Paradise
There’s no denying that 2025 has got off to a wild start. The second term of President Trump has seen the proliferation of reactionary politics in the States (the POTUS’s buddy, Elon Musk, attempted to spread this polarisation to the UK by fleetingly buddying up with Nigel Farage). Fresh off a succession of assassination attempts on Trump, Paradise is a timely thriller that explores the inner workings of the White House from the perspective of a Secret Service agent.
The always-reliable Sterling K Brown stars as Special Agent Xavier Collins, who is assigned to protect President Cal Bradford (James Marsden). A seemingly divisive figure, Bradford finds himself the target of would-be assassins, with Collins making a pledge to take a bullet for his boss, though ends up spending most of his time listening to his self-absorbed, inebriated ruminations.
It’s slick and well-acted. Brown is a charismatic lead, keeping things low-key even when the script teeters on over-dramatic. He has palpable chemistry with Marsden, who is adept at playing the chiselled Commander in Chief. At once a Southern progressive and billionaire-turned-POTUS with toothy charm, President Cal Bradford appears to be an odd amalgamation of Trump, Carter and JFK. Meanwhile, newcomer Aliyah Mastin shines as Collins’s precocious daughter, Presley, who finds herself parentified and caring for her younger brother due to her father’s busy schedule and the absence of a maternal figure.
The efforts of the ensemble cast aside, it’s frustratingly exposition-heavy. Every scene is used as an opportunity to spell out the characters’ backstories and relationships with one another rather than letting the narrative unfold naturally. For this reason, it’s an accessible viewing experience, as it doesn’t make the audience work very hard.
Though a by-the-numbers thriller, it excels as a whodunit, full of dramatic flair and compelling twists and turns (there’s a surprising revelation at the end of the first episode that cements its binge-worthy status). Light on substantial characterisation but heavy on intrigue, Paradise is a moreish mystery that might surprise even the most jaded viewers.
Antonia Georgiou
Paradise is released on Disney+ on 28th January 2025.
Watch the trailer for Paradise here:
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