Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 54: Mysterious Identity

After the broadcast of the ninth episode of "The Pacific," it truly sparked a sensation.

This episode is about the famous Battle of Iwo Jima. However, films like "Letters from Iwo Jima" and "Flags of Our Fathers" had already depicted this battle from different perspectives. "The Pacific" avoided focusing solely on the battle itself but instead examined this grueling combat from various angles.

While inspecting the war ruins, Eugene unexpectedly discovered a family tragically killed in a roadside house, with only a crying infant left behind. Before leaving, Eugene also found a dying woman, and through the baptism of war, Eugene's emotions evolved from vigilance to coldness and finally to closeness as he embraced the woman, waiting for her to breathe her last breath.

The stark contrast between Eugene's numbness towards the baby and his tenderness and emotion towards the dying woman ignited a storm of discussion among everyone. This discussion wasn't just limited to audience comments on the internet but also included enthusiastic opinions from professional film critics and the general public.

As Kyle Smith stated in The Wall Street Journal, Renly's portrayal in this scene showcased sensitivity, depth, and intensity, not only astonishing viewers but also elevating the entire series. Until now, the true intent of "The Pacific" as a whole had been fully revealed, bringing about a storm of reflection for every viewer.

The Hollywood Reporter expressed, "After the initial controversy, 'The Pacific' exhibits astonishing intellectual depth, questioning of human nature, the pain of war, and the ebb and flow of ideas, once again achieving rare greatness!"

Vanity Fair stated, "Starting low and finishing high, 'The Pacific' has gone through a thrilling rollercoaster journey. Just like the exhilaration of the entire process, the climax towards the end bombarded the audience, blatantly presenting the pain of war to everyone. Renly Hall's performance strikes directly at the soul!"

The New York Times commented, "This is a work that prompts self-reflection and reevaluation of veterans. We see the cruelty and horror of war but not the scars on the soldiers. When Eugene, portrayed by Renly Hall, gently embraces the dying woman, the juxtaposition of life and death allows the audience to realize how difficult it is to live."

...

The reviews from authoritative media and the opinions of Yahoo community users were aligned for the first time. While most media still refused to solely credit Renly, insisting that the success of the series was a result of collective effort, particularly the elevation of intellectual weight, they unanimously acknowledged Renly's performance as a highlight of the latter part of the series. This 20-year-old newcomer shone like a comet.

IMDB ratings soared to 8.5, while the overall media ratings inexplicably rose to 87—slightly ahead of "Band of Brothers." As the final episode of "The Pacific" approached, HBO finally breathed a sigh of relief. Not only did professional critics and viewers acclaim the series, but subscriber satisfaction returned to normal levels, even exceeding expectations—

According to HBO's official feedback, subscriber satisfaction with "The Pacific" successfully surpassed "Band of Brothers." Even without considering the initial unfavorable circumstances, this was an unexpected outcome.

As discussed in Yahoo community forums before, "The Pacific" is a miniseries, not a movie. Its success should not be judged solely based on one episode but as a whole. Similarly, by focusing on three distinct individuals, "The Pacific" potentially had a greater impact on viewers than "Band of Brothers," provided the audience could connect with the three characters.

When "The Pacific" finished airing, the enthusiasm of netizens was fully unleashed.

In the final moments of the story, Eugene sat lonely under the sycamore tree in front of his house, gazing blankly at the gradually reddening horizon. Although he survived, he was left with only a shattered soul, reminiscent of the once enthusiastic, vibrant, sensitive, resolute, and hopeful son of the Sledge family, forever left on that blood-stained battlefield.

A surge of reflective discussion completely detonated on Yahoo forums. The number of replies to discussion threads reached a new high as netizens eagerly wanted to express their opinions on "The Pacific," war itself, and Eugene Sledge, then seek like-minded individuals to share with. This wave of reflective discussion far surpassed that of "Band of Brothers."

