Pachinko

:

Season 1
  • Network: Apple TV+
  • Series Premiere Date: Mar 25, 2022
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 71 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 71
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 71
  3. Negative: 9 out of 71
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User Reviews

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  1. suetanminoz
    Mar 31, 2022
    10
    A team of very creative production crew and talented actors put in tremendous effort and love is what we get to enjoy in Pachinko. It is perfect in so many ways and I am especially impressed by how Lee Min Ho gives life to Hansu.
  2. Danicagao
    Mar 25, 2022
    10
    The entire cast is very stunning and natural. I can keep watch the joyful opening credit sequence forever.
  3. KarineS
    Mar 25, 2022
    10
    Can’t understand how can a series called epic before I watch it. After finished 3 episodes, it’s make sense. The terrific cast produce a quiet fancy combination. Especially Lee Minho, I never seen him like this, as a bad guy who only consider his own benefit and be suspicious to anyone. Hansu is a evil but Lee Minho performance worth an Award!
  4. Pennyzhu
    Mar 27, 2022
    10
    I love that series damn much! The very short words or scene can express a lot and audience could feel all that emotions and feelings then cry out though.That historical story is so touching even I have never experience but so deeply moved with the amazing performance completed by all the cast, overwhelmingly seems like I once to be living at that time.people at that age is struggling forI love that series damn much! The very short words or scene can express a lot and audience could feel all that emotions and feelings then cry out though.That historical story is so touching even I have never experience but so deeply moved with the amazing performance completed by all the cast, overwhelmingly seems like I once to be living at that time.people at that age is struggling for survival but solid and strong in mind.… Expand
  5. MinosStella
    Mar 27, 2022
    10
    Thanks to the entire production team for their sincerity to deliver such a breathtaking story. The opening credits lighten up the show. Lee Minho and little Sunja took my breath away. I cried so many times with little Sunja, and when Hansu mentioned the big hole on the sleeve of his only cloth with a smily face. I cried a river when Sunja said sorry to her mom about the pregnancy. TheThanks to the entire production team for their sincerity to deliver such a breathtaking story. The opening credits lighten up the show. Lee Minho and little Sunja took my breath away. I cried so many times with little Sunja, and when Hansu mentioned the big hole on the sleeve of his only cloth with a smily face. I cried a river when Sunja said sorry to her mom about the pregnancy. The picture work is amazing but the most important thing is each cast fits their role and devoted themselves into the character so well. Hats off to such a great show made through the pandemic. I couldn't imagine how much challenges you could've endured to get here!… Expand
  6. CynthiaBright
    Mar 27, 2022
    10
    I was deeply touched by Pachinko,it resonates deeply in my heart.Actor,fram,perform,music...I like everything.
  7. Rom_
    Mar 30, 2022
    10
    Watch it yourself to know how epic it is. All actors mare marvelous in their craft . Everything is amazing about pachinko
  8. Zoeng
    Mar 31, 2022
    10
    Lots of hard work pays off when the product is warming appreciated by many. Looking forward to more episodes and more seasons for Pachinko to tell the rich story of difficulty life people have endured during colonization.
  9. Marginyeo
    Mar 31, 2022
    10
    A must watch drama of 2022, beautifully made and powerfully touched viewers.
  10. Orsetto
    Apr 2, 2022
    1
    It's a great 1987 Korean TV period melodrama.

    Oh, right. It's 2022, you say? And woke Western TV "critics" have discovered Korea does make TV, too? So let's just praise whatever potboiler exotica reinforces our elite "in the know" wokeness.

