Two years after its first season, Apple TV+’s adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s bestseller, Pachinko, is poised to make a comeback. Earlier today, the streamer debuted the first trailer for Pachinko’s second season, revealing a new time period and greater challenges. Still anchored in 1989 by Oscar-winner Youn Yuh-jung as Kim Sunja, a Korean immigrant living in Tokyo, the second season moves to the next phase of young Sunja’s life.
In 1945, Osaka, she reunites with Koh Hansu (Lee Min-ho) after 14 years apart. Set during the final days of World War II, Sunja must prepare for the next phase of her life as the U.S. lays waste to the country. Meanwhile, in 1989, Sunja’s grandson, Solomon, is at the end of his rope and, according to the synopsis, “exploring new, humble beginnings.”
Pachinko still looks beautiful. Its crisp cinematography, stylized cities, and wealth of international locations keep Pachinko a step above your standard decade-spanning romance. Plus, Apple has BLACKPINK’s Rosé singing Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” which can’t help but juice up the emotion.
We were big fans of Pachinko’s first outing. In her review of season one, The A.V. Club’s Saloni Gajjar gave the show an A- and wrote of an unjust world in which Pachinko was a one-season wonder. “Only three months into 2022, it’s hard not to proclaim Pachinko as one of the best new shows of the year, or years even,” she writes. “Luckily, season one hasn’t covered the entirety of the novel, leaving room for plenty more to uncover in any future installments. Here’s hoping. Because it would be something of a travesty if a multigenerational story this exceptional didn’t get a second shot.”
Pachinko premieres on Apple TV+ on August 23, with new episodes available each Friday through October 11.