With Paradise Season 2 in the can, it’s safe to say it delivered one of the more enjoyable sophomore runs in recent memory.
Paradise is a series that isn’t afraid to subvert expectations, but maybe it’s time to subvert something else: the episode order.
Paradise Season 2 clocked in at eight episodes, the same as Paradise Season 1.
But with a bigger world and a richer tapestry of characters, too many arcs felt like blink-and-you-miss-them moments.
The series packed in plenty of twists, and it was satisfying on a surface level, but would it have hurt to add a few more episodes and let things breathe?
Shailene Woodley‘s Annie was hands down my favorite character of the season because she made her presence felt and served a great purpose in the overall story.
But her arc needed at least another episode or two to feel complete.
At times, Paradise Season 2 felt like it was treading water, showing what the newer characters were up to while the world supposedly ended.
Everything about Annie was intriguing, especially her unique perspective on the apocalypse from Graceland, of all places.
Paradise Season 2 Rushed Annie’s Storyline
There was a lot of emphasis on her backstory, so to introduce her, rush through her past, make her pregnant, have her give birth, and kill her off, all in the first half of the season, was just too fast.
Paradise Season 1 worked with an eight-episode order because it was so contained within the bunker.
But with Paradise Season 2 taking a more scattered approach and introducing new characters in the outside world, it often felt like the show was moving from plot to plot without letting anything land.
The only episode that felt like a waste was Paradise Season 2 Episode 5, the hour that found Xavier working with Gary to locate Teri.
Gary’s motivations were painfully obvious, so having them confirmed when he gunned down Ennis felt more like an eye-roll than a payoff.
That hour could have been spent elsewhere because, looking back, the developments didn’t justify putting Gary front and center.
If the intent was to show how a do-gooder can turn to crime in the name of obsession, it made the point. The problem is that it was so obvious that it felt like a missed opportunity.
With so many more key players added into the mix, Krys Marshall, arguably one of the best actresses on television, was given a sliver of material to work with.
She delivered, as always, but there just wasn’t enough screen time for it to matter as much as it should have.
The Budget of Hulu Shows Could be to Blame for Shorter Seasons
There have been plenty of questions about the budgets of Hulu series, especially after the drama surrounding Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, which was scrapped after a pilot was shot.
The TV industry is in an uncertain place, and while Paradise’s numbers justify more episodes, it’s hard to tell whether the eight-episode mandate comes from Hulu or is a creative decision.
With such a strong cast and so many compelling characters, Paradise needs a bigger episode order for Season 3, or it risks leaving too many stories on the table.
There have been rumblings that Paradise Season 3 could be the final season, and if that’s the case, it’s hard to see how everything wraps up in another eight episodes.
The series has managed to deliver its first two seasons one year apart. If the trade-off for more episodes is a longer hiatus, most fans would take that deal.
Even split seasons could work. There’s more than enough story here to support a midseason break and still keep momentum going.
What are your thoughts on Paradise’s episode count? Do you think the series is moving too fast, or does the current pace work for you?
If Paradise Season 3 is the end, is there enough time to wrap everything up with just eight episodes?
Let’s keep the conversation going. Say something in the comments, share if you’re inclined, and keep reading. Independent coverage only works if people engage with it.
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