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‘Pachinko’ Moves Beyond the Book in a Stirring, Gorgeous Season 2: TV Review
Season 2 of the Apple TV+ drama remains stirring and gorgeous even as the story moves beyond the book.
Most significantly, showrunner Soo Hugh and her writers split the story into two timelines, juxtaposing generations of the Baek family — so-called Zainichi Koreans who emigrated to Japan prior to World War II — separated by half a century. (“Pachinko” is the rare source material to demand the multiseason treatment, in contrast to more strained extensions like “The Handmaid’s Tale.”) This approach paid off; Season 1 ranks among the finest original series Apple has produced, from its immersive period detail to the aching tragedy of the Baeks, buffeted by historical forces — colonization, conflict, racism — beyond their control. Where platform siblings like “The Morning Show” could make noise through sheer force of star power and ridiculous plot twists, the relatively understated “Pachinko” netted just a single Emmy nomination for Season 1, for its admittedly excellent, dance-driven opening credits.
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