Introduction

Paradise Season 1 was…simply incredible. Believe it or not, I don’t gush over many TV shows, but this series created by Dan Fogelman hit me with so many emotions. If you want to read my thoughts on Season 1, check out our review here, but today we aren’t gushing about the first season—it’s time to discuss the second. Meant to be a three-season series, this second entry dives deeper into the world of Paradise by exploring numerous other facets of the world before the attack and what is secretly occurring in the present. The question now, though, is this: is Paradise Season 2 as epic as the first, or did Dan Fogelman release a literal one-hit wonder? You know we’ll find out in our review of Paradise Season 2! Don’t worry—no spoilers for Season 2 aside from a few from Season 1.

Story

Xavier left the strange but safe underground bunker city in search of his wife after the coup and the revelation that the outside world had survivors—and that she was possibly still alive among them. However, Season 2 doesn’t begin with Xavier’s mission. Instead, we get to see a woman named Annie Clay, who was trying to become a doctor but ended up working as a tour guide at Graceland—yes, Elvis’ home. Annie and a security woman band together when the world falls apart after the unknown attack, but soon Annie ends up alone and fighting to stay sane. Paradise then introduces one more main character—named after a famous Nintendo character—before doing some perspective-switching for a bit.

After Annie, we return to Xavier and his mission to locate his wife, but things go sour quickly. He oddly enough ends up meeting Annie, and the two form a bond. We also return to the underground Paradise, where Sinatra has survived her attack and is quickly showing that she has a bigger plan than simply keeping humanity safe in a fabricated city. The three perspectives do eventually intertwine with one another, people reunite, but the element that makes Season 2 so great is the unknown force that lingers in the shadows.

No spoilers—I pride myself on reviewing series without revealing everything—but let me just say that the one thing I worried about in my first impressions of Paradise Season 2 was put to rest by how it was handled by the season’s end. Yes, they go for a familiar and expected theme, but how they twist it ends up being oddly unique and unlike anything done before. Paradise Season 2 doesn’t lean heavily on its sci-fi themes initially—if you don’t count the mountain bunker—but near the finale, fans will see them reemerge and will likely form the backbone of Season 3. Aside from that mild hint, I loved the story of Season 2, as we get numerous answers we very much needed from Season 1.

Acting and Cast

Where do I even begin with the powerful cast of Paradise? Many of the returning actors you already know were destined to come back—Sterling K. Brown (Xavier Collins), Julianne Nicholson (Samantha Sinatra Redmond), and James Marsden (Cal Bradford, the now-dead president who still has quite the screen presence despite being…dead)—but some of the smaller yet important cast members return and do serious work. Sarah Shahi returns as Gabriela Torabi, tougher and more determined than her Season 1 counterpart. Jane, played by Nicole Brydon Bloom, gets more story and even a full episode dedicated to her, giving her plenty of time to show off her acting chops. Then there are the newcomers—Annie (played by Shailene Woodley), Thomas Doherty (Link, the Nintendo character I joked about earlier), and a mailman I won’t say too much about who steals the show a few times in the form of Gary Jones (played by Cameron Britton). All are quite prominent forces in Season 2, though I need to tiptoe around their moments to avoid spoilers.

The cast of Paradise is phenomenal, but it’s their acting that I think makes this show so flawless. Despite the series weaving between drama and sci-fi, the performances never feel unrealistic or over-the-top. These characters feel like people who could genuinely exist in our world, quietly running things behind the scenes. I love the cast of Paradise, and their acting is top tier—if that isn’t already obvious. In my opinion, there isn’t a single weak performance in all of Paradise, even from those who appear for just a moment or two before being killed off or set aside for later.

Cinematography and Direction

Like the show’s cohesive story, the cinematography and direction meld together in perfect dramatic harmony. Despite Paradise rarely focusing on large dramatic explosions and being mostly dialogue-heavy, the camera somehow makes every scene feel impactful. There are some big set-piece moments in Paradise Season 2—the final two episodes especially—but most of the time the screen is occupied by characters talking or enduring a survival moment. I particularly loved some of the earlier episodes, especially when Xavier crash-landed and met some…survivors. Paradise Season 2 never fails to keep your eyes locked in and your attention exactly where it needs to be.

Conclusion

Paradise Season 2 had a significantly high bar to clear—and it cleared it, which surprised me just as much as I suspect it surprised you. I don’t know if Season 3 can complete the hat trick, and after Season 2’s finale, it has an even bigger wall to climb. Still, I have more faith than ever that Season 3 can pull it off, and that’s entirely because of how incredible Season 2 was. Let us know in the comments your thoughts on Season 2 and what you’re looking forward to in Season 3! I’d love to discuss theories with you all, but until then, let’s just wonder how Xavier will overcome the new battle soon to be fought in the final season.