Pachinko S2
Friday, streaming on Apple TV Plus
This series may have flown under your radar. It launched back in 2022, and though it received critical acclaim, due to the fact it’s a story told in three languages — Korean, Japanese and English — it didn’t cut through in the way it quite deserved.
This is a shame, because it’s one of the most impressive dramas to debut in recent years, and it’s well worth your time.
Based on the 2017 novel by Min Jin Lee, this story is about four generations of a Korean family who move to Japan before the start of World War II.
It’s an expansive story spanning several decades, several cultures and continents, beginning right back in 1915 and going all the way to 1989.
Season two drops this week, and an official synopsis says “the parallel stories pick up in Osaka in 1945, where Sunja is forced to make dangerous decisions for her family’s survival during World War II, and in Tokyo in 1989, which finds Solomon exploring new, humble beginnings”.
Beautifully shot and boasting some incredible performances from its central cast, this drama has it all: wonderful scenery, clandestine love affairs and cross-generational conflict.
If you’ve not seen this, start with its terrific first season and continue into the second safe in the knowledge the show’s creator Soo Hugh has a four-season arc in mind for the story, so there’s still plenty to come.
Well worth your time.
Chimp Crazy
Monday, streaming on Binge
![Tonia Haddix is the subject of a bonkers new doco called Chimp Crazy.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/c644691343003068fe51b781b960dde245167b0c-4x3-x445y0w2109h1582.jpg)
This show! This-show-this-show-this-show! Can you tell I’m excited for you all to see it? Mark my words: in seven days, the whole world will be talking about this bonkers doco series, from the creators of Tiger King. It’s all about a woman named Tonia Haddix, whose love for chimpanzees sees her life spiral out of control. Absolutely obsessed, and you will be too.
The Assembly
Tuesday, 8.30pm, ABC
![Sam Neill is a guest in the first episode of The Assembly and he fields some extremely personal questions.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2e715eb1f0fc1c7899425a0a074b0731392699d6-4x3-x0y163w3000h2250.jpg)
Leigh Sales mentors a group of autistic journalism students as they prepare to interview a host of famous Aussies. The bulk of each episode sees them going full-tilt into a no-holds-barred discussion with their subjects — Sam Neill is front and centre in the first episode — and it makes for fascinating viewing. Their oftentimes blunt questions really get to the nub of what their guests are about.
Great Australian Walks
Thursday, 7.30pm, SBS
![Julia Zemiro is taking a stroll in the forest with John Butler, and it’s a delight.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/03dbbbb5e26a3b777251b6112bba363fba5cdd97-4x3-x167y0w2667h2000.jpg)
Julia Zemiro is back strolling the length and breadth of the country. And this time our borders are open, so she’s even popping over to WA! In the first episode she’s off to walk part of the Cape to Cape track — is that John Butler (left) we spy? — before heading to Rottnest/Wadjemup and Fremantle. This time around, Gina Chick and Susie Youssef are also aboard, walking the other side of the country. Adore this series.
Boarders
Friday, streaming on Stan
![Boarders is coming to Stan.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/9c9b812173fa69186241e4fa4e5dee1f8284d14d-4x3-x167y0w2667h2000.jpg)
If you’re a fan of Sex Education and British series Skins, you’ll likely enjoy this new comedy, all about a bunch of underprivileged kids who land scholarships to study at an elite English private school. This show has been getting great reviews in the UK, and it’s not hard to see why: there are some fab performances from the young cast and it’s heaps of fun. Seek it out.