The second season of Hulu’s gripping thriller Paradise is officially here, and the show kicked things off with a powerful three-episode premiere on February 23, 2026. After a first season that kept everyone guessing who killed President Cal Bradford (James Marsden), the new episodes expand the world both above and below ground. While the first two episodes of the season followed Xavier (Sterling K. Brown) on his journey outside the bunker and introduced new survivor Annie (Shailene Woodley), it is the third episode that brings viewers right back into the high-stakes tension of the Colorado mountain facility.
Episode 3, titled “Another Day in Paradise,” delivers the twists fans have been waiting for. It reveals the truth behind a new murder, exposes Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond’s (Julianne Nicholson) most dangerous plan yet, and confirms that an even bigger disaster is waiting for the residents who stayed behind.
The Bunker After Xavier’s Departure
Life inside the bunker has changed dramatically since Xavier Collins flew out at the end of Season 1. Before leaving, Xavier took the blame for the rebellion and for shooting Sinatra. With Xavier gone, the power dynamics have shifted. President Henry Baines has taken a much stricter approach to leadership, cracking down on any voices of dissent. This puts Cal’s son, Jeremy (Charles Evans), and his growing group of followers in a dangerous position.
Meanwhile, Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom) has been promoted following Xavier’s departure. Her partner, Billy Pace (Jon Beavers), remains by her side, but not everyone is fooled by her new status. Nicole (Krys Marshall), who has been demoted, is spending her time watching over Xavier’s children, Presley (Aliyah Mastin) and James (Percy Daggs IV). Nicole’s instincts tell her that something is very wrong with Jane, and she begins digging into the agent’s past.
Sinatra’s Visions and Buried Memories
The core of Episode 3 focuses on Samantha Redmond, still recovering from the gunshot wound she received during the Season 1 finale. Julianne Nicholson delivers a powerful performance as a woman haunted by her past and driven by a need to control the future. When Jane visits Sinatra to assess her condition, Sinatra claims to have no memory of the traumatic events that led to her being shot. This convenient amnesia allows her to continue operating without the baggage of the failed rebellion.
However, the episode reveals that Sinatra’s mind is far from blank. Through flashbacks, viewers are taken back to the early days of planning the bunker. Sinatra is seen meeting with the scientist who first warned about the catastrophic events that would end the world. The scientist, who once spoke about the exploding volcano and the initial apocalypse, now reveals a much darker truth. He explains that while the world might seem to return to normal after a few years, this is only a temporary reprieve.
The scientist warns Sinatra that the climate will undergo another drastic shift. The heat will eventually evaporate the oceans, and the pressure itself will be enough to crush anyone left on the surface. He chillingly states that when that time comes, people will wish they had died in the first wave of destruction. This information becomes the key to understanding Sinatra’s current actions. She knows that simply surviving the initial event is not enough. An even bigger disaster is looming, and she believes she needs to take extreme measures to ensure the long-term survival of her chosen people.
The Truth About President Baines’ Murder
While Xavier is away, tragedy strikes the bunker once again. President Henry Baines is found dead under mysterious circumstances, throwing the community into fresh chaos. The investigation quickly points toward Nicole, who had been asking too many questions about Jane’s background. It seems Jane has framed Nicole for the murder, using her as a patsy to divert attention from herself.
But the episode reveals the full truth through a detailed flashback that connects past and present. Viewers learn that years ago, Sinatra wanted a piece of technology from a scientist to build her bunker. When the scientist refused to hand it over, she hired a trained killer to eliminate him. That killer was Billy. Before dying, the scientist asked Billy to spare a young boy who was with him. Billy agreed, and that boy was Link, the same young man Annie met in Episode 1.
In the present, Sinatra needs someone eliminated again. She uses a coded phrase with Jane, referencing a “breath mint.” This is the same signal she used with Billy years ago. The flashback confirms that Jane was the one who killed President Baines, and she successfully framed Nicole to cover her tracks. This revelation puts Jane’s true nature into sharp focus. She is not just a bored agent playing Wii tennis; she is a cold-blooded operative willing to do whatever Sinatra asks.
A Prisoner in the Depths
As the political situation in the bunker grows more tense, Jeremy finds himself in serious trouble. President Baines’ crackdown on dissent leads to Jeremy being taken to a prison located several floors below the main community. This is not just any holding cell. It is a deep, hidden part of the bunker where secrets are buried.
To his surprise, Jeremy discovers he is not alone in this underground prison. The man who designed the entire bunker system is also being held captive there. This architect holds the keys to the kingdom, quite literally. Jeremy, realizing the gravity of the situation, asks the man to teach him how to blast down the gates. He understands that the only way to fight back against Sinatra and the new president is to understand the very structure they live in.
The episode ends on an intriguing note. Sinatra asks her aide about someone named Alex. No pronouns are used, leaving viewers to wonder if Alex is a person or perhaps the name of another secret project Sinatra has been developing. Given Sinatra’s history of building things in secret, and the scientist’s warning about the coming “second disaster,” it is likely that Alex represents another contingency plan—perhaps something or someone that could save them from the future catastrophe or doom them all.
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Where to Watch Paradise Season 2
Paradise Season 2 is available exclusively on Hulu in the United States. The first three episodes dropped on February 23, 2026. New episodes will be released weekly every Monday. For viewers in the UK, the series is available on Disney+ under the Star banner. In Canada, it streams on CRAVE. Australian audiences can catch the show on Disney+ as well. The season consists of eight episodes, with the finale scheduled for March 30, 2026.
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