‘Paradise’ Review: Sterling K. Brown Leads Gripping Conspiracy Thriller

This spoiler-free review of Paradise covers Episodes 1-7.

Dan Fogelman, creative writer of notable projects like Cars, Tangled, Crazy, Stupid, Love, and This Is Us proves once again that he can turn a familiar story on its head with his narrative prowess. Similar to how This Is Us was marketed as a simple family drama before being much more, Fogelman’s latest TV series, Paradise, is shown to be a political thriller through its subtle marketing. Following their work on the hit TV show This Is Us, Sterling K. Brown leads this Fogelman project in a very different role than Randall Person.

The Paradise trailers have shown that Brown’s character is a Secret Service agent tasked with protecting the U.S. President, played by James Marsden (most recently seen in Sonic the Hedgehog 3). When Marsden’s character is murdered, Brown’s character is suspected of the crime, which leads him down an investigation that reveals way more than he ever expected. Unlike Marvel Television’s Secret Invasion, Paradise successfully builds a suspenseful thriller that will have audiences second-guessing who they can and can’t trust. When you think you know where the show is going, Fogelman expertly throws in a curveball that changes how you’ll perceive this series.

‘Paradise’ Is Dan Fogelman’s Darkest Project Yet

Considering Fogelman’s writing on Disney and Pixar movies like Tangled and Cars, or even his role as an executive producer on Only Murders in the Building, Paradise is unlike anything he’s ever done. From the way it’s shot to the chilling music by Siddhartha Khosla (a frequent collaborator of Fogelman’s), there’s an aura of uneasiness and tension throughout the series. Paradise follows a narrative similar to recent shows like Agatha All Along and Creature Commandos, as each episode focuses on a specific character to push the plot forward. These installments help establish this world and slowly (but satisfyingly) provide hints to the overall mystery of the show.

Despite a title like Paradise, Fogelman shows how a utopian community is not all sunshine and rainbows. To quote Robert Redford‘s Alexander Pierce in the Russo Brothers’ Captain America: The Winter Soldier, “To build a better world sometimes means having to tear the old one down.” The answers behind what made the community shown in Paradise are disheartening to learn, especially considering how real it could be. If Fogelman’s This Is Us made you appreciate the value of community and surrounding yourself with loved ones, Paradise will make you think carefully about your inner circle.

Dan Fogelman Brings Out Another Talented Cast in His Latest Series

With his Emmy, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his work on This Is Us, it’s not surprising that Brown gives a powerful performance in Paradise. Though he’s not as bright and cheery in this role, there are emotional moments between his character and the majority of the cast, with the standouts being Marsden and Jon Beavers.

Regarding Marsden and Brown, the relationship between boss and employee starts rough, but it transitions to close friends who share each other’s secrets. With a whole country looking toward him for guidance, Marsden portrays how the weight of his decisions gives him anxiety. But he knows that he has to put on a brave face and turn up the charm as the U.S. President to make his people feel at ease.

Brown and Beavers have a more brotherly dynamic that’s fun to watch. They completely trust each other, but their inner demons and secrets might shake things up for the worse. Beavers’ character is complex as his backstory is equally heartbreaking and chilling.

Julianne Nicholson‘s character is a powerful figure in Paradise. While she’s not the Commander-in-Chief, she holds just as much weight behind the scenes. When Nicholson and Brown share scenes, the two Emmy Award-winning actors are (effortlessly) on fire. Nicholson plays an incredibly nuanced character that will have many fans divided with where they align themselves. Fogelman proved how well he could manage juggling a large ensemble in This Is Us across six seasons, and he continues to do that in just seven episodes with the Paradise cast.

‘Paradise’ Is An Exciting Start for Original TV Series in 2025

Paradise may not be high on people’s radars, but with Fogelman, Brown, Marsden, and Nicholson attached to the project, hopefully, it gets the attention it deserves; word-of-mouth will play a big hand in how well this show does. Considering the mysteries of this series, it’ll be one to tune into every week and engage with the online community to theorize and break it all down. Fogelman wastes no time by dropping a major plot twist early on that changes the way audiences will watch, even if they’ve seen the trailers. It’s an exciting piece of foundation that could be further explored in a second season (if it gets greenlit).

The Paradise cast all do an amazing job of portraying such complex characters who toe the line between what’s ethically right or wrong. Is ignorance bliss, or should people be made aware of the harsh reality of their world? In just seven episodes, Fogelman crafts such a lived-in world with such philosophical questions that’ll get audiences questioning where they stand. Paradise is both very relatable and something completely out-of-this-world with its thrilling, engaging story. If you’re tired of sequels, prequels, adaptations, and spinoffs, watch Paradise to show the studios that we want more original content like this.

Paradise Episodes 1-3 will be available to stream on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ internationally starting January 28. A new episode will be available weekly every Tuesday. Follow Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.