OMG, don't get me started... i won't either. this time i will just watch the episodes and not holler about the chapter shuffling. i'm just hoping the producer didn't add more characters and scenarios that didn't exist in the book. the book was PERFECT.

As a person who didn't read the book but heard only good things, I was quite disapointed by the first season. I was expecting a story really focused on the FL and her journey and it felt like she was a side character.

Noh Sang-hyun was really great in his role and I was sad he didn't get a bigger role.

I relistened to the audiobook so I could be ready for this epic tale. I hope they tie it up well and do a recap in the correct order so the story makes sense.

So … I loved the book. I … did not love the first season. The story was dumbed down, motivations were changed, so characters changed, some characters were removed far too soon, characters were added that maybe added some extra message but nothing else and the chapter shuffling just added confusion and nothing else.
Will I watch? No. Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No. After all the episodes have dropped.

Anyone who watches it, please update here how it went. I won't for now because I still have season 1 to complete. While I do like the story, I can't deny I was bored. Only NSH was the reason why I wanted to continue.

My husband and I both really enjoyed the first season (though don’t consider it a kdrama) and didn’t read the book first on purpose. I heard that the book goes straight through the timeline but I really love the way it is interspersed in the show - common themes pop up throughout and they get to speak to each other directly this way. I’m excited to read the book to compare, but I’ll wait until the show finishes. We’re excited to watch once all the episodes have dropped!

I didn't really know Anna Sawai until SHOGUN. I hope she'll have a little more screen time this season.

I love the book. I have yet to see S1 though 🤷‍♀️

Now that S2 is out, I’ll find time to binge the two seasons. I too think this - together with Uncle Samsik - to be quite removed from the usual dramaverse which we can watch with the “movie” lens to appreciate their way of storytelling.

For those interested in a S2 review, here’s one (that I’m yet to read after watching):
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/aug/23/pachinko-season-two-japan-korea-family-drama?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other. The writer said it’s close to an all time classic.

might try watching this bc of lee min-ho.