Paradise: Season One – Review
Recently my wife told me that she had just binge watched a season of a new show and she enjoyed it enough that she would rewatch it with me. That show was Paradise.
Paradise is another series in the post-apocalyptic genre. If that turns you off, do not give up on it yet. This is a very fresh take on the theme.
There are no zombies. There are no aliens. There are no killer robots.
The premise is that an entire city has been built underground. It looks just like small town America. It feels like paradise.
The main character is a secret service agent, one who is tasked to protect the President of the United States. Yes, this single town is actually led by POTUS. When something is discovered in the President’s quarters, a tense investigation is undertaken.
I am purposely trying not to spoil any part of the story and this series is all about twists and turns.
The season kicks off by introducing all sorts of questions. Not just about the main investgation, but for the audience wondering why this city exists and how everything works.
The season slowly (but not sluggishly) reveals most of the answers that are being asked. Much of this is done by flashbacks.
I want to say something about the flashbacks. This method can confuse a story and make things difficult to understand. In Paradise, the flashbacks are all done with very precise purposes in mind. I have never seen this used as effectively as it is in Paradise.
I do not want to say much about the story but I do want to comment on the characters. This really is a character piece and we quickly learn that not everyone is who they seem. There is much character development. And those flashbacks provide context that make us change our minds about who some of the characters really are.
The first season of Paradise ends with a satisfying conclusion and yet sets up perfectly the second season. My only complaint about Paradise is that we have to wait so long for the next season.
If you are looking for a great television series to watch, I recommend Paradise. The only warning is that there is a lot of swearing.
