(Note: this review contains spoilers.)
The seemingly perfect neighborhood, in the perfect community, with perfect neighbors. A practically Norman Rockwell-esque existence in which people are cordial, streets are pristine, and all is apparently well. Welcome to Hulu’s Paradise, a planned community that offers much more than the American dream. It offers survival. (Note: this review contains spoilers.)
And it is just another day in Paradise when Agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) discovers that former President of the United States Cal Bradford (James Marsden) has been murdered, a seemingly impossible event considering his top-notch home surveillance. Despite his friendly Kennedy-esque demeanor, it appears that Cal had few fans in this slice of heaven, where fabricated waterfowl, engineered insects, and innovative ice cream technology attempt to create a contrived Shangri-La to make up for a world that was lost. Set in a post-apocalyptic world in an underground bunker, Paradise delivers a captivating murder mystery, where a seemingly utopian community stands as an oasis amidst a dystopian world until a shocking crime shatters its facade.
The story of Paradise unfolds through a multi-narrative structure, alternating between several timelines that explore the lives of the residents living within the Lynchian community that hides a sinister truth. The intertwining plot lines of the “before time” and the “now” reveal how each character has been transformed into unrecognizable versions of their former selves by a catastrophic calamity. This is best represented by a perpetually underrated Julianne Nicholson, who delivers a standout performance as Samantha Redmond as her stark transformation from a flirty barfly into an emotionally detached billionaire-turned-government lackey is both jarring and engaging.
Created by This is Us showrunner Dan Fogelman, Hulu’s venture into high-concept dystopian science fiction is a lavish whodunnit that spares no expense on its star-studded cast, skilled crew, and stunning production design. Much like the idealistic facade of Paradise itself, everything about the series exudes polish, though some elements tread familiar ground. Sterling K. Brown delivers a magnetic performance as an uncompromising head of security and devoted family man, whose simmering rage at his circumstances lies just beneath a composed exterior. However, his perpetually frosty demeanor may feel too distant for audiences, making it challenging to fully connect with the character.
Paradise is an episodic drama seeped in political intrigue with a sci-fi backdrop, offering shades of Hanna Jameson’s The Last and Stuart Turton’s The Last Murder at the End of the World, but with Sterling K. Brown, and robot ducks. Filled with compelling characters, the futuristic crime thriller elevates its investigation by offering a dark spin to its story, delivering a satisfying twist by the end of episode one. However, despite its lofty ambitions, the mishmash of genres muddles the show’s focus. Its desire to tackle so much often causes the show to buckle under the weight of its own complex plot, leading to moments of narrative confusion. ❖