Mysterious identity

After the ninth episode of "The Pacific" aired, it triggered a sensational effect.

This episode focused on the famous Battle of Iwo Jima. However, the movies "Letters from Iwo Jima" and "Flags of Our Fathers" had already approached this battle from different angles. "The Pacific" sidestepped the battle itself, instead reexamining this grueling combat from a different perspective.

While inspecting the war ruins, Eugene unexpectedly discovered a family that had tragically perished inside a roadside house, leaving only a wailing baby. Just before leaving, Eugene also found a woman barely clinging to life. Baptized by war, Eugene's feelings transformed from cautiousness to ruthlessness, then to proximity. Eventually, he embraced the woman, waiting for her to take her final breath.

The stark contrast between his numb and indifferent response to the baby and his tenderness and emotion in the face of impending death ignited a discussion frenzy. It wasn't just the audience's online comments but also the fervor of professional film critics and the general public.

As Kyle Smith expressed in The Wall Street Journal, Renly Hall's delicate, surging performance in this scene not only stunned, but also elevated the entire series. Only at this moment did the complete intention of "The Pacific" as a whole reveal itself, creating a storm of reflection for every viewer.

The Hollywood Reporter said, "After the initial controversy, "The Pacific" presents astonishing depth of thought – questioning of humanity, the pain of war, the resurgence of thought – once again achieving a rare classic!"

Variety stated, "Starting low and rising high, "The Pacific" underwent a thrilling roller-coaster journey. Just as the process itself was thrilling, the climax near the end unleashed a barrage of emotional bombardment, unapologetically presenting the pain of war before every viewer. Renly Hall's performance targets the soul!"

The New York Times commented, "This is a work that prompts self-reflection and a reevaluation of veterans. We see the cruelty and horror of war, yet we don't see the scars on soldiers. When Eugene Sledge, portrayed by Renly Hall, gently embraces that dying woman, the merging juxtaposition of life and death makes viewers realize for the first time: living is a difficult endeavor."

...

The authoritative media's reviews and the Yahoo community users aligned on the same track for the first time. Although most media outlets still resisted attributing all credit to Renly Hall like The Wall Street Journal did, they maintained that the series' success was the result of the collective effort, particularly in the elevation of its philosophical weight. Yet, they unanimously acknowledged that Renly's performance became an undeniable highlight in the latter half of the series. This twenty-year-old newcomer shone like a comet.

IMDb's rating soared to 8.5, and the aggregated critical score inexplicably surpassed "Band of Brothers", inching ahead at 87. With only one episode of "The Pacific" left, HBO could finally exhale a sigh of relief. Not only had professional critics and netizens aligned in praise, but the satisfaction of subscription users returned to normal levels, even surpassing expectations.

According to HBO's official follow-up, subscriber satisfaction with "The Pacific" successfully surpassed that of "Band of Brothers". Even without considering the initially unfavorable circumstances, this outcome was unforeseen by all.

As mentioned earlier in the Yahoo community discussion thread, "The Pacific" is a mini-series, not a film. Its success or failure shouldn't be judged solely based on individual episodes but should be evaluated as a whole. Similarly, "The Pacific" focuses on three distinct individuals. As long as the audience can establish a connection with these three characters, the impact of this series on the viewers might even surpass that of "Band of Brothers".

When "The Pacific" concluded its entire run, the enthusiasm of netizens was finally unleashed.

At the story's end, Eugene sat beneath a sycamore tree outside his home, gazing lost and lonely at the gradually reddening horizon. Though he survived, only a tattered and fragmented soul remained, leaving behind the young man with fervor, vitality, sensitivity, determination, and hope that Eugene Sledge once was. The son of the Sledge couple, who was full of life, was forever stranded on that battlefield stained with blood.

The overwhelming surge of reflection ignited a storm on the Yahoo community. Replies on the discussion thread reached new heights as users eagerly wanted to express their opinions about "The Pacific", war itself, and Eugene Sledge. They sought like-minded individuals to share their thoughts. This wave of reflective discussion far surpassed that of "Band of Brothers" in its time.

If "Band of Brothers" infused people with fiery passion, then "The Pacific" induced a complex array of thoughts.

IMDb's ratings for "The Pacific" exceeded 100,000 reviews and stayed firmly at 8.6, successfully entering the top 70 of the list of classic series among the top 250.

