I thought they won't be able to replicate the superior quality of the first season. I gladly retract my words. The quality of this production is comparable to that of the first season, especially with the addition of two adorable child actors.
Han Su's face devoid of any expression is haunting, as he helps in Japanese war efforts. Sun Ja and Kyung Hee are having difficulty getting cabbage for their kimchi business. One of Sun Ja's customers is Mr. Kim, who seems to take a lot of interest in her family's condition. Solomon is facing his own challenges getting investors for his finance business. Little Noa is smart at school but does not apply himself. Cheeky little Mozasu is trying to fight off bullies in school. Solomon gets mad when he sees his grandma being bullied and comes to her rescue but humiliates himself with his outburst. Sun Ja gets into black market making rice wine illegally but gets caught and goes to jail. She is set free and is taken by Mr. Kim to meet her savior who turns out to be Han Su, Mr. Kim's employer. Han Su tells Sun Ja she and family need to escape to the countryside, but she refuses his offer telling him she can't leave her husband. He is incredulous and probably heartbroken (who knows, his face doesn't show any emotion) to find out she does love her husband.
Best drama I've watched in a long while. Each scene is a work of art. The part where Sun Ja is making rice wine while bombs are exploding around her, with a beautiful but dolorous music in the background, elicited tears from my eyes without me being aware of how moved I was. She will do anything just to be able to feed her children wormless food. Solomon's outburst, blaming his grandma for being pitiful, is disturbing.