It's not often a show can grip a viewer within the first few scenes. But 'Pachinko' does exactly that, plunging you into a journey on such a large scale, all the while making the story seem so personal.
Based off the 2017 novel by Min Jin Lee, 'Pachinko' first introduces us to the child herself, Sunja, a simple girl from a small fishing village outside Busan. Her mother and father run a boarding house, constantly in fear of Japanese rule. Home is a big theme of 'Pachinko', something we're constantly reminded of throughout the series. The brutal Japanese occupation tried to destroy much of Korea's culture including their language and religion and forced many families into poverty. Many, like Sunja, left for Japan for hopes of assimilation and better lives.
What's incredible about this show is the way it catches these moments in time so well. It perfectly encapsulates the feeling of tension between nationalities, the differences in generational views and how families were caught up in it all. Some want to turn a blind eye to the transgressions of their neighbour, others refuse to forget. Everyone just wants to survive.