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PARADISE (2025)

Season One. [EPISODES 1 - 3]

Aired On: Hulu.

Release Date: 01/28/24.
Drama. Thriller.

"A security service team tasked with protecting a past president"

OUR REVIEW:

Fresh off the conclusion of NBC's hugely popular show This Is Us, Hulu has tapped creator Dan Fogelman to helm a new series featuring breakout star Sterling K. Brown, who joins the project to star and produce fresh from his recent Oscar nomination. The show, titled Paradise, encapsulates everything one might expect from a Fogelman production, echoing the emerging distinctiveness of his vision as a creator and producer, reminiscent of Ryan Murphy post-Glee success.

 

The pilot of Paradise mirrors the engaging, slightly confusing opener of This Is Us, with audiences trying to piece together the characters, their connections, and the unfolding narrative. It even concludes with a dramatic twist, revealing the show's overarching intent. While Fogelman masters the art of weaving complex narratives and crafting attention-grabbing pilots, he sacrifices quality dialogue and compelling story development in subsequent episodes. While Paradise might suffice for viewers seeking light entertainment to accompany dinner preparations, those in search of deeper, more engaging television will likely find the series lacking.

 

Set in a utopian alternate reality, Special Agent Xavier Collins (Brown) serves as the head of security for the US President (James Marsden) in the aptly named town of Paradise. While the president projects a facade of unity and stability to the populace, the true power behind the throne is Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond (Julianne Nicholson), the town’s architect and the world’s wealthiest woman. However, as we soon discover, Paradise is far from perfect, with intense political turmoil constantly simmering beneath its serene surface.

 

Brown, as always, delivers an exceptional performance, despite the rather limited material provided to him. His dialogue, especially in the pilot, might be painfully eye-rolling, yet Brown's natural cadence elevates it remarkably. Marsden, known for his charming, charismatic roles, convincingly shifts gears to portray a disgustingly unqualified, arrogant, and selfish character, who appears deeply unlikable from an audience's perspective. This significant departure from his typical roles is portrayed with convincing believability, making him a wonderful addition to the cast.

 

Julianne Nicholson, fresh off her Emmy win for Mare of Easttown, has a character who is arguably the most dynamic among the ensemble. She brings to life a character with a rich emotional backstory and complex motives, adding depth and obstacles to the storyline. Her portrayal never feels like just a narrative device; rather, she seems ingrained in a society that, we discover, is entirely her own creation.

 

Unfortunately, the stellar performances by this high-profile cast are where the praise for Paradise must end. While the initial pilot episode presents an intriguing concept that keeps you engaged enough to watch the second episode, the dialogue is disappointingly unnatural and filled with cliché phrases intended to keep the audience guessing their deeper meanings, only to induce significant annoyance. It feels more like a second draft that wasn't read aloud until filming had already begun, making it too late for any substantial or meaningful changes. Regrettably, the quality of subsequent episodes also begins to decline, each one becoming more unbelievably mundane and boring than its predecessor, a far cry from the interesting and dynamic pilot. While its thrilling concept might suffice as background noise, it's more suitable as a show to throw on while cooking dinner, rather than one you'd sit down to watch once your meal is ready.

 

Paradise boasts an impressive main cast and an intriguing concept that initially captures your attention, but its rapid decline is hard to ignore after the first couple of episodes. While the pilot was engaging enough to prompt me to watch the second episode, the third and fourth episodes were a struggle to endure, nearly pushing me to abandon them altogether. Sterling K. Brown and Julianne Nicholson, who both have notable careers, bring their considerable talents to this series. However, I find myself hoping they chose this project merely for the paycheck; otherwise, I would seriously start questioning their artistic choices in participating in this series.

OUR VERDICT:

WHERE TO WATCH...

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