Paradise isn’t your regular old murder mystery series. By the time the end credits roll on the premiere of Hulu’s gripping political thriller from This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman, a number of burning questions will be swirling around in your head.
Why the heck is the Paradise community living in a bunker?! Where is secret service agent Xavier Collins’ (Sterling K. Brown) wife?! How did President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) betray Xavier?! And crucially, who killed Cal?! And what was their motive?
Though Fogelman promises viewers willhave the answers they crave by the time Paradise‘s Season 1 finale concludes, after the three-episode premiere on January 28, our minds are considering all sorts of possibilities.
While we’ll ultimately have to wait to see how this compelling, twisty series unfolds, we’re here to break down the suspects in the president’s murder in hopes of figuring out who killed Cal. For context, critics have yet to see the finale of the eight-episode limited series, so rest assured, there will be no finale spoilers here until the finale airs. All we know is that Cal’s autopsy showed evidence of blunt-force trauma to the head — potentially from a large rock — that the first hit came on right side while standing, and that there were signs of struggle.
So who did it? Here’s what we know about the Paradise suspects three episodes in. We’ll be sure to update the list with new theories and revelations each Tuesday as the series continues.
Curious who killed Cal on Paradise? Three episodes deep, here are the people who may have taken the president’s life.
-
Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown)
Though Xavier is the main suspect in Paradise‘s premiere, we’re maintaining his innocence until proven guilty! Sure the cameras clocked him as the last person to see Cal alive before his death. Sure he shut down the crime scene for 30 minutes and part of him is admittedly glad the president is a goner. And sure, the last time Xavier saw Cal he said, “I’ll forgive you when I can sleep again, and I’ll sleep again when you’re dead.” But Xavier is also the man who once took a bullet for Cal, who takes his job incredibly seriously, and who seemed genuinely baffled and eager to search the room for evidence after finding Cal’s body alone.
He asked to see the security footage! He took a lie detector test! He called his buddy Billy (Jon Beavers) and told him to walk the property and take mental photographs of everything suspicious! He was worried about the tablet being gone! Was that all an act? Or is he being truthful? From their final conversation, we get the sense that Cal betrayed Xavier beyond repair, and potentially played a major role in his wife’s absence from the dome. But they’ve also been in the dome for quite some time, so if Xavier was going to take the president down, wouldn’t he have acted sooner? On top of everything, would Xavier really risk leaving his kids without a mom and a dad? My heart says no! But despite my hopes and suspicions that he’s innocent, everyone’s a suspect until Paradise unravels the mystery.
-
Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson)
Sinatra, Sinatra, Sinatra. Even if Julianne Nicholson didn’t kill the president, she’s killing it every single second she’s on screen. That said, the vibes are not in her favor three episodes in.
We know that not only did Sinatra have coffee with Cal on the back patio the day he died, but that the two appeared to have a disagreement, during which she said, “Say it to my face. I want to see what it looks like when you have balls.” So what led to that?! In the premiere, the extent of Cal and Sinatra’s relationship isn’t quite clear, but in Episode 2, “Sinatra,” we learn that she and Cal had one heck of a history, she helped build the city, and she unexpectedly lost her son when he was young.
Flashbacks show Sinatra meeting her husband, becoming a billionaire, and losing her son Dylan after he collapsed outside the grocery store one day pre-bunker. The loss admittedly broke Sinatra, who started seeing therapist Gabriela (Sarah Shahi), to become functional enough to care for her daughter and her business. We also learned that Cal’s father was behind her code name, Sinatra, and that she and Cal had a close relationship. He was kind and empathetic towards her. They shared common concerns over climate change. And he admired her natural leadership abilities. The years undoubtedly hardened Sinatra, but she’s still a mother. She writes Cal’s eulogy. She throws up alongside Robinson (Krys Marshall) after seeing his autopsy. And she’s actively seeking “justice” by leading the search for the tablet.
