It has become clear this week, through the poignant and heartrending “In the Palaces of Crowned Kings,” that Cal Bradford had been facing incredibly difficult times before his death, which we had not fully appreciated earlier. Our beloved President, struggling with alcohol issues, experienced some intense emotional blows from what seemed to be the four individuals he held closest to his heart in the days and hours preceding his passing. The final conversation between him and Xavier, one of these four, was particularly harsh. As if this wasn’t tough enough, Cal was attempting to assume leadership responsibilities at a time when he knew it would put him in danger. Tragically, this moment of courage was the instant — after being rejected by everyone he loved — that Cal (allegedly) sustained a head injury from a rock. The events unfolding in Paradise are indeed very dramatic, as there is hardly any levity to be found; even the brief detour involving cheese fries felt quite heavy. This heaviness, while fitting for the subject matter and often beneficial in a thriller setting, sometimes overpowers the show, with the excess seriousness backfiring at times. The melancholic version of “Eye of the Tiger” certainly leads this list. It seems Paradise is all about intense drama without any relief.
Who emotionally wounds Cal before his literal demise is his son, Jeremy. We knew that Jeremy had wished his father dead, but what we didn’t know was that he was angry with Cal for not warning anyone about the impending end of the world. Although the details of the last day before the bunker are unclear, flashbacks suggest a chaotic scene. It appears that Jeremy believes his father is responsible for the bloodshed and is allowing the billionaires in the bunker to do as they please; Cal is merely their puppet. Their confrontation is fierce, with Jeremy accusing his father of hiding behind alcohol. This fight explains why Jeremy does not show up for a pasta dinner that Cal invites him to, which takes place on the night Cal dies. In the end, Jeremy will always remember the last text exchange, where he rejected his father’s invitation to discuss a project that Cal was working on, something he thought his son might find interesting.
Despite the strained nature of Cal’s connection with his son in later years, his bond with his father, Kane, was even more intricate. In 1997, Cal aspired to break free from the family business, oil and hydrofracking, and follow his mother’s footsteps as a high school teacher. However, instead of showing understanding or encouragement, Kane dismissively called him an ungrateful brat and asserted that he was poor at “oil” work. To make matters worse, Kane then announced his intention for Cal to pursue politics, claiming that his son would become a distinguished figure. This, in essence, was more of a threat than a promise.
Transition to the bunker, constructed by Kane (who we now understand had exceptional skills in building hideouts), in collaboration with Samantha. It’s becoming increasingly evident that Kane is experiencing worsening symptoms of dementia. In the time preceding Cal’s demise, the President observes peculiar behaviors from his father. For instance, he frequently refers to Billy Pace as “Sniper” and disparages Cal as a dummy. This isn’t merely a reflection of his low opinion of Cal’s intelligence, but also because Cal seems to believe that “they were all shipwrecked at sea” and that those around him had deceived him, right under his very nose.
During a heated discussion in bed with Robinson, the thought stirring in Cal’s mind is revealed when he suggests that the billionaires had armed the bunker for their protection – something Robinson finds surprising since she holds a high-ranking position as a Special Agent. Their conversation escalates into an argument about how Cal seems to view their relationship casually, while Robinson feels it is much more significant. After storming out, it’s clear that Cal starts contemplating the possibility that if the billionaires could hide weapons from someone like Robinson, who should have known about them, then they might also be hiding secrets from him.
The sequence of events leads him to the tablet. Upon opening files connected to surface investigations, Cal discovers they are under limited access and he lacks the necessary authorization. Given that he’s the President of the Mountain, this appears unusual. He spots Kane asleep downstairs, employs his fingerprints, and surprisingly, Kane Bradford possesses the required clearance. Although it seems illogical since Kane is often not conscious and I find it difficult to imagine Samantha wouldn’t rescind his clearance, there’s little one can do about it.
It’s clear that Cal recently learned from Susan Donnelly that there are survivors on the surface. This discovery has left him troubled and confused, as he overheard Samantha giving orders to kill one of these survivors (Billy) and instructing the scientist not to bring anyone back. As a result, Cal fears for his life, knowing he might have revealed too much to the wrong person.
