FIRST LOOK REVIEW - 7 Episdoes - By Darren Zakus - 1/21/25

RATING 4.5 out of 5

Paradise delivers top tier television full of mystery, shocking reveals and stellar performances from Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden that results in an exceptional new thriller from television creator Dan Fogelman that helps to kick off the 2025 television year with one truly mind blowing series.

Dan Fogelman has been responsible for two of the best television series of the twenty-first century with the beloved family drama that had audiences weeping for six seasons This Is Us, as well as executive producing hit series Only Murders in the Building, as well as writing hit films like Crazy, Stupid, Love, Cars and Tangled. His next television outing, which has him reuniting with This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown, has Fogelman venturing in new territory with a political thriller Paradise about the murder of the American President, played by James Marsden, in a small community with his head of security, played by Brown, becoming the prime suspect in his murder as he tries to unravel a larger conspiracy and grapples with his complicated relationship with the President. What follows is not only a riveting thriller full of deception, hidden agendas, and lots of twists and turns that will have you desperately awaiting the next episode. But much like Fogelman’s past projects, Paradise has excellent character writing with episodes focused on each of the key players, diving into their pasts and current motivations that only adds an extra layer of mystery and emotional stakes to the series, ensuring that Paradise will become the first hit series of 2025 that audiences won’t be able to stop talking about.

On the surface, Paradise appears to be a politically charged thriller exploring the murder of the American president and the secret service agent who becomes the prime suspect. Utilizing dual storylines, Fogelman and his team of writers explore both the aftermath of the President’s murder on the country while exploring the relationship between President Cal Bradford and Secret Service Agent Xavier Collins in the past leading up to the pivotal moment in Bradford’s administration that fractured their friendship beyond repair. The series begins with the murder, with details being slowly revealed about the murder and all the potential suspects as Fogelman explores the effect of the murder on the larger community where the murder occurred and the administration, at the same time as highlighting one of the main characters each episode and revealing information about them and their past that keeps audiences guessing as to why President Bradford was actually murdered. Fogelman carefully builds his mystery to keep audiences’ eyes glued to the screen as the drama unfolds, but his secret weapon is a major twist that occurs early on in the series that is not even hinted at in the film’s marketing that defines the show. This twist creates a far more daring and ambitious narrative than audiences are expecting that ventures beyond the confines of the political thriller genre. And not only does Fogelman pull it off, but he does so to create one of the most exciting new series on television that audiences will immediately become addicted to!

To match Fogelman’s outstanding vision for Paradise is an equally as impressive cast led by Brown, Nicholson and Marsden. Brown, who previously earned an Emmy Award working with Fogelman on This Is Us, is marvellous in the lead role of Xavier Collins. In every scene, Brown captures the determination and honour within Collins on his quest for justice to uncover the truth of President Bradford’s murder, throwing a rebellious flavour as he will do anything to not only expose the powerful forces at play who orchestrated the murder, but to protect his two young children. It gives Sterling a heroic role full of grit, moral complexities and charm that lets him excel every second he is on screen. Marsden is great as President Bradford in the flashback sequences, capturing a steadfast leader concerned with protecting the American public to the best of his ability while treating them with honesty and compassion. Nicholson is an enigma as Samantha Redmond, bringing an emotional vulnerability due to her character’s past tragedy that creates an empathy, while at the same time bringing a ruthlessness as she tries to lead her community and protect them at any cost. It’s another terrific performance from Nicholson after great work recently in Mare of Easttown and Dream Scenario, cementing herself as a powerhouse performer whose work should not be missed. 

While in less prominent roles than the aforementioned actors, Sarah Shahi, Krys Marshall, Jon Beavers, Nicole Bryson Bloom and Gerald McRaney round out the key characters in the show, each finding an honesty in their character that makes them relatable but further complicates the mystery and will keep audiences questioning where everyone’s allegiances lie. And the young actors, Aliyah Mastin, Percy Daggs IV and Charlie Evans are all wonderful as the younger generation in the story, helping to create emotional stakes for both their parents and the audience as their safety lies in the balance of the war being ragged between Collins and the powers behind the President’s murder. 

Even without having seen the eighth and final episode of the season, based on the remainder of the season, there is no doubt that Dan Fogelman has another hit series on his hands. With excellent storytelling at the forefront of Paradise, Dan Fogelman and his cast spin a riveting and exciting thriller that never lets up for a second as the mystery deepens with each plot development that creates one of the year’s first great series. Anchored by the powerful trio of performances from Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson and James Marsden, there is never a second of Paradise that does not scream stellar television as Dan Fogelman weaves an outstanding political thriller that moves beyond the confines of the genre and results in the first must see television event of 2025!