the center of much of Pachinko season 1, the series left one major character out – to the detriment of the narrative. In the book, Sunja’s firstborn son, Noa, features much more prominently, and it’s his story and fate that has a big impact on all other characters, including Solomon. Noa is seen as a baby in season 1, but little else. The Pachinko season 2 trailer suggests that some of Noa’s childhood could be part of the story, but it’s unclear how much and how close it will stick to Lee’s novel.

Based on the trailer, it appears Pachinko season 2 will similarly follow the trend of centering Solomon and his life in late 1980s Japan while sidelining other, arguably more important characters. Doing so risks taking away from the original story and would leave bigger questions regarding the motivations of the characters. It also dilutes the impact of the more compelling generational narratives present in the book.

Sunja & Hansu’s Relationship In Pachinko Season 2 Should Not Be Romanticized

Hansu Is Not The Good Guy

Another problematic element from Pachinko season 1 that appears to be resurfacing in season 2 is the change to the relationship between Sunja and Hansu (Lee Min-ho). This characterization of their relationship misses the point from the original source material. It also undermines Sunja’s experience and the gravity of her struggles, diminishing the impact of her resilience and strength in the face of exploitation.

Hansu is a wealthy and manipulative businessman in his 30s who takes advantage of a young and naive teenage girl. In the Pachinko novel, it’s clear that Hansu grooms Sunja, lies to her, and forces himself on her. Once pregnant, he abandons her, and leaves her vulnerable and desperate. He returns from time to time as a sense of responsibility occasionally seizes him, and he does seem to have some concern for her and their child. However, he’s not a heroic figure in any sense, as their problematic relationship is far from romantic.

It’s understandable for TV adaptations of books to take liberties with some aspects of the original material, and sometimes, these changes can improve the text or provide additional context that the novel misses. This is not one of those instances. When it comes to Hansu and Sunja’s relationship, it’s deeply concerning that the Apple TV+ show would take a more romanticized perspective. Yes, the book and series reflect different times when such things were socially tolerated, but doing so draws away from Sunja’s character and the strength and perseverance she faced under immense hardship.

Following The Pachinko Book More Closely Would’ve Made For a Better Adaptation

Pachinko Could’ve Been An Excellent Single-Season Show

For anyone who read Lee’s original book, Pachinko season 1 likely felt drawn out and missing great chunks of important detail. Theoretically, a faithful adaptation of the story would’ve fit neatly into a single eight-episode series, one and done.

In most instances in the Pachinko series, the liberties that the production took worked out well. There have been a lot of added and changed details that have improved the story and made it into something bigger. These aspects are commendable and help audiences get a more visceral feel of the onslaught of issues Korean women faced in occupied Korea and their lives as Zainichi in Japan. However, emphasizing Solomon’s role while downplaying Noa, and making Hansu into a romantic lead is problematic as it forgets what was important in the original story.