As the tension builds and the characters’ loyalties are put to the test in Season 2 of Paradise, stars Sarah Shahi and Nicole Brydon Bloom say the new episodes will take their characters to more complex places.
In an exclusive interview with Where Is the Buzz, the show’s stars discuss the dynamics among the characters and the changes that will unfold in the new episodes.
When asked how similar her character and Nicole’s character are and their commitment to the Sinatra-related cause, Sarah Shahi said:
“You know, that’s an interesting question, and I appreciate it because it is original compared to the stuff we’ve been asked today. So, it’s nice to have something new to chew on. But you’re right, and I actually had never thought about that myself in terms of how similar they are in their commitment to — I don’t know if you have a commitment to the preservation as much as there are other needs that are being met for you that make you do what you do.”
According to Shahi, the reason behind her character Gabriella’s actions and commitment to the show’s cause is her commitment to the bunker and the people in it:
“But in terms of Gabriella, I think her commitment to the cause, you know, the bunker is a place that she built. She vetted everybody that came in and out. She was thinking of what is the highest good for everyone in here.”
She also mentioned that Season 2 will test Gabriella’s loyalty to Sinatra as new truths come out.
“I think as we start to find out in season two, her allegiance to Sinatra becomes questioned, and some things that may not have been as obvious in the first season become more obvious in the second, and she starts to question and even deceive Sinatra,” Shahi said. “So I don’t think she has an allegiance to Sinatra, but I do believe that her allegiance to the cause is pretty massive.”
On the other hand, Bloom was excited to explore more of Jane’s story because the reason for the murder was still unclear.
“I was really excited. I think the end of season one, I didn’t know where it was going either. I didn’t really know why Jane shot Sinatra,” Bloom said. “And so getting to explore that and see Jane, yes, step into more of like a powerful role, was really interesting.”
She also mentioned that learning more about Jane’s past helped better explore the character, who was often considered emotionally distant.
“And then certainly getting a glimpse into her backstory and sort of what’s been defining in her life was helpful just in making the character feel fuller. And I think that’s challenging to do with someone who’s deemed a sociopath,” Bloom said. “I know. I’m like, girl just wants to play, you know, she just wants someone to love her.”
She mentioned that Jane’s need to please Sinatra has defined many of the choices she has made.
“I think streamlining her sort of desire to please Sinatra is sort of what you were discussing with Sarah, like she’s kind of blinded by what Sinatra wants for a while, as Gabriella was in the first season. So maybe they are a little more similar in their allegiances.”
When considering the dynamic between their characters, the actresses agreed that they could have potentially been friends.
“In a different lifetime with if she doesn’t have any weapons on her, you know,” Shahi joked.
“It’s almost like opposite sides of the same coin,” Bloom added.
When asked to describe the new season in one word or phrase, they focused on the stakes.
“Oh man. I have three. Mine is no one is safe,” Bloom said.
“Everyone out for themselves,” Shahi added.
“I think just be careful who you trust,” Bloom said.
According to the official synopsis, the new season will follow Xavier as he searches for Teri in the outside world and discovers how people survived in the three years since the events of The Day. Meanwhile, back in Paradise, the social structure is starting to break down as the bunker grapples with the aftermath of Season 1, and new secrets about the city’s origins are revealed.
Sterling K. Brown, Julianne Nicholson, Shahi, Bloom, Krys Marshall, Enuka Okuma, Aliyah Mastin, Percy Daggs IV, Charlie Evans, James Marsden, Shailene Woodley, Thomas Doherty, and Jon Beavers star in the series alongside guest stars.
Paradise is a new series created and executive-produced by Dan Fogelman. Jess Rosenthal, John Hoberg, Sterling K. Brown, Steve Beers, Glenn Ficarra, and John Requa also executive-produce the series. It is a production of 20th Television.
The new season of the Emmy-nominated series will premiere Monday, February 23, with three episodes, followed by new episodes every week on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ worldwide.
