---
title: "Paradise"
year: 2025
kind: "series"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/paradise"
fi1m_id: "paradise"
imdb_id: "tt27444205"
tmdb_id: 245927
wikidata_id: "Q126126253"
fi1m_score: 73
critics_score: 70
critics_reviews: 9
published: "2026-09-12"
updated: "2026-09-17T17:17:27.217632+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Paradise (2025)

Created by Dan Fogelman · MPA TV-MA · Crime, Drama

## Identity

Paradise

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/tv/paradise
- **Type:** Series
- **Fi1m ID:** paradise
- **IMDb ID:** tt27444205
- **TMDB ID:** 245927
- **Wikidata ID:** Q126126253
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27444205/, https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/245927, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126126253

**Fi1m score: 73** · Critics 70 from 9 reviews

*In a sentence:* We meant to go to bed, but this cast has made another implausible secret seem worth staying up for

> Sterling K. Brown makes *Paradise* worth following through some improbable turns. The mystery keeps us engaged, and the feelings usually land, though the second season asks for more patience with loose plotting and flashbacks.

## Synopsis

A murder mystery draws Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) into a drama involving President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) and Samantha ‘Sinatra’ Redmond (Julianne Nicholson). Flashbacks bring the characters’ histories into the story as political intrigue and personal troubles complicate the search for answers. Sarah Shahi plays Dr. Gabriela Torabi, alongside Nicole Brydon Bloom as Jane Driscoll and Krys Marshall as Nicole Robinson. As the mystery changes direction, *Paradise* expands beyond the investigation to follow the people caught up in it and the relationships that shape their decisions.

## Review

*Paradise* is an entertaining thriller whose cast makes its wilder plotting worth tolerating. With Dan Fogelman among its writers, it gives personal pain considerable space beside the business of solving a murder, and that choice pays off more often than the elaborate surprises. There is pleasure in following a mystery that takes such obvious delight in changing direction. We recommend it to thriller regulars, provided a convincing performance can occasionally persuade them to overlook an unconvincing explanation.

Sterling K. Brown does most of that persuading as Xavier Collins. His restraint gives the character a life beyond whatever information the plot needs him to uncover next, and keeps the emotional scenes from becoming requests for sympathy. We were moved by the effort he makes Xavier put into containing his distress. That control gives the programme room to become extravagant elsewhere without making every scene feel as though it is pleading for our attention.

James Marsden, as President Cal Bradford, provides a welcome change of rhythm; he is engaging company even when the surrounding drama grows solemn. Julianne Nicholson’s Samantha ‘Sinatra’ Redmond has the force to hold our attention without competing with Brown for it. The three performances make the larger shifts in the story easier to accept. They give us reasons to care beyond wanting the next answer, which matters when the explanations start to look questionable.

The visual work is less distinctive. Cinematographer Yasu Tanida and production designer Kevin Bird give the drama a polished finish, although the surroundings seldom become as interesting as the people occupying them. A story with this much conceptual ambition would benefit from a more convincing sense of how its setting works. Too often, the performers have to supply the reassurance that the larger premise has not earned.

The editing team, including Howard Leder and Lai-San Ho, helps the first season move briskly through its reversals. Scenes have an immediate pull even when the explanation behind them invites awkward questions, and the urge to continue is fairly reliable. The music is less well judged: alongside Siddhartha Khosla’s score, songs arrive to spell out emotions that the actors have already made clear. Those choices are intrusive precisely because the performances need so little assistance.

The second season makes the weaknesses harder to overlook. Flashbacks interrupt more insistently, and the growing number of subplots makes it difficult for the series to keep its attention on the people who matter most. The writing still finds emotional force, but loose explanations accumulate, and patience becomes a bigger part of the viewing experience. The cast remains a reason to return, though we would rather the plotting gave them less repair work.

The political thriller usually asks us to inspect motives and explanations, which is an awkward invitation here. *Paradise* gets through on the strength of its people, and the first season gives them a more satisfying mystery to work within. The pleasure lies in watching Brown, Marsden and Nicholson make even a questionable turn feel worth pursuing. Those who need every explanation to add up should choose a stricter sort of thriller.

