As for the cast, it is magnificent! I was eager to see how Lee Minho would play the role of Ko Hansu and he did it wonderfully. I also liked Kim Minha and No Sanghyun's acting. I didn't know them before I watched this drama but I think that I might as well check out some other works of their.
As for the music, it is fine, too, although I wouldn't describe it as neither special nor memorable.
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This drama focuses more on sacrifice for your homeland, your life, your identity, and everything.
Pachinko. What a unique name. Do I find the meaning of this drama? Absolutely, yes! But, should I tell the meaning? I don't think so, since I predict that this drama will have season 2. Let's hope that my meaning is still the same even if season 2 release next year or 2 years later then.I love Sunja's character so much. From a child, young lady to old lady, ufff. ??? Angry, sad, happy and any other emotion, it's suits with situation Sunja face in her life. Awh. What to do? It almost makes me screaming or happy or sad or any emotion whatever Sunja does. Child, young girl or old lady...Their name : Young Yuh Jung, Kim Min Ha, Jeon Yu Na. Wow. What great acting! I hope the best wish for your girl for your next drama. ???? But, I'm still not satisfied with the ending of Pachinko. So, yes. Let's hope season 2 release soon it then.
Hansu character. Hoho. Finally, this person character made me angrier, speechless, don't know what to do and happy a bit. ???? What a cruel person. I hate this person character more (not gonna hate him during old version of Hansu - 20 years old). What I can say about Hansu's character? It seems during that era, these person who have much wealth will do that way. I beg your pardon, Mister? Are you really sure? You're crueller to me, Mister... ? In conclusion, wow. ???? You're indeed just making me more interested to watch your next drama, Lee Min Ho. I hope next drama, you will not disappoint me. Thanks, LMH for picking this drama. This is indeed worth to watch for me. ??????
Ishak character (Steven Noh) Do I like his character? Of course, yes. ??? Wow. I respect you, Mister. You are indeed a good gentleman. ?? His love to his wife, Sunja, and his two sons, Noa and Mozazu, ???. Awhh. I can't describe my feeling more in this review. Just you guys know, I'm happier with his character. Anyway, thanks, Ishak for protecting Sunja. ??
I'm more interested with Noa character. But, it's making me thinking. Okay. Let's wait for season 2. Don't make me disappointed then!
This drama focuses more on sacrifice for your homeland, your life, your identity, and everything. You will see that from Sunja, Ishak, Hansu and all characters in this drama. What could I say for this drama? Money? Maybe, but, does it's focus on that? Not too much. But, why? Remember. Money can't bring happiness to your life ya. But, still, money needs to in order to buy food and everything. Yes, it seems like that, but, I think we forget one thing. With correct person, we will do everything to get the money. That's all I can say.
Since it's my first review in here, I try my best to give rating. Usually, I will give / 5 for drama. So, my rating for this drama 4.4 / 5. What a great drama I watch after Mr. Sunshine. Awhh. I miss my Mr. Sunshine. ???
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Amazing scenes and acting; You tear up just from watching two people talking about rice.
"Pachinko" is a visually stunning family saga based on an American adaptation of a novel. It spans four generations as the characters struggle to survive and grapple with their identities.What makes "Pachinko" attractive is its exploration of the characters' journeys across national boundaries. They start as ethnically Korean individuals born on the Korean Peninsula and end up in Japan due to various circumstances. This global perspective is reflected not only in the storyline but also in the show's production; Despite the way they're shot is very different from K-dramas, the quality and acting are great.
However, I'm not a fan with the alternating past-present short sequences because it took me out of the show. The shows also heavily spent time for telling another second-lead story which I wasn’t really invested in. I am more interested on our female lead’s past; the bitter life she suffered from the Japanese colonization and the aftermath of that.
Final remark, I don't feel closure of the stories told in season 1. I would not say the drama ends on a cliffhanger but maybe a somewhat open ending?
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Heartbreakingly beautiful!
The drama intricately portrays original book, even dwelling in deeper backstory of characters & original immigrants - generational victims since Japanese occupation era & continued identity crisis, collectively similar but starkly different across generations.It evokes bittersweet nostalgia, a painful reminder of the past, reflections on how political crisis has changed courses of lives and continues to do so even in the current day, as immigrants can neither return to Korea nor get a full recognition in Japan.
The past and present parallels putting spotlight on Sunja and Solomon (the grandmother and grandson) duo is seamlessly woven to create a heartbreakingly beautiful cinematic experience. You feel their hopes, pain, resignation and courage through and through.
The cast is stellar, the acting: both the younger and older actors excel at making the roles their core identities & the rawness of the direction makes it feel like a poetry: alternatingly beautiful and destructive.
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just as good as the book (maybe a little more?)
I read the book and watched the show at the same time, and both were phenomenal! The only critique I have is there were some moments in the show that felt a little "draggy", but it was overall very good! I especially like the parts of the show that differed from the book. They did not take away from the general emotions, vibes, and aesthetic that I felt while reading the story. The extra scenes and added-on storylines fleshed out the characters and gave the story a little more nuance. I cannot wait for the second season! :)Was this review helpful to you?
