Paradise Recap: The Man Who Saved the World

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Today’s episode of “Paradise” was remarkably intense and serious, as it delved deep into the events leading up to the world’s end. The suspense was palpable, making me break out in a sweat by the end. In essence, this installment transformed “Paradise” into an edge-of-your-seat, relentless, and deeply unsettling disaster movie – a perfect fit for a gripping hour-long TV drama. It’s undoubtedly one of the best episodes this season.

The series “The Day” doesn’t commence as expected on the title day, but instead, we find ourselves eagerly anticipating its unveiling. Instead, it begins on a different day, far in the past: October 28, 1962. The nail-biting end of the Cuban Missile Crisis has just occurred, and an American Air Force Colonel seeks solace with a drink at home after this close brush with nuclear catastrophe. His wife implores him to go to bed, to which he reveals how precariously the world had teetered on the edge of destruction. In reality, it was one man, Vasily Arkhipov, on a Soviet submarine carrying a nuclear warhead, who refused to give authorization for deployment when the sub lost contact with Moscow and believed they were under attack. One man! This individual has been referred to as “the man who saved the world.” Our Air Force Colonel understands how fortunate we are, yet also recognizes that the world will likely find itself on the brink of nuclear war again in the future. He ponders aloud, “What if the wrong person is in control next time?” This thought is a chilling one for him, and us. Before retiring to bed, he turns his room light on and off a few times, perhaps symbolizing how effortlessly the world could be ended or a thought process unfolding. The ensuing episode will reveal more about this intriguing opening scene.

In a sudden turn of events, we find ourselves in another crucial moment, not ‘The Day’, but one among many. We’re back in Samantha Redmond’s living room where Xavier has a gun pointed at her. She reveals his wife is alive on the surface, news that clearly enrages him. Sterling K. Brown masterfully portrays Xavier’s mix of fury, disbelief, and hope all rolled into one. Samantha explains how she had to eliminate scientists who aimed to revive a survivor, claiming it would cause trouble – yet insisting she isn’t a monster. Simultaneously, she mentions the short wave transmitters left by the scientists that they’ve been using to listen for survivors seeking the Colorado bunker. She believes Teri might be one of them. Despite his longing, Xavier expresses doubt, asserting that his wife was in Atlanta, a city he knows was struck with an ‘unsurvivable, direct hit’.

However, Samantha shares some intriguing information with him: It turns out that the President performed an action that day, a secret one, which, if true, could’ve transformed the inconceivable into reality.

At long last, the fateful day has arrived. The White House is in turmoil. Three hours ago, a super volcano beneath the Antarctic ice cap erupted, spewing vast quantities of ash into the sky, shattering large sections of the ice shelf, and instantly melting billions of gallons of water. This catastrophic event unleashed a tsunami with waves as high as 300 feet. Melbourne and Sydney are already submerged, South Africa has vanished beneath the rising waters, and the wave is due to reach Key West in two hours and Washington D.C. in five. To add to the chaos, President Cal Bradford is grappling with a heated Cabinet Meeting where he learns that other nations are launching missiles to claim territory and resources before they are taken by others. Nuclear weapons are being readied. In essence, this is the end of our world. Despite Cal Bradford’s desperate desire to be reassured, his alarm is justified. He calls for the Versailles Protocol, setting us on a perilous course.

The episode written by John Hoberg and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa stands out due to its skillful blend of intense action and emotional depth. From the heart-stopping instant when a TV reporter in Jakarta is suddenly cut off live by an enormous wave, reminiscent of a terrifying nightmare, to the tender moments such as Cal imploring the longtime White House janitor to leave his post and reunite with his family, the narrative offers both dramatic highs and quiet human lows. Despite these contrasting scenes, the turmoil only intensifies. Characters like cool and composed Xavier are feeling the pressure as they race against time to get his wife on a plane bound for Air Force One before it departs for Colorado; a secretary named Marcia, who is growing increasingly anxious as she comes to terms with the reality that she and her son may be left behind to face imminent danger (I empathize with Marcia, but now is not the time, Marcia!!). And let’s not forget the ongoing struggle to ensure the President’s safety, which becomes increasingly challenging by the second.

When Xavier becomes certain that trouble is brewing in the West Wing, it’s because Cal takes an action not foreseen in the Versailles Protocol. Overwhelmed by both the relentless janitor and the realization that most Americans are unaware of the impending turmoil, he chooses to abandon his prepared speech. This speech would have merely hinted at the catastrophic circumstances the world is facing, instead opting to show empathy and speak genuinely about the reality of the situation so people can use their remaining time as they see fit. The White House is filled with individuals who are just now discovering this truth, clearly understanding that there’s a strategy in place to protect the President, one they themselves aren’t privy to.

