Jin

Jin is an utterly remarkable TV drama and a true masterpiece of storytelling and emotional depth. Spanning a total of 22 episodes, the series is structured with sub-stories that seamlessly intertwine, creating a cohesive and perfectly balanced narrative right up to the final episode.

I watched Jin on Netflix in December 2024 and was astounded by its exceptional cinematography and acting, particularly considering that the series originally aired in 2009. Its production values and performances remain timeless, offering a cinematic experience that feels far ahead of its time.

Set against the backdrop of historical events, Jin presents a fictional narrative rather than striving for strict historical accuracy, yet it achieves a level of authenticity reminiscent of NHK's Taiga dramas. This creative liberty may render a few characters unconventional, but it is crucial to remember that Jin is a science-fiction drama, not a historical documentary. The series masterfully blends fictional elements with well-researched historical settings, bringing 19th-century Japan to life in a manner that feels both authentic and narratively compelling. The protagonist, Dr Jin Minakata, and his companions tackle complex challenges of the past with ingenuity and humanity, making each episode both engaging and thought-provoking.

At its core, the drama explores profound questions about the essence of humanity, the evolution of medicine, and the impact of historical events on the present and future. These themes are presented with an emotional resonance that encourages viewers to reflect deeply on the human condition.

Although the drama diverges slightly from Motoka Murakami's original manga in terms of subplots and its conclusion, the television adaptation offers its own unique charm. Its more grounded and realistic portrayal of certain scenes enhances the emotional connection to the story. Fans of the manga will find the drama equally compelling, while newcomers to Jin will appreciate its standalone brilliance.

I wholeheartedly recommend Jin to anyone who has yet to experience this extraordinary drama. Its exploration of humanity, history, and the timeless quest for progress makes it a must-watch masterpiece that transcends genres and generations.

Truly a fantastic series that grabs you from the beginning, interesting from every point of view, I congratulate the director his team and all the artists who act there because they really are very good. Ryoma you make me laugh sometimes!

You learn a lot about the history of Japan from its food, from the harsh reality they lived through and how they got through it.

The most important thing for me is the message that is always there to keep moving forward, fight and be the cause to achieve what you want while maintaining a defined purpose, makeup, costumes, stage and sound, everything in place.

A touching series from start to finish, well acted, in a very Japanese style. We get lost in the political turmoil around 1860 in Japan, where war between factions was apparently the order of the day. But the surgeon Jin, who inexplicably travels back in time to this era, brings a magnificent touch of humanity, tolerance and mutual aid, where he puts all his medical and surgical knowledge at the service of all, without distinction. The two seasons focus on how he passes on his medical knowledge and know-how to a team of doctors, including the charming Saki, who is entirely devoted to learning the art of medicine from Jin. The extremely beautiful and pure relationship between them occupies a large part of the story's unfolding. Young Saki is the model of a young woman of great purity and touching idealism. A platonic relationship of respect and admiration grows deeply with Jin. In a very Asian style, the series takes the time to show the feelings between Jin and Saki, through the many adventures the two of them have in saving lives. In Jin's hospital, they reinvent penicillin and other modern techniques inconceivable at the time. The series isn't perfect. There's a lot of repetition, and the reference to Jin's sense of history 140 years before his time can be tiresome. In spite of this, the series is extremely pleasant to watch and has a timeless, universal dimension. You'll be hooked.

Just as the title says, I recommend you ignore the low ratings. This is because I truly believe those who have rated this drama as under 7 have either a) never watched a Japanese drama or b) truly did not understand the story.

Without containing any spoilers, I will try to summarize what I believe to be the primary motives, or rather the point of the whole story. Please keep in mind that I'm also accounting for Season 2, which doesn't seem to be recognized in the actor credits here.

Jin (or Time Slip Dr. Jin in the manga) is the primary protagonist of this story but he, like every good protagonist is fundamentally flawed. He can't forgive himself for his mistakes and it plagues him throughout the story; whether it be with reference to Miki, or any other patient he attends to, this uncharacteristically good nature of his inevitably disables him as a person, especially a relatable person.

For those who have felt as if they haven't made a difference in the world, or what you do is not enough for others, HE is your character foil. But the story isn't about how flawed he is, it's about understanding one's limitations, and accepting the fate that has been handed to you -- in essence, accepting that you, like any other human on this planet, has their limits. Does that mean that fate is inescapable? Not necessarily, it simply means that we sometimes have to realize that whatever paths have been laid out for us, fate, or destiny is drawn out by those who surround us just as much as it is effected by us.

Ultimately, this story does raise questions (perhaps religious ones), but allows us as the viewers to draw conclusions for ourselves. If that isn't your "cup of tea" then I suggest you watch something less thought provoking... like a Twilight movie.. maybe that'll be better suited towards your tastes.

I HAVE BEEN COMPLAING ALOT LATELY ABOUT THE POOR QUALITY OF WRITING COMING OUT IN RECENT TV SHOWS. THEN I STUMBLED ON "JIN" ON NETFLIX. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF QUALITY WRITING I AM LOOKING FOR NOW. ALSO "JIN" HAS TOP NOTCH ACTING, DIRECTION, SET DESIGN, ETC. EVEN TIME i HEARD THE THEME SONG i TEARED UP. THE ML RECENTLY STARRED AS THE GENERAL IN THE SERIES OF "KINGDOM" MOVIES. I WAS AMAZED AS HIS PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION. HE WAS THE REASON I KEPT WATCHING "KINGDOM". THEN I SAW HIM STAR IN "JIN" WOW! PLEASE BRING BACK THE WRITERS FROM "JIN" TO WRITE MORE TV SERIES FOR US NOW! JUST WATCH IT. YOU WILL SEE!