Cinematographic masterpiece, not a regular drama
It is a pure cinematographic art that has to be watched with certain premises:1. Do not expect regular K drama, that will entertain you with cheesy storyline.
2. Watch it using a “third “ eye , many hidden messages and deeper meanings are weaved into simple or even meaningless scenes.
3. Do not try to predict or get attached to a certain ending.
4. If you are not “getting” it, better put on hold and come back later to enjoy when you will be ready to read between the lines.
Rich and intensive storyline with entirely open ending. Astonishing acting. Extraordinary cast.
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A story for us, of us and that will go on to become us
After a long time, I have cried my heart out after ending an series. "Pachinko" is a masterpiece, one that everyone should watch and then read and then meditate upon. It leaves us with lessons that we will hold within us for a very long time, allow us to survive, to endure.Reading Pachinko in 2019 was my first brush with the understanding of the horrors of the Japanese occupation in Korea. To learn almost nothing about it and then to learn so much about it thanks to books, dramas like "Hymn of Death" and reading webtoons like "The Gyeongsang Mermaid", is a lesson inside how much suffering has occured and yet how much hope is left amidst all of this.
The story of Sunja and the retinue of characters that dwell in this tale will all reside within you. Not only because of how beautiful the cinematography is, how brilliant the screen adaptation of the novel is or how beautifully wound together the scenes are despite going back and forth a thousand dimensions, it is because it seems these characters lived these little lives through their acting. You feel the emotions they feel sometimes like a burden, sometimes like a relief.
Amidst all the cross cutting timelines and the recurring themes of discrimination, otherization, ostracization and suffering that spread across the 8 episodes of the series, the moments that remain with you are the hopeful ones. When Sunja gives birth to Noa, when Sunja and Kyunghee walk debtfree, when the characters dance in the opening sequence, when the ending of the 8th episode show the real life stories of the women surviving today.
Even those fleeting moments of happiness that are embedded in this long dark story shine very bright, linger inside you and stay within you.
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A western take on Korean history
I loved Min Jin Lee's original book. It would've been almost impossible for this adaptation to compare. So let's not put it on such a pedestal.Is it unfair to judge a western show off its first season, recognizing that western-style shows are serial rather than self-contained? Regardless, this eight-episode stint is all that's out now, and it felt incomplete. We didn't close the loop on the relevance of pachinko as a metaphor. We only got introduced to Noa as a character in the LAST episode. We had a whole episode on Hansu's backstory — admittedly, richer than what we knew about him from the book — but it felt jarring and out of place (dare I say, it felt like... filler, if the point was to focus on Sunja's story here).
My friend is friends with a producer of the Apple TV+ series, and was told that their intention is for the story of Pachinko to be told over four seasons. I think I understand the rationale since the book spans across four generations. I liked the way this one followed Sunja and Solomon's stories in parallel. I understand that the source material is meaty. But ugh, the western show format of keeping things open-ended in hopes of renewal for the next season really irks me. It makes me wish that I had waited until the whole thing is out! But if people don't watch as it comes out, it won't get renewed — and the story will remain unfinished. It's all a ploy to keep people subscribed. Perhaps I'm feeling particularly cynical after watching such a cynical show. Is life just a game after all, rigged to keep us putting in our energy for the smallest wins? Watch Pachinko and see if that message resonates.
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Emotional and filling
It's starting to get fast....3 eps earlier was a little slow and calm...but this one is quiet fast there is sadness,happiness and rage.when sunja heard the ship horn and started crying wow....I could not stop myself from feeling wat she feel...imagine leaving ur mom at a younger age to an unfamiliar environmental ????...sunja hwaiting....
Am not forgetting leeminho.....wish he keeps having more screen ontime he is soo good with his part
And our Oscar winner I give her a tombs up with the rain scene
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Generations
Likes1. I didnt read the book yet, but i loved the story of Sunja's family, from the time she was born and how she got married, had family, and struggled for a better life. At first I didnt understand why guys were falling all over Sunja but watch the drama and you'll find out why (and the actress is amazing).
2. Surprisingly i find Koh Hansu interesting (not just because he is played by LMH) but because adding one episode about his life (which is not in the book) gave some perspective of who he is now.
3. I wanna know more about what happened to Noa and how Mozasu grows up to be who he is, and Kyunghee. I think i will read the book now coz i cant wait for 4 more seasons how the story ends.
Dislikes
1. I prefer watching young Sunja's journey and not really the present timeline. Mostly because i'm not sold on Solomon. Surprised to see him act like this considering his family's experience. But i think that's the point of the story and he will learn and mature because of this.
2. I dont like Hana so not sure why we had to see one episode about her.
I hope Apple will be able to film all 4 seasons!
Rating: 8.5/10
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Good Enough
Korean-Canadian Drama " Pachinko ", based on the other under the same name, is a mutligeneration story.The drama has a beautiful cinematography, with moody scenes, misty camera lencses, and the right setting and costumes. The jumping from one era to another, also, was smooth and one could easily distinguish one period from the other.
In addition, the drama is well acted, something that aided the story a lot and didn't let it flop.
However, this first season felt more like an prequel, an introduction to the story, as, just when things started picking up and everything was coming together, it ended.
So, overall, six out of ten.
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