In this tense scenario, Xavier has equipped his team excessively with firearms, willing to use lethal force against colleagues if necessary. As they enter an elevator, gunfire echoes down the hallway. On the South Lawn, chaos ensues as civilians and agents are being shot, with terrified cries for help filling the air. Xavier attempts to reach Cal on Marine One amidst this turmoil.

In a surprising turn of events, a novice Secret Service Agent who isn’t on the Versailles list takes Xavier hostage at gunpoint, demanding a spot on the helicopter. In response, Agent Robinson shoots the agent dead and orders Xavier to fulfill his duties. It’s hard to fathom that Cal Bradford, given the extent of bloodshed he appears to be responsible for, wasn’t constantly holed up in a safe haven, or that anyone else seemed unphased by the overwhelming trauma unfolding. The sheer amount of distress is almost unbearable!!

At the airport hangar as Colorado-bound flights start departing, the atmosphere remains hectic. A powerful moment unfolds between Xavier and Cal, where it becomes clear that Cal had always known they wouldn’t be able to extract Teri from Atlanta in time. Xavier angrily confronts Cal for not informing them earlier – or him specifically – sooner. They argue fiercely until Cal recalls Xavier’s two children are on this very plane, and they have just lost their mother. Throughout the entire episode, Marsden and Brown deliver impressive performances, but it’s this scene that I find myself revisiting often.

Now everyone’s on their way to Colorado, but don’t let that fool you – things are far from peaceful. Xavier has found his children again, yet struggles to tell them about their mother’s whereabouts. Cal, burdened by everything, including his deception of Xavier, gives him a satellite phone in a desperate attempt to contact Teri. Xavier tries, knowing this might be their final conversation, and the call is filled with tears, heartfelt ‘I love yous’, and an undeniable sense of sorrow – let’s face it, it’s not exactly a joyful moment.

In the meantime, two other aircraft, one transporting a large portion of Congress members and another carrying the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are unable to reach Colorado due to a devastating sound wave caused by an incoming tsunami. As the Joint Chiefs communicate this grim news, they also reveal that nuclear weapons have been activated worldwide, with one believed to be aimed at the Colorado bunker. They have no clue about who initiated these launches, and their sole recommendation is for Cal to retaliate by deploying every nuclear weapon in the U.S.’s possession to protect the bunker. It’s the only viable option available at this moment.

In this scenario, Cal enters his office, needing solitude to face the most significant decision of his life, involving the nuclear football and a global emergency plan. Samantha accompanies him, urging him to act for their survival’s sake. He then shares a confidential detail with her: a Colonel from the Cuban Missile Crisis era had developed an emergency failsafe mechanism capable of triggering a series of Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP) blasts worldwide, rendering all electronic devices useless, including nuclear warheads. This action would hurl the planet back approximately 500 years but potentially save more lives than a nuclear catastrophe. Samantha voices her concerns about the plan’s vulnerabilities, but Cal remains resolute and threatens to have her removed from his office if she refuses to leave. This scene showcases Cal as the world savior and highlights the earlier scene where he vows to reveal Samantha’s secrets before his death in a new light. In this confrontation, Samantha criticizes Cal in an attempt to halt him, knowing he will follow through with his plan despite his depressing attire. She is aware of Cal’s commitment to helping the most people possible, even at great personal cost, and his willingness to stand firm and make difficult choices as a leader.

Xavier observes on his map that a nuclear weapon is about to strike Atlanta before his satellite phone dies out. He believes, logically, that the missile has hit its target and his wife is deceased. However, he now understands what Cal did. In Samantha’s living room, as she plays more broadcasts from the surface and one is Teri Rogers-Collins searching for her husband Xavier and their children Presley and James, he realizes it’s genuine. Yet, it’s not like Samantha will make things easy for him; instead, she plans to make them as challenging as possible.

In this situation, Samantha tells him that she has his daughter. She also reveals that the DNA found at Cal’s murder scene does not match anyone from the bunker, meaning the killer came from outside. If Xavier wants to save his wife and daughter, he must identify who murdered Cal and resolve all the turmoil within the bunker. The subtle comment Samantha makes as she leaves the room – “maybe I am a monster” – is chilling. Correspondingly, the only appropriate response to the chaos Xavier has encountered is a solitary tear from Sterling K. Brown, which we indeed witness.

Bunker Notes

Ever since the first episode, I’ve been pondering over the idea that it’s highly unlikely the U.S. is the only nation to devise an evacuation plan for global catastrophe, and I’ve been eagerly anticipating discussions about other shelters worldwide. My suspicions were mostly validated when we caught a brief glimpse of a news broadcast hinting at a potential bunker in the French Alps. Could season two of Paradise broaden our perspective on this world? I certainly hope so, oui.

Admittedly, the statement about the “best hamburgers I’ve ever had” stirred some emotions in me. I must confess that my guard was weakened due to the overall stress of the situation.

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2025-02-25 11:54