Okay TV lovers if you have not been watching Hulu's Paradise you are missing out on some seriously bonkers television. Dan Fogelman the mind behind This Is Us took a hard left turn and gave us a show that is part sci-fi thriller part political drama and a whole lot of "wait what just happened?". The Season 1 finale just dropped and let's just say it delivered on the crazy. Buckle up because we are diving deep into the madness that was the Paradise finale and trying to figure out what it all means for Season 2.
Presidential Murder Solved? Unpacking the Wild Twists of the Paradise Season 1 Finale - From Librarians to Cheese Fries!
Remember how Season 1 kicked off with the US President getting whacked? Yeah Paradise actually answered that mystery in the finale . Turns out the killer was...drumroll please...the librarian! Seriously. And the motive? Get ready for this it is a wild ride.
The finale went full flashback showing us how this seemingly random librarian was actually a project manager involved in building the bunker Paradise is set in. He found out the billionaire behind it all (Sinatra aka female Elon Musk) was okay with workers dying from toxic fumes during construction as long as the bunker got built. Nice lady huh? This librarian tried to warn people but nobody listened. So he tried to assassinate the President way back in the pilot episode and failed. Fast forward to the apocalypse he escapes prison steals someone's bunker identity becomes a librarian and then years later when the President walks into his library bam revenge time!
It's convoluted we know. But somehow Paradise makes it work in a totally addictive train-wreck kind of way . And get this the cheese fries? They are not just a quirky food choice. They are a CLUE. Turns out the waitress who loves them supposedly has a nut allergy. Imposter alert! This fake waitress was in on the librarian's crazy plan. Cheese fries never seemed so important.
Meet the Psycho Assassin and the Rise of the President's Son - Key Moments and Character Reveals from the Finale
The librarian reveal was not even the half of it. Jane the seemingly mild-mannered secret service agent turned out to be a full-blown psycho assassin. Remember Billy her coworker who she iced earlier in the season? Yeah she is stone cold. In the finale she goes completely off the rails demanding access to the President's Nintendo Wii as payment for dealing with Xavier's daughter. Wii? In the apocalypse? This show is next level bizarre.
And speaking of Xavier he actually managed to solve the murder mystery while also dealing with his kidnapped daughter and a near coup against the bunker's billionaire overlord Sinatra. He is a busy guy. He even had a brief and pointless fling with Sinatra's therapist because why not add more weirdness to the mix? By the end of the finale Xavier is taking off in a plane to find his wife who might still be alive outside the bunker leaving his kids with Agent Robinson who might or might not be trustworthy given the whole almost-accusing-each-other-of-murder thing earlier in the season.
But wait there is more! President Bradford's son Jeremy is stepping up. He is learning all the secrets his dad hid and rallying people to his cause. Could he be the new leader of Paradise or at least a major player in Season 2? It sure looks like it. Looks like there is a potential power struggle brewing between Jeremy and Sinatra setting the stage for even more drama.
What's Next for Paradise? Season 2 Hints Spoilers and Wild Speculation
Hulu has already greenlit Paradise for Season 2 so the crazy train keeps rolling. While the Season 1 finale wrapped up the presidential murder mystery it opened up a whole bunch of new questions and possibilities. Where is Xavier headed? Will he find his wife alive in Atlanta? What is really going on outside the bunker? And what about Jane and Sinatra's twisted power dynamic? Season 2 promises to be a whole new beast.
Creator Dan Fogelman has hinted that each season of Paradise will be "slightly different" while still being "within the same show with the same characters." He has also teased "big moves ahead." So expect the unexpected folks. Some theories are floating around that Season 2 might explore the world outside the bunker more fully maybe even becoming something like The Last of Us meets political thriller. Atlanta seems like it could be a key location given Xavier is headed there. And with Jeremy rising to power inside Paradise expect some major internal conflict too.
One thing is for sure Paradise is not going to be boring. Get ready for more twists more turns and probably even more maudlin 80s song covers because that is just how Paradise rolls. And we are here for it in all its bonkers glory.
Key Takeaways from the Paradise Season 1 Finale:
- The Killer Revealed: The seemingly unassuming librarian Trent was President Bradford's assassin driven by revenge for exploited workers.
- Cheese Fries are Crucial: Maggie the Waitress's love for nut-cheese fries was the key to exposing her as an imposter.
- Psycho Jane Takes Charge: Assassin Jane goes full villain shooting Sinatra and seizing control.
- Xavier Flies the Coop: Xavier leaves Paradise to find his wife possibly alive in Atlanta leaving his kids in a questionable situation.
- Jeremy's Rise: President Bradford's son Jeremy seems poised to become a leader potentially challenging Sinatra's power.
- Season 2 Promise: Expect a "different show" in Season 2 with new mysteries and directions beyond the bunker walls.