In comparison to the divine 9.5 score of "Band of Brothers", this achievement might not seem boast-worthy. However, for the initially challenging "The Pacific", such a conclusion was cause for celebration. Moreover, the trajectory of the show's ratings would depend on DVD sales and the growing number of viewers. "Band of Brothers" secured its position at the top of the IMDb TV series rankings over nine years, and the road ahead for "The Pacific" would undoubtedly be lengthy.

In 2001, "Band of Brothers" stirred up a wave of war-related works. People fervently discussed this exceptionally brilliant production. When the DVDs were released, they broke sales records for TV series discs, maintaining that record for a full nine years—no one has managed to break it since. This testifies to the profound impact of this series.

However, what "Band of Brothers" truly accomplished was cementing the prestige of the golden duo, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, because their success stemmed from the entire work, not just a single individual's triumph. Over time, people realized that many familiar actors gathered in this series, including Damien Lewis, Kirk Acevedo, Michael Fassbender, Tom Hardy, Simon Pegg, James McAvoy, and more.

Years later, revisiting "Band of Brothers" would reveal it as a veritable star factory, each familiar face a delightful surprise. However, in the years after 2001, these actors didn't benefit from the divine series "Band of Brothers" in the sense of skyrocketing fame, abundant offers, or soaring careers.

In 2010, "The Pacific" rekindled people's enthusiasm for war-themed content. The discussion heat on the Yahoo community remained high since the first episode. Its development curve, with initial suppression and later escalation, challenged countless viewers' emotions. Ultimately, it successfully crafted its own accolades as a "masterpiece". Although there remained controversies about whether this work could be considered a classic, it's undeniable that the collaboration between Tom and Steven once again delivered splendid performances.

However, this time "The Pacific" led to one actor's emergence—Eugene "Sledgehammer" Sledge. This character, who carried two-thirds of the series, deeply touched the hearts of numerous viewers. Especially the moving scene in the ninth episode brought tears to the eyes of waiting viewers during the live broadcast. After the series concluded, discussions centered on Eugene even surpassed the discussions about the series itself.

At that moment, people began to inquire one after another: Who was the actor behind Eugene Sledge? Who was that performer who delivered such a composed and majestic portrayal?

Yes, his name was Renly Hall, he was a newcomer in the acting field, and he was the core essence of "The Pacific"... This information was widely known thanks to Tom Hanks' introduction during the premiere. A simple search would reveal it on major news platforms. Initially, there was considerable controversy surrounding this newcomer. Many expressed concerns, questioning whether it was a wise decision to entrust a pivotal role to an inexperienced actor.

Now, it was apparent that the bold gamble of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks had resulted in the brilliance of "The Pacific". Their daring decision had proven to be a display of insightful wisdom.

However, what about the rest of the information?

A thorough search across the internet yielded scant details about Renly Hall. It was as if the actor had truly sprung forth from a stone, devoid of personal history, devoid of a resume, and not even a single person seemed to know his birthday. Does anyone even know how old Renly Hall is this year?

This chaos created a sense of bewildering mystery. In an era where social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are ubiquitous, anyone can become a source of news. Even personal details and elementary school mishaps can be dug up. As long as Renly's former classmates or friends from his daily life caught wind of the online frenzy and came forward with information, that would suffice. A single piece of the puzzle would provide an opening to unravel the entire blueprint.

But, there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Despite the two and a half months during which "The Pacific" aired, with a whirlwind of online discussions and constant buzz, no one had voluntarily come forward to disclose information about Renly Hall.

It was strange, truly strange. Could it be that Renly Hall previously lived in a remote village? In a place where customs were simple, where people disliked gossip and weren't fond of the internet? Could it be that the information flow was so restricted and outdated that they hadn't noticed this fervor at all? This seemed to be the only logical explanation at present.

The online discussions faced no obstacles, but rather intensified. Every sign indicated that the biggest beneficiary of "The Pacific" was Renly Hall. He contributed to the success of this work, and in turn, the success of this work contributed to his rise.

However, how long could this level of excitement last? Netizens were often forgetful; trends came and went in a blink. Moreover, what could this level of excitement truly bring to Renly Hall? Online discussions' impact on the real-world film industry was limited. Furthermore, "The Pacific" was just a mini-series, devoid of box office pressures, unaffected by word of mouth, and not entangled in awards season concerns.

Did any of this hold significance for Hollywood?