We all love period dramas and that’s a fact. People are immensely drawn to the fact that series like Downtown Abbey, Vikings, Peaky Blinders, and Marco Polo exist and they’re one of a kind.
Apple TV+ offers Pachinko—an ambitious adaptation from Min Jin Lee’s novel of the same name. It follows the story of a Korean family who immigrates to Japan where they encounter discrimination, stereotyping, and all other aspects of the 20th century Korean experience in Japan.
The production team composed of producers from Japan, South Korea, and USA to tell it, for them to accurately defy and handle multiple languages and cultures, creating a generation-spanning picture of what things were like for Koreans during Japan’s occupation, as well as what was in store for Korean families that migrated to Japan.
You know what historical or period dramas are like—but this is different. Despite the sheer amount of time spent on getting to know our characters, there isn’t a single moment where “Pachinko” feels remotely boring or slow.
Here are 5 reasons why you should lowkey hop on the bandwagon:
1. UNIQUE CONCEPT FROM A BOOK
Pachinko manifests the push and pull between each choice: the struggle to endure and the desire to break away from confines that hold them. It is profound, devastating, and beautiful all at once. It is a Korean story like no other, and it is excellent.
2. THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE
Moving to a new country comes with its own set of fears. The immigrant experience may differ for many, but the one thing we can all agree on is that it’s never a picnic. The producers gave justice on how author Min Jin Lee portrayed the experience—the story was weaved perfectly; the characters are either challenging or surrendering to their foreigner status.
3. FAMILIAL TIES
What makes it so profoundly universal are the characters’ ceaseless struggle to safeguard the future of their loved. A mother’s love, a father’s selfless sacrifice, and a son’s persistence—you root for them every step of the way.
4. CONQUEST OF DREAMS
Everyone wants to live the “Japanese Dream,” even the Koreans that have been cast out of society. But because they have nothing left of them, their dreams are the only ones left to cling on, making a reality out of it.
5. THE JUSTICE OF CHARACTERS
This star-studded drama is such a must-watch. This is a role that we’ve both seen, and simultaneously never seen, Lee Min-Ho play before. Not to mention, with an extra flavor of Kingpin, from his underlying coldness to the all-white cosplay.
His other co-stars are famous actors from all the Korean dramas you’ve been watching in different shows. Totally gigantic.
