Dan Fogelman knows how to craft a compelling drama.This is Us,Fogelman’s Emmy Award-winning NBC drama, ran for six seasons before bowing in 2022. A slew of new streaming series and broadcast shows have arrived (and departed) since then, but few of them were able to match the consistent must-see vibe Fogelman gave us withThis is Us. Until now. Hulu’sParadiseis an exceptional series that checks all the boxes viewers crave — great characters, high-stakes drama, plot twists — and givesEmmy winner Sterling K. Brownyet another chance to shine.
The big catch is that you won’t be able to talk much aboutParadisewithout giving away its twists. Fortunately, the show doesn’t drag out the plot. That twist happens early on, fueling the intrigue of this series and giving its standout posse of actors a chance to show us how damn good they really are.
James Marsden (Sonic the Hedgehog, Westworld), Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Eastttown), Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin, and Percy Daggs IV join Brown in the drama that floats back and forth in time to provide context to what’s unfolding in real time. Altogether inventive, thought-provoking, and oftentimes brilliant, expect Emmy nominations forParadiselater this year. In the meantime, hang on. This is one hell of a thrill ride.
Not Your Average Day in ‘Paradise’
‘Paradise’ is set in a serene community inhabited by some of the world’s most prominent individuals. But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs and a high-stakes investigation unfolds.
Flashback to Episode 6 of Apple TV+’sSugar,whenColin Farrell’s moody detective seriestook a radically different route. Many of us were left picking up our jaw from the living room carpet because it shifted our take on the entire series. The big twist inParadiseisn’t as profound or shocking asSugar’s,but boy, does it add some innovative nuances and opportunity to the storytelling.
Paradiseis set in an über tranquil community where the world’s most prominent individuals live and work.
The idyllic haven suffers a major shock, however, when a dreadful murder happens, leading to a gritty investigation that has the potential to ruin the entire town. Brown’s Xavier Collins is the lead of security for Cal Bradford (Marsden), the former President of the United States. Xavier is raising two kids and moving through personal challenges that become all too apparent as he can’t shake the grief he feels over losing his wife. He’s a dedicated soul, however, and makes sure Cal remains safe.
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With the release of Biosphere and three films scheduled with potential 2024 releases, Brown is keeping busy and showing no signs of slowing down.
However, with such antisepticStepford Wivesvibes going on, you wonder if Cal needs such heightened security in his mega mansion. Marsden eats up the scenery at every turn here. His Cal, a wealthy and open-minded Southern Democrat, has no more f*cks to give, hence his excessive drinking, strained relationship with his aging politico father (Gerald McRaney). Xavier and Cal go way back and the devotion runs deep. So, it’s all the more shocking when Xavier shows up to work one morning and finds Cal dead. Cue the flashbacks.
Big Twist, Even Bigger Surprises
LikeThis Is Us,Fogelman constructs his series with the help of flashbacks. These time jumps tend to get longer as the episodes move on and by Episode 7, one the series’ best, audiences realize how much is at stake for the residents ofParadiseand, perhaps, humanity. This device also gives us a deeper look into many of the lead characters to better understand the choices they have made.
For instance, Xavier goes against protocol by opting to investigate Cal’s murder before calling it in. When it’s revealed that he may have been the last to see Cal the night before, suspicion mounts. But Cal is determined to get to the truth. That’s a hard pill to swallow. Thorns in his side include edgy agent Nicole Robinson (Krys Marshall) and the beleaguered billionaire Samantha Redmond — Nicholson in a standout performance. Also in the mix is Xavier’s agent pal, Billy (Jon Beavers), and a compassionate psychiatrist named Gabriela Torabi, played with effective smarts and grace by Sarah Shahi. Collectively, it allows the show to continue upping the stakes as things roll along.
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Don’t Spoil the Twist & Enjoy the Ride
Surely, we want to know who killed Cal and if Xavier is being set up, but the more we flash back to the past, we discover that, likeSugar,we’re not watching the kind of television series we thought we were. It makes for great fun, of course. To say more would spoil the experience.
Expect great dialogue along the way, “We’re 19 times more f*cked than people realize,” muses one soul. Later, one politician, fretting about giving a speech and doing damage control, whines, “I have thoughts about the speech." To which Nicholson’s Samantha — steely as all get out — rolls her eyes. “Just read it, Henry. We didn’t pick you to have thoughts!” On it goes. Throughout it all, Dan Fogelman and Sterling K. Brown surpass our expectations.Paradiseis one of the best new shows of the year.Paradisestreams on Hulu January 28. you’re able to watch it through the link below:
