The Thing That Scares Me Most About What’s Coming In Paradise Season 2 Definitely Isn’t The Global Catastrophe

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Warning! There Are Spoilers Ahead For Season 1 Of Paradise

In the final episodes of “Paradise,” a Hulu exclusive series, I didn’t anticipate the ending quite as I had imagined. The second-to-last episode appeared to be building toward a confrontation between our protagonist Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) and the cold-hearted antagonist Samantha Redmond (Julianne Nicholson), who goes by “Sinatra.” However, the finale didn’t unfold as expected, instead leaving us on a suspenseful cliffhanger. This only heightens my apprehension for Season 2 and the fate of those in the Paradise bunker, and I can’t help but wonder what the mysterious Jane Driscoll (Nicole Brydon Bloom) is planning next.

The Twists In Paradise Keep Coming Until The Very End

In the series characterized by unexpected turns, as is typical of its creator Dan Fogelman, it was the climactic twist that left me astonished. We find Xavier, who we last encountered in Episode 7, which TopMob’s Sean O’Connell described as “one of the finest episodes of television I have ever witnessed,” facing Sinatra regarding the truth about his wife’s destiny following the worldwide catastrophe.

In a startling revelation, Sinatra confesses to kidnapping her own child. Faced with the grim prospect of harm befalling his daughter, and upon realizing that Sinatra did not kill President Cal Bradford (James Marsden), Xavier concedes and orders his associates to retreat.

At this point, events take a disastrous turn. Following all of Sinatra’s instructions, he finds out that she has failed to maintain control over her assassin, Jane. According to Sinatra, Jane is suspected of killing Xavier’s daughter, Xavier’s beloved child. Overwhelmed with anger, Xavier points a gun at Sinatra, but before he can carry out his vengeance, Sinatra is struck in the chest by an unseen Jane. Jane then informs Xavier that his daughter is still alive and tells Sinatra that she requires her to be kept alive.

It turns out that things didn’t unfold as I had anticipated. I should have been more alert given Fogelman’s knack for unexpected plot twists. I had envisioned a Season 2 narrative where Sinatra would become one of the most sinister villains on TV, with no character safe from harm. This idea was unsettling, but nothing compares to what now scares me.

The Real Fear Here

Xavier seems unlikely to be in danger as he leaves the bunker bound for Atlanta to locate his wife, Teri (Enuka Okuma). While we haven’t seen much of life beyond the bunker, it appears that people are managing to survive, and it doesn’t seem like a nuclear winter. Despite my doubts about Teri’s survival, I remain hopeful that Xavier will be alright due to his resourcefulness and determination.

I’m particularly anxious about the upcoming Season 2, as I worry about the turmoil that may affect the ordinary inhabitants of the Paradise shelter. Sinatra wielded authority ruthlessly and demonstrated repeatedly her capacity for extreme cruelty to preserve a semblance of tranquility. Yes, it was essentially a prison, and Sinatra was deceiving everyone about the true state outside the bunker, including the possible fates of countless loved ones of the residents, but it was relatively peaceful. She had mastered maintaining that peace until the president was assassinated.

People Are Dealing With The World Ending Outside The Bunker

Since the volcano erupted and nuclear explosions occurred, chaos has reigned outside the bunker. Remarkably, those who survived have found ways to carry on living. Over the years following the catastrophe, it appears (based on limited information) that some have established communities and are searching for their lost kin. Conversely, life within the bunker, at least from an external perspective, has remained peaceful and seemingly ideal.

Bradford’s murder exposed the illusion, setting off a rapid chain of events, and now it’s become public knowledge. Xavier’s messages have likely sparked a resistance movement, which could escalate into full-blown civil unrest with no safe haven for bystanders – a more terrifying scenario than anything portrayed on the show.

Currently, the individual who has been maintaining order, somewhat like a benevolent dictator (up until recently), lies in a hospital bed. Meanwhile, two potential leaders appear unable to step up due to circumstances. Frank Sinatra is currently hospitalized, while Xavier seems to be absent, as he’s off on a mission to save Teri.

It’s clear that the vice president lacks competence, while the billionaires continue to dispute and fail to choose a leader, resulting in chaos within the bunker. To put it simply, the situation is chaotic, with many armed soldiers present. However, there’s potential for resolution through the skills of Xavier’s former superior, Agent Nicole Robinson (Krys Marshall), and Dr. Gabriela Torabi (Sarah Shahi). Despite their past questionable decisions, they were instrumental in uncovering Bradford’s murderer and his associate.

Jane Discroll Is The Wildcard

In the midst of all the turmoil, there’s Jane. She was last spotted enjoying a leisurely game of tennis on her new Wii. That final shot gives me pause. She’s just assassinated the leader of the bunker and her superior, yet she finds time for a bit of video game tennis? She’s either an agent of chaos or she’s so certain of her plan that she can take some leisure time as the bunker seems on the verge of collapse. It’s hard to imagine she has noble intentions, regardless of the situation.

What are Jane’s intentions regarding the founder of Paradise and the town itself, given that she seems to require Sinatra to be still alive? Could it be that she aims to usurp Sinatra’s position? Is her goal to destroy everything, or does she seek to reveal the hidden truth to those surviving outside? Her true motives remain unclear.

The future looks grim for the inhabitants of Paradise, as the shelter teeters on the edge of a dystopian nightmare instead of the idyllic paradise Sinatra initially imagined. Unfortunately, even unlimited fake cheese fries won’t keep the citizens entertained in Season 2 of one of Hulu’s top-rated series. Here’s to hoping we don’t have to wait much longer to find out what transpires next.

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2025-03-08 01:41