To prepare for what’s coming, Cal takes several actions: he creates a mixed CD for Jeremy, makes plans with Gabriela to trust Xavier Collins and investigate Billy Pace, and reaches out to Robinson, confessing his love for her. Unfortunately, his attempts at connection are met with rejection – first from his son, then from Robinson, who is taken aback by his drunkenness and informal address.
In his final act before meeting his fate, Cal writes a six-digit number on a cigarette and goes to bed, knowing he will not survive the night. His interactions with Xavier, his father, and even Robinson in his last days only serve to reinforce his feelings of worthlessness and failure, as they all reject or criticize him in various ways.
As I mentioned earlier, things are tough for the President! We don’t have all the details yet and we don’t know what’s happening inside this mountain, but his efforts to reveal the truth, even if it costs him his life, won’t be in vain. Nowadays, we see the first significant outcome of Cal’s actions: Xavier and Robinson are joining forces to bring down Samantha. Xavier found Billy’s body, and he knows this wasn’t a drug overdose. Although deadly assassin Jane is skilled at acting, Xavier doesn’t suspect her in any way, but after Billy’s warning about Samantha, he believes she’s connected to both his friend and Cal’s deaths. Robinson has found out that the DNA from Cal’s crime scene mysteriously didn’t reach the lab. She knows only one person could have done that, and she targets Samantha as well. Both of them are compelled to trust each other in order to seek justice for the people they care about.
Xavier thinks there could be a significant obstacle in Robinson’s intention to undermine Samantha: No firearms. However, don’t worry! Cal had anticipated this as well. On the night he passed away, during their final altercation, he informed her about taking her to the guns so she could shoot them herself. He also revealed their location and how to obtain them. This was no coincidence. Therefore, they do possess firearms. And Xavier has a strategy in mind.
Soon after this, Xavier instructs Presley to gather bags for herself and her brother. He then leaves to visit his neighbor Carl, who secretly keeps a charming pup, and requests a significant favor from him. It turns out that Carl holds a crucial position at the tower controlling the skies above us. With eagerness, Carl agrees to aid Xavier by modifying some code. That very night, Xavier gazes fixedly at the novel street lamp installed near his residence, sensing it as a coded message from Samantha; she’s been watching him closely. He looks directly into what he believes is the surveillance camera with an intensity that mirrors eye-to-eye contact. Then, a crimson light flashes in the sky. In large, bold letters, a warning for the citizens residing on the mountain: THEY ARE LYING TO YOU. The game is now set to begin.
Bunker Notes
– The scene where Gerald McRaney’s character Kane mistakes Jeremy for Cal and apologizes to him for his past words, particularly stands out. “I may not be proud of my actions, but I am incredibly proud of you,” he expresses, followed by a heartfelt apology. “Son,” he adds. This performance by McRaney is simply captivating, tugging at the audience’s heartstrings. Charlie Evans as Jeremy also delivers a moving portrayal in this moment, using it to make an emotional amends with his father that he never had the chance to do in reality. The longing for more time with Cal, a character who is no longer there, is evident and poignant.
In a twist of events, we now have some clarity on one enigma: Presley was the one who took Cal’s tablet the night he passed away. We don’t yet understand the method or motive behind this act, nor what she might have witnessed (although Kane did catch a glimpse of her), but it certainly adds an intriguing element to the story. She currently possesses it in her room.
I’ve affectionately been named after the Pearl Jam song, as my deep-seated love for ’80s and ’90s rock music is relentless – like a melody that refuses to fade away, lingering even in the face of its inevitable demise.
I’m really keen to get Jeremy to watch “Rocky III” with me since, as I put it, it’s a story about a hero facing his toughest challenges but eventually finding his footing again. Joking aside, I can’t help but see some parallels between Rocky and Cal in this show, much like the way “This Is Us” often weaves these types of connections. Guess that’s just Fogelman’s style!
Wow, that image of the Washington Monument nearly submerged in water, accompanied by McRanney’s recitation of Lord Byron’s “Darkness” (a chilling poem), leaves a profoundly haunting impression. One more reason to appreciate McRanney is his captivating poetry readings!
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2025-02-11 16:54