Paradise Just Made Season 1’s Greatest Flashback Trick Even Better

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Paradise season 2, episodes 1–3.In a year filled with great TV, Paradise stood out as one of Hulu’s best shows in 2025, becoming an instant hit that had viewers hooked right from the start. Alongside introducing great characters, a fascinating premise, and countless mysteries, the post-apocalyptic thriller also had one crucial trait that helped the series excel, which season 2 has improved upon.

Considering the entire plot stems from the murder of President Cal Bradford (James Marsden), it seemed unlikely he’d stay a key character after the first episode. However, Paradise‘s effective flashbacks have been crucial to the show’s success, as they’ve slowly provided context behind key decisions while helping uncover some of the project’s biggest mysteries in a satisfying fashion.

These sequences have also offered a different perspective on the central characters by showing sides of them that the present timeline hides, an element that is even more important now that Paradise season 2’s cast has expanded. Fortunately, the new installment has continued to include flashbacks, and it has even improved upon season 1’s best use of this storytelling trick.

Paradise Season 2 Once Again Shows Earth’s Final Day, But From A Different Perspective

While season 1 was full of interesting moments, including each flashback, its penultimate episode was by far the most memorable since it showed what happened on Earth’s final day before the disaster struck. The tension leading up to these final moments, as well as witnessing the chaos ensue, created a morally complex masterpiece that cemented the show as a modern classic.

Although none of season 2’s outings have displaced “The Day” as Paradise‘s best episode, “Graceland” did manage to take this tragic concept and make it even more compelling. Whereas “The Day” focused on the events predominantly from the perspective of those entering the bunker, “Graceland” showed what the tragedy was like for a civilian without warning.

Having finally found happiness as a tour guide, series newcomer Annie’s (Shailene Woodley) life flipped in mere moments as she watched a group of tourists panic while glued to their phones. Once she realized what was happening, Annie and a security guard named Gail scrambled for resources and hid out as the world went dark, not knowing what was actually happening.

“The Day” excelled because it was full of tough decisions that questioned the central characters’ morality, since they knew the rest of the public was essentially doomed. However, “Graceland” feels more human, as it highlights how horrifying this apocalyptic event would be to experience from a regular member of the public, hence why the episode has performed so well.

“Graceland” Goes Even Further By Highlighting How Difficult Survival Was For Those Outside The Bunker

Gaining a new perspective on Earth’s catastrophe was already exciting, but seeing the aftermath is something “The Day” couldn’t really provide. Instead, Paradise season 2’s premiere showed Annie and Gail struggling to survive inside the Graceland mansion’s basement, with the latter slowly growing sicker due to an infection she suffered on day one.

Trying to endure the freezing temperatures and lack of light with just one person was hard enough, but Annie’s Paradise season 2 survival became even harder once Gail passed away. She had to step into the cold to bury her and was isolated for the better part of two years, presumably with limited food and entertainment to keep herself going.

Although there was a massive time skip between Gail’s death and Annie finally seeing the sun, it’s safe to presume this period of her life was excruciatingly difficult, even though she’d spent plenty of time on her own before the tsunami.

The effects of the EMPs that Bradford used to stop the nukes also played a big role during the early apocalypse, as it meant batteries wouldn’t even light a torch. These kinds of factors heavily limited the quality of life for any survivors, and there was also a fight over resources, adding to the hardships people outside the bunker faced.

Showcasing this allowed the audience to truly understand how much the outside world had changed while also helping them realize how fortunate those inside Paradise‘s main community actually are. Overall, choosing to expand on day one by showing Annie’s POV helped add even more layers to Hulu’s thriller, and the story looks like it will only keep on improving.

Why Paradise’s Flashbacks Are Just As Compelling As The Present Day

It’s not uncommon for the past to be just as gripping as the ongoing story when it comes to TV shows, but Paradise is on a different level. Finding out what the likes of Jane and Sinatra have planned, whether Xavier will find his wife, if Annie will reunite with Link, and how Jeremy’s rebellion will play out are all excellent storylines.

Each plot point has plenty of scope and shows that Paradise isn’t solely relying on its protagonist to carry the narrative. However, the past is so heavily connected to the mysteries of the present, hence why it’s just as engaging. Discovering what actually happened to Earth and the preparation for this moment was mind-blowing, yet it was just the beginning.

Now, we’re seeing the lengths Sinatra was willing to go for technology in Paradise, which also revealed that Link’s scientific mentor was killed over it. Every time the series heads back in time, it provides vital information that directly impacts what is going on in the current timeline, rather than just being throwaway scenes to develop the cast.

As a result, these incidents don’t detract from the drama whatsoever and are actually a part of the show most fans look forward to. Paradise‘s flashbacks are arguably some of the most effective in modern TV, and they provide a way for deceased characters to still impact the story, hence why they feel just as important as the ongoing action.

Release Date

January 26, 2025

Network

Hulu

Showrunner

Dan Fogelman

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  Sterling K. Brown

  Xavier Collins

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  Julianne Nicholson

  Samantha ‘Sinatra’ Redmond

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