Early in the opening episode of Pachinko’s second season, American fighter planes are shown dropping pamphlets urging citizens to petition the emperor to “halt this brutal war.” Set in 1945 in Osaka, the echoes of World War II and the imminent threat of bombing are omnipresent, casting a shadow over Sunja and her small family as they grapple with an uncertain future.
Based on Min Jin Lee’s acclaimed best-selling novel, Pachinko’s first season, which premiered in 2022, diverged from the book’s linear narrative. It seamlessly transitioned between the 1940s, depicting Sunja’s harrowing life in Korea and Japan during World War II, and 1989, following her grandson Solomon Baek’s return to Japan from New York for a job assignment.
In the first season, viewers witnessed Sunja (played by Minha Kim) navigating the challenges of an unexpected pregnancy and adjusting to life in Osaka after leaving Japanese-occupied Korea with her husband Baek Isak (Steve Sanghyun Noh). Season two expands on these struggles with Isak now imprisoned for assisting laborers in their fight for fair wages. Sunja’s brother-in-law, Yoseb (Han Joon-woo), works in a factory in Nagasaki, and she and her sister-in-law Kyunghee (Jung Eun-chae) struggle with concerns over feeding Sunja’s children, resorting to worm-infested rations. Displaying unwavering determination, Sunja sets out to risk her life by selling rice wine in the illegal black market, declaring, “I am good at selling.”
Simultaneously, the narrative flashes forward to the late 1980s. Solomon Baek’s father, Mozasu (Soji Arai), is preparing to open a new, glamorous Pachinko parlour. Solomon, now separated from his former employer after bungling a business deal due to his empathy for a senior Korean immigrant, is busy gathering investors for his next venture.
A book as expansive as Pachinko demands a deliberate and thorough unfolding on screen, a feat expertly achieved in the first season. As shows face the perpetual threat of non-renewal, Pachinko’s second season adopts an unhurried pace, focusing on the evolution of the central characters through a timely narrative leap. The first episode, while slow, is deeply engaging, offering glimpses into how life has evolved for Sunja, who is portrayed with profound resilience by Minha Kim.
. Her sons, Noa (Kim Kang-hoon) and Mozasu (Eunseong Kwon), become significant additions to the storyline.
Mozasu, the younger brother, exhibits a youthful exuberance, eager to fend off perceived enemies, practicing government-mandated drills. Conversely, Noa carries the heavy burden of the world on his shoulders, contending with the pervasive discrimination faced by Koreans in Japan. These hardships are mirrored in 1989, where Solomon endures a racially charged tirade from a Japanese bakery owner about his grandmother, Sunja (played in her older years by Yoon Yuh-Jung). “I’m from Yale University,” Solomon shouts, a poignant indicator of the generational persistence of racial prejudice and identity struggles. Jin Ha’s portrayal of Solomon as a ticking time bomb, perpetually on edge, stands out—a character caught between his heritage and his professional aspirations, with viewers eager to see how his story deviates from the book.
In the previous season, writers gave depth to Koh Hansu, a powerful fish broker whose relationship with Sunja sets the entire saga in motion. Played by Lee Min-ho in a career-defining role, Hansu’s backstory was explored in an episode masterfully directed by Kogonada, set against the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. Hansu remains a menacing presence, overseeing Sunja and her sons from afar.
Showrunner Soo Hugh has frequently emphasized the universal themes that Pachinko encompasses—love, loss, grief, and survival across generations. One of the series’ strengths is its ability to navigate these themes without succumbing to melodrama. The narrative’s scope is vast, and the presentation grand, yet Pachinko’s storytelling remains poignant and restrained. The second season’s inaugural episode promises a continuation of this intricate and emotionally resonant journey.
Pachinko’s second season is now streaming on Apple TV+ with new episodes releasing every Friday, capturing viewers with its nuanced human drama set against historical upheavals.
