Apple TV+’s Sprawling, Multilingual Pachinko Is a Winner

Series creator Soo Hugh also made the decision to forego the structure that was built into Min Jin Lee’s novel, where each era of Sunja’s story was separated into different books. For example, the introduction of Solomon’s struggles in 1989 would appear chronologically near the end of the novel. Instead, the series juggles different timelines and character perspectives (Kim Min-ha’s Sunja, Youn Yuh-Jung’s Sunja, and Jin Ha’s Solomon) continuously. Some of this timeshifting is made easier by having the older Sunja dissolve directly over her younger self, but it can still be confusing. To aid in some of the location shifts, since Pachinko takes place in Japan and Korea (with English also appearing as a spoken language), the subtitles are color-coded to emphasize when the characters are speaking Japanese or Korean—it’s an important distinction because it shows how the Koreans had to assimilate into Japanese culture, and could no longer speak their own language.

Even though Pachinko is a story about Korean immigrants facing great adversity, their plight is important for American viewers to witness. In an attempt to get the Korean landowner to sell her property, Solomon decides to bring his grandmother with him as a bargaining tool. During their meeting when Sunja is served Korean white rice, she’s reminded of her heritage and what she left behind when she left Korea. It’s a subtle moment that is lost on Solomon, but through Sunja this white rice that we take for granted held great meaning. In another pivotal sequence, we witness the atrocities Koreans were faced with after a national disaster, as a man looks on while the Japanese murder his countrymen. It easily translates to slavery and racism in America, something that still dominates our lives. Japan’s history of xenophobia against Koreans is also on display here, which may not be something many Westerners were aware of.

Despite these many different elements to the series, the superb ensemble cast holds everything together. From the legendary Youn Yuh-Jung to the K-Drama superstar Lee Min-ho, everybody is bringing their best to Pachinko. Of note is the expressiveness that Youn brings to her scenes—especially one she shares with her sister-in-law, Kyunghee (Felice Choi). While Kyunghee is talking, the camera focuses on how Youn is reacting to the information. It’s much more than just listening to her sister-in-law, but rather internalizing what is being said through subtle facial movements. Youn is simply a remarkable actor, and thankfully the world is being shown her talent even at this late stage in her career. On the other hand, Lee, who has been a Korean sensation since his performance in the 2009 Korean adaptation of Boys Over Flowers, mostly makes his presence felt through his stature. Taking place during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the episode is a standout not only for Lee’s performance, but also for the captivating background of this enigmatic character. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention actress Kim Min-ha and her performance as Sunja—it’s here that Pachinko really sings, as she has a heaping amount of determination to survive. In another instance, she shows the audience the depth of her heartbreak while she journeys into an inhospitable new land.

Despite being a riveting adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s novel, there are few things that hold Pachinko back from being a perfect adaptation. The most glaring issue tends to be Solomon’s storyline and how it fits into the main narrative. His character is simply not as interesting as Sunja, and his negotiations with the Korean landowner are stretched too thin. Then there’s Solomon’s long-lost step-sister/lover Hana (Mari Yamamoto) that works as a mystery that needs to be solved, but the result of that story thread comes across poorly. While his arc does show how prevalent racism continued to be in Japan through the ‘80s, the burden of expectations from his family, and how a younger generation is affected by the Korean diaspora, it’s a step down from what’s going on with Sunja’s plight. Another issue is how the pacing seems in conflict with the story that’s being told. Teenage Sunja is given many episodes to develop in Busan, whereas her time in Japan is fractured. When Pachinko is finally ready to show Sunja trying to make it in Japan on her own, the season frantically ends without a cohesive stopping point.

Still, Pachinko is a sweeping epic filled with fantastic performances and a captivating story of survival. The entire ensemble is excellent, especially with Youn Yuh-Jung and Lee Min-ho showcasing their immense talent. Even though this is a specific story about Koreans and their lives over the last century, many of the hardships they face are universal. Apple TV+’s gamble has paid off— or in pachinko terms, they hit the jackpot.

For all the latest TV news, reviews, lists and features, follow @Paste_TV.