Impulse: Maddie Hasson on the Power of Trauma and Finding Comfort on Season 2 of the Hit Youtube Original Series [Video]

Henrietta ‘Henry’ Coles has the power to teleport to the ends of the earth, but don’t call her a superhero. At least, not yet. 

Season 2 of the Youtube Originals hit Impulse will showcase Henry, portrayed brilliantly by Maddie Hasson, learning to control her power, not let it control her.  

Viewers have pushed play on the Impulse pilot more than 64 million times. Season 2 promises to attract just as much attention as Henry and those who love her fight against their villains. 

Maddie Hasson sat down with reporters at San Diego Comic-Con to discuss what it takes to play Henry, her favorite moments on Season 2 and her special connection with castmate Sarah Desjardins.

Hasson’s character Henry is the victim of a sexual assault on the series. Before Impulse Season 1, the empathetic actress met with a therapist to talk, “at length,” about survivors’ experiences with sexual violence. 

She learned that “each person’s experience is different but it’s not necessarily initially visibly emotional. A lot of people experience disassociation where they sort of leave their body” during an assault.

Hasson utilized these insights from the expert therapist and from survivors in her personal life to inform her portrayal of the assault scene.  

“I tried to emulate [disassociation] on the show. It was really, really important to me to get it right,” Hasson emphasized.

The protagonist revisits the assault again and again on Impulse. The actress digs into the role and doesn’t shy away from fully understanding the type of trauma that “never really leaves you.”

Hasson laughed ironically and admitted “it sure was” a difficult aspect of her job. 

How does she manage to keep going and give her best in such a demanding role?

“Things are going to happen in your own life. You just have to put your blinders on and push everything else aside and totally focus on this one thing for just like for four to six months, for twelve to sixteen hours a day. And you just do it.”

The actress applied that bold and strong attitude to her stunt work as well.

Hasson acted out a scene on Season 2 where “they drag me through the mud with this harness on and I’m on the rope system” And that is only one example of many where Hasson needed to set aside her physical comfort for her performance. 

“I don’t know how I prepare for it. You just kind of go and do it and then try to forget that it happened,” she shared frankly. 

Luckily, Hasson could find comfort in her Impulse family. She clearly has a strong bond with the cast and creators. “We love each other.” 

Of costar Sarah Desjardins, who plays Jenna Hope on Impulse, Hasson said, “We’re both such messes we cry all the time.” “It’s just nice to be with another woman who is also my peer in this business and be totally supportive of each other.” 

When filming in Bukarest, Hasson found comfort in other places as well. “It is beautiful there. And the food is good. Like, really, really, good.” Hasson gushed about one restaurant in particular. “It’s called La Mama and they have traditional Romanian comfort food.” 

Hasson promises that Season 2 is empowering for her character Henry.

“Henry in Season 2 is working on controlling her power. In Season 1 I think Henry is kind of avoiding her trauma. And she realizes that her trauma is the key to making her power happen and not letting it happen to her. And so, she’s taking her power back in a literal way and in a metaphorical way.”

Hasson concluded “your trauma is your own thing. You get to decide what it is to you.” “It can be painful and possibly inspiring. It’s yours.”

The star teased that Impulse Season 2 Episode 5 is particularly excellent.

And we can also look forward to watching Jenna and Henry get their groove on together. But, Hasson exclaimed, “Weird to dance to no music though!”

We are ready to watch the weird unfold for Henry. Impulse Season 1 and Season 2 Episodes 1 & 2 are now streaming for free on Youtube!

Check out all of our coverage of San Diego Comic-Con here. There is more to come!