And we’re finally seeing the light!
What we’ve already come to understand is that Paradise is not afraid to blow it all up. Season 2, specifically, the Paradise Season 2 finale, was proof of that.
In addition to the bunker imploding after Exodus—the evacuation protocol enacted during meltdown mode—the season finale also saw several key deaths and answered many of our burning questions, specifically, who is Alex?
And that’s just another day in Paradise.
Sinatra’s experiment proved that humanity is its own worst enemy, but when faced with yet another life-threatening event, it can also come together and fight back, emerging stronger than ever, even after some losses.
They were given a second-chance, they ruined it, and now, as everything around them came crumbling down, they had to work together for the greater good.
Who Is Alex?
We also learned about Alex—an AI-controlled quantum computer, smarter than any computer ever built, capable of predicting events that haven’t even happened yet.
Link played a significant role in building it, and Sinatra went to great lengths to protect it. And now, Alex identified User X, Xavier Collins, as the next person who can save the world. Sinatra tasked him with getting to Alex at the second bunker located 100 miles away under the Denver airport. Xavier made it out alive (thanks to his running speed, which honestly reminds me that I should probably start working on my running condition, just in case, you know!) Also, I love Paradise for giving us that full-circle moment—the first ever episode showed us Xavier running through paradise for exercise, but this time, he was running for his life. There was even a shot of the ducks, though the fact that they weren’t swimming underscored how dire things have gotten in a place that was always far from paradise, despite being “safe” and functioning amidst catastrophic climate events.
And we don’t even have to question whether he’ll do it because, as Sinatra said in her final moments, she knows he already has—likely alluding to the whole nose-bleeding situation whenever X and Link come in contact. Those memories aren’t ones these versions of themselves possess, but they are glimpses into their future.
Alex wants to manipulate time, and Dylan’s existence is proof that it’s succeeded.
Now, Alex has the power to stop all of this and possibly reverse all the deaths, including her own, all while solving the climate crisis. Maybe in this timeline—or maybe in another one? Or multiverses crossing? We don’t exactly know the mechanics of how Alex works, but Sinatra was clear that she must be protected at all costs.
Who Died on ‘Paradise’ Season 2 Finale?
It wasn’t just one person who died on the Paradise Season 2 finale.
Sinatra (Samantha Redmond)
The biggest death was obviously Sinatra’s. While seen as the show’s “villain,” her sacrifice was noble, as she went down with the ship. In order to prevent radiation from spraying out from the bunker and into the real world, leading to mass deaths, Sinatra stayed behind and locked the doors from inside.
She was at peace, however, as she walked around the world she created and built, knowing that her son, Dylan, was alive and that Alex was in good hands.
Sinatra’s death, in contrast with all the other ones in this series, was incredibly beautiful, as she found peace in reuniting with her little boy, as a young Dylan walked up and grabbed her hand, walking her to the other side.
In fact, Alex predicted Sinatra’s death the day of, knowing that she would have to sacrifice herself for the greater good. It chose for her, delivering a message to User X.
Big Papi/Geiger
Geiger’s death was an unfortunate one, and honestly, unnecessary. I know the stakes are high, and it’s unlikely that everyone will survive in this situation, but he went through all of that just to die minutes after infiltrating the bunker!
The man survived an extinction-level event in the world, above the bunker, and then spent years with his people trying to get to the bunker and find Alex, only to die in an explosion while the whole place was melting down.
How frustrating.
Anders
The architect responsible for building paradise was killed in an explosion that injured Mrs. Robinson. As everything started melting down, Anders tried to cool down the reactors but failed, and when they exploded, he was right in the line of the blast, meaning he didn’t survive.
Anders may not have played a huge role in the series, but he was integral to the neighborhood’s function and construction, meaning rebuilding a bunker of this scale will never be possible again.
It just shows how quickly things can go south when control is lost—and how quickly that took decades to build can be destroyed.
Who Came Close to Dying on the Paradise Season 2 Finale?
Others came close to dying, including Mrs. Robinson, though James rose to the occasion and became the man his father always knew he could be, and helped get her to safety. She’s definitely injured, but hopefully, she’ll heal soon enough. They weren’t able to grab anything from the bunker before being evacuated, which could’ve been helpful for humanity’s survival moving forward.
Link, who risked it all to get to Alex, came to the aid of Presley and Hadley, who were stuck in the elevator when the power went on the fritz in the bunker and meltdown mode was initiated. He and his men lent Sinatra and Xavier a hand, as they tried to help their daughters, pulling them to safety mere moments before the elevator in which they were trapped fell to the ground and exploded. In retrospect, Link was helping the man who was in possession of his daughter and his sister without even knowing it, proving that he’s truly a good guy. It’s just a shame his reunion with his mother was so short-lived. Though maybe it wasn’t as much of a goodbye as a “see you later.”
Paradise/Hulu
Is Jane Alive?
While Dr. Torabi told everyone that she took care of Jane, that one random scene about 40 minutes into the finale, right before the whole idyllic town that looks a lot like a WB backlot goes “boom,” says otherwise. The shot seems so strange, but it’s actually showing Dr. Torabi’s shower, where we know she left Jane after she stabbed her, but there’s no body in the shower. So, did she survive and escape?
Or did Alex successfully change Jane’s timeline/existence and stop her? After all, those messages were sent to stop the baby from becoming a killer. So is she not dead, no longer dead or never existed in this scenario in the first place because Alex succeeded and she had a totally different life?
What Happened to Annie’s Baby?
Xavier may have risked it all, but he also made sure Annie’s baby was safe, delivering on his promise to get the infant to her father.
When he crossed paths with Link, he informed him that he knew Annie and that she died giving birth to his daughter. It’s a good thing he had Link’s ID card that he gave Annie, as the physical proof was enough to convince Link that Xavier was telling the truth, stopped him from killing Sinatra (his mother), and got him to safety before the bunker imploded.
Link honored Annie by naming their daughter after her.
Maybe Alex will eventually give them all a redo and a happy ending? Only time will tell.
What did you think of Paradise Season 2? Was it better than season 1? Where do we go from here?