Early on, in the first episode of Season 2 of Pachinko, American fighter planes scatter pamphlets across a tense Osaka, urging residents to petition the emperor to “halt this brutal war.” It’s 1945, and the specter of World War II and imminent bombings is inescapable. Amidst this turmoil, Sunja and her small family grapple with their own uncertainties and fears.
Pachinko, based on Min Jin Lee’s acclaimed best-selling novel, made a notable debut in 2022. The first season diverged from the book’s linear narrative, instead weaving between the 1940s—focusing on Sunja’s life in Korea and Japan during WWII—and 1989, where her grandson Solomon Baek returns to Japan from New York for a finance-related assignment.
In Season 1, viewers saw Sunja confronting an unexpected pregnancy and struggling to adapt to life in Osaka after leaving Japanese-occupied Korea with her husband, Baek Isak (Steve Sanghyun Noh). Season 2 reveals that years have passed since Isak was imprisoned for helping laborers demand fair wages. Now, Sunja faces the challenge of providing for her children as wartime conditions worsen. Her brother-in-law Yoseb (Han Joon-woo) toils in a factory in Nagasaki, while Sunja and her sister-in-law Kyunghee (Jung Eun-chae) worry about their children eating worm-infested rations. Demonstrating steely resolve, Sunja vows, “I am good at selling,” and risks her life selling rice wine in the illegal black market.
Simultaneously, the narrative shifts to the late 1980s. Solomon’s father, Mozasu (Soji Arai), is eager to unveil a new Pachinko parlour, while Solomon focuses on rallying investors for his latest venture. Having left his previous firm, Solomon’s story takes a sharp turn after a failed business deal and an encounter with a senior Korean immigrant who refuses to sell her land.
With the expansive storytelling style that marked its first season, Pachinko’s second installment maintains a measured pace, drawing viewers into the evolving lives of its central characters. The first episode skillfully bridges the gap between eras, with a compelling performance from Minha Kim, who portrays Sunja’s resilience and determination amid overwhelming odds.
. The introduction of Sunja’s sons, Noa (Kim Kang-hoon) and Mozasu (Eunseong Kwon), adds fresh layers to the narrative. Mozasu, eager and enthusiastic, contrasts starkly with Noa, who bears the burden of racial discrimination faced by zainichis (Koreans in Japan).
As Noa grapples with his classmates’ cruel jibes about his heritage, the 1989 timeline presents Solomon confronting a racially charged outburst from a Japanese bakery owner against his grandmother, Sunja (Yoon Yuh-Jung). Solomon’s retort, “I’m from Yale University,” starkly underscores the persistent struggles against racial prejudice across generations. Jin Ha’s portrayal of Solomon as a character teetering on the edge of desperation adds a riveting intensity to the story.
Season 1 delved deeper into Koh Hansu’s character, a fish broker whose complicated relationship with Sunja catalyzes the plot. Actor Lee Min-ho delivers a career-defining performance as Hansu, whose backstory is revealed against the backdrop of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. In Season 2, Hansu remains a formidable, ever-watchful presence in Sunja and her sons’ lives.
Showrunner Soo Hugh frequently emphasizes the universal themes of Pachinko—love, loss, grief, and survival across generations. A key strength of the show lies in its ability to avoid excessive dramatization, opting instead for a nuanced, restrained approach. Even with an expansive canvas and grander scale, Pachinko’s storytelling retains its intimate, poignant touch, seamlessly transitioning into Season 2 with its absorbing first episode. The hope is that this compelling narrative rhythm will continue through the subsequent seven episodes.
As Pachinko’s second season unfolds, the show continues to stream on Apple TV+, with new episodes releasing every Friday. This gripping saga of resilience and ambition amidst historical upheavals remains a testament to the power of storytelling, connecting audiences with the universal human experiences of love and perseverance.