*Fi1m score 73, published 12 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Paradise an absorbing, twist-driven thriller whose performances keep its more improbable ideas credible. Praise centres on Sterling K. Brown, with James Marsden and Julianne Nicholson also singled out for giving the elaborate mystery emotional weight. The favourable reviews value its character-led momentum, wit and willingness to combine genres, finding enough feeling beneath the plotting to make the demands on patience and belief worthwhile.

The spread is wide, with disagreement chiefly over whether that emotional pull compensates for thin ideas and implausible developments. Some find the silliness enjoyable; The Telegraph sees superficial characters and storytelling despite the strong acting. Reactions to the second series retain that divide: The Hollywood Reporter finds its emotion undermined by plot holes, flashbacks and lost momentum, while /Film is more forgiving of uneven subplots because of the ambition and performances. Even sympathetic reviews acknowledge that the mechanics do not always withstand scrutiny.

## Straight answers

**Is Paradise worth watching?**

*Paradise* is worth watching for thriller regulars who can forgive an unconvincing explanation for the sake of a convincing performance, and we scored it 73. Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden and Julianne Nicholson make the wilder turns worth following. The first season is the stronger of the two; the second asks for more patience with flashbacks and loose plotting.

**How long is Paradise, and what is it rated?**

*Paradise* is rated TV-MA by the MPA in the US. It is a crime and drama series.

**Where can I watch Paradise in the US?**

*Paradise* is streaming on Hulu and Disney+ in the US. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Paradise, and is it suitable for children?**

*Paradise* carries a UK 15 certificate, so it is not suitable for children and is intended for older teenagers and adults. It is a murder mystery with political intrigue, and our review found its force in the performances and the characters' personal pain rather than in spectacle. The certificate still points to adult material throughout, so we would keep younger viewers away.

**How does Paradise compare to State of Play?**

*Paradise* and [*State of Play*](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play) are both political thrillers carried by their casts, but the earlier series is the tighter and more convincing of the two. *State of Play* makes its newsroom and its conspiracy believable, where *Paradise* relies on Sterling K. Brown and company to see us past explanations that do not add up. Choose *State of Play* for a plot that rewards scrutiny, and *Paradise* for performances and feeling.

**What should I watch after Paradise?**

After *Paradise*, try [*State of Play*](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play) (2003, Fi1m 88): Political intrigue with characters worth following even when the investigation grows tangled. Then [*The Conversation*](https://film.one/film/the-conversation) (1974, Fi1m 92): For the unease of watching a careful professional lose confidence in his work; and [*The Lives of Others*](https://film.one/film/the-lives-of-others) (2006, Fi1m 84): A controlled surveillance drama where private feeling complicates the exercise of state power.

