Hulu’s 2025 hit drama series Paradise returned this week with a three-episode premiere. Starring Sterling K. Brown, the Dan Fogelman-created series explores the human condition amidst perilous odds. When Brown’s Xavier Collins is the prime suspect in the murder of the president, viewers learn the world as they know it longer exists. A catastrophic tsunami forced a finite number of the United States populace in an underground bunker. All those outside perished — or so they thought. While Xavier solved the president’s murder, season one closed with him investigating another mystery: the surface above and the wife he thought was dead.

With season one ending on such a crescendo, the season two opener is somewhat disappointing. Not only do we not see Xavier until its final seconds, but we are introduced to a new character — Shailene Woodley’s Annie. The palpable mystery-action that propelled the pilot takes a far back seat for a less suspenseful telling of Annie’s backstory. We follow the Memphis native from the loss of her mother as a teen, to her dramatic exit from medical school. Eventually, the traumatized young woman finds solace in the one place that keeps her safe. As a tour guide at Graceland, Elvis’s grand home museum.

It is here where she experiences the tragic world-ending event. Luckily, her medical background and wit prepare her and a fellow Graceland worker, Gayle, for the long haul in the basement of the venue. We count the days as they turn into months, and eventually three years. Gayle succumbs to hypothermia and Annie is left alone until she’s visited by others.

These others are a group of men on their way to Colorado because they have heard word about an underground city. Annie is of course defensively combative when they first arrive. But, after they prove to be harmless, they form a found family. She connects with one of the leaders, Lane, and they become intimate. When its time for this unit to leave, Annie, still frozen by her trauma, remains at her sanctuary.

Months past. We reunite with Annie who is very visibly pregnant. Three is company when she witnesses a plane crash land in the distance. The mother-to-be ventures to the crash site to find Xavier laying amongst the debris.

While Fogelman is known for great dramatic pieces, this episode isn’t the tour de force one would expect to return us to this world. Woodley is perfectly fine as Annie, but the story fails to really capture adequate energy and attention. On the upside, we know that Cal’s attempt with the EMTs was successful and prevented the nuclear meltdown many feared.

Rating: 6/10