Pachinko became one of the best TV shows of the year when it debuted back in 2022, so it was only a matter of time before a second season would arrive. And now at last, it’s finally here, with the next instalment set to arrive on Apple TV+ this week.

Season one was so good that it’s one of our most anticipated shows of 2024, alongside the likes of Industry and Emily in Paris. Following an epic storyline of a Korean immigrant family across several generations, season two of Pachinko is set to take things to new heights and reunite us with Sunja and her family. Here’s all you need to know:

What will season two of Pachinko be about?

The first season of Pachinko quickly gathered critical acclaim on release for its writing and lead performances, following one single immigrant family from Korea over several decades. The series is based on the novel of the same name by Min Jin Lee, and season 2 will continue to follow the plot of the book as it moves through the 20th century- with it being likely that it’ll take four seasons in total to cover everything. The last season came to a close with our main protagonist Sunja (played both by Youn Yuh-jung and Kim Min-ha in different eras) having moved from Korea to Japan, and beginning a job selling kimchi at a local market.

Season 2 will take us into the World War II period, exploring Sunja’s experiences of the time and how the devastating conflict affected her. It’s been teased already that the storyline will be “darker” and more serious than the previous season but still with some moments of levity in the midst of the bleak setting. Elsewhere, the sprawling series will also focus on Solomon Baek (played by Jim Ha) in a different time period, as he forges a new partnership with a Japanese businessman. The two character’s arcs and development will juxtapose each other as the season moves on, weaving in and out of eight decades of history in the complex way of storytelling that the first season did so well.

What else do we know about season two?

Beyond those initial plot details, there’s not a whole lot else that’s been revealed about where season 2 will take us, other than it’ll again span several eras and countries- all with the same stunning cinematography. We do know, however, that there’ll be a few new cast members coming into the fore this time, including Sungkyu Kim of K-pop group Infinite, who’s set to play Kim Changho, a character from the novel who’ll be introduced this season. Apple also has yet to drop a full, traditional trailer for season two, instead revealing a date announcement teaser showcasing the show’s dazzling opening title sequence. You’ll be able to see where the family epic goes next, though, when Pachinko Season Two arrives on 23rd August.

Culture, Films & TV

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