Paradise Season One Early Review

The following is a spoiler-free review of the first 7 episodes of Paradise, premiering on Disney+ and Hulu this Tuesday

As the first month of 2025 comes to a close, it has already managed to produce one of the most entertaining dramas in recent memory, one that is likely to remain in the conversation of greats by the end of the year. Sure, it is far too soon to call it, especially given that there are so many more intriguing series on the horizon for this year, but the truth is that there is something so special and mysterious about Paradise that it will find a way to dive deep in viewers’ collective subconscious as the ripple effects that each plot point and how they impact each character introduced long after the credits rolled on each subsequent episode (that being the first seven episodes of the season, minus the season finale). And while this drove me to the edge of madness, one can’t help but be enraptured by the feeling of unpredictability within its narrative and what is still yet to come.

At the center of Paradise is Agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown), a Secret Service Agent tasked with guarding President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) as he enjoys his post-term retirement as Commander in Chief. For Collins and his team, the objective has never changed – protect their person at any cost, but everything is thrown into chaos once he discovers the President murdered in his own residence. From there, the series begins to quickly unravel into not only a well-crafted whodunnit, as more and more characters are introduced with almost all of them given motive and opportunity, but also a time-jumping drama series that takes a more paced approach towards revealing the complicated relationship between Agent Collins and President Bradford.

Murder always makes for an interesting premise, however, it’s through the execution of excellent writing supported by an incredibly talented cast that Paradise truly shines. The first of these can be attributed to series writer and executive producer Dan Fogelman, whom we all owe an apology to for allowing Galavant to cancelled in 2016. Narratively, Fogleman takes the straightforward concept of Bradford’s murder and elevates it to a place containing multi-layered mysteries that, as they are revealed, allowing audiences to piece together a sprawling conspiracy that goes well beyond the Oval Office. Even more so, he cleverly leaves his audience with a feeling of longing and despair as flashbacks provide the only window into Bradford’s many relationships with the other characters, any of whom could be his killer.

Another reason why the series immediately feel like something different is its aforementioned talented cast. As Collins, Brown commands ever scene to the point that it demands attention without becoming too much. His ability to quietly and subtlety channel a vast emotional range just waiting to be unleashed, while maintaining a kind of discipline in their delivery, is fascinating to watch as he is clearly an actor who fully understands what the material calls for. Additionally, Marsden’s charisma is on full display as President Bradford and only grows in complexity with each passing episode as more is revealed about the bleak nature of his time both in and out of office. Meanwhile, Julianne Nicholson, who plays Sinatra, a highly influential figure in Bradford’s life and career, turns in an impressive performance in her own right as the series examines Sinatra, similarly to that of Collins and Bradford, as she wields power in an effort to maintain order and comfort.

In spite of the season finale not being made available to press prior to the series premiere for review, the pieces of Paradise thus far have come together so expertly that it is plenty cause for hope and excitement that the season will find a way to stick the landing, enough to earn it a spot as one of the best constructed dramatic series of 2025. Either way, in the end, the enjoyment of Paradise lies within the journey towards the truth and how the series oscillates backwards in time while mixing with present day events to help answer pending questions while also pulling on new narrative threads that will inevitably lead to even more questions.

still courtesy of Disney

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