'Paradise' Season 2 sees return of fan-favorite after death in Season 1, creator explains: 'I have had...'
After a spectacular Season 1, 'Paradise' returned with eight brand new episodes for the second instalment on February 23. The hit Hulu series, created by Dan Fogelman, centers on a post-apocalyptic world where survivors in Colorado are divided into two distinct groups: those living above ground and a select few living in a city-sized bunker. Sterling K. Brown leads the series as Secret Service agent Xavier Collins, who becomes the President's loyal confidant.
James Marsden stars as the charismatic United States President in the political thriller series. However, his character was killed in the opening moments of Season 1, setting off a chain of events that led to the killer and pointed to a larger conspiracy at the bunker. After the librarian Trent was found to be the culprit in the finale, it was safe to assume that Cal's storyline had reached its conclusion. But 'Paradise's non-linear narrative allowed for Cal's return in Season 2 through flashbacks.
Although Marsden's return to the fan-favorite role was a pleasant surprise, creator Fogelman had always wanted to reveal more about Cal's story in Season 2 and the recently renewed Season 3. "I have had roles for him in mind both in the second and third season as a way that he can play a part in the story," he told Entertainment Weekly in December 2025. Marsden is reduced from a series regular to a recurring star in the show's second chapter. But his character nonetheless plays a critical role in the larger mystery.
As Season 2 divulges more information about the final hours leading up to the apocalyptic event, viewers are given the right context to understand Cal’s relationship with the billionaire Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson), who created the bunker. These flashback scenes also shed light on the president's decision to include certain 'non-essential' people in the bunker. Furthermore, Cal’s presence is felt more heavily through his teenage son, Jeremy (Charlie Evans). Sequences featuring the father and son together offer a welcome break from the show's tense and suspense-filled setting. Cal also appears in recorded messages and in the memories of other characters as the central mystery of the bunker's true origin and purpose comes to light.
Moreover, Fogelman has written 'Paradise' as a 'trilogy,' with each season focusing on a slightly different element of the post-apocalyptic universe. The first season was set squarely within the clinical hallways of the Colorado bunker. In contrast, Season 2 showcases more of the sun-scorched outside world and the survivors' struggle to stay alive. Similarly, Season 3 will take place in a different setting, but one thing's for sure: Cal will play a role in Collins and his team's survival.
