After a gripping first season, Paradise returned with a new season that did not disappoint. Due to the captivating first season, some fans were worried the show would not keep up the momentum. However, due to the twists and turns, the show pleasantly surprised viewers with each episode drop of season two. This season of Paradise showcased intentional world-building, deeper character development, and a thoughtful use of time as a storytelling tool.
Disclaimer: Major spoilers ahead
World Building
Season one focuses a lot on the perspective of the people living in the bunker and adjusting to their new reality. The opening of season two follows the story of Annie (Shailene Woodley) before, during, and after the collapse of the world. Witnessing her story from three different perspectives is refreshing. It helps viewers understand how the climate catastrophe impacts regular civilians in Paradise. This perspective also reveals how some of the population outside the bunker manages to survive for three years.
The story of Gary (Cameron Britton) also allows the audience to get another perspective on a survivor’s journey. He is a regular mailman who prepares for and navigates the aftermath of the catastrophe with the help of his friend Ennis (Andy Mcqueen). Through his journey, we learn that Teri (Enuka Okuma), Xavier’s (Sterling K Brown) wife, is still alive.
Since most of the world has no plans for the collapse of the planet, viewing it through Gary and Ennis’ lens is eye-opening. It allows viewers to understand the practical survival tools required to endure such an experience. Paradise reflects the parallels of our lived reality in light of the ongoing climate crisis. While the show is fictional, you watch with the eerie understanding that this can eventually become your reality.
In addition to the world-building of the survivors outside the bunker, we also see the evolution of the people inside the bunker. After Xavier leaves to search for his wife, the bunker slowly starts falling apart. The architect of the bunker, Jeremy Bradford (Charlie Evans), and agent Robinson (Krys Marshall) are arrested and locked up underground. This same trio later decides to open the doors to the bunker due to Sinatra’s (Julianne Nicholson) deception.
While people are disappearing underground and Sinatra is recovering at the hospital, Jane (Nicole Bloom) is in control behind the scenes. When people from the outside world demand a meeting with the leader of the bunker, Sinatra uses Jane to set the meeting terms. This is where the collision between both worlds takes place.
Paradise intentionally builds the outside world while expanding the bunker world through character development and the use of timelines. More importantly, the show merges both worlds by connecting characters from both sides.
Character Development
The show’s amazing writing is key to delivering complex, well-rounded characters. Annie’s character, in particular, stands out because her arc is so well executed.
In the opening episode of the show, we learn her background as a very cautious and anxious person who eventually drops out of med school. She then works as an Elvis tour guide and develops a relationship with the security guard. When the catastrophe strikes, they are forced to work together and take shelter in the infamous Graceland home.
Unfortunately, the tour guide dies, and leaves Annie completely alone. Eventually, a rogue group of people attempting to restart the world visits Graceland and encounters her. She is initially very hesitant to trust them, but she eventually opens up to their leader, Link (Thomas Doherty). They form a romantic bond and become intimate before Link must depart with the group. He invites her to join them, but out of fear, she refuses and stays behind. By the end of the episode, we learn that she is pregnant.
Paradise connects Annie with Xavier after he crashes his plane. She tends to his wounds and insists that Xavier take her to the bunker where Link was headed. Unfortunately, before they can make that journey, she unexpectedly goes into labor. Xavier insists on getting help from strangers, but Annie opposes the idea. Luckily, Xavier disobeys her wishes, and an entire village comes to her aid during the delivery.
Due to complications during childbirth, Annie dies. However, before her death, she expresses that she is no longer afraid of trusting others. She tasks Xavier with caring for her baby and ensuring he takes her to Link.
Annie’s death is one of the most emotional scenes in the entire show. No one expects it since her character seems so instrumental to the progression of the story. However, the difficult decision to kill Annie raises the stakes for Xavier’s journey. More importantly, Annie has a complete character arc. While her death is unexpected, the ending of her story is earned and intentional.
Time As a Device
Paradise season one is excellent at using timelines to drive the story forward. Season two continues this streak while also incorporating the idea of traveling to the future. It is fascinating to see how the show jumps between multiple interconnected timelines.
There is a pre-collapse world timeline, a post-collapse bunker timeline, and a post-collapse outside world timeline. Season one focused on the first two timelines, while the new season incorporates all three.
What’s special about these timelines is that they allow viewers to stay connected to characters who have already passed away, such as President Cal Bradford (James Mardsen). Despite the very first episode of Paradise beginning with Cal’s death, we still get glimpses of him throughout the new season. More importantly, in the pre-collapse timeline, he foreshadows the imminent collapse of the bunker, which occurs at the end of season two.
Xavier’s character is the only one who experiences all three timelines, at least until the end of the show, when everyone evacuates the bunker. Xavier’s urgency to search for his wife, Teri, is emphasized through their backstory. His memories reveal how they met, while he simultaneously receives glimpses of Link before meeting him.
Episode seven is one of the most shocking episodes of Paradise. This episode reveals that Link is somehow Sinatra’s deceased child. This revelation sparked numerous conspiracy theories about time travel and colliding timelines. The final episode reveals that an AI machine named Alex, which Link helps build, is capable of predicting future events before they occur. This changes the entire trajectory of the show and shapes what we can expect moving forward.
Paradise is effective in showing how the past, present, and future are interchangeable. The show uses timelines as an effective storytelling tool while simultaneously highlighting how the characters can transcend time itself.
Season 3 Renewal
Fortunately for us, Hulu renewed season three of Paradise. Writers have already finalized the script, and the show’s creator confirmed that this will be the final season. Since the show follows an eight-episode format, it will be interesting to see how the writers wrap up the story.
The biggest questions in anticipation of the new season are: How will Xavier use Alex? Is Link from a completely different timeline? How will the people from the bunker and the outside world survive on Earth when the worst of the climate catastrophe is yet to hit them? We look forward to finding these answers in the upcoming season.
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