"Paradise is a good show. I have to get that out of the way early, because I do think that it's fun and well-plotted and knotted with enough twists to sustain a strong momentum throughout its eight-episode seasons. The premise is simple enough, though doled out slowly throughout the first episode: President Cal Bradford (played with charm by James Marsden) is murdered, and Secret Service agent Xavier Collins (a sometimes-bored, sometimes-transcendent Sterling K. Brown) is trying to figure out whodunit."
"What specifically sucks is a gimmick that the show has decided to deploy repeatedly: Every episode, barring the aforementioned standout 'The Day,' hits its climax to the tune of what can best be described as breathy, slowed-down covers of popular '80s songs. It's the cursed sibling of the haunting piano covers of last decade from seemingly every movie trailer, and I have to say, it's hard to stay focused on the plot and the emotional payoffs at the end of episodes when this shit is blaring in your ears."
Paradise follows Secret Service agent Xavier Collins investigating the murder of President Cal Bradford, with the twist that all events occur in an underground bunker beneath Colorado after the world outside has been devastated. The show features conspiracies involving Bradford's death and character Samantha Redmond, delivering pulpy entertainment with strong momentum across eight episodes. However, the series employs a recurring gimmick of breathy, slowed-down covers of popular 1980s songs during episode climaxes, which detracts from plot focus and emotional payoffs. While the score generally serves the narrative well, this specific musical choice creates a distracting element that undermines the show's otherwise effective storytelling.
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