If "Band of Brothers" brought about fervor, "The Pacific" brought about tangled thoughts.

The IMDB rating for "The Pacific" surged past 100,000, settling at a solid 8.6, securing its place among the top 70 classic series.

Compared to the acclaimed "Band of Brothers" with a rating of 9.5, this achievement might not seem remarkable, but for "The Pacific," which faced a challenging start, such a conclusion was commendable. Furthermore, considering the upcoming DVD release and the additional viewers it would attract, the ratings could potentially improve further. "Band of Brothers" claimed the top spot on IMDB's series list after nine years, leaving a long road ahead for "The Pacific."

In 2001, "Band of Brothers" sparked a craze for war-themed works, stirring discussions about this remarkable piece. When the DVDs were released, they broke sales records, maintaining the top spot for nine years, a testament to the profound influence of the series.

However, the true achievement of "Band of Brothers" was the reputation of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the golden duo behind the entire work, rather than any individual's success. Over the years, it became evident that the series featured many familiar faces, including Damian Lewis, Kirk Acevedo, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy, Simon Pegg, James McAvoy, and more.

Upon revisiting "Band of Brothers" years later, it became apparent that it was essentially a star factory, with every familiar face bringing surprises. However, after 2001, none of these actors benefited significantly from "Band of Brothers"—no breakthroughs, no piles of invitations, no career leaps, none at all.

In 2010, "The Pacific" revived people's enthusiasm for war-themed works. Discussions on Yahoo remained high from the first episode, with the development curve challenging the nerves of countless viewers, ultimately cementing its reputation as a "great work." Although there was still debate about whether this work could be considered a classic, it was undeniable that Tom and Steven's collaboration once again delivered outstanding performances.

However, this time, "The Pacific" brought one actor into the spotlight—Eugene "Sledge Hammer" Sledge—who touched the hearts of countless viewers, especially with the moving scene in the ninth episode, leaving live viewers in tears. After the airing of the series, discussions focused on Eugene exceeded those of the series itself.

Suddenly, people began asking: Who played Eugene Sledge? Who was the actor who delivered such a steady and impressive performance?

Yes, his name is Renly Hall, a newcomer actor. He is the core soul of "The Pacific"... This information was widely known after the premiere through Tom Hanks's introduction. With just a simple search, one could find that there was considerable controversy surrounding this newcomer actor, with many expressing concerns about whether it was the right decision to entrust a core role to someone with no acting experience.

Now, it seems that Steven and Tom's bold gamble has led to the brilliance of "The Pacific." That adventurous decision has become a wise choice.

But what about other information?

Despite searching the entire internet, there was scarce information about Renly, as if this actor had appeared out of nowhere, without any personal history, resume, or even his birthday—wait, does anyone know how old Renly is this year?

Such confusion adds to the mysterious aura. In the age of social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, where everyone can be a source of news, it's odd that there's no personal information. Even in the two and a half months of "The Pacific" airing, amidst the fervent discussions online, no one has come forward to reveal information about Renly.

It's strange, exceedingly strange. Could it be that Renly lived in a backward rural area before? Perhaps the people there were not fond of gossip, not keen on the internet, and had limited access to information, hence didn't notice this surge of enthusiasm? This seems to be the only reasonable explanation.

The discussions on the internet show no signs of slowing down but rather intensifying. All signs indicate that the biggest winner of "The Pacific" is Renly. He has contributed to the success of this work, and this work has contributed to his rise.

However, how long can this level of enthusiasm last? People on the internet are forgetful, and fervor comes and goes quickly. Moreover, what does this enthusiasm ultimately bring for Renly? The discussion fervor on the internet has limited impact on the real-life film industry. Moreover, "The Pacific" is just a miniseries, without the pressure of box office, the burden of reputation, or the awards season associated with it.

For Hollywood, does any of this matter?

...

A/N:

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Ratings = 2 bonus Chapters

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