In an exclusive spoiler-filled article by The Hollywood Reporter, Paradise creator Dan Fogelman (This Is Us, Only Murders in the Building) has audiences question everything. The latest political thriller, starring Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us, Black Panther), follows a group of survivors living in a secret underground city after an extinction-level event that devastates the world above. As the first three episodes drop on Hulu, viewers are immediately pulled into a world filled with twists, turns, and suspense.

Fogelman, who first conceived the show years before This Is Us, explains that the show’s trajectory came into focus during production. After three weeks of collaborating with writers, he mapped out a three-season plan. “I know what I want to do now,” Fogelman said via The Hollywood Reporter. The show’s premise is simple yet compelling: a billionaire builds an underground city for the president and 25,000 survivors. As the world outside collapses, Paradise takes viewers on a journey into the unknown.

Despite its existential themes, The Hollywood Reporter details Paradise was created before recent political events, including President Trump’s reelection.  The creators had no agenda related to current politics; it just so happened that Paradise resonates with contemporary fears and uncertainties. While the show delves into societal breakdowns and trust issues, Fogelman is clear that it isn’t meant to be an overt commentary on today’s world. “It’s just entertainment, but it speaks to something deeper,” he said.

As the story progresses, viewers will follow Agent Xavier Collins, played by Brown, whose world is turned upside down after the president’s death. “Who can I trust?” becomes a central question for Collins as Fogelman sets up the primary conflict in the series. Trust is in short supply, and the twists surrounding Collins’s relationships with other characters, like Sarah Shahi (Sex/Life, The L Word), who plays Gabriela, keep viewers on edge. “In all of these thrillers, the big threat is always: who can I trust?” Fogelman told The Hollywood Reporter. His goal is to keep the audience guessing, which is evident in the dramatic third episode.

Fogelman envisions the series as a multifaceted story that will evolve each season.

“Each season of the show is a slightly different show,” he revealed to The Hollywood Reporter, explaining that the show’s tone and narrative will shift, but the core characters will remain intact. By the end of the first season, Fogelman promises answers to many of the questions raised, but a fresh set of challenges will emerge for the characters in subsequent seasons.

While Paradise embraces the tension and suspense of post-apocalyptic thrillers, it also offers glimpses of hope.

“I was hoping to make a big piece of commercial entertainment,” Fogelman explained to The Hollywood Reporter. The show presents a stark contrast between trauma and optimism, keeping audiences invested not just in the mysteries of the underground city but also in the character’s emotional journeys. As the story unfolds, Fogelman aims to give viewers “a complete meal” by providing answers while leaving them eager for what’s next.

Paradise offers an unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat viewing experience that blends survival drama with existential exploration. As the series continues, expect more twists, questions, and the emotional rollercoaster Fogelman is known for. With a compelling mix of suspense and humanity, Paradise is sure to keep audiences hooked as the story develops week by week.