When HBO’s The Last of Us launched in 2023, it quickly exceeded expectations, becoming one of the most highly-regarded TV shows ever and winning nine Emmy Awards. The first season was exceptionally well-written and acted, but the second season wasn’t as strong, particularly for dedicated fans. While still a high-quality show, Season 2 didn’t develop its supporting characters as effectively as Season 1, which had prioritized their stories.
However, the show truly shines when delving into the lives of its supporting characters – it quickly surpassed The Last of Us in this regard, achieving this in just one episode of its second season. At its heart, Paradise is a captivating political thriller set within a dystopian world facing a catastrophic event. Currently, the series boasts an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with Season 2 earning an even more impressive 90%. A major contributor to this success is a new character introduced in the first episode, which received a perfect 100% score.
Season 2 of Paradise Introduces a New Character in the Perfect Way
A major strength of the show was how it skillfully shifted focus to the supporting characters, exploring their backstories and personalities before the catastrophic event that forced them all into the Colorado bunker. Characters like President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) and Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson) were developed with the same care and detail as Agent Collins (Sterling K. Brown).
Season 2 begins with the episode “Graceland,” continuing the flashback style of Season 1, focusing on Annie’s past. The episode reveals Annie’s childhood: after discovering her mother had died, she dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, she left medical school because she struggled with the emotional pain of the experience. Afterwards, facing hardship, Annie took a job as a tour guide at Elvis Presley’s Graceland.
After the disaster, Annie finds refuge at Graceland with her friend and colleague, Gayle. They live peacefully there for a while, but Gayle eventually dies from an infection. Annie remains at Graceland alone for three years until a group of men arrive. Surprisingly, they are kind and supportive, offering Annie much-needed companionship before resuming their work to help the world.
Annie has the option to go with the group, but she decides to stay, and they vow to come back. Soon after, she finds out she’s expecting a baby. The episode concludes with Annie rushing to a plane crash site, hoping to find her friends and new love, only to discover Agent Collins is there, unconscious.
Similar to how Episode 3, “Long, Long Time,” centered on Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett, “Graceland” moves away from the central plot and main character. Instead, it allows viewers to become deeply invested in the compelling and emotional stories of supporting characters, even if they won’t be around for the whole season.
Kate Woodley’s portrayal of Annie’s difficult choice – being afraid to leave but feeling isolated if she stays – is deeply moving and immediately draws the audience into the stories of those around her.
Paradise Has an Established Plan and Is Already in Better Shape Than The Last of Us
A major challenge for Season 2 of The Last of Us was how closely it followed the plot of the second game. Many viewers struggled with the decision to kill off a beloved character early in the season, even though he continued to appear in flashbacks and the show was faithfully adapting the game’s story.
Despite the creators repeatedly confirming that The Last of Us (and Abby in The Last of Us Part II) are canon, there’s a noticeable lack of enthusiasm for the upcoming season.
The creator of The Last of Us has indicated the show will likely only have three seasons, particularly after the negative reaction to Season 2 (currently at 37% on Rotten Tomatoes). This limited timeframe makes it challenging to fully explore Abby’s storyline and conclude Ellie’s quest for revenge. It’s a shift from the initial plan of four seasons, which would have allowed for more expansion, especially if another game were to be released.
Unlike some shows, the story of Paradise was fully planned from the beginning by creator Dan Fogelman. He knew exactly how it would end after three seasons, and that wouldn’t change, even if the show became a critical or streaming hit – and it has been both.
Despite facing challenges, Paradise has proven to be a hit, with its second season performing better than The Last of Us, and viewers are eagerly anticipating the upcoming final season.
Seasons 1 and 2 of Paradise are available to stream on Hulu.
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2026-04-29 14:37