Pachinko boss reflects on “emotional” season 2 finale: “When is it too much?”

Pachinko boss reflects on “emotional” season 2 finale: “When is it too much?”

As a movie lover with a heart for deeply emotional narratives and a soft spot for Korean dramas, I must say that the season 2 finale of Pachinko left me absolutely breathless! The revelation of Hansu being Noa’s biological father was a bombshell that shook me to my core, just like Kang Tae Ju (Noa) did on set during filming.


*Warning: Contains full spoilers for the final episode of Pachinko season 2*

In the final episode of Season 2, it was ultimately revealed that one of Pachinko’s most significant mysteries had been uncovered: Noa discovered that Hansu was actually his birth father.

In a deeply emotional scene that would forever alter the trajectory of his life, Noa learned the truth about something from his girlfriend, Akiko, prior to confronting Hansu directly. This revelation from Akiko set the stage for their encounter.

In conversation, the producer and screenwriter Soo Hugh has shared insights about filming intense scenes, commenting: “The talented Noa, who plays Kang Tae Ju, is simply outstanding. Filming those poignant moments was particularly challenging as he needed to step away from set multiple times due to the deep emotional impact it had on him.

In our work with actors, we often request them to deliver three variations of every scene: a gentle one, a moderate one, and a spicy, intense one. We explain that first, they should present the gentle version as a baseline, then provide the regular version, and finally, amplify their performance for the spicy, highly-charged version.

“Once he had gotten to the jalapeno version and started, his body started shaking.”

Pachinko boss reflects on “emotional” season 2 finale: “When is it too much?”

Hugh went on to say: “Eventually, the question becomes, ‘What hardships are we subjecting this individual to?’ I inquired, ‘Would you like to halt this process? Shall we end it here?’ He replied, ‘No, I must carry on. I simply require a brief moment.’

In the heat of a scene on set, I find myself struck by the realization: this isn’t merely acting, but a portrayal of a person’s entire past unfolding.

In regard to the overall finale, Hugh commented: “The finale was challenging, and I wonder sometimes, where do we draw the line at being too intense?

I’m fond of melodramatic stories. I proudly admit my work falls under the category of melodrama, yet I believe there’s a boundary one shouldn’t overstep, or else it becomes excessive.

“And so that was really a big question for that episode: When do you cross that line?”

Fans eagerly anticipate an official renewal for a third season of Pachinko, hoping it will be adapted from the remaining parts of Min Jin Lee’s 2017 novel.

The show’s top producers have shared that Hugh is already gearing up for the direction of season 3 – let’s keep our fingers crossed that his plans come to fruition.

Pachinko seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream now on Apple TV+. Sign up to Apple TV+ now.

Read More

2024-10-13 14:33