Major Questions Answered, 1 Confirmed Survivor, & Season 2 Set-Up

February 26, 2025

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Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Paradise season 1, episode 7, “The Day.”

Paradise star Sterling K. Brown teases what to expect in the season 1 finale. The stakes are higher than ever for Brown’s character, Xavier Collins, as the lives of his family, the citizens of Paradise, and outside survivors are in jeopardy. Paradise season 1, episode 7’s ending sees Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond (Julianne Nicholson) giving him an ultimatum to discover who killed President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) and to restore order in the underground community. If Xavier is unable to meet these demands, he will never see his daughter Presley (Aliyah Mastin) or his wife Teri (Enuka Okuma) again.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Brown shares that Xavier survives the finale and that President Bradford’s killer will be revealed before the season ends. He also teases what the finale will mean for season 2, as Xavier now knows that there are survivors on the surface despite the cataclysmic event that occurred. Season 2 will see Xavier searching for his wife and exploring the outside world. Check out Brown’s comments below:

You find out who kills the president. We’ve met said person, I can tease that. I will be in season 2, so there’s a tease. You know what I’m saying? The brother makes it through to the end. We know now through the video recordings that Sinatra shares with Xavier that life exists. There will be an exploration of what life will be like beyond Paradise, beyond our compound. And then one of the driving questions for season 2 will be, “Is Xavier’s wife alive?”

What This Means For Paradise

Sterling K. Brown Teases A Satisfying Season 1 Finale

Brown’s comments solidify that Xavier will find President Bradford’s killer, Xavier’s story will continue into season 2, but there will still be questions about what happened to Teri on the surface. This aligns with creator Dan Fogelman’s previous comments about his three-season plan for Paradise and that all major questions from the beginning of the season will be answered. The mystery surrounding President Bradford’s death will be resolved and Xavier will not die at the hands of Sinatra or her allies.

The political sci-fi thriller is a great sign for TV this year, though it routinely reveals itself to be better on paper than in practice.

Confirming that the president’s killer is a Paradise character who has already been introduced bodes well for the reveal feeling earned. Sinatra told Xavier that the killer’s DNA was not from any of the 25,000 people inside the underground community. This means that the murderer is an outsider and, up to this point, has probably only been seen in the flashbacks. Xavier is confirmed to survive, but there is still no guaranteed safety for his children and the rest of the characters.

Marsha (Amy Pietz) covering her mouth in Paradise — Image via Hulu

Brown’s comments potentially support the theory that President Bradford’s former aide, Marsha (Amy Pietz), is behind Paradise‘s murder mystery. Episode 7’s flashbacks show her being left behind when Xavier, President Bradford, and the rest of a select group escape to the underground community. She and her family being abandoned would give her a reason to find and kill the president. Xavier finding Marsha and identifying her as the killer is the first of many steps he will need to take to survive and ultimately be reunited with all members of his family in Paradise.

Source: EW