'Paradise' season 2 promises chaos, secrets, and a surprising new ally

Express Tribune

6 days ago

The underground sanctuary is no longer enough. Sterling K. Brown returns in season 2 of Paradise, but this time, his character Xavier Collins is venturing into a world scorched by survival and secrecy. With the bunker behind him, his mission is clear: find his wife, if she's still alive.
'There's more than one way to skin a cat,' Brown said, hinting that Xavier's journey across post-apocalyptic America won't be straightforward. 'Planes, trains, and automobiles' might have been a joke, but in a world destabilised by an EMP and fragmented societies, every step matters. The show picks up with Xavier navigating unfamiliar terrain, confronting those who survived without the safety of Paradise's walls, some peaceful, others not.
The Emmy-nominated series splits its narrative between Xavier's perilous journey and the crumbling order back inside the bunker. Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom), who now cares for Xavier's children, continues to keep her darker motives hidden, though the audience knows more than he does. 'Jane has Xavier's complete trust,' Brown noted, adding that it keeps viewers in suspense.
And then there's Sinatra, or Samantha, as Brown prefers. Shot and wounded, the mysterious leader may be on a path to redemption. Whether Xavier will see it that way is another matter entirely. 'He probably still wants to kill her.'
Adding fresh intrigue is Shailene Woodley, who joins the cast this season. Brown was tight-lipped about her role but said, 'She's sweet, honest, open, ready to play, and very professional... She's outstanding.'
With more flashbacks to President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) and deepening conspiracies, Paradise isn't just expanding its geography, it's exposing its soul. The stakes are higher, the alliances murkier, and the outside world may hold more than Xavier ever expected.