Paradise Season 2: Should you watch or skip the latest season of the Hulu series? A viewer's guide

Premiere Of Hulu
Premiere Of Hulu's "Paradise" Season 2 - Source: Getty

If you finished Paradise Season 1, and questioned yourself: What just happened, yet you felt like you needed more, Paradise Season 2 is coming to give you all the answers, sort of. The new season will premiere on February 23, 2026, and it retains the sci-fi mystery and emotional drama that made the show popular.

This time, we are no longer staying in the underground bunker; instead, we will explore a wider post-apocalyptic world. And that transformation makes the show seem larger, more adventurous, and more complicated. It has fresh twists, richer character development, and lots of unanswered questions.

Paradise Season 2 might be a good watch, if you love mystery, slow pacing revelations and character driven narratives. However, the growing narrative can be overwhelming for you, if you favor minimalistic tight plots.


What’s new in Paradise Season 2

Paradise Season 2 is a huge shift in the sense that it is no longer within the confines of the bunker, but now out in the harsh world that is quite dangerous. Following the jolting season 1 finale, Xavier Collins, a Secret Service agent, is out and about trying to find his lost wife and discover what the real truth about the world is.

New characters also appear, including Shailene Woodley's Annie, a sad woman who is a survivor and Link, portrayed by Thomas Doherty, a tough guy, who adds some roughness to the journey. The transition from bunker politics and being in the open world is what makes the show not only fresh but also more complicated.

In the bunker, old friendships are ruined and new conflicts emerge. The plot now takes too many turns simultaneously, something that some viewers might like, while some might feel confusing.


Performances, emotion, and world-building

The acting is the strongest point of the show, which most reviewers do not argue on. Sterling K. Brown also adds weight and emotions to Xavier’s journey in Paradise Season 2 as he seeks truth and love, making him the heart of the season. With the introduction of Shailene Woodley, new emotions are introduced since her struggle to survive is similar to that of Xavier.

The story combines action with emotional resonance through flashbacks and little yet meaningful moments between the characters. The setting is even expanding outside of the bunker, revealing more of a degraded world, and suggesting what might come out of it.

This season is packed with a lot of enjoyment if you enjoy character-driven narratives with actual stakes. Even those who dislike the pacing will nonetheless compliment the performances holding it all together.


Where Paradise Season 2 lands and who it’s for

There are conflicting reactions over Paradise Season 2. Some are hyping it because of the fact that the world has now become bigger, the emotions are deeper and the protagonists are more powerful. It touches on themes such as survival, human bonding and power struggles that many of the viewers find pleasurable to watch.

Others do not seem to be quite fond of it. They claim that the story is slow here and there, too long, and lacking focus in comparison to Season 1. The close enigma that made the first season thrilling appears weaker in Paradise Season 2. So, should you watch it?

It is worth watching, especially if you liked the first season and are a fan of character-driven sci-fi drama. Skip if you desire quick moving and precise plots.


For more such insights on Paradise Season 2, keep following SoapCentral.

Edited by Sohini Biswas