Early on, in the first episode of season two of “Pachinko,” American fighter planes drop pamphlets, urging the residents to petition the emperor to “halt this brutal war.” It is 1945, and Osaka is under the shadow of the Second World War, with constant reminders of an imminent bombing. For Sunja and her small family, this uncertainty and disquiet are ever-present challenges.
Based on the best-selling acclaimed novel by Min Jin Lee, the first season of “Pachinko” premiered in 2022. The eight-episode show deviated from the book’s linear narrative, alternating between the 1940s, depicting Sunja’s life in Korea and Japan during the World War II era, and 1989, where we follow her grandson Solomon Baek as he returns to Japan from New York for a finance job assignment.
In the initial season, we watched Sunja grapple with an unexpected pregnancy and adapt to life in Osaka after leaving Japanese-occupied Korea with her husband, Baek Isak (Steve Sanghyun Noh). As season two unfolds, more burdens weigh on Sunja. Years have passed since Isak’s imprisonment for aiding laborers fighting for fair wages. Her brother-in-law Yoseb (Han Joon-woo) is working in a factory in Nagasaki. Meanwhile, Sunja and her sister-in-law Kyunghee (Jung Eun-chae) are anxious about feeding their children with worm-infested rations. “I am good at selling,” Sunja asserts with steely determination before embarking on the dangerous task of selling rice wine in the illegal black market.
Simultaneously, the show juxtaposes this with the late 1980s, where Solomon’s father, Mozasu (Soji Arai), prepares to open a glamorous new Pachinko Parlour. Solomon, however, is now trying to amass investors for his new project, having left his previous firm after a botched business deal, moved by the story of an elderly Korean immigrant who refuses to sell her land.
A book as sweeping and expansive as “Pachinko” deserves a measured, almost languorous portrayal on-screen, skillfully executed in the first season.
. In an era where shows frequently face the threat of being canceled before they can fully develop, “Pachinko” maintains a leisurely yet engaging pace in its new season. The first episode methodically sets the stage, illustrating how life has evolved for the central characters following a time leap. Sunja, portrayed adeptly by Minha Kim, embodies a poignant mix of helplessness and resolute determination to provide for her sons—Noa (Kim Kang-hoon) and Mozasu (Eunseong Kwon)—who are fully fleshed out in this new chapter.
Mozasu, characterized by a spirited eagerness to overcome his perceived enemies, contrasts sharply with his older brother Noa, who bears a subdued demeanor, weighed down by the harsh realities of discrimination faced by zainichis (Koreans in Japan). Noa encounters taunts from his classmates about his identity, while Solomon in 1989 grapples with a Japanese bakery owner’s racially motivated tirade against his grandmother Sunja (Yoon Yuh-Jung). Solomon’s retort, “I’m from Yale University,” poignantly underscores the dichotomy of progress and the persistent prejudices across generations. Jin Ha’s portrayal of Solomon as a simmering, ever-tense character highlights his desperation for a new beginning.
In season one, the writers delved deeply into the character of Koh Hansu, a fish broker and merchant with significant connections, whose affair with Sunja catalyzes the story. Lee Min-ho, in a career-defining role, brings depth to Koh Hansu, whose backstory is explored in a dedicated episode set against the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake backdrop, directed by Kogonada. Hansu remains a formidable and watchful presence over Sunja and her sons.
Showrunner Soo Hugh has often highlighted the universal appeal of “Pachinko,” a narrative traversing love, loss, grief, and survival across generations. One of the show’s strongest aspects is its avoidance of melodramatic excess, opting instead for a somber, affecting storytelling approach. This expansive canvas and grand scale yet intimate portrayal continue seamlessly into season two’s first episode, with hopes that this level of quality persists throughout the remaining seven episodes.
The second season of “Pachinko” is currently streaming on Apple TV+, with new episodes released every Friday.
