6 things to watch on TV this weekend
Pachinko finally returns to Apple TV+, Netflix drops a high-school comedy, and more
Photos: Apple TV+, Netflix
Welcome to the weekend edition of What’s On. Here are the big things happening in TV from Friday, August 23 to Sunday, August 25. All times are Eastern. [Note: The weekly edition of What’s On publishes on Sundays.]
1. Pachinko makes a remarkable return
Apple TV+, Friday, 12:01 a.m.: A hidden gem in Apple TV+’s slate of star-studded originals, Pachinko, based on Min Jin Lee’s acclaimed novel, is just as moving and immersive in season two as it was the first time around. The eight new episodes continue Sunja’s (Kim Minha) story in 1945, when she’s forced to hide in the Japanese countryside during World War II. Meanwhile, an elder Sunja (Youn Yuh-jung) tries to reconnect with her grandson in 1989. The cast includes Jin Ha, Anna Sawai, Lee Min-ho, Sungkyu Kim, and Jimmi Simpson. Here’s a bit from The A.V. Club‘s review:
Pachinko’s expansive saga feels intimate because it distills historic events through the lens of one woman and her loved ones. What is the impact of a global catastrophe on the day-to-day lives of the people who live through it? It’s a big question that Pachinko masterfully tries to answer.