Pachinko, Not East of Eden, Is the Historical Drama to Watch

A new adaptation of East of Eden hit Netflix this year, and Screen Rant calls it one of the best Netflix original shows of 2026. But the outlet says another streaming series outdoes it: Pachinko, which premiered on Apple TV in 2022.

Pachinko is based on the 2017 novel by Min Jin Lee. The show spans from the 1910s to the late 1980s, tracking a Korean family through the Japanese occupation and the discrimination of that era. Screen Rant writes that the show gives East of Eden a run for its money and deserves more recognition as a historical drama.

Where East of Eden takes a mostly linear approach, Pachinko weaves multiple timelines together to show how past moments connect to present decisions. The source notes that Pachinko’s scale required multi-season arcs, while East of Eden condensed its story into seven episodes.

Screen Rant highlights Kim Sunja, one of the main characters, as a complicated matriarch forced to make hard choices for her family. The outlet compares her to Florence Pugh’s Cathy in East of Eden, noting that Sunja is not an antihero but is given just as much depth by the writing.

Apple TV is better known for its science fiction projects, but Screen Rant says Pachinko proves the service can deliver a once-in-a-generation historical drama. The show’s second season ended in 2024, and fans have been waiting for a third. The outlet argues that after the success of East of Eden, Apple TV should revive Pachinko, as the story is just as compelling as Steinbeck’s work.

• Apple TV
• East of Eden
• Historical Drama
• John Steinbeck
• Min Jin Lee
• Netflix
• Pachinko