### Reviews we read (12)

- **The Guardian** (85/100, inferred): The critic calls it a precision-tooled thriller with wit and heart, praising the twisty concept and especially the performances of Sterling K Brown and James Marsden. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jan/28/paradise-review-disney-a-whodunnit-with-wit-heart-and-sterling-k-brown)
- **The AV Club**, Saloni Gajjar (B+): The critic finds Paradise a rewarding, twisty thriller that blends genres effectively with strong performances, though it demands patience and suspension of disbelief. It praises the character-driven momentum, incisive scripts, terrific performances (especially Sterling K. Brown's), and the way it evolves into a multifaceted, thought-provoking drama. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/paradise-review-tv-hulu)
- **The Times** (80/100, inferred): The critic describes an addictive thriller with well-wrought twists and back-story emotion, highlighting Marsden's performance and an exciting episode seven. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/paradise-review-disney-new-series-3pn2wqqg2)
- **The i Paper**, Rachael Sigee (75/100, inferred): The series is an ambitious, conceptual thriller that combines murder-mystery elements with big emotions and high stakes, unafraid to take big swings that mostly pay off. It singles out the strong performances of the three leads—particularly Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, and James Marsden—for grounding the story amid its twists and conceptual ambition. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/paradise-review-unpredictable-thriller-3503350)
- **Vulture**, Kathryn VanArendonk (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the series a fun, broad, and snappy-paced thriller that stands out among other apocalypse-bunker shows despite its frequent silliness and reliance on on-the-nose needle drops. The twist-driven premise and momentum make it entertaining even if it lacks depth or high-gloss production values. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/paradise-hulu-tv-review-sterling-k-brown-james-marsden.html)
- **Evening Standard**, Vicky Jessop (60/100, inferred): The review calls it one of the most bonkers shows of the year, an enjoyable but flimsy binge-watch that falls short of glossy prestige TV ambitions despite the cast's efforts. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/paradise-disney-review-sterling-k-brown-james-marsden-b1206596.html)
- **The Telegraph** (30/100, inferred): The review finds the dystopian thriller superficial and glossy despite its detail, lacking depth in characters and story despite strong performances from Brown and Marsden. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/paradise-review-disney/)
- **Empire**, James Dyer: The critic calls it a moreish if preposterous murder-mystery wrapped in a swing-for-the-fences premise. Brown’s grounding performance keeps the propulsive, addictive thriller on track despite its wilder aspects. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/paradise-season-1/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Angie Han (Lots of heart, not enough brains.): The critic finds Season 2 has plenty of emotional pull and strong performances but grows messy, sprawling, and inconsistent with too many plot holes and flashbacks. It prioritizes heart over brains, losing focus and momentum. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/paradise-season-2-review-hulu-sterling-k-brown-1236511516/)
- **Variety**, Alison Herman: The critic praises the twisty Hulu thriller that still puts feelings first, with Brown’s star turn and Fogelman’s knack for emotional storytelling. It delivers propulsive, addicting momentum through its mysteries and character focus, even if light on sci-fi details. [Read](https://variety.com/2025/tv/tv-reviews/paradise-review-sterling-k-brown-hulu-1236283549/)
- **Collider**, Kelcie Mattson (8/10): The critic calls it a return to form for the political thriller genre, with timely concerns and heart. They single out Sterling K. Brown's captivating, layered performance as the standout element that makes the series compelling. [Read](https://collider.com/paradise-hulu-review/)
- **/Film**, Jeremy Mathai (7.5/10): The critic finds season 2 a messier but more emotional road-trip odyssey about hope after the apocalypse. They praise the ambition, heart, and performances by Sterling K. Brown and Shailene Woodley while noting uneven subplots. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/2103387/paradise-season-2-review-sterling-k-brown-hulu-series/)

## Details

- **Created by:** Dan Fogelman
- **Creator:** Dan Fogelman
- **Director:** John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, Hanelle Culpepper, Ken Olin, Gandja Monteiro, Liza Johnson
- **Writer:** Dan Fogelman, Katie French, Scott Weinger, Nadra Widatalla, Stephen Markley, Jason Wilborn, John Hoberg, Eric Wen, Gina Lucita Monreal, Melissa Glenn, Seena Haddad
- **Cinematography:** Yasu Tanida
- **Editor:** Howard Leder, Julia Grove, Lai-San Ho, Romina Rey, Stacy Pietrafitta
- **Music:** Siddhartha Khosla
- **Production design:** Kevin Bird
- **Costume design:** Sarah Evelyn
- **Producer:** Chris Nguyen-Gia, Randol Perelman-Taylor
- **Cast:** Sterling K. Brown as Xavier Collins; Julianne Nicholson as Samantha 'Sinatra' Redmond; Sarah Shahi as Dr. Gabriela Torabi; Nicole Brydon Bloom as Jane Driscoll; Krys Marshall as Nicole Robinson; Enuka Okuma as Dr. Teri Rogers-Collins; James Marsden as President Cal Bradford; Aliyah Mastin as Presley Collins
- **Certificate (MPA):** TV-MA
- **Release (the US):** 26 January 2025
- **Genres:** Crime, Drama
- **Also in:** [Emmy Outstanding Drama Series winners](https://film.one/collections/emmy-drama.md) (Nominee, 2026)
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsjSIwQr7yw

## Where to watch in the US

- Hulu: streaming, uhd
- Disney+: add-on, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-12.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *State of Play* (2003), Fi1m 88: Political intrigue with characters worth following even when the investigation grows tangled. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/tv/state-of-play.md)
- *The Conversation* (1974), Fi1m 92: For the unease of watching a careful professional lose confidence in his work. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-conversation.md)
- *The Lives of Others* (2006), Fi1m 84: A controlled surveillance drama where private feeling complicates the exercise of state power. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-lives-of-others.md)
- *The Returned* (2012), Fi1m 85: A mystery that makes room for grief without hurrying everyone towards an explanation. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/tv/the-returned.md)
- *The Leftovers* (2014): For troubled people whose emotional lives matter more than solving the central mystery.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/tv/paradise