Credit: Apple TV+
2 min read
Pachinko is returning to Apple TV+ this summer. Stylist’s entertainment director (and number one fan) Helen Bownass tells you what to expect.
When I heard that Apple TV+ was making an adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, I wasn’t sure if it could live up to the sprawling historical novel I’d devoured. Over 560 pages, it crosses generations and countries telling stories of love, war, death and survival.
Season one dropped in March 2022, and from hearing the first “Shah-la, la-la-la-la, live for today” in the theme tune, I was hooked by the beautiful landscapes, the compelling storytelling and the history I learned – both in the drama and through the documentary-style interviews at the end of the series. The title scene alone should get an Emmy.
So, I’m delighted that the award-winning show will be returning to Apple TV+ for a second season this month. Here’s what to expect…
Credit: Apple TV+
What is Pachinko season 2 about?
Pachinko’s first season follows Sunja, a young Korean woman who leaves her family to travel to safety in Osaka, Japan. With a script performed in Korean, Japanese and English, the series jumps between eras, from a Korean island in 1915 to Wall Street in the 1980s (this is in contrast to the novel, which is told chronologically). We see the impact of the Second World War, the allied occupation of Japan and the Korean war through the prism of one family.
Season two will again follow two parallel timelines. This time in 1945 in Oskaka where Sunja, who is struggling to survive, has to make a very difficult decision to ensure the safety of her family and in Tokyo in 1989 where her grandson Solomon is starting again.
This is a series that manages to be both intimate in its depiction of family and how we can never escape the past and epic in its scope and vision; I can’t wait to see more.
Credit: Apple TV+
Who will star in Pachinko season 2?
The season will see the return of Minha Kim as teenage Sunja, Yuh-Jung Youn as older Sunja, Lee Minho as Hansu, Anna Sawai as Naomi, Jin Ha as Solomon, Eunchae Jung as young Kyunghee, Soji Arai as Mozasu and Junwoo Han as Yoseb. Sungkyu Kim will also join the cast, playing Kim Changho.
Credit: Apple TV+
When can I watch Pachinko season 2?
The eight-episode series will premiere on Apple TV+ on Friday 23 August. Episodes will follow weekly. And while you wait, this excellent trailer for the new series will give you an idea of what you can expect.
Watch series one of Pachinko on Apple TV+
Images: Apple TV+
Sign up to Stylist’s weekly curation of the best TV, films, documentaries and more, and you’ll never wonder ‘What should I watch?’ again.
By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy
Thank you!
You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.