SPOILER ALERT: This text incorporates main spoilers from “Squid Recreation” Season 3, Episode 2, now streaming on Netflix.

When Park Sung-hoon filmed Cho Hyun-ju’s dying scene throughout “Squid Recreation” Season 3’s memorable recreation of hide-and-seek, he managed to shock himself by nailing it straight away.

“Director Hwang [Dong-hyuk] gave me a course saying, ‘When Hyun-ju slips away from the digicam, might you’ve gotten one tear roll down your face?’ And I assumed it could be exhausting, however I truly did it in a single take,” Park tells Selection. “So once I completed it, the workers all clapped and cheered for me.”

However that doesn’t imply saying goodbye got here straightforward, particularly as a result of Hyun-ju’s dying occurs so unexpectedly early within the season. “Not too long ago, I’ve performed a whole lot of villain characters, so I used to be so fortunate to have the ability to play Hyun-ju, who’s such a cool character,” Park says. “It was very exhausting for me to say goodbye to her, as a result of I assumed she would last more. I believe she died sooner than she ought to have, so it’s a disgrace.”

Hyun-ju was launched in Season 2 as one of many primary gamers within the new recreation, with the purpose of utilizing the money prize to assist fund her gender-affirming surgical procedure after getting discharged from the army. Counting on her coaching, she finally ends up teaming up with Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), changing into an instrumental chief within the rise up. Selection beforehand spoke with Park concerning the preparation that went into taking part in a trans character as a cis actor.

After Gi-hun’s rise up fails on the finish of Season 2, Episode 2 of this last season kicks off with half the gamers being compelled to kill one other participant, whereas the hiders attempt to discover the exit. Hyun-ju instantly sticks with the older girl, Jang Geum-ja (Kang Ae-sim), and the pregnant Kim Jun-hee (Jo Yu-ri), who’re all on the identical workforce. Alongside the way in which, Hyun-ju is compelled to kill off gamers from the opposing workforce, exhibiting off her army coaching. Upon stumbling on the exit, she goes again to save lots of Geum-ja and Jun-hee’s new child child earlier than being stabbed within the again by Lee Myungi-gi (Yim Si-wan).

Under, Park breaks down Hyun-ju’s determination to sacrifice herself, what it meant for a trans character to witness the infant’s start, and the way the actor continues to replicate on the LGBTQ+ neighborhood’s heat response to the character.

Are you able to discuss concerning the large emotional scene when Hyun-ju finds the exit, opens the door and decides to return, finally sacrificing herself to save lots of the opposite two ladies? What’s going via her head in that second?

When she finds the exit, it was simply an computerized response for her to take a step. However I believe her motivation shifted from Seasons 2 to three. In Season 2, her primary motivation was to get the cash in order that she might get her gender affirmation surgical procedure, go to Thailand and begin over. However in Season 3, her large motivation turned defending the weaker girl right here, Geum-ja, and Jun-hee’s new child child as nicely. So when she took a step exterior, I believe there was a get up name inside her head telling her to return: “It’s a must to shield these individuals.” So I believe the one thought that was left in her head in the meanwhile was to go and save them. I bear in mind limping and being very bloody, strolling again to the room, and I really feel very emotional proper now, truly, considering again to that scene, as a result of it was such a tragic and heartbreaking second.

What was the expertise like filming that dying scene? Was it the final scene you shot?

The ultimate scene I filmed was once I’m being photographed by the Squid Recreation organizers. The scene when Jun-hee offers start was so particular to Hyun-ju as a result of the start of a life is such a holy and sacred factor. Particularly as a trans girl, I believe Hyun-ju would have plenty of feelings swirling within her watching that occur. When Myung-gi stabs me within the again and kills me, there’s a line within the script that claims, “Hyun-ju’s soul leaves her eyes.” So I attempted to remain true to the script.

Earlier than Hyun-ju’s dying, we additionally see her in motion, killing two different gamers in self-defense. What preparation went into the choreography for these violent scenes?

Earlier than we received into capturing the scene, we went to motion college to begin off with the fundamental coaching, after which we realized the choreo for that scene. We did a little bit little bit of changes on set, however we principally adopted the choreo that was given to us. And one of many two actors who I fought with in that scene truly spent seven years in a Chinese language temple referred to as Shaolin Temple, which is thought for martial arts. In order that man was so expert, he knew tips on how to act and react. Along with him, I knew I might create a extremely cool scene. The necessary factor once I was filming that scene was that Hyun-ju actually needed to guard Geum-ja and the new child child, and with the intention to do this, she needed to kill these individuals. However she is definitely a really warm-hearted particular person, and has an excellent ethical compass, so I assumed that she would hate to kill these individuals, even when she has to. So I considered wanting away when stabbing as a result of she didn’t need to see that she was truly killing somebody. So each time she’s stabbing somebody, she’s wanting away.

That’s a extremely fascinating alternative. I additionally favored the second the place, after you kill the final participant, you hint the blood in your face. One other participant on the crimson workforce thinks of attempting to kill you, however decides to maintain happening the hallway as a result of they’re too sacred.

Director Hwang was truly very eager on that scene, as a result of he advised me that when Hyun-ju is wiping off the sweat and there’s blood stained throughout her face, she received to look badass. We went for like 10 or extra takes to make her look actually cool in that scene. And as you mentioned, there’s the opposite participant who simply passes by and decides to not struggle me. I believe that was very humorous — it’s a scene that exhibits Hyun-ju’s charisma and aura. In order that’s additionally a second I maintain pricey to my coronary heart.

The entire set for the conceal and search recreation is unbelievable, and feels so overwhelming. Are you able to discuss how expansive it was? All of it appears very sensible.

The set for conceal and search was truly only one ground. It appears prefer it’s received a number of flooring whenever you watch the present, however that’s all achieved with CGI. The overarching idea for the conceal and search set was the ocean. And you understand how the ocean is the path to all life, it offers start to all life, and Jun-hee gave start in that setting of an ocean. So I assumed that was significant.

I do know you mentioned that Hyun-ju died sooner than she ought to’ve. Now that the collection is wrapped, how do you’re feeling about the place you bought to go away off the character? Do you’re feeling such as you received to do her justice?

It’s at all times exhausting to say goodbye to your characters, nevertheless it’s particularly exhausting if it’s Hyun-ju, who’s such a cool character and such a pleasant particular person. It was very exhausting for me to say goodbye to her, particularly as a result of I obtained a lot love and assist from followers all internationally. And I believe me being a cisgender actor taking part in a transgender character, it additionally has its which means, to some extent, as a result of we’re all individuals, we deserve the identical quantity of affection and respect. Though I’m a cisgender actor taking part in a transgender character, the LGBTQ+ neighborhood noticed Hyun-ju underneath a really optimistic gentle. They liked, revered and supported her, and I’m simply so eternally grateful for what they’ve achieved for her.

It feels vital that Hyun-ju died alongside the primary one who accepted her as trans, in addition to Geum-ja, who took for much longer to just accept her. There’s two totally different views that also come collectively for her ultimately.

The purpose for the three ladies was the identical: Shield the new child child. It was like ladies solidarity collectively. And as you mentioned, Geum-ja took a little bit extra time to heat as much as Hyun-ju and settle for and embrace her as her pal and household. She goes via that transformation, and I believe that’s what’s actually necessary. If there are individuals on the market that also have prejudices and biases in opposition to the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, I hope they might heat as much as it similar to Geum-ja did.

This interview has been edited and condensed.