Hulu's Paradise Season 2 Widens Its World, But Risks Falling Into the Lost Trap
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Polygon reviews the second season of Hulu's sci-fi series Paradise, noting that while the expanded world and stunning visuals remain strong, the show risks falling into the same narrative trap as Lost by piling on endless mysteries.
Hulu's sci-fi hit Paradise is back for a second season, and the creative team is wasting no time expanding the scope far beyond the titular underground bunker. In a review published by Polygon, critic Jake Kleinman notes that while the first season delivered a tight, bingeable mystery anchored by Sterling K. Brown, the sophomore outing starts to sprawl in multiple directions. Xavier Collins is now out in the wider world after flying a plane out of the bunker at the end of season one, discovering that the planet was not destroyed by nuclear annihilation, but rather saved from total apocalypse by an EMP that shut down the grid.
This expansion brings new faces into the fold, including Shailene Woodley as a survivor holed up at Graceland, but it also introduces the narrative trap that ultimately doomed shows like Lost. By piling on fresh questions and relying on increasingly convenient links between disconnected characters, the series risks muddying the waters for viewers who just want satisfying answers. The temptation to keep adding mysteries is always strong in prestige sci-fi, but paying them off in a rewarding way remains the ultimate hurdle for serialized storytelling.
Despite the pacing concerns and narrative bloat, Paradise remains a visually striking production. The cinematography in the opening episodes captures a hauntingly beautiful post-apocalyptic landscape that feels more like a cinematic feature than a standard television broadcast, and the flashback sequences detailing Xavier's past keep the emotional core intact. You can read the full review over at Polygon to see if the new season holds together before you queue it up on your watchlist.
Tags: Television, Hulu, Sci-Fi, Streaming, Reviews
Original article: Polygon