“Paradise” Season 2: What to Expect From the Emmy-Nominated Thriller
For those who haven’t yet discovered the series “Paradise” on Hulu, but are planning to jump in with the first season, it’s best to stop reading here. The four-time Emmy-nominated series from “This Is Us” creator Dan Fogelman delivered a stunning plot twist at the end of the first episode of its initial season. Here’s a major spoiler: Agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) must come to terms with the mysterious murder of the President (James Marsden) in his home at the beginning of season one.
Expanding the World Beyond the Bunker
What initially felt like a classic political thriller revealed itself to be something more at the end of the first episode: The President was merely the head of a minor, albeit luxurious, American community in a bunker in Colorado. The world above had been lost in an apocalypse anticipated by the super-rich and tech-savvy. Season two now explores the world outside the bunker, where Xavier searches for his wife, Teri (Enuka Okuma). The second season consists of eight episodes, with three available upon its February 23rd premiere, followed by weekly releases through March 30th.
What’s More Emotional Than the End of the World?
“Paradise” had a small coup at the last Emmys. No one had the series, which became a major audience success and sparked conversation on the internet among series fans, really on their radar. Nevertheless, it received the coveted nomination as “Best Drama Series” and three acting nominations: Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”) as best lead actor, as well as James Marsden as the President (in the numerous flashbacks of the series) and Julianne Nicholson (as influential billionaire “Sinatra”) as best supporting roles.
Even if “Paradise” didn’t win an Emmy, the Hulu production is one of the smartest and most entertaining series in terms of twists and narrative plots in recent years. It might even be the “Lost” of our time, as intricately woven mysteries are a core competency of the series. It sometimes navigates a fine line with “Pulp,” the moving picture version of the penny dreadful, but the narrative strands and twists are so cleverly constructed and the fascination with the post-apocalyptic world is so great that it’s hard to resist.
The Reinvention of the Series is a Success
Praise must be given to the new episodes, about whose narrative development nothing should be spoiled at this point, because the story seemed to be told with the end of season one. Murderers and schemers were unmasked, evil temporarily defeated, but the world outside apparently not as uninhabitable as most in the bunker believed. At the finale of season one, Collins sets out for Atlanta to search for his beloved wife, Teri, who was there at the time of the catastrophe. At the end of that first season, Collins received a hint that she might still be alive.
Leading him to head out into the world outside the bunker, which had previously only been seen as an intact version in flashbacks. It must be said: the reinvention of the series is a great success for the creators. Especially episode one, which tells a story that initially seems unconnected to the old plot, is brilliant and makes you look forward to the new eight episodes. And who knows: maybe “Paradise” will finally get its well-deserved Emmy in the coming season. (tsch)
