Paradise: Season 2 First Reviews: Smart, Twisty, and Led by Outstanding Performances
Critics say Sterling K. Brown and series newcomer Shailene Woodley anchor a character driven story that broadens its scope and delivers plenty of twists.
When Hulu debuted Paradise in January of 2025, it was well received by both critics and audiences, but it flew somewhat under the radar. Its die-hard fans found a lot to love in its political thriller-cum-post-apocalyptic mystery plotting, as well as its stellar cast, led by Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, and Julianne Nicholson. The first season ended by opening up the world of the show, quite literally, and keeping viewers guessing as to what would come next. Well, Season 2 has finally arrived, and the reviews say it’s just as good as the first, though very different, and those who stick with the show will be rewarded.
Here’s what critics are saying about Paradise: Season 2:
Paradise Season 2 is as delightfully, dramatically subversive as Season 1—cementing its status as the best drama on television… The smartest decision that the writers made in the second season is to bring back several key players from Season 1, regardless of how their stories ended… Paradise continues to feel like a show in which every choice is painstakingly deliberate.
— Brittany Frederick, TVBrittanyF.com
The cast this season is firing on all cylinders, but two specific performers truly stole the show for me. Sterling K. Brown and Nicole Brydon Bloom… What I love most about Paradise Season 2 is that it doesn’t play it safe. It is action-packed, completely captivating, and delivers twists and turns that you will never see coming – I sure didn’t.
— Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
It may have been more than 20 years since Lost completely redefined what a sci-fi show could be, but Paradise may do the very same thing with a post-apocalyptic bent. In the era of Fallout and The Last of Us, that’s exactly what we need.
— Dais Johnston, Inverse
This show does more than deliver on dramatic promises but celebrates the sanctity of human life and our ability to survive whatever the obstacles… Paradise delivers so many sub-plots and ties off so many unanswered questions that no one will be disappointed. After a two-year absence, not only is it worth the wait, but Paradise should start preparing those speeches soon, because this is as close to perfect as shows ever get.
— Martin Carr, CBR
Season 2 is nothing like the suspense-filled roller coaster ride that was season one, but it holds its weight as a solid sophomore offering worth tuning in to watch.
— Jeanine T. Abraham, VisAbleBlackwoman
A big reason Paradise is so entertaining is the way it constantly subverts expectations, springing surprise twists that in retrospect feel logical rather than random—and revealing over and over that first impressions aren’t always what they seem… Paradise manages to successfully juggle all these threads because each character has a very clear destination, a very clear motivation, or often both.
— Cheryl Eddy, io9.com
Welcome back to Paradise. And it’s better than ever… It combines the scale and glamour of early-2000s American network television at its peak with the smart interwoven plotting, cinematic production values and standout lead performances of the streaming age.
— Tim Glanfield, The Times (UK)
There are still bonkers bits around the edges. Graceland as a shelter to ride out the end of the world. Feral children. Even more intense covers. And Paradise Season 2… never even attempts the bruising emotions of last year’s standout episode. But overall, it is emotions over silliness this time… Paradise Season 2 is a bit less fun than Season 1. However, it is a tradeoff that gives the show stronger legs.
— Tim Stevens, The Spool
The new season has its stumbles, but it builds quickly, making for a rare appointment-viewing streaming-television experience… The second season sometimes loses its way. The writers attempt to expand the story, but in doing so, the characters’ depth and dimension have less time to develop and evolve as the world expands. However, as the season reaches its penultimate episode, one thing is clear: Sterling K. Brown is Paradise’s emotional anchor.
— M.N. Miller, Geek Vibes Nation
As fascinating as this worst-case scenario is from a science fiction perspective, the novelty of it all only goes so far… When the events and characters and conflicts of each episode correspond directly to our real world, those are the moments season 2 lives up to the hype and turns into something genuinely special… Though occasionally a bumpy ride, the ambition and heart on display overall makes this an adventure you won’t want to miss.
— Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm
Paradise Season 2 preserves the show’s emphasis on character-driven story while embracing even more post-apocalyptic thrills… If Paradise Season 1 operated as a political thriller, Season 2 leans more into a post-apocalyptic series in the vein of The Last of Us or The Walking Dead.
— Meredith Loftus, Collider
Paradise Season 2, which widens its world and takes much bigger genre swings, even if it’s lacking as cohesive a mystery as “Who killed Cal Bradford?”… Season 2 is spending many episodes teasing out its big revelation, sometimes to the point of infuriation. Jury’s still out on whether Season 2 will stick the landing on that front… But even if the twist ends up not hitting, so much of Paradise Season 2 still does.
— Belen Edwards, Mashable
This sophomore season feels in many ways like The Last of Us, with episodes that don’t always feel connected and main characters appearing sporadically. Its content isn’t quite as dark, however, and as a result, some plot points feel out of sync with the show’s overall tone… Paradise remains at its best when it spotlights its best characters, and [Shailene] Woodley’s Annie is a formidable addition… There’s still much to be mined from this universe, and season two represents an overall competent if not always entirely fulfilling journey further into its mythology.
— Abe Friedtanzer, Awards Buzz
Paradise season two is fun enough to keep watching, but Dan Fogelman relies on some of his best and worst instincts… In focusing on some individuals and trying to create specific emotional beats, other characters are left behind while the central plot is both overly complicated and frequently neglected, like it’s trying to maintain an air of mystery but spreading itself too thin and running out of intriguing twists to keep the audience interested.
— Karen Peterson, AwardsWatch
Paradise suffers from an aggressive case of the sophomore slump, leaving audiences with little to remember of what once made the series so watchable. For those coming in for half-baked twists and turns, don’t worry, you’ll still get your fill… Sterling K. Brown and Shailene Woodley do their best to ground audiences in an emotionality that’s rare to find amid all of the genre mash-ups that make a digestible streaming series like this work so well in the first place.
— Giovanni Lago, Next Best Picture
Charting a narrative course that’s sloppy, derivative, and ill-advised, Dan Fogelman’s series continues making egregious missteps in its sluggish and unfocused sophomore outing, squandering whatever goodwill remained from its early highs. This once-tantalizing show appears to have permanently lost its way.
— Nick Schager, Daily Beast
Paradise: Season 2 premieres on Hulu on February 23, 2026.
