Pachinko

Apple TV+ | Release Date: March 25, 2022

8.7	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 31 Ratings

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TVJerryApr 30, 2022

This series is based on the novel of the same name, so it attempts to start telling the extended story over 8 hours (it has been renewed to continue for a 2nd season). The plot details several timelines and merges their histories, starting inThis series is based on the novel of the same name, so it attempts to start telling the extended story over 8 hours (it has been renewed to continue for a 2nd season). The plot details several timelines and merges their histories, starting in 1915, during the Japanese invasion of Korea, when the Koreans are abused and treated as 2nd class. It jumps to 1989, where a young Korean-American financier is sent to Japan to secure a piece of land. Other generations eventually fit into the mix. The events unfold slowly with history and culture in the forefront with characters that aren't especially interesting. It's unquestionably a sprawling epic, but the "old-school" pacing and plot developments are simply too slow to keep interest. Interestingly, the subtitles are in one color for Korean and another color for Japanese.… Expand

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JLuis_001Apr 29, 2022

Although at first I was a bit confused because the narrative didn't seem to be coherent due to the way it intercuts different time periods and characters, Pachinko turned out to be a revelation.

At some point this miniseries was compared toAlthough at first I was a bit confused because the narrative didn't seem to be coherent due to the way it intercuts different time periods and characters, Pachinko turned out to be a revelation.

At some point this miniseries was compared to other South Korean dramas, but honestly those are just soap operas. This Apple TV+ production has a much higher quality.

Based on the book of the same name, Pachinko is an emotive tale about the lost history of hundreds of thousands of Koreans who were affected by the Japanese colonization of Korea in the 20th century.

The story involves 4 generations revolving around the character of Sunja, who in her old age is played by Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung and in her youth by a surprising Kim Min-ha, who carries the heaviest emotional burden of all the episodes and rises to the challenge.

The drama works because of the performances, the great production work and the well handled direction by Kogonada and Justin Chon, but I think the way the episodes were edited is problematic because the narrative feels scattered and doesn't flow properly at many, many moments. Besides the fact that a lot of plot points were left undeveloped, they clearly couldn't transfer all the depth of the source material into these 8 hours.
This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it's clear that something is missing.

Ultimately Pachinko doesn't entail any kind of grandeur, but it's not as if it seeks to conjure it.
It's an ambitious drama and its biggest merit lies in the depiction of the story at its core.
Sure, its production is top notch and that's important, but the performances and portrayals of a reality that many ignore is the most significant and meaningful facet of this drama, which is not perfect, but I did enjoy it.

All 8 episodes are now available on Apple TV+… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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elyn_pengMar 25, 2022

The cinematography and music attracted me a lot which help many flashbacks and roles to pour in from the angle of sunja. The nationalism story was told very indistinct but profound. I think Hollywood will prefer the way directors and actorsThe cinematography and music attracted me a lot which help many flashbacks and roles to pour in from the angle of sunja. The nationalism story was told very indistinct but profound. I think Hollywood will prefer the way directors and actors of presenting their story.… Expand