The Man Who Kept the Secrets

They tried to be cool with a plot twist and made the whole thing feel senseless and random. Sometimes you just have to write a good story, not one that makes you feel clever. Every other episode is a solid ten, but this one was written by 2023's ChatGPT. That said, since the plot and previous episodes were good the series is still pretty decent overall. I'd watch it again. Just don't expect much of an ending for season one, and as a result don't expect much of season two either-unless they change writers. They overpromised and underdelivered, which leaves them in a pretty weak position to start season two. Unless they have a few brilliant ideas the show is cooked.

On the title alone I would have given it a miss. On the surface what appeared to be a murder mystery thriller turned into something quite different. Some solid performances from stalwarts such as James Marsden, Sarah Shahi & Sterling Brown. And a few newcomers to watch out for in Aaliyah Mastin & Nicole Brydon Bloom. I came in at the penultimate episode and was hooked. I watched entire series over a week. Slow burn. Characters strong. Storyline unpredictable. Wrapped up nicely in the last episode. Set it up well for next series.

This finale was a masterclass in storytelling, wrapping up intricate plotlines with grace and emotional resonance. The conclusion felt earned-nothing was rushed, and every twist reflected the show's meticulous planning. It was a thoughtful, emotionally charged send-off that honored the themes and character arcs, proving that great storytelling is about tying up loose ends with purpose and heart. While the writing left the audience in suspense, it struck the perfect balance, building excitement for the next season without leaving us hanging too much. Can't wait to see what Sterling discovers in the outside world!

I can't wait for season two. My sister and I have enjoyed this series so much. I won't give anything away. This was a well written and thought out story. It is a must see because it leaves you guessing and you won't figure things out until they are revealed. Most actors I have never seen before. I'm sure it won't be the last I see of them. The lead character's did an excellent job portraying their characters. James Marsden who plays the president did a great job but my favorite was Sterling K. Brown who played the lead character Xavier Collin's. He is great in this series. I just can't wait until season 2 is here!

From the outside looking in, a series like Paradise might seem a little generic: President, Secret Service, espionage-esque plots, lots of action and running-around. But I absolutely beg you to give this one a shot, as it contains so much more than what originally meets the eye.

For a very basic overview, this first season of Paradise tells the story of Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown), a Secret Service agent in charge of protecting President Cal Bradford (James Marsters)--a leader he loathes. When Cal ends up dead minutes into episode one, Xavier embarks on a mission to find the killer--leading him to mysterious advisor Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson) & fellow Agents Robinson (Krys Marshall), Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom), and Billy (Jon Beavers). As Xavier continues sussing out the situation, viewers begin to learn that not everything is as it seems in the seemingly quaint little village of Paradise.

It is really hard to write a spoiler-free review of Paradise because an enormous twist re-contextualizes the entire experience, so I don't want to rob you of that. But suffice it to say, there is more buried underneath the surface of Paradise than you can possibly imagine!

Like I said, Paradise might look a little bit "network TV procedural" from clips/trailers, but it is instead an absolutely masterpiece of story and characters.

From a plot perspective, show creator Dan Fogelman--of This Is Us & Tangled fame--creates an 8-episode slate here that is as compelling as any single season of a series I've ever seen (including greats like LOST, Homeland, Breaking Bad, etc.). Through the use of flashbacks and incredible narrative twists, Fogelman expertly parcels out information to keep you on the edge of your set.

Similar brilliance is shown with the characters. Brown, Marsters, & Nicholson (who in particular is an absolute scene-stealer) are fully-realized characters with fleshed-out backstories and motivations. There are no clear "heroes and villains"--but rather just individuals doing what they have to in order to deal with trauma and/or provide for their families.

I could sing the praises of Paradise for many more sentences, but I'll stop here and just say this: if you are at all a fan of good, solid TV drama this is a must-watch. It is the furthest thing from "generic", yet at the same time isn't so high-brow or high-concept as to be wearisome. The type of series that ABC could have put over-the-air in the 2000s and perhaps had a LOST-like effect.