    Acting is basically vile except for a few veterans. Par for the course for Korean TV
  11. barillas
    Apr 9, 2022
    0
    Unworldly American critics are falling over themselves as everything Korean, however mediocre and petit bourgeois, is trendy. Liberals are ruining our culture, every piece of art needs to have a hidden political agenda somewhere
  12. IgorSantiago
    Mar 25, 2022
    10
    Uma odisseia existencial, com traços singulares, ‘Pachinko' é mais que uma série dramática, é uma poderosa obra de arte. Verdadeiramente emocionante, impactante, bela, poético, e singular.
  13. elyn_peng
    Mar 25, 2022
    10
    The graphics and music attracted me a lot which help many flashbacks and roles to pour in from the angle of sunja. The nationalism story was be told very indistinct but profound. I think Hollywood will prefer the way directors and actors of presenting their story.
  14. bellalee
    Mar 25, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. after watching the first three episodes,l think the drama is really good, although is the fragment of flashbacks type, but is completely understandable, three generation and the generation of collision in flashback reflect incisively and vividly, the actors, the first set of small sunja famous tear jerker of infection, Minha kim makes innocent young sunja vivid, lee minho perfectly interprets Hansu's ruthlessness and dregs. It makes me think that hansu is a man with many,storys in his heart.Like the producers said they really had that chemistry.… Expand
  15. DeedeeA
    Mar 30, 2022
    10
    Pachinko has got to be one of the best series I've watched in years. From the storytelling, directing, editing, the excellent cinematography (a feast for the eyes indeed) and the acting, of course, of the ENTIRE CAST, they are all absolutely brilliant!!!
  16. JiwonO
    Mar 31, 2022
    10
    Epic, touching TV adaptation of bestseller book Pachinko. This series lives up to all the hype and critical reviews. The storyline weaves back and forth from 1980s following a 2nd generation Korean Japanese ambitious banker to his grandmother’s story in 1930s as a young child to teenager in Busan during Japanese occupation then immigrating to Japan where Koreans are marginalised.Epic, touching TV adaptation of bestseller book Pachinko. This series lives up to all the hype and critical reviews. The storyline weaves back and forth from 1980s following a 2nd generation Korean Japanese ambitious banker to his grandmother’s story in 1930s as a young child to teenager in Busan during Japanese occupation then immigrating to Japan where Koreans are marginalised. Brilliant adaptation… Expand
  17. Simpleong
    Mar 31, 2022
    10
    Subscribe apple tv to watch Pachinko after reading the critics. True enough, I totally agree with all the positive comments of the professionals. Both the production crew and actors deserve the praises.
  18. Kim222
    Apr 1, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The absolute greatest drama this year 2022 #Pachinko is a masterpiece⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#AppleTvPlus… Expand
  19. mrcello
    Apr 5, 2022
    10
    One of the most beautiful cinematography and music I've ever seen in any TV series as well as movies. The genius-level adapted screenplay makes the series much more dynamic than the novel. Definitely the best in 2022.
  20. OlivierPiel
    Mar 26, 2022
    1
    With that score one expected a Korean "de Buddenbrook".
    Far from it. It is just a bland, highly unrealistic, romanticized rags to riches family saga with stereotypical characters (the angelic doting father figure, the " cursed" mother, the gifted child on which family fortune relies....). As with the typical Korean shows, acting is atrociously cliched and lacking any form of nuances and    With that score one expected a Korean "de Buddenbrook".
    Far from it. It is just a bland, highly unrealistic, romanticized rags to riches family saga with stereotypical characters (the angelic doting father figure, the " cursed" mother, the gifted child on which family fortune relies....). As with the typical Korean shows, acting is atrociously cliched and lacking any form of nuances and serves the unsurprising wishy-washy moralistic tale of resilience and purpose that has been done hundred times before in vastly superior fashion.
    Unworldly American critics are falling over themselves as everything Korean, however mediocre and petit bourgeois, is trendy. This "tropist" trend is really "un-woke", isn't it?    … Expand
  21. unma
    Mar 25, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. just finished watching 3 episodes and I have to say it’s a real masterpiece! The cast is brilliant. Their lines, emotions, and even breathe take me into it and feel it. I’m deeply touched and can’t help crying!… Expand
  22. podaddy
    Apr 4, 2022
    10
    Fantastic show. Every scene is filmed to perfection. It packs everything , from judgmental societal shaming, generational conflicts, beloved parents who die too soon, resentful colonized victims, heartless and greedy business tycoons, but most of all it brings boundless human complexity to its characters. It does, at times, fall victim to melodramatic cliches but they're easy to overlookFantastic show. Every scene is filmed to perfection. It packs everything , from judgmental societal shaming, generational conflicts, beloved parents who die too soon, resentful colonized victims, heartless and greedy business tycoons, but most of all it brings boundless human complexity to its characters. It does, at times, fall victim to melodramatic cliches but they're easy to overlook as the show takes every opportunity to dig deeper into the human condition. Beautiful show.… Expand
  23. shoulderoforion
    Apr 3, 2022
    9
    Through 4 episodes Pachinko is wonderful, vibrant, existential storytelling. For someone neither Korean nor Japanese it's a window into a world I knew very little about prior to this, but the show isn't bogged down by the education, it's so much more, it's such a good "show" from the sets, locations, acting, writting, directing, everything about this is thougroughly enjoyable. MoreThrough 4 episodes Pachinko is wonderful, vibrant, existential storytelling. For someone neither Korean nor Japanese it's a window into a world I knew very little about prior to this, but the show isn't bogged down by the education, it's so much more, it's such a good "show" from the sets, locations, acting, writting, directing, everything about this is thougroughly enjoyable. More please, yes thank you.… Expand
  24. rachp
    Mar 29, 2022
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Lil bit boring but so far so good. Youn Yuh Jung's acting never disappoints… Expand
  25. skdramacrazy
    Mar 31, 2022
    10
    A beautifully made Apple TV drama that I watched the first 3 episodes in one sitting, and every time I repeat I find more nuanced performances delivered by the actor Lee Min Ho. I look forward to more Pachinko episodes in the coming weeks. Hopefully Pachinko season 2 and 3 and 4 will be filmed soon.
  26. Louis_Voltron
    May 7, 2022
    8
    The book is amazing the tv series is pretty good but not amazing. Acting is fantastic , I wish the cinematography and directing was better. It was a little too prestige tv vibe and not enough Art house visual vibe
  27. zedzded
    Sep 9, 2022
    4
    it’s well done in a bog standard way.

    as another commenter mentioned this is great for 1987.

    typical korean drama is much more multilayered, self aware, sophisticated this is vanilla and maybe a bit trite

    it feels like it was dreamed up and executed by a bunch of well meaning execs in some office in california who actually never watched any korean drama before

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best TV Season of 2022
27
#27 Most Discussed TV Season of 2022

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Empire
    Reviewed by: Ian Freer
    Mar 28, 2022
    100
    Life’s rich pageant is present and correct in Pachinko and it’s magnificent. A strong shout for the most satisfying TV of the year so far.
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  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Mar 28, 2022
    90
    Pachinko is a sprawling, moving saga of parental sacrifice, feminine resilience and cultural identity threatened by an oppressive regime. It's also one of the few streaming series I wished was longer than eight episodes. [28 Mar - 10 Apr 2022, p.6]
    Read full review
  3. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Mar 28, 2022
    100
    Eight episodes is not enough. Every rich moment satisfies, and each will make you ache for more. ... "Pachinko" is a pure and flawless beauty.
    Read full review
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