Paradise’s Emotional Finale: Sterling K. Brown’s Last Scene Will Break Your Heart

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Be warned! This story reveals significant plot points from the “The Day” episode of Paradise, released on February 25. If you haven’t watched it yet, catch up by streaming it using your Hulu account before proceeding with this article!

For the opening six episodes of Sterling K. Brown’s latest thriller Paradise, we’ve been mostly in the dark about the catastrophe that drove part of society to Sinatra’s artificial paradise. We knew just that lives were lost, the planet was devastated, and its underground survivors suffered deeply from trauma. In “The Day”, we finally found out what had happened to the world, and throughout most of the episode, my jaw stayed dropped. However, I’m not sure if my heart will ever heal after witnessing the last conversation between Brown’s character and his wife.

This Disaster Episode Felt Like Something That Could Really Happen

Among the numerous television series airing in 2025, Paradise has climbed to the top of my favorites list. The episode titled “The Day” significantly enhanced its plot and character growth. Reminiscent of a Roland Emmerich production, an unexpected eruption from an Antarctic volcano led to the melting of the ice shelf, causing tsunamis that swept through cities worldwide. As a result, conflict ignited instantaneously, with onlookers outside the Oval Office witnessing a TV journalist in Jakarta being swept away by a wave atop a 20-story building.

Regarding Xavier Collins (played by Sterling K. Brown), he was determined to ensure the president’s safety and help his wife Teri leave Atlanta. Even though we knew from the beginning that Teri didn’t survive that day, I still couldn’t help but feel Xavier’s sense of urgency with each unanswered call and failed message.

I’m disappointed that my favorite character in Paradise was written off, and I learned from the actor that there were efforts led by the cast and crew to overturn this decision.

– Disappointed as my beloved character was killed off in Paradise, I found out that the cast and crew had been working hard to reverse this action.

Or even simpler:
– My favorite character in Paradise got written off, but I heard that the cast and crew were campaigning to bring them back.

Moreover, chaos reigned supremely as President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) found himself surrounded. As people grasped their grim fate, fear spread like wildfire. An assistant lunged for a firearm and was fatally shot. The individual responsible for the nuclear football met his end while attempting to board Marine One. A Secret Service officer pointed a gun at Xavier, but it was he who fell instead.

Witnessing such turmoil, not only within but also surrounding an imaginary version of the White House, was incredibly unsettling. The catastrophic weather conditions were reminiscent of a disaster flick, yet the responses from the people appeared authentic and realistic given the circumstances.

As a movie reviewer, I must confess, a flicker of relief washed over me when Xavier found his children alongside Teri during their journey to Colorado. However, the poignant question from Presley and James, “Where’s mommy?”, pierced my heart like an arrow. Xavier, visibly crushed by sorrow, was unable to respond. The final phone call that followed only intensified the emotional turmoil.

Xavier And Teri’s Phone Call Broke Me

It wasn’t anticipated that Xavier would have the opportunity to speak with his wife one last time, and I must admit, I wasn’t braced for how emotionally intense that moment turned out to be. Trying to console a visibly upset Teri, Xavier bore witness to a terrifying sight: a live tracking of incoming nuclear missiles, with Atlanta among the targeted cities. As they wept and expressed their love for each other, Teri spoke her final words, a poignant message intended for their children.

Go ahead and feel joyful, it’s perfectly fine! Regardless if I am around or not, know that you are always loved by Mommy. I cherished every moment with you. Please make a promise, strive to be an exceptional father for them.

Jesus, I can’t help but get emotional every time I think about it. Regardless of whether Teri didn’t truly perish (I had a feeling that plot twist was coming), the belief that she died was deeply felt by her, Xavier, and their children. In the show’s ongoing narrative, they have been grappling with that sorrow for quite some time now.

In the upcoming final episode of Xavier’s series, he must unmask the murderer of the president, locate his children, reconnect with Teri, and bring down Sinatra. It seems challenging to cram all that into a single episode, and I’m not sure my feelings could endure it. Fortunately, the show Paradise has been renewed for Season 2, so we have more episodes to look forward to! The season finale of this series will be streaming on Hulu starting March 4.

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2025-02-26 16:37