Apple TV+ streams the much-anticipated second season of “Pachinko.” Adapted from a 2017 novel by Min Jin Lee, it follows four generations of a Korean family from 1915 to 1989, a time when Korean society went from brutal Japanese rule and occupation, through the postwar division of the country, the Korean War and a miraculous economic revival.
Presented with subtitles, the family melodrama unfolds in impressive cinematic fashion and focuses on the pain of living with a prosperity born of so much sacrifice. Season one received near-universal praise.
— Peacock streams “The Killer,” director John Woo’s 2024 remake of his 1989 Hong Kong thriller, still considered among the greatest action movies of all time. The new version stars Nathalie Emmanuel as Zee, a female contract killer who jeopardizes her international reputation when she refuses to carry out the execution of a blind girl.
For those who care, “Killer” offers a great chance to contrast a 1989 classic made on a small budget by an unknown director with a contemporary effort buttressed with all the digital tricks now available and at the same time burdened by the expectations of an audience that has known Woo’s work for a generation.
— The documentary series “The New York Times Presents” (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA) presents “Lie to Fly,” which recalls a harrowing Alaska Airlines flight in 2023, when an unstable passenger attempted to crash land the plane and kill all 83 passengers aboard.
After his unsuccessful stab at terror, the passenger was revealed as Joseph Emerson, a professional pilot. Experiencing mental anguish, he had begun to worry that any medical or psychological consultation could jeopardize his career. So, he instead self-medicated with psychedelic mushrooms two days before his fateful flight.
Apparently, Emerson’s story is not unique. “Lie” examines the world of airline pilots, where expectations are high, stress is common and the profession’s reputation for flawless dependability makes it all but impossible to reveal any weaknesses.
— Netflix streams the back-to-school comedy “Incoming.” Four young friends enter high school as nervous freshmen awkwardly owning up to raging hormones and massive insecurities, particularly around girls. As in entirely too many films of this nature, they discuss their feelings and motivations in complete sentences. Their worst fears and secret desires are revealed in the most lurid ways when they wrangle an invitation to a “rager” hosted by an upperclassman whose parents are away.
Every generation gets the “Porky’s” it deserves. The sameness of so many coming-of-age high school comedies makes the few standouts so much more esteemed. It’s worth noting that next month marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 25, 1999, debut of NBC’s “Freaks and Geeks,” among the greatest high school comedies ever made. It was one of several notable shows that arrived that year, including “The Sopranos” and “The West Wing.”
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— “Great Performances” (9 p.m., PBS, TV-G, check local listings) presents the Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2024 from the gardens of Austria’s Imperial Schonbrunn Palace, featuring conductor Andris Nelsons and soprano Lise Davidsen.
— A woman lives out the might-have-beens in the 2021 romantic comedy “Next Stop, Christmas” (9 p.m., Hallmark, TV-G).
— “Billy Joel: The 100th: Live at Madison Square Garden” (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG).
CULT CHOICE
Today’s TCM “Summer Under the Stars” tribute belongs to Robert Shaw (1927-1978). Best known as the laconic boat captain in “Jaws,” he was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance as Henry VIII in the 1966 adaptation of “A Man for All Seasons” (8 p.m., TCM, TV-PG). Look for Shaw in “The Sting” (10:15 p.m., TV-PG) and “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (2:30 a.m., TV-MA) as well. Shaw embodied a certain assured and rugged masculinity that enabled him to walk the stage in Shakespeare productions as well as appear in war movies and action thrillers like “Force 10 From Navarone” (2:45 p.m.) and “Battle of the Bulge” (5 p.m., TV-14). Shaw died of a heart attack when he was only 51. When casting his 2000 epic “Gladiator,” director Ridley Scott ruefully observed, “We have very few Robert Shaws now.”
SERIES NOTES
“Let’s Make a Deal Primetime” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … “America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-PG) … “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG) … “Jeopardy! Masters” (8 p.m., ABC, r, TV-PG) … “Dateline” (9 p.m., NBC, r) … “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC).
LATE NIGHT
John Mulaney and Ilona Maher visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) … Taylor Tomlinson hosts Alaska 5000, Gillian Jacobs and Chris Fleming on “After Midnight” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
