‘Pachinko’ Season 1 Review: Yuh-jung Youn, Minha Kim, And Lee Minho Starrer Is An Authentic, Much Needed Asian Representation In Hollywood

‘Pachinko’ Season 1 Review: Yuh-jung Youn, Minha Kim, And Lee Minho Starrer Is An Authentic, Much Needed Asian Representation In Hollywood

To be honest, I have watched Pachinko at least 10 times by now and you can say that I’m obsessed with this series. However, a lot of people ask me whether it’s a k-drama or not and I just want to inform them that it’s a Hollywood series about the struggles and dreams of an immigrant Korean family living in Japan. The cast features some of the best Asian actors including Yuh-jung Youn, Lee Minho, Minha Kim, Jin Ha, Steve Sang-Hyun Noh, Anna Sawai, Jimmi Simpson, Inji Jeong, Junwoo Han, Eun Chae Jung, Soji Arai, and others. The 8-episode periodic drama is created by Soo Hugh and is helmed by Kogonada and Justin Chon. And let me tell you, it’s one of the best series of this year. 

EPISODE 8 

Let me tell you, Episode 8 of Pachinko has the cutest opening scene – Baek Isak picks up his son Noa from school, their interaction literally melts your heart. And Noa is a big brother now, little Mosazu who is equally cute as his elder brother chooses his fate at his first birthday party dressed in traditional Korean attire. However, the future of this cute family is looking not so happy-happy.

 

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On the other hand, Hana is breathing her last and Etsuko is very upset to see her daughter in extreme pain. Meanwhile, Mozasu is not happy with Solomon’s decision to open pachinko parlours with Yoshii who is a controversial human being but at least he’s not racist like other people. However, Solomon is quite determined and wants to follow his heart for the first time, I’m quite concerned for our good boy, to be honest. 

Talking about younger Sunja, her life turns upside down after police arrest Isak after someone snitched on him, don’t tell me it’s Koh Hansu or else I will lose my calm. Yoseb tries to get his brother out but loses his job in the process, Zainichi Koreans are being treated poorly by the Japanese police and people and it’s so sad. 

Also Read: ‘Pachinko’ Review: Yuh-jung Youn, Minah Kim Are The Heart Of This Epic Heart-Touching Family Saga And Lee Minho Is The Brain

Meanwhile, Solomon apologises to Hana for leaving him behind and decides to fulfil her last wish. Even though Hana has made many awful decisions for herself, I love how she’s so straightforward and motivates Solomon to achieve great things. She’s one of the few Japanese characters who are not racist at all. 

Sunja finds out about Isak’s plan to bring a change in society and she’s disappointed. I know working for the helpless people is good but it comes with so many consequences. And why is everyone saying Isak will not return home? I’m so confused at this point. The scene where Sunja and Noa see Isak after his arrest is so heartbreaking, the way little Noa chases after his father literally breaks my heart, this little guy has some exceptional acting skills, not gonna lie. 

SUNJA FOLLOWS HER FATHER’S ADVICE 

At the end of the first episode, Sunja’s father tells her that she will have to prove herself to her children and after Isak’s imprisonment, Sunja realises this and decides to sell kimchi to earn some money to feed her family. We can see how difficult it is for her to communicate with the Japanese people at the marketplace but she’s a strong woman who wants to provide her two kids and family with everything. I also noticed that she follows Hansu’s advice as well, she doesn’t like to dwell on the past. After facing innumerable difficulties in her life, she has become a realist like Koh Hansu and not a dreamer like her husband, Pastor Baek Isak. Hmm, that’s quite interesting!

SUNJA IS A TRUE MATRIARCH

Sunja is a true matriarch of the Isak family, the way she handles all the issues with fearlessness is truly inspiring. And elder Sunja still has the pocket watch that Koh Hansu gifted her years ago. How is this possible? The watch needs a separate story, to be honest, because kitna suspense hai yaar!

Also Read: ‘OM: The Battle Within’ Teaser: Aditya Roy Kapur Is Raising The Temperature But Is It Just Another Mindless Bollywood Action Movie?

On the other hand, Koh Hansu meets his son Noa for the first time. However, their interaction looks sweet yet so toxic as he wants him to stop listening to Isak who loved him as his own son when his real father refused to accept him, make it make sense. I remember the kind of relationship he had with his own father and even though he wants a good relationship with his son, Hansu needs to understand that Noa has a family that cares for him. Why so nosy, bro?

REAL STORIES OF REAL PEOPLE

In the end, the episode shows interviews of real immigrant Korean women who left their country at a young age and came to Japan during the colonization of Korea. They all left their home to begin a new life in a foreign country, they faced so many difficulties. That’s how you know Pachinko is based on the real stories of so many Koreans and it tells the stories through four generations of one family.

VERDICT

All and all, Pachinko is an authentic and much-needed Asian representation in Hollywood, it’s definitely one of the best series of 2022. I mean, how often do you get to watch a Hollywood film or series with Asian actors and narratives?


Season 1 of this epic series feels like an introductory part and it has many plot holes as the makers don’t want to spoil the essence of the book. Now, I have some high hopes for the next season because there are so many questions regarding the story and the characters and I need answers. Till then, I will play ‘Let’s Live For Today’ on loop because it has become my favourite song. 

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