And how do you know it’s pine? It looks more like a type of oak. The little indents seem to be a lot darker as if the stain set into those parts. I’m no expert but the grain just doesn’t remind me of pine.

It doesn’t look blotchy to me. The darker and lighter shades seem to start and stop with individual boards. If it was a commercially produced table it’s possible not all of the pine came from the same source in which case you can’t really tell how much it will penetrate individual unique boards. I’ve made some basic furniture with pine I’ve bought from a big box store and was able to stain it successful. Likely all the boards came from the same batch.

How much it penetrates depends a lot on which type/brand of stain you bought, how you applied it and how long you waited before wiping it off. With a large piece it can take a bit of practice. If you’re applying it by hand with a brush on a warm day it can start to dry on the parts you started with before you have a chance to come back and wipe it off, hence it comes out too dark. It can also be the opposite. You might brush it on and end up wiping it off before it has time to penetrate hence it ends up too light. The instructions on the can are highly dependent on heat and humidity.

I would try and do another coat and time it so you know if you need to go longer on a third coat.