Paradise

Sterling K Brown and James Marsden are great (as usual), but Julianne Nicholson is incredible.

I remember her being good from Mare of Easttown, which is a terrific show - but she brings another level to her character here.

The scene in episode 2 with her therapist was a masterclass of pent up emotion of a woman who has clearly been broken by her past.

The story is a little odd (IMHO) as it is billed as a thriller, but feels a bit more like SciFi - which is fine but maybe not for everyone.

Looking forward to seeing how it develops but as long as Julianne gets plenty of screen time, it will be worth it.

Overall, I'm impressed! "Paradise" is an engaging thriller that leaves you eager for more. While I'm not particularly fond of the flashbacks, I do appreciate their role in providing a necessary backstory. The writing is exceptional, and I'm eager to see how the story unfolds.

The cinematography is striking, effectively setting the mood and enhancing the tension throughout each episode. I find the performances particularly compelling, as the actors embody their characters with depth and authenticity, making it easy to invest emotionally in their journeys.

As the storyline unfolds, new layers of intrigue are revealed, and I appreciate how the show runners have added subtle nuances that enrich the plot.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the character arcs develop and what unexpected twists lie ahead!

Update, after watching all of Season 1: Some scenes have outlandish dialog and the transitions are either clunky or too speedy. Here's what I've decided: I'll try to approach certain scenes in a similar way as I would a comic book. If there are things which don't echo traditional "reality", I'll attempt to keep moving forward.

Original review: I almost gave up on this show after two episodes. There was something in the way the plot unraveled which felt a bit overwrought. I'm glad that I stuck with it, and the writing seems to be getting better, or maybe I was in a less receptive mood when I first watched. The entire cast is well placed, with standout performances from Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, James Marsden, and Aliyah Mastin (as the daughter of Brown's character). Gerald McRaney gives his role gravitas and interesting twists. Marsden as the president has a complexity which I did not expect. While I've seen him in other productions, this one stands out. The effective soundtrack is sometimes subtle, and the set design is more than apt. My prediction is that this series will resolve itself within 3 or 4 years. Overall, this series is worth a watch.

This is how you set up a series and hook the audience in. A deliberate slow pace start with a clever story structure, a few mysterious elements and plenty of suspects on the offering table. Plus there is no rush to reveal too much in the first episode, but enough to keep you hanging in there for answers. But it's the big surprise twist at the end that will definitely have you coming back for more, in what seems to be shaping up as a modern sci-fi thriller. To top it all of is the intense presence of Sterling K. Brown that really draws you in, with his silent facial expressions more powerful than words. So I guess this nerdish reviewer is excited...

Sterling K. Brown's performance here, although restrained, is nuanced and intense. I've been watching him since he was on "Army Wives" almost twenty years ago, and he never disappoints.

It's challenging to talk about the plot without spoilers, but in this series, he is the lead Secret Service agent protecting James Marsden, the former POTUS. The story flashes back back five years a number of time, to give background on their relationship. There are a number of plot twists just in the pilot - the first of two mysteries is revealed early in the pilot, and another is revealed at the end.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the story and the characters develop, and can't wait until tomorrow to see episodes 2 and 3.