What Happened in Hulu's 'Paradise'? Here's a Recap Before Season 2 Premieres

Paradise is an American post-apocalyptic political thriller on Hulu created by Dan Fogelman. The series is set in a serene community inhabited by prominent individuals, but the tranquility is shattered when President Cal Bradford is murdered. The investigation reveals that tech billionaire Samantha "Sinatra" Redmond and elite leaders had prepared a bunker to survive a supervolcano eruption that caused a worldwide tsunami and killed the majority of humanity. As the first season progresses, Secret Service agent Xavier Collins discovers that the world was actually destroyed by an EMP rather than thermonuclear weapons, and that survivors exist outside the bunker, including his wife Teri.

Season 2 expands beyond the bunker's confines as Xavier ventures into the outside world to search for his wife Teri and learn how people survived the three years since the catastrophic event known as "The Day." Meanwhile, back in the bunker, the social fabric deteriorates as residents deal with the aftermath of Season 1's uprising, and new secrets about the city's origins are uncovered. The season explores both Xavier's external journey and the internal conflicts within the bunker community, introducing new characters and obstacles while following the fates of key characters including Xavier's children and other bunker residents.