Paradise premieres January 28 on Hulu, with new episodes on Thursdays.
By Elazar Abrahams
It’s only January, but Paradise, an eight-episode thriller from This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman is a strong contender for one of the year’s best shows. The series is smart, thrilling, and the kind of watercooler TV we’ve been missing.
It’s hard to explain the premise without ruining the fun, but like Fogelman’s previous work, Paradise thrives on surprises. The first episode ends with a massive twist that changes everything, and the reveals just keep coming from there. Every new piece of information recontextualizes what came before, making you want to rewatch earlier scenes to catch all the setups you missed, ala a sinister Good Place. The suspense is relentless, and having seen seven of the eight episodes, I can confidently say the show only gets better as it goes. Hopefully the finale delivers and sets the stage for an even better second season.
At the center of it all is Sterling K. Brown, who once again proves why he’s one of the best television actors working today. As Xavier Collins, the head of security for former President Cal Bradford (James Marsden), Brown brings a perfect mix of strength, vulnerability, and humanity. Xavier is easy to root for — a loyal and noble man uncovering corruption at the highest levels of power. Brown’s performance is the emotional core of the show, and the stakes feel personal thanks to his character’s relationship with his kids and the lingering grief over his late wife.
Marsden is equally fantastic as the President. There’s an effortless charm to his performance that makes him an ideal fit for the role, and his dynamic with Brown is one of the season’s highlights. Their relationship is layered and complicated — part fraternity, part resentment — and watching Xavier’s frustration with Bradford’s risky behavior bubble to the surface is very compelling.
The rest of the cast holds their own, too. Jon Beavers is a standout as one of Xavier’s Secret Service colleagues and closest friends, and the show does a great job giving even its supporting players moments to shine. Flashbacks are used effectively to flesh out everyone’s backstories, including the villains. It’s impressive how much care Paradise takes to explore the familial ties and motivations of its entire ensemble, making the world of the show feel rich and lived-in.
Some of the dialogue leans a little heavy-handed at times (Xavier has a penchant for monologues). But otherwise, this is a top-tier thriller that knows how to keep you hooked, parceling out just enough answers to satisfy while leaving you desperate for more.
I give Paradise’s first season an A.
TV and City 