“Paradise” review: Sterling K. Brown powers through Hulu's wobbly political thriller

After 10 years as an accomplished screenwriter, Dan Fogelman (Crazy, Stupid, Love) became a household name with This Is Us, the hit NBC drama that initially hooked viewers with its exhilarating premiere twist. Now Fogelman is back with Hulu’s Paradise, a political thriller that shares nothing in common with This Is Us except its star, Sterling K. Brown, and its own mind-rattling revelation in the opening hour. Paradise starts strong, but the series undermines its compelling opener with predictable, trope-heavy storytelling that’s only partially salvaged by the drama’s excellent leads.

Brown plays Xavier Collins, a Secret Service agent who lives with his two kids, James (Percy Daggs IV) and Presley (Aliyah Mastin), in the quiet community of Paradise. He spends his days protecting U.S. President Cal Bradford (James Marsden), one of the city’s many high-profile residents. But Xavier’s daily routine is shattered one morning when he discovers President Bradford dead in his bedroom — a development that immediately places him and fellow agent Billy Robinson (Jon Beavers) under suspicion. As Samantha Redmond (Julianne Nicholson), one of the President's top advisors, takes charge of the investigation, Xavier launches his own search for answers, which is made infinitely more urgent and complicated by [BIG REDACTED TWIST HERE].

Related: Paradise reunites This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman with Sterling K. Brown, but don't expect a feel-good family drama

The premiere, scripted by Fogelman, unveils Paradise’s massive surprise with the kind of skillful, unhurried confidence that will prompt many viewers to watch the episode again in search of clues they missed. Regrettably, that finesse falls away as the season progresses, jumping between two timelines: Before and after Bradford’s death. Sidelined by Redmond while the investigation is ongoing, Xavier pushes another one of the President’s advisors, Dr. Gabriel Torabi (Sarah Shahi), for insider intel. Torabi used to be Redmond’s personal therapist, and as a character, her motivations are murky and vaguely drawn enough that we’re probably supposed to suspect that she’s hiding something. Seven episodes into the eight-part season, though, it seems the good doctor’s main purpose is providing exposition and serving as a lukewarm love interest for Xavier.

Far more interesting is Redmond herself. Part Sheryl Sandberg, part Bond villain, Samantha Redmond — whose Secret Service code name, we’re told multiple times, is “Sinatra” — clearly knows more about Bradford’s death than she’s letting on. “Something’s not right with that woman,” Xavier intones. He’s correct; humanizing flashbacks reveal the tragic events that led Redmond to hold such a position of power in Paradise. Nicholson plays the dueling aspects of her character to the hilt — I mean that as a compliment — making both her despair and her icy domination fully believable.

As for the victim, President Cal Bradford had enough enemies to power Paradise’s murder mystery for much of the season. Cal was carrying on an affair with Agent Robinson (Krys Marshall), though he was still married to his estranged wife (Cassidy Freeman). Xavier himself had a falling out with his boss several years ago, and the [BIG REDACTED TWIST HERE] certainly could have left the President open to violent feedback from other unhappy citizens. Publicly, Cal Bradford is immensely charming, joking that he doesn’t know where Syria is on a map and taking pride in being, in his words, “the funniest president.” But he was also an alcoholic who spent his last few days before his death wandering around in a bathrobe with a drink in his hand, second-guessing his decisions as leader of the free world. Marsden, a soulful actor in a matinee idol’s body, is phenomenal as Cal, especially in his scenes with Gerald McRaney, who plays the President’s dictatorial and dementia-stricken father, Kane.

Related: Sterling K. Brown reteams with This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman for Paradise — watch the tense first trailer

After premiering with three episodes on January 28, Paradise will roll out weekly. Each hour ends with a new cliffhanger, but none are as effective as the premiere twist — and most are more frustrating than tantalizing. A subplot with Xavier’s pilot father (Glynn Turman) appears to peter out with no resolution; reveals are telegraphed; and the other romantic storyline, between Presley and Cal’s brooding musician son (Charlie Evans), also fizzles. Though Xavier toggles between grim resolve and tamped-down grief, Brown is never not watchable, and he rises above Paradise’s uneven writing.

Viewers who hold out until episode 7 (dropping February 25) will be rewarded with an excellent hour of television — propulsive, suspenseful, moving, and terrifying. It’s one of those How We Got Here™ flashbacks, and it’s immensely satisfying. Hulu did not make the finale available to critics, so it’s difficult to say with certainty whether viewers should push through to the end. If it weren’t for professional obligation, I might have turned Paradise off around episode 4. Ultimately, I’m glad I didn’t. While the penultimate episode doesn’t make up for all the series’ shortcomings, it confirmed that Fogelman has an intriguing story to tell — one that probably didn’t need to contort itself with so many narrative gymnastics. Twists can be fun, but sometimes simplicity is heaven. Grade: B-

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