This Is Us boss's new thriller with Sterling K Brown is shockingly addictive (2025)

From the creator of This Is Us, Dan Fogelman, the new Sterling K Brown-led show Paradise brings a flawed but enticing murder-mystery thriller to Disney+.

As per the official synopsis: "Paradise is set in a serene community inhabited by some of the world's most prominent individuals.

"But this tranquility explodes when a shocking murder occurs and a high-stakes investigation unfolds."

The shocking death is that of the president, Cal Bradford (James Marsden), which occurs mere moments into the first episode. Brown's Agent Xavier Collins cops a lot of heat, as he was the last to see the president alive. What transpires becomes more and more puzzling as the layers begin to shed and we get closer to the truth.

Paradise is one of those shows that just feels inviting, thanks to its blockbuster vibe. Fronted by big names (most notably This Is Us and Black Panther's Brown and Sonic the Hedgehog's Marsden), the dramatic score and the style of shooting help elevate the show to a cinematic level.

Brown's emotionally scarred take on a bodyguard is a cool and steely performance that's really fitting to the part. There isn't much chemistry between Xavier and Cal, but Paradise's decision to make Cal the antithesis of Xavier – with his larger-than-life charisma – is enjoyable if not a little cliché in these types of dynamics.

There are some great performances to look forward to.

In a show full of dark, pained, grittier characters, Sex/Life's Sarah Shahi brings much-needed warmth and heart as therapist Dr Gabriel Torabi.

Julianne Nicholson also delivers some powerful moments as Samantha Redmond, an extremely influential member of the president's cabinet with a tortured past.

Her emotive backstory (which unfolds in a flashback) is one of the few times where the audience can connect with a character, but that empathy doesn't carry over into the present day.

It could speak to Samantha's detachment from the person she was to the person she's become, altered by her pain, but this feels like a wider problem with the show.

Paradise is unable to make you really care for the cast. Despite their evocative storylines and personal traumas that are meant to compel viewers to become invested in them, we don't get a sense of anyone's personalities.

So, if not for the characters, why bother to stick around? The plot, that's why. There's nothing new about Paradise's concept, but there doesn't have to be when the creators are so successful in baiting out the mystery. That, Paradise does extremely well.

Just when you're ready to throw in the towel in search of something with a bit more bite, it drags you back in for 'just one more episode', an insatiable need to know the whos, whats and whys of the piece. That's why Paradise is set to be your next addictive binge-watch.

Paradise is available to stream now on Disney+.