*Jessie Mei Li is stepping into new territory with “The Season,” a six-episode drama set against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s elite boating world. The “Shadow and Bone” star plays Cola, a woman whose summer among the wealthy hides a much darker agenda. Speaking to EUR’s Ny MaGee, Li broke down what it took to bring a character built on secrets and survival to life.
Cola is not part of the privileged circle she moves through. Li described her as someone who clawed her way into that world rather than being born into it. “She’s not from this world,” Li said. “She is someone who has had to graft to get where she is. She’s a hard worker. She’s tenacious. She’s motivated. And she’s incredibly bold.”
That boldness comes wrapped in disguise. Li compared Cola to a Venus flytrap, something that looks harmless until it strikes. “Don’t mind me, I’m just here looking nice and being friendly,” Li said, describing Cola’s mindset, “but really, I’m playing you all.” She added that Cola has worn the mask so long that she sometimes loses track of who she really is.
Crafting a character this morally complicated took collaboration. Li credited writer-director Marialy Rivas with helping her balance Cola’s tough exterior with the emotional wounds she carries beneath the surface. Rivas often described Cola using an animal metaphor of her own. “She would always use the metaphor of her being like a snake,” Li said, referencing the cunning, watchful creature from “The Jungle Book.”
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Despite Cola’s manipulation and deception, Li wanted audiences to feel something more complex than judgment. “There’s a satisfaction with watching someone carry out their plan with such a deft sort of ability,” she said. Li said the goal was for viewers to admire Cola’s cunning while questioning her decisions, and ultimately sympathize with the circumstances that shaped her.
Among Cola’s relationships, her bond with Carrie Shen, played by Celina Jade, carries the most weight. Li said the two actresses found real-life parallels with their characters, including both being half white and half Chinese, which deepened the on screen connection. “Carrie wanted to be her mentor, and they got on. And that’s one of the saddest things, I think, for Cola, is that she really messed up a relationship that was something true,” Li said.
Li hopes viewers walk away from “The Season” with strong opinions and plenty to discuss. She singled out Andrew Fung, played by Chris Pang, and Jon Kim, played by Lee Jae-yoon, as standout characters that generated running jokes on set. “I hope it just gets people talking,” Li said. “It’s a fun summer show.”
“The Season” also stars Toby Stephens as Christopher Hext, Karena Lam as Fiona Hext, Justin Chien as David Ho, Yvonne Chapman as Madeline, and Kōki as Allison, along with Hong Kong pop stars Anson Lo and Marf Yau. The series is created by Yalun Tu, who also serves as showrunner, with Marialy Rivas directing and executive producing.
“The Season” is now streaming exclusively on Hulu in the US, with all six episodes available. Subscribers to the Disney+ and Hulu bundle can also stream the series through Disney+.
Watch our conversation with Jessie Meu Li below.
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