Paradise - Season 1

When a murder occurs in a secure, safe community, it soon becomes clear there's more to it. Paradise asks how this could have happened and what other secrets the people here keep from each other. Earlier this year, the new series Paradise debuted on Disney+. For months, commercials for the show appeared on various Dutch TV channels. While this piqued my interest, I remained unsure whether it would be for me. The trailers didn't make it clear what the story was really about. Recently, I decided to give the series a try and have now watched the entire first season. I have to say, my initial impression based on the commercials didn't exactly match the final story. But the most important question is, of course: is Paradise worth watching?

Paradise looks good with beautiful visuals, a talented cast and strong story development.

The climate crisis has reached its peak and the world is in imminent danger. With this as a major theme of a series, you expect a dystopian world with sci-fi-like scenes. At the same time, the story revolves around a secret service agent named Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) who is tasked with securing the US Prime Minister, Cal Bradford (James Marsden). Something that is more reminiscent of an action series with a lot of crime and car chases. Paradise does indeed contain sci-fi and action elements, but is ultimately a story filled with drama and thriller elements.

A typical American town with quiet suburbs and lots of camera surveillance is the location in which Paradise takes place. Xavier lives there with his son and daughter, while Cal leads a more solitary life, given his troubled relationship with his wife and teenage son. Xavier works closely with colleagues Jane Driscoll (Nicole Brydon Bloom) and Billy Pace (Jon Beavers), who also protect the president and have a good relationship with Xavier's children. When a major crime occurs for the first time in years, everyone is initially suspicious. Xavier starts investigating and gradually discovers that a lot is not right about his quiet hometown.

Paradise looks great, with beautiful visuals, a talented cast, and a strong storyline. The sarcasm between the characters creates a lighthearted atmosphere, and episode seven, in particular, is very impressive due to the fear and emotions it incorporates. The surprises in the story were unexpected and well-conceived, although they do make writing a review more difficult. It's precisely those surprising moments that are so good that I don't want to spoil them. One small spoiler I can't ignore, however, is the similarities to the series Under the Dome. While there are certainly differences, I think many will agree that parts of the story share quite a few similarities with that series.



Gabriela Torabi (Sarah Shahi) is a psychiatrist responsible for the mental well-being of many of the city's residents, including the president and Samantha Redmond (Julianne Nicholson). Samantha has a tragic past that has shaped her into the woman she is today. As one of Cal Bradford's most important employees, she makes many decisions for him, but the question is whether she is mentally capable of doing so. Nicole Robinson (Krys Marshall) is Xavier's boss, but reports to Samantha herself. As head of the Secret Service, she knows how to stay under the radar. This helps her in her secret love affair with Cal Bradford.

Although Paradise is well put together, I often had a feeling of déjà vu.

Although Paradise is well-crafted, I frequently experienced a sense of déjà vu. It feels as if the creators of various series and films have taken elements and combined them. The political struggle in and around the White House, familiar from Designated Survivor, the seemingly safe living environment in a world full of dangers seen in the Divergent films, and the tough security guard who has to save everyone, reminiscent of The Night Agent. While it's all well-done, it's a bit clichéd. Paradise has the potential to become a high-caliber title with many more seasons to come. For now, however, it hasn't reached that point in my opinion, as the creators are revisiting too many recognizable and previously used themes.

The series ends with an open ending that leaves plenty of room for more seasons. A second season was announced in February, and filming has already begun. So we won't have to wait long for a sequel. In this day and age of miniseries, I have mixed feelings about the fact that Paradise has no ending. Knowing there will be a second season makes me curious, but it would have been a shame if they had canceled it after just one. It's a big risk they took, but thankfully, it paid off. Paradise tells an interesting story that captivated me, but it still has room for improvement, particularly in terms of originality.