Paradise

Paradise is a political sci-fi thriller that revolves around the death of the president and many mysteries surrounding it. The narrative unfolds with every episode leading to a strong conclusion to the first season. The cliffhangers are not cheap gimmicks; they are carefully constructed moments that leave you genuinely asking for more in the next installment.

Sterling. K Brown as Agent Collins gives a commendable performance as a character that is both captivating and unsettling, while being supported by a uniformly amazing cast. The narrative gets unfolded by every means in Episodes 7, that depicts the true nature of survival and the why & how to the whole premise.

The premise, at times, may feel a little too much, but the series transcends from typical genre conventions, to keep you hooked and immerse yourself in this 8 episode thriller. Waiting for the next season to kick in.

My Rating : 8/10.

Sterling K Brown and James Marsden are great (as usual), but Julianne Nicholson is incredible.

I remember her being good from Mare of Easttown, which is a terrific show - but she brings another level to her character here.

The scene in episode 2 with her therapist was a masterclass of pent up emotion of a woman who has clearly been broken by her past.

The story is a little odd (IMHO) as it is billed as a thriller, but feels a bit more like SciFi - which is fine but maybe not for everyone.

Looking forward to seeing how it develops but as long as Julianne gets plenty of screen time, it will be worth it.

The pilot episode was one of those that left you thinking about the show afterwards and eager for more.

Writing about it has to start with characters. The main character is a solid, interesting to watch, pretty classical action movie hero with some depth that promises more to discover as the show goes on. The president however was such a surprise. The setup of his character was almost dismissing him as an a-hole. However, the way his character is spun towards a likeable guy within a few scenes really felt quite fresh and interesting. While nothing to write home about, the dialogues are gritty, sometimes actually funny and along with enjoyable acting, glue the characters together in a fitting way.

The promise the show made with how it seems to handle characters really makes you want to stay with it to see more. Having said that, I don't feel too intrigued by the immediate whodunnit mystery of the show, but I do stay open to be more invested in it as more is revealed. What I'm worried about is the world presented in the show. It's beyond ambitious to present what they need to present, and to keep it believable, with as little "how silly is that" moments as possible. I really hope they will pull that of, however it does feel there's some margin to be forgiven if the other aspects remain as solid as they seem to be so far.

Finally a SMART engrossing show with strong actors in strong parts. Well written and detailed oriented. They took several plot points from other shows and movies and crafted a smart, edge of the seat mystery. The acting is first rate and the cast is well adept to the roles and 100% believable. I went in with no expectations and the mega twist at the end of the first episode had me sold. Luckily I have Hulu and have seen the first 3 episodes and sorry, no spoilers here but it is a great payoff for those watching with enough plot twists to keep me engaged. Well done to the show runners and actors and hopefully the 3rd act isn't a let down but the way the first 3 episodes ran, I doubt it will fizzle out. Well worth the watch.

Overall, I'm impressed! "Paradise" is an engaging thriller that leaves you eager for more. While I'm not particularly fond of the flashbacks, I do appreciate their role in providing a necessary backstory. The writing is exceptional, and I'm eager to see how the story unfolds.

The cinematography is striking, effectively setting the mood and enhancing the tension throughout each episode. I find the performances particularly compelling, as the actors embody their characters with depth and authenticity, making it easy to invest emotionally in their journeys.

As the storyline unfolds, new layers of intrigue are revealed, and I appreciate how the show runners have added subtle nuances that enrich the plot.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the character arcs develop and what unexpected twists lie ahead!