The second season of the Apple TV+ drama series “Pachinko” ended with powerful emotional moments and unresolved plot lines that could continue into future seasons. Based on the bestselling novel by Min Jin Lee, the show follows a Korean family across four generations through personal stories set against historical events in Korea and Japan.
A major revelation shook the core of the main character, Noa, portrayed by Kang Tae Ju. His girlfriend Akiko, played by Kilala Inori, told him the shocking truth: “Noa, Hansu is your father.” Learning this news that Hansu, played by Lee Minho, was his biological father and not the man he thought, Noa confronted Hansu. He also met devastated with his mother Sunja, portrayed by Youn Yuh-jung in the present and Minha Kim in the past.
This dramatic scene took an emotional toll on Kang Tae Ju to film. Showrunner Soo Hugh said Kang had to leave the set during shooting because it affected him so deeply. Hugh also explained using a scale of “mild, medium, and jalapeno” for scene intensity with actors. For Kang, the highest-level scene caused his body to shake from the powerful feelings involved.
After the reveal, Noa runs away, changes his name, and begins working at a pachinko parlor while passing as Japanese. This callbacks to the show’s exploration of family, history, and identity. Lee Minho stated that losing Noa and Sunja, who were most important to Hansu, would leave him feeling empty and shake his view of the world. Minha Kim added that Sunja lost all hope and happiness without Noa.
While wrapping up some storylines, the season finale also hinted at potential future seasons. Original pitching involved a three-season arc, and loose threads like Noa’s ultimate fate provide opportunities for more exploration. The financial crisis coming in 1990s Japan and Solomon’s moral challenges in business were other plot points left open. As season two concluded, “Pachinko” further solidified its place as an in-depth look at multigenerational family dynamics.
