The second season of Paradise has arrived, and it opens with a major shift in focus. Instead of jumping straight back into the bunker politics, the premiere episode, titled “Graceland,” spends its entire runtime introducing viewers to a new survivor: Annie, played by Shailene Woodley. The episode explores her three years alone at Elvis Presley’s famous home and her unexpected connection with Link (Thomas Doherty). Woodley recently opened up about her character’s emotional journey, her controversial decision to stay behind, and the intimate scene she and Doherty worked hard to make “beautiful, not s*xy”.
Who Is Annie in Paradise Season 2?
Before the end of the world, Annie was a medical school dropout who struggled with anxiety. After her mother died, she took a job as a tour guide at Graceland to get by. When the global catastrophe known as “The Day” hit, she survived by hiding in the basement of the Memphis landmark with a coworker. After her friend died from an accident, Annie spent 689 days completely alone, relying on her wits and the supplies left behind .
Sterling K. Brown, who plays Xavier, praised the decision to open the season with Annie’s story. He told Us Weekly that Woodley “holds that s*** down so fiercely” and assured fans that investing time in her character was the right move . *Julianne Nicholson*, who plays Sinatra, added that the first three episodes are about “discovering a whole new world and a whole new cast of characters”.
Shailene Woodley on Annie’s Will to Survive
Woodley explained that playing Annie was very different from her past work in dystopian stories like Divergent. She told TheWrap that Divergent was a study on a future, heightened reality, but Paradise felt “very real and very ordinary” . She wanted Annie to feel authentic, so she made sure the character had greasy hair, wore the same clothes repeatedly, and looked like someone who had actually been surviving alone for years.
The actress shared that Annie’s ability to survive came from her past pain. Because Annie had already lost so much, including her mother, she knew how to be alone. “It was almost out of stubbornness and out of pure rebelliousness that she would be able to last longer than others,” Woodley said . She noted that Annie was set up to succeed because she had already experienced deep loss and discomfort in her own skin.
Woodley also revealed that the Graceland set itself became a character in the story. The replica of Elvis’ home, complete with shag carpet, mirrored ceilings, and even his gold-plated handgun, gave Annie things to interact with during her isolation. “There was a lot of textural inanimate objects that I think kept Annie’s mind sane during her time alone,” she explained .
The Arrival of Link and the Intimacy Scene
Everything changes for Annie when Link and his group of survivors show up at Graceland. After nearly two years without human contact, Annie is wary at first. But she eventually warms up to them, sharing her first piece of bacon in years and forming a deep connection with Link.
The romantic scene between Annie and Link required careful planning. Woodley and Doherty had only met once before filming, and there was no rehearsal time. However, they worked closely with an intimacy coordinator to create a trusting environment . Doherty admitted he had anxiety about joining the established cast, but he found a safe space with Woodley. “Shailene just creates such this beautiful—,” he started, before Woodley interrupted to say they both created it together .
Woodley described their approach to the scene. “Thomas and I … had an unspoken pact of just choosing to be very vulnerable with each other and very open with one another,” she recalled . The directors, Glen Ficarra and John Requa, gave them space to explore the moment. The pair decided to focus on tenderness and slowness rather than anything graphic.
“We decided that what makes it so beautiful is that there’s a tenderness and a slowness — it’s true intimacy, even more than having a sxual experience, it was a moment of intimacy,” Woodley explained . She added that they also wanted to show the joy and rush of endorphins that comes from being with someone after years of isolation. “Our goal was to make it beautiful, not sxy, and to make it feel cozy and warm and tender and not gratuitous” .
Doherty echoed this sentiment, noting that Dan Fogelman’s writing made their job easier. He said the writers leave so much on the page that actors just need to honor it and be present with each other . The scene was captured in one long take, which added to its authenticity .
Why Annie Refuses to Leave With Link
The most talked-about moment in the premiere comes when Link asks Annie to join him and his group on their journey to find a bunker in Colorado. Despite their emotional connection, Annie locks herself in the basement and refuses to go. Woodley admitted that even she was confused by the choice at first.
“It was confusing for me, because I thought: ‘Why don’t you go with him? Get on that train!’” she told Deadline . However, after digging into Annie’s psychology, Woodley understood the decision.
“Annie has been in control of her own life since her mother died. She controlled her own survival and every aspect of it. Before that, she felt completely out of control, as if everything was happening to her and she couldn’t stop it,” Woodley explained .
The actress pointed out that Annie’s fear of losing control is what keeps her at Graceland. Accepting Link’s offer would mean stepping into the unknown and risking more loss. “When he asks her to go, it’s easier to stay. Leaving would mean being out of control again. And if something happened to him or to the relationship, she wouldn’t have that control. Not being in control is a very scary and vulnerable place for someone like her” . Woodley confirmed that Annie does end up regretting her decision.
Annie’s Pregnancy Twist
The premiere ends with a major reveal: Annie is pregnant with Link’s child. This development gives Annie a new purpose. Woodley told TheWrap that the pregnancy gives Annie “something else to live for” and brings out her nurturing side .
“Everything from the moment she found out she was pregnant moving forward was about protecting that child, and creating a circumstance that would allow this child to thrive in a world that is built for destruction in her current moment,” Woodley said . She added that Annie finds her strength through her unborn child, showing “the power and the healing that can come from unconditional love” .
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Paradise Season 2 Release Schedule and Where to Watch
Paradise Season 2 premiered on Monday, February 23, 2026, with the first three episodes dropping at once . The season consists of eight episodes in total. After the three-episode debut, new episodes will be released weekly on Mondays. The season finale is scheduled for March 30, 2026 .
In the United States, the series streams on Hulu. For viewers in the UK and Canada, it is available on Disney+ through the Star hub. In Australia, fans can watch it on Disney+. In India, the show streams on JioHotstar .
The cast includes returning stars Sterling K. Brown (Xavier Collins), Julianne Nicholson (Sinatra), Sarah Shahi (Dr. Gabriela Torabi), Nicole Brydon Bloom (Jane), and Krys Marshall. James Marsden and Jon Beavers also return in flashback scenes .
The new season follows Xavier as he searches for his wife Teri in the outside world while the bunker deals with the fallout from Season 1. Timothy Omundson and Michael McGrady also join the cast in undisclosed roles .
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