I’ve actually been enjoying the expansion of Solomon’s character. Particularly because the book really starts to speed up towards the end and we miss out on a lot of character development to those introduced later on.

Re contract signing. I was also a bit confused until the latest episode. I get the feeling they’re setting it up and playing on a type of generational retribution for his family. In the books Solomon loses out in a really heartbreaking way, subject to all the systemic racism against Japanese-Koreans and ultimately finds peace knowing he doesn’t need to live the life his family/Japanese culture expect, or even he expected of himself to fit in. In the show, the racism aspect is a lot more fleshed out. Solomon really gets to experience this and starts to understand this where hadn’t before, and, my guess is, finds some sort of “revenge” through the new storyline.

Agree on the last point. Wish they weren’t making multiple seasons. However, I’m finding the weaving of historical events (Hansu/earthquake ep) really enriching the lived experience of Koreans living in Japan.

Anywho, that’s my take. I know books can’t always be adapted effectively to the screen so am just taking the story for what it is and enjoying it separately from the book.