Pachinko Season 2 (2024)

The Struggles of a Thriving Immigrant Family Continues in Foreign Land

The ongoing struggles of a thriving korean immigrant family continue to unfold in foreign lands. This poignant story picks up seven years after the events of Season 1, diving deeper into themes of racism, identity and the painful ways individuals begin to reject their own heritage in order to fit into society.

This season’s heart is Noa's story. Once a gentle, hopeful child, we watch as the harsh realities of his surroundings shape his future. The haunting shadows of the past never leave this family and ultimately, the painful truths from their history come back to ruin everything.

This season also intricately explores the lives of other characters with great depth. Gyeonghui and Changho’s forbidden love, Yoseb’s harrowing PTSD after the war, Gyeonghui’s sacrifice of her love, Han Su’s obsessive ambitions for his son and Solomon’s battle to belong in japanese society as a korean, each of these stories runs parallel, weaving together to make this show feel complete. Each story presents its own unique struggles and perspectives.

The entire ensemble cast delivered marvelous performances, with several scenes leaving a lasting impact on me. The confrontation between Han Su and Noa in the last episode was powerful and Noa’s farewell to his mother, Sunja, was utterly heartbreaking. This scene was even more painful if you know how things unfold in Book 3.

Every time i see the older Sunja, the actress's eyes seem to tell the story of her past struggles. Even after losing so many loved ones, she carries on for the sake of her remaining family. The emotions she conveys are extraordinary and Youn Yuh Jung's portrayal is a masterclass in acting. Its no wonder she is an Oscar winner, her performance makes that clear.

Lee Minho who had never particularly impressed me before, truly shone in Pachinko. In Season 1, i especially liked his performance during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 scene, where he was outstanding. In Season 2, i was most impressed by his confrontation with Noa where his micro expressions were spoton after Noa left his house.

Kim Minha delivered a brilliant portrayal of the mother of two teenagers. Not once did i feel she was too young for the role. The fact that Kang Taeju, who plays the adult Noa, is only four months older than her in real life surprised me the most!!

This season covers the events from Book 2 and i cant wait for the next season, which will delve into Book 3.

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