We discuss an intense & emotional “Paradise” episode 6 with stars Julianne Nicholson & Sarah Shahi.
Intense and electrifying to say the least! Hit Hulu series Paradise has left viewers raving and wanting more week after week.
Paradise first debuted on January 28, 2025 on Hulu with a 3 episode release.
After an abundance of twists, cliffhangers, and exhilarating episodes, the mystery surrounding the Presidents death has uncovered hidden and dark secrets that has sent threatened to send the safe community of “Paradise” into a tailspin. As the investigation continues to loom, reasons behind why those in power have not wanted to find the killer has lead to an insurmountable amount of questions from President Bradford’s agents and loved ones who lead with integrity in their search for justice.
Upon realizing that the top power players have been out for themselves for some time now under the guise of compassionate leaders and caring public servants, those in esteemed positions of power have been forced to face possible exposure for their past actions and deceitful intentions. Particularly, Samantha Redmond A.K.A “Sinatra” (Julianne Nicholson), the creator and orchestrator of the safe haven town of “Paradise” and the most powerful person in the community.
Now...audiences have finally arrived at episode 6 which as of today is available to stream on Hulu. The cliffhanger at the end of episode 5 revealed that the top secret tablet that has been missing since the night of the murder of the President is in the possession of teenager Presley, unbeknownst to her father Agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown), President Bradford’s lead secret service Agent.
As if that wasn’t enough of an “OMG” moment, in the fast paced and action heavy episode 6, Xavier and Agent Robinson put a plan in motion to retrieve the hidden weapons stored in “Paradise” and send a message to the citizens about what has been going on right under their nose. Xavier is finally starting to deliver on his promise to take Sinatra down and the stakes are higher than ever because she knows that he’s hot on her trail and willing to air out all of her secrets!
During the peak of the episode, the citizens of Paradise are starting to take to the streets and voice their concerns and disdain. The intensity and pace rises to new heights as Sinatra and Dr. Gabriela Torabi have to be escorted through a frenzied crowd into a vehicle and driven to safety. The scene is eerily reminiscent of the day that they all evacuated earth and fled to the underground community with leaders fleeing and leaving innocent people to question and fend for themselves with little to no knowledge about what’s to come. In this moment, Dr. Torabi freezes in what seems to be either a moment of regret or shame before being ushered in the vehicle with Sinatra to head toward a safe house.
Dr. Gabriela has always been on the administrative team, long before they all actually inhabited “Paradise”, however as the story unfolded, viewers learned just how impactful and extensive her role has spanned. Not only was she psychologically vetting(in the form of counseling) each person who was chosen to become a community member, but she also helped to pick the list of who lives and who was left behind to die as the world ended. Only 25,000 lives were spared and allowed to go and live in “Paradise”.
In the current episode, the weight of her hand in this currently unraveling community seemed to be affecting her moral compass. Adding in the callous and robotic attitude that her friend and compadre Sinatra is displaying is causing Dr. Torabi to experience some immense emotional turmoil. Sinatra, the once grieving mother who she helped become functional enough to work and spearhead the creation of this community is behaving calculative, egotistical, and heartless in moments of peril. Had she unknowingly helped to make Sinatra…the powerful and callous monster? Or had she been complicit, becoming a monster herself?
Scenes In Color sat down with Julianne Moore and Sarah Shahi, the remarkable stars of the hit apocalyptic suspense Paradise to find out their thoughts about episode 6 and Sinatra’s monstrous ways!
Find out what we asked below.
“As the story unfolds, we see Dr. Gabriela go on a journey of regret or kind of guilt…Do you think that this was caused by her being a sympathetic friend to a grieving mother, or did she start to realize that she sort of played a key role in the making of a monster?”
“Samantha Redmond(Sinatra) may be many things….she’s wildly imperfect but she’s not a monster, she’s a mother and she’s trying to protect the people in charge”. -Dr Gabriela Torabi to Agent Xavier Collins (episode 5)
Toward the end of episode 6, upon reflection and trying to see Samantha for who she was and not what she’s become, Dr. Torabi emotionally convinces Sinatra to try and speak with Xavier, and stop running and unsympathetically leaving people behind as soon as situations get dicey. The end of episode 6 culminates with a jaw dropping 1 on 1 showdown between Sinatra and an armed Agent Xavier Collins!
Sinatra’s first words of this showdown are “I swear I’m not a monster” and as the episode ends, her final words are striking… “Maybe I am a monster”.
Find out what Julianne Nicholson had to say about her character below.
As public outcry and rage continues to mount, it has led to more “Paradise” citizens questioning circumstances involving the reason they were truly led there, the secrets leaders have been keeping, and if the community is still a safe place. Audiences will have to hold their breath to see how this tantalizing series will conclude.
Tune in next week for episode 7 of “Paradise” on Tuesday, February 25th. The finale (episode 8) will debut on Tuesday, March 4th on Hulu.
Paradise is written by Dan Fogelman. The series stars Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, Julianne Nicholson, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Aliyah Mastin and Percy Daggs IV.