Paradise Recap: A Pit Stop in Arkansas

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Last time, Link really emphasized that some areas of Arkansas, particularly those near Memphis, are seriously dangerous. I was definitely left wondering exactly what he meant! Well, in this episode, “Mayday,” our hero, Secret Service agent Xavier Collins, finds out firsthand when his plane goes down in one of those very spots while he’s trying to find Teri in Atlanta. Turns out, Arkansas is mostly just a lot of violence, with a disturbing, *Children of the Corntype creepiness thrown in. Xavier might actually start missing those weird mechanical ducks and the billionaire conspiracy after what he goes through down there.

The second episode of Paradise doesn’t really connect to the bunker storyline from the first season. Instead, it smartly balances the difficult present-day story of Xavier in Arkansas with heartwarming flashbacks of him meeting his wife, Teri. I especially enjoyed seeing more of Dr. Teri Rogers-Collins – we need those scenes to truly care about Xavier’s story, and Sterling K. Brown and Enuka Okuma have great chemistry. However, “Mayday,” and the season premiere before it, mostly feel like setup for future events, and it’s frustrating to have two episodes focused solely on getting Xavier and Annie together when the season is only eight episodes long. Sterling K. Brown’s performance is strong enough to keep you engaged, but I’m starting to wonder how long the show can sustain itself on that alone. While I’m hoping for deeper character development, the first season had the compelling mystery of Cal’s murder to drive the plot forward. So far, season two lacks that same momentum.

This episode introduces a puzzling element. After the plane crash, Xavier is seriously hurt, and while drifting in and out of consciousness, he repeatedly sees himself following a man down a plain, clinical hallway. This vision first appears while he’s still flying, causing him head pain – the same visual style used when Link had a headache in the “Graceland” episode. The vision keeps happening, and finally, Xavier sees the man’s face: it’s Link. Does this mean Xavier has a hidden memory involving Link? Or is something wrong with Xavier’s brain? It’s definitely something to watch for.

If things don’t go as planned, we’re dealing with two different timelines for Xavier. When he has an accident, he seriously injures himself, including dislocating his knee. He’s familiar with this type of injury, though, and knows how to fix it. This incident is actually what sends him back in time. In 2004, Xavier is doing well in Secret Service training, but he injures his knee on an obstacle course, requiring medical attention and surgery. While recovering in the hospital, he meets his roommate, Teri Rogers. Teri is waiting for back surgery to correct scoliosis and is focused on finishing her doctorate and pursuing her dream job at the NIH – she doesn’t have much patience for Xavier.

Xavier falls head over heels instantly, but Teri isn’t interested in a relationship. She politely asks him to respect her privacy and makes it clear she has no desire for marriage or children. Xavier exaggerates his pain to extend his hospital stay – it’s actually quite endearing. The situation becomes serious when Teri returns from surgery having lost her vision, though it’s expected to be temporary, she’s understandably scared. Initially withdrawn, she eventually accepts his help, and he diligently arranges everything on her tray so she can reach it easily. Even after being discharged, he remains at the hospital to support her. She asks him to simply talk to distract her, and playfully teases him when he can’t name a favorite book, suggesting he make one up. He insists he would never lie to her. When she asks about her vision, he gently assures her it will return. It’s a truly sweet and romantic moment! Xavier continues to visit, and thankfully, Teri’s eyesight does come back. They share a kiss, and while they joke about it, their story is a lovely example of a meet-cute.

After a brief moment of calm, the episode takes a dark turn. Just as Xavier, exhausted and injured, prepares to deal with the pain of fixing his knee, a child emerges from the shadows and silences him. The child looks traumatized and warns Xavier to be quiet, pointing to two men approaching with torches. Clearly frightened, Xavier limps after the child, who leads him to a wrecked boat – seemingly washed onto the tracks by the tsunami – where the child has taken shelter. But Xavier quickly realizes the child isn’t alone.

It’s unsettling enough to encounter one silent, dirty child, but five is truly frightening. While it’s tempting to mock these strange kids, Xavier soon learns there’s a tragic reason for their behavior: they’ve experienced terrible trauma. The group’s leader eventually explains they were a little league baseball team traveling when the world fell apart. Everyone connected to the team – teammates, parents, coaches – is gone. These kids have been fending for themselves, or losing companions along the way, for three years, enduring unimaginable hardship. So, when one of them whispers to Daniel that he wants Xavier’s coat after Xavier is dead, it’s understandable, though still chilling. It explains the look of horror on Xavier’s face when he overhears it.

The children are primarily interested in the food Xavier carries, and they quickly eat everything he has. They are kind enough to give him water when he needs it, and Daniel cleverly times Xavier’s painful knee injury to coincide with thunder, masking his cries from the approaching men with torches. Once most of the children are asleep, Xavier reads James and the Giant Peach to Daniel – a strange book to bring on a search for his wife, but Daniel is still just a child and enjoys the story.

Despite the silence, one of the men carrying a torch discovered the boat. He likely thought he had an easy target in a group of children and an injured plane crash survivor, but he didn’t know the man was a highly trained secret agent. Even badly hurt, Xavier is a skilled fighter. The two men fought, but Xavier quickly overpowered the man, ultimately suffocating him in the mud. The children watched the violent scene, then efficiently covered the body with mud and leaves, revealing they had buried bodies before. Everything seems calm outside the bunker, despite this. Perhaps Samantha Redmond was right, but just kidding – she’s awful.

With the dangerous man defeated, Xavier realizes he’s been stabbed in the stomach and is losing blood fast. He wakes up back on the boat to find the children have bandaged his wound, but they’ve also stolen everything he owns except a single photo of Presley and James. It’s a low point for Xavier. He struggles back to the plane crash site, collapses, and when he finally wakes up again, Annie is there to help him return to Graceland.

It’s good news that Xavier is safe, and Annie can help him recover. Though he seems strangely fixated on Elvis, things take a turn when he starts talking about a hidden bunker in Colorado. Xavier is eager to leave for Atlanta, but Annie insists he stay. Once he’s better, he’ll be taking her to the bunker—apparently, the thought of giving birth alone is more frightening than staying put. To make sure he understands she’s serious, she shows him her gun and handcuffs him to the couch. Xavier isn’t going anywhere for now.

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2026-02-23 20:55