Pachinko’s second season, which has started airing on Apple TV+, has been praised by critics as a masterclass in intergenerational storytelling.
The show is based on the epic historical fiction bestselling novel by Min Jin Lee which traces a Korean family who immigrates to Japan over the course of several decades – to the backdrop of political turbulence and interpersonal troubles.
In particular, the show converges around the matriarch Sunja who we meet as a teenager in Korea (portrayed by Minha Kim) and follows her through her marriage and journey to Japan and finally into her old age as a grandmother (played by Oscar winner Yuh-Jung Youn).
The multi-language series, created by Soo Hugh, scooped up a Critics Choice Award for best foreign language series after the first season came out in 2022.
The series also stars Lee Min-ho, Jin Ha, Soji Arai, Steve Sang-Hyun Noh and Anna Sawai in its core cast.
The second season picks up in Osaka in 1945 where ‘Sunja is forced to make dangerous decisions for her family’s survival during World War II.’
Minha, who plays a young Sunja, teased to Today.com: ‘The relationships towards each characters got deeper, and we have more stories individually and visually. It’s beautiful, and you can see the characters are growing up.’
And adoration is already pouring in for this profound family saga as it secures a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. This comes after the first season scored a comfortable 97%.
‘Pachinko has already proven that it should be part of any conversation about the greatest modern shows,’ Collider wrote in its review.
‘The series continues to weave a sweeping emotional tapestry spanning decades in time with moments big and small that lay you flat.’
This sentiment was strongly echoed by Paste magazine who declared that ‘Pachinko has further asserted itself as one of the best TV shows in recent memory…
‘Unflinching in its depiction of history, but not heavy-handed; warm in its portrayal of family, but not overly idealized.’
The Daily Beast lauded season two as ‘one of television’s finest’ while the Financial Times described it as an ‘exquisite, era-spanning inter-generational saga’ that ‘confirms its standing as one of the most visually striking, emotionally stirring shows of the past decade.’
The New York Times has pegged it as a ‘gem of a show’ and the IndieWire called it ‘gorgeous and understated’.
Meanwhile, the Guardian praised it as ‘an excellent drama powered by a rare emotional intelligence.
Need I go on?
As put by Mashable: ‘These echoes of the past — some joyful, some tragic — persist throughout the main body of Pachinko’s second season, which remains a magnificent portrait of a family across generations.’
Shogun star Anna, who plays Japanese financier Naomi in Pachinko, reflected on working with industry powerhouse Yuh-Jung. In the show, Naomi meets Sunja after growing closer to her grandson Solomon (Jin)
‘She really brings this organic connection,’ Anna told Vogue.
‘I was nervous talking to her because of the amazing actress that she is, but I feel like Naomi was also very nervous in her presence, meeting Solomon’s grandmother for the first time … I think our relationship helped bring that to life.’
And Soo was particularly keen to make season two a truly ensemble cast and shine a light on more stories.
‘Season 1 was a very intimate story of Sunja and how that seed started to sprout. In Season 2, we really wanted to be given the chance to see a lot more of the sprouting of the family,’ Soo told TheWrap.
‘One thing that was a big challenge about the show is, how do you balance all the new characters? We wanted to make sure the next generation had their voice — Noa and Mozasu — and give their stories the spotlight.’
Pachinko season two episode one is now available to watch on Apple TV+ with new episodes airing every Friday.
Season on is available to stream in its entirety.
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