The critically acclaimed American historical drama series ‘Pachinko season 2 ‘ is ready to return, and we couldn’t be happier! The Youn Yuh-Jung starrer ended season 1 on a sad note, with Sunja’s husband Isak getting arrested by Japanese authorities. Still, fans are also hopeful for some improvement in Sunja’s life after she sets up a shop in the market to sell kimchi to provide for her family. Apple TV+’s multigenerational drama features a Korean Family through a timeline of immigrating to Japan. This television series created by Soo Hugh is based on Min Jin Lee’s novel of the same name, which talks about the multigenerational saga of a Korean family from 1910 through the late 1980s.
Directed by Kogonada and Justin Chon, the show is also executive produced by them along with Soo Hugh, Michael Ellenberg, Lindsey Springer, Theresa Kang-Lowe and Richard Middleton. The show’s producers are Brian Sherwin, Jordan Murcia and Lynne Bespflug, in association with Blue Marble Pictures, A Han. Bok Dream Production and Media Res.
Pachinko Season 2 Release Date
After its first season premiered on March 25, 2022, Apple renewed the series for a second season on April 29, 2022. Season 1 saw eight episodes with 47-63 minutes running. While the first three episodes were released on March 25, the remaining were released weekly, with the last on April 29, 2022. Since season 1 premiered in Spring 2022, we can assume that season 3 will premiere in Spring 2023.
Pachinka Season 2 Cast
Key cast members such as Youn Yuh-Jung (as Kim Sunja), Kim Min-ha (as teenage Sunja), and Lee Min-ho (as Koh Hansu) are all but guaranteed to return – and they’ll likely be joined by the following:
• Soji Arai as Baek Mozasu
• Jin Ha as Solomon Baek
• Han Jun-woo as Baek Yosef
• Jung Eun-chae as Kyunghee
• Felice Choi as older Kyunghee
• Steve Sanghyun Noh as Baek Isak
• Anna Sawai as Naomi
We can also expect some new faces that can show up, including younger and older versions of various characters who we already met in season one.
Pachinka Season 2 Plot
The show follows Sunja (Minha Kim) growing up in Japanese-occupied Korea and then moving to Japan, and her grandson Solomon (Jin Ha) returning to Japan from America. During the first season, viewers get a glimpse into Sunja’s origins through flashbacks, beginning with her childhood until she gets pregnant by Hansu at 16; her migration to Japan and her new life as the wife of pastor Isak are chronicled in the latter episodes. The series’ first season concludes with a flashback of Sunja becoming a kimchi vendor to support the family in 1939, right after Isak is arrested.
Showrunner Soo Hugh shared that season two will go through World War II and focus on the family’s second generation: Sunja and Isak’s sons, Mozasu and Noah. “It’s about her story, continued from Season 1… even heavier, but still, there’s joy,” Kim said of Sunja’s plot.
The two boys appeared as children in season one, but only a little about their childhood was explored. Speaking to Deadline, Hugh touched on the brothers, saying, “The brotherhood between Mozasu and Noa, I think because they’re so young in Season One, we don’t get a capture, but in Season Two, that brotherhood is just magical. Then season two, we see a reunion that is my favourite in the book. If I said a name, that is a spoiler.”
In the show, Mozasu and an elderly Sunja dance around this painful history but never address it explicitly. Still, there is a high chance that Season 2 will talk about the brothers’ adulthood and explore this family tragedy.
In addition, Hugh hinted that Kyunghee, Sunja’s sister-in-law, would play an essential role in the kimchi business. “In season two, Kyunghee comes into her own as just her person and her being, and she’s just one of my favourite characters in this story, so I would love to see that,” Hugh said.
Concerning the present timeline, we last saw Sunja’s grandson Solomon striking a deal with Mamoru Yoshii, a seedy but powerful Japanese businessman with deep roots in the pachinko parlour business. Jin Ha, who plays Solomon, hinted that his character’s Season Two arc would be about “moral conflict”—and “completely new” rather than sourced from the novel.
“I think we are seeing him question his preconceived notions of what success looked like when we meet him at the beginning of the season, and I’m rooting for him to find a healthier and less toxic idea of success,” Ha told Deadline.
Pachinka Season 2 Trailer
As of now, the trailer for season 2 has yet to be released.
Where to watch Pachinka Season 2?
Pachinka exclusively streams on Apple TV+. Season 2 episodes will also be showcased. If you haven’t watched the first season, you can still enjoy it o the same platform and be ready for season 2!
Also Read: The Cleaning Lady Season 2 Release Date, Cast, Plot and More