* Paradise is a new mystery-box series on Hulu starring Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, and James Marsden that follows a conspiracy surrounding the death of the president.
* While it may not seem like sci-fi at first, it delivers a big twist early on, and the story that follows provides some gut-wrenching drama and moral quandaries, while also answering some of the questions behind the show’s mysteries.
* Paradise has been renewed for a second season and will get an encore run on ABC starting April 7th.
What Is It?
In this political thriller series, Secret Service agent Xavier Collins finds the president dead in his home and begins investigating the murder. This leads to a broader conspiracy that raises questions about who is actually in control of the government.
Starring: Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin, Percy Daggs IV, James Marsden
Created By: Dan Fogelman
Johnny Jay’s Thoughts:
(MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD) The above description is intentionally sparse, because the less you know going in, the better. When I first saw the show advertised, it didn’t look like a sci-fi entry, but there were a few hints that it might have some genre elements. So I gave the first episode a shot—and found myself immediately hooked.
The show comes from Dan Fogelman, who created the highly-regarded family drama This Is Us. He also has some genre roots, having created the underappreciated sci-fi sitcom The Neighbors and the short-lived but deliriously funny Galavant. Paradise seems like a whole new direction for Fogelman, but based on its first season, it’s a show worth following.
I don’t want to give away the biggest spoiler, so I’ll tread carefully here. The show begins with all the expected elements of a standard political thriller: the dedicated Secret Service agent determined to uncover the truth, the gung-ho operative who may be hiding a dangerous secret, and the mysterious figure who seems to be pulling the strings from the sidelines. It also starts hinting at its genre elements and then delivers a big reveal early on that sets the larger stage for the series.
Without getting into the details, sci-fi fans will definitely be paying close attention from that point forward. Fortunately, Fogelman has the storytelling chops to keep things moving at a brisk pace, answering some questions while raising others. And unlike many of the Lost-type shows, Paradise hasn’t yet gotten bogged down in its own mysteries. And it does take a few good pages from the Lost playbook, featuring well-developed characters along with flashbacks that help flesh out the story. Combine that with some hard-hitting drama and the moral quandaries faced by the show’s leads, and you’ve got a pretty engaging series with broad appeal beyond just genre fans.
The show also boasts a stellar cast that works well together, with actors who seem perfectly suited to their roles. Sterling K. Brown delivers a strong lead performance as a man devoted to both his job and his family, relentless in his pursuit of the truth. And while that may sound like a cliché, the show manages to give the archetype a fresh spin. Julianne Nicholson initially seems like a supporting player, but her importance becomes clear as the story progresses—and she nails the role. James Marsden’s President Bradford is mostly seen in flashbacks, but he, too, becomes central to the larger narrative, along with the rest of the expansive ensemble.
Most importantly, Paradise feels like a breath of fresh air on television, reminiscent of when Lost first premiered back in 2004. Fogelman has done a great job blending several familiar tropes in a way that feels both familiar and new. This series is off to a strong start, and hopefully it can maintain its momentum into season two and beyond.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
What’s Next?
Paradise has performed well in viewership, and not surprisingly it has been renewed for a second season. Fogelman has three seasons planned at this point, and following is what he has said about the direction of the show:
I have a plan for three seasons of the show. Without giving away too much, each season of the show is a slightly different show, within the same show with the same characters. There’s twists and turns in the course of the season. Then the seventh episode is kind of a standalone episode of the show. As we go into second season, we pivot a little bit, but in a way that I think is very follow-able. But yes, there’s big moves ahead.
With the second season already in the bag, that third year seems like a good bet as well and we can only hope that they can sustain the quality throughout.
Where Can You Watch It?
The full, eight-episode first season is streaming on Hulu. In addition, Paradise will start an encore run on ABC Mondays at 10 PM EST starting on April 7th.
Did you watch Paradise and will you stick with the show to its second season? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Thanks for mentioning this. When I first started seeing the commercials for this show, I thought: blah, not interested in it. Then I heard rumblings of *something* sci fi about it, and now since you mentioned it, I’ll definitely take a look sometime! 👍