Jamie Chung was emotionally affected by the ending of her and Ken Jeong‘s episode of Accused.
During the Tuesday, December 3, episode of the hit Fox series, Jeong’s character Eugene received a prison sentence after the death of his wife, Grace (Chung). Flashbacks showed Eugene trying to save Grace, who felt she had no choice but to run away with her ex-boyfriend Rex (Zane Holtz). A fight ensued and Grace’s attempt to stop Eugene and Rex resulted in a gun accidentally going off, killing Grace.
“First of all, I was devastated because the very thing that Ken’s character Eugene was trying to do was protect [my character] Grace. [But] when you bring a deadly weapon into the picture, accidents happen,” Chung, 41, exclusively told Us Weekly. “Because he went to the scene with a weapon — with the intention to use it to keep Rex away from Grace.”
Chung was moved by Eugene’s motivation, adding, “His arc is to find his ground and to stand his ground. Once he realizes the gravity of the whole situation, he wants to protect Grace because that is really the only choice for him. He was really trying to be Grace’s knight and shining armor.”
A Guide to the Most Star-Studded Celeb Appearances on Fox’s ‘Accused’
The ending, however, was always going to end badly for the titular character.
“Knowing Rex, I don’t think that he was ever going to let Grace go. And I think she had to make that decision of making the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect her father and her husband. She knew how dangerous Rex was and she knew he would never stop. I really feel like Grace had no choice,” Chung continued. “She really did feel like [she had to] steal in order to have a fresh start for Rex and herself. She doesn’t want to go with him. Obviously, she knows this is a dangerous man, but she knows how to handle him. She knows how to keep this person calm and at bay, and she knows how to not have him snap.”
The crime drama, which debuted in 2023, is based on Jimmy McGovern‘s 2010 British series of the same name. Each episode of Accused introduces the “accused” — who is always just an ordinary person — without divulging the individual’s alleged crime or how they ended up on trial. The audience then learns of the events leading up to the trial, and from the defendant’s point of view.
Tuesday’s episode was an example of a “terrible accident” that led to Eugene serving time.
“I can see why Eugene will have to take the fall for this, because he did bring the gun. It was premeditated — and unfortunately it was an accident — but it broke my heart,” Chung noted. “But that’s what happens when you bring a deadly weapon in. If Grace knew that Eugene would have to go down for her accidental death, she would never be able to forgive herself. She would’ve died of a broken heart. So regardless, I think Grace was done and she was ready to give up.”
Most Heartbreaking TV Deaths of 2024 So Far: ‘Outer Banks’ and More
While reflecting on the episode’s impact, Chung praised the show for not being afraid to take risks.
“It’s complicated but that’s why it’s told from the defendant’s point of view. It really shows all of the different and nuanced layers that lead to a crime that can totally change someone’s life forever,” she continued. “That’s why Accused works. It’s fascinating but that’s why it’s also very, very exciting.”
Chung was also pleasantly surprised by the amount of backstory she was provided for a one-episode arc, adding, “What I love about it is it explains her trauma. Grace came to the U.S., left her entire family behind and it’s just her mom and her father. When her mom dies, she goes in a downward spiral. She uses drugs and alcohol to cope like most people do. When she does finally get caught and she’s at the lowest of lows, her father is the one that picks her up and moves her out to a new city to start over because it is such a small community.”
Accused used Eugene’s story to highlight Korean culture and its connection to faith.
“I was so grateful. It really told the story in such a profound way. The specificity is something that really attracted [the project to] me because I’m Catholic. I’m currently not practicing but my mom is such a devout Catholic and it just adds an extra element,” Chung continued. “And then the [director] Michael Chiklis gave me this really lovely note during one of the heaviest scenes. He was like, ‘[Grace] had to cope with it. So she has this kind of armor because she really believes that she’s protecting her husband and her father.’ But really it was a coping mechanism for her to deal with all of this shame.”
Chung told Us that one of the best parts of taking on the role of Grace was sharing the screen with Jeong, saying, “He’s a kind person and I know that it would’ve been a safe place to play and try new things on set and have all this lovely discovery in the scenes.”
Which TV Shows Are Renewed, Which Are Canceled in 2024-2025?
After being a fan of Accused, Chung was thrilled to get the opportunity to add to the “fascinating” show.
“It’s rare that you have an anthology in an episode specifically written by a Korean Canadian,” she told Us. “I love it because there’s a clear beginning, middle and end — and you’re involved in all of those stages. When you’re jumping into a guest star, it’s shortened because your arc is only one of many stories happening in that episode. To have a story focused solely on this family and with Eugene, there’s so much more to play with. There’s so many more things to show on screen and to be able to play out.”
Chung concluded: “These kinds of anthologies are more fun because they really play like a movie. And you get to have these conversations about the specificity of these characters and where they’re coming from. You also have all this other history to play with vs. coming in for a smaller guest star role. But I’m so grateful we have these fantastic writers who really care about these stories and it’s so fun. I would love to do it again.”
Episodes of Accused are streaming on Hulu.
