‘Paradise’ Stars Reveal Shocking Secrets Behind the End-of-Days Episode!

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Warning! This post reveals crucial plot points from the seventh episode of “Paradise,” named “The Day,” on Hulu. Proceed with caution if you haven’t watched it yet.

Sterling K. Brown has been readying James Marsden, his “Paradise” co-star, for an Emmy Award nomination, as he’s been doing since the start of filming the final episode of Season 1, due to Marsden’s impressive performance in Dan Fogelman’s drama.

Brown recounted, “We were filming number 107, and I asked him, ‘You all set, big guy?’ He replied, ‘Set for what?’ To which I responded, ‘Number two.’ He asked, ‘Number two?’, and I said, ‘Yes, you already did the first one for “Jury Duty” – number two is coming up next.’ He then asked, ‘Are you ready for number 10?’ I quickly replied, ‘Let’s keep the focus on you!'” Brown shared with EbMaster.

While filming the most intense episode of Hulu’s series “Paradise,” titled “The Day,” there was a playful exchange between the actors. This episode, created by Fogelman (who also produced “This Is Us” featuring Brown), delves into the moment when and how the world as we know it ceased to exist. Only 25,000 individuals chosen by Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond (Julianne Nicholson) and Dr. Gabriela Torabi (Sarah Shahi) were allowed access to the underground haven known as Paradise.

As a movie reviewer, I found it striking that Secret Service Agent Xavier Collins’ wife, Terri, wasn’t among those featured in the latest episode. This installment delved into the extraordinary measures taken by President Cal Bradford to rescue Terri and, more remarkably, to delay the impending doom, providing the best possible odds for all those surviving outside this critical scenario.

In this discussion, Brown and Marsden clarify the heartfelt plot developments for EbMaster concerning Xavier, especially as he pursues Cal’s murderer before the Season 1 conclusion of “Paradise” next week. Notably, they now know that Terri, Xavier’s wife, is alive somewhere beyond Paradise.

Do you think if Xavier knew Cal’s side of “The Day,” and all he went through to try to get Terri into the bunker, he would still have wanted the president dead in the pilot?

If Xavier understood all the actions Cal took to keep his family united and secure the world, I believe he would show understanding rather than criticism. It seems to me that Xavier’s lack of understanding stems from his own personal grief, such as losing an arm or a loved one. Additionally, he felt the president was being vague about the situation, which could have been explained more clearly. If the president had provided clearer information, Xavier might have made different choices. However, it’s important to remember that Cal was in a challenging and complicated predicament.

From the standpoint of being the one who calls the shots versus merely being impacted by events, the viewpoints couldn’t be more contrasting. It’s effortless to second-guess or criticize from the sidelines when you aren’t the one bearing the burden of decision-making, but stepping into those shoes can be an almost insurmountable challenge. The man did everything in his power – having the device and employing it saved countless lives and potentially created a world we’re unsure even exists. If [Xavier] had the luxury of time and distance to reflect upon the situation, he would undoubtedly return to his friend with a fresh perspective, given that despite the loss of loved ones, he played an instrumental role in preserving life as we know it.

How did you prepare for the episode, in particular the scene where Xavier says goodbye to Terri over the phone, knowing that she will die out in the world while he and their children will make it to Paradise?

In another words: Enuka, who portrays my character’s wife, stood out during auditions. When we met, it was a delightful experience. During our rehearsals, I suggested that for one part, she should pretend the phone went dead and I couldn’t respond. Watching her improvise in this situation moved me deeply. Even though I had already secured the role as both an actor and producer, I found myself shedding tears behind the camera while she was performing.

An actor’s creativity and life experiences serve as their most powerful assets. For instance, my wife of 18 years, with whom I have two children, much like Xavier, I’ve been with her since the start of my college journey, during my freshman year. It’s not hard to envision a different scenario: “What if Ryan Michelle Bathé found herself alone, having to raise her two kids without her partner by her side?” This hypothetical situation comes naturally to us actors, as we are often tasked with contemplating such extreme circumstances and portraying them convincingly. We rehearse these scenarios, each time offering a slightly different interpretation, until we get it right. And to maintain our energy throughout the day, we remember to stay hydrated, taking frequent sips of water. But the key is to keep asking “what if?” and letting those questions guide our performances.

Why didn’t Cal just tell Xavier what he went through to try to get Terri into the bunker, and what he had to go through that day?

As a cinema enthusiast, I pondered over this question too: Is Cal sacrificing himself? It crossed my mind as well. There are instances where it seems like he might be, particularly in the bedroom scene of the first episode when Cal questions Xavier about forgiveness. In that moment, I believe Cal was going to confess, but then again, I also feel that he wouldn’t have stopped the very first time Xavier spoke honestly, passionately, and fiercely, pouring his heart out with a strong conviction. This wasn’t a Secret Service agent speaking to a high-ranking official; this was one man talking to another. Xavier even told him to stop, saying “Stop.” So, I believe that was his chance to confess, and had things not taken a tragic turn, I think Cal would have found another way to tell him the truth.

However, I believe Cal is aware this situation is approaching, which is why he’s planning to leave hints, discuss matters with the therapist, and so on. It’s an intriguing query: why doesn’t he simply state his intentions directly, like “By the way, here are these details.” But it’s also worth noting that he has been attempting to rebuild his relationship with his son. There are other significant aspects of his life that he is trying to reconcile as well. At this stage in his life, I don’t think he possesses the ability to articulate everything clearly, but he’s still burdened by a great deal of guilt regarding it.

What was shooting the episode like for you?

Marsden: The day was incredibly weighty. Indeed, it was so. You could sense it on set, the palpable reality of what we were portraying in the moment. And this was beneficial, as we aimed for authenticity and wanted our audience to share that feeling. However, I must be honest, throughout the day, my mind kept wandering to how I would react in such a situation, and the ethical dilemma he found himself in: who should remain and who should leave, knowing full well that these people were doomed. This is something truly challenging to grasp. Therefore, it was an extremely heavy day. In fact, it was one of the heaviest days I’ve ever experienced. Yet, I believe the scenes turned out stronger because of this intensity.

I believe the viewers will find themselves in a dilemma when watching Episode 7. They’ll likely be engaged in the show, and it may cause them to ponder, “What would I do if I were in that situation? Should I prioritize myself or my people? Would I feel compelled to save others at the cost of my own life, yet dread causing them a lifetime of trauma? It’s a difficult choice, one I’d like to think I could make, but it’s also not an easy decision to put others through such hardship.”

If you were to choose to save everyone but the world perishes, you would still grapple with the guilt of being the one who made that call. Why did I survive when others didn’t? Was it because I deserved it more? It’s a heart-wrenching scenario either way, and Dan aims for the audience to feel this emotional turmoil while watching Episode 7.

These interviews have been edited and condensed.

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2025-02-25 20:18