Still, Xavier says, “I’ve been watching Sinatra. I’ve been listening to her. And something’s not right with her. I can feel it in my gut.” Perhaps she’s not behind Cal’s death and is simply navigating grief and hiding other secrets that are making her feel so suspect., but she does appear to have the most power and access in Paradise, so she’s on our radar for sure.
-
Billy (Jon Beavers)
Uncle Billy! Say it ain’t so! Jon Beavers plays Billy with adorable charm and stoic strength that initially leaves viewers torn over whether or not the character could be capable of killing Cal. He’s a big goof! But by the end of Episode 3, when Gabriela gives Xavier the president’s message — that Billy Pace is dangerous — we’re forced to reevaluate his presumed innocence.
From the first three episodes, it’s clear that Billy is a softie at heart, but still hard enough to be a secret service agent. So what’s the deal there? It’s clear that Xavier trusts him with his kids and the murder scene, which speaks volumes. And it’s also clear that something suspect is up with Billy and Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom). After Xavier called him for help with the crime scene, Billy let out a genuine “Holy fuck!” and urged his fellow agent to call in the murder, then swept the property (as Xavier asked) in search of evidence. Those seemed like the actions of an innocent man, but when security revealed that Billy fell asleep on the job the night of Cal’s murder and the cameras were conveniently disabled, we were forced to question him AGAIN.
Suspicions rose at the end of the premiere when Billy assured his fellow agent/shift partner Jane to be calm and trust him. The two even passed a mysterious note! But when they were finally interrogated, they admitted to turning off the cameras to play Wii Tennis and eat the president’s candy. Harmless! Billy was also the one to question why Xavier wasn’t in on the investigation, so it’s clear has great respect for him and him and his family’s best interests at heart. So why did Cal warn Gabriela about Billy? And why does the closing scene of Episode 3 show him outside Xavier’s house with a gun? We’ll have to wait and see what secrets Billy is hiding, but you can’t tell me his love for those kids and Xavier is fake! I simply won’t allow it! Episode 4, which premieres February 4, is titled “Agent Billy Pace,” so buckle up for some Billy backstory.
-
Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom)
Nicole Brydon Bloom’s Jane seems like an innocent little sweetheart in Paradise‘s first three episodes, which is why we must be vigilant. Perhaps Jane is exactly as she appears — a soft-spoken secret service agent who covers for people when they need to use the bathroom and loves playing Wii Tennis and snacking on the president’s candy with her crush, Billy. But compared to other major characters in the first three episodes, we don’t know much about her. So we’re curious how she became one of the people in “Paradise.” Like the others, she seems genuinely confused after learning of Cal’s murder, and she takes Xavier’s orders when he shuts down the scene for 30 minutes, so the jury’s still out on her (and her connection to Billy).
-
Robinson (Krys Marshall)
Next up? Krys Marshall’s Agent Robinson, who was more than a member of Cal’s secret service detail, she was having an affair with him! While reviewing the security footage from the night Cal was murdered, Xavier saw her make her “daily happy hour appearance” to his room and he clocked the earrings she had on in the video matched the earrings left on the president’s dresser. Robinson showed up late after the murder was called in, which raised suspicions, but she led point on the case and claims she was at the tavern the night of his murder.
Xavier and Robinson point fingers at each other at the start of the series, but Robinson said she “actually cared about” Cal and threw up alongside Sinatra after seeing his body. While we’ll have to learn more about Robinson and Cal’s final interaction, three episodes in, the fact that she’s visibly mourning him while attempting to find his killer suggests her innocence.
-
Gabriela (Sarah Shahi)
Sarah Shahi’s Gabriela reveals herself as Cal (and the whole dome’s) therapist, which means there’s a lot about their relationship we still don’t know. That said, we doubt she would have stuck her neck out to coach Xavier through his lie detector test had she been Cal’s killer. Why not just let him take the fall? In Episode 3, “The Architect of Social Wellbeing,” we learn much more about Gabriela, her history with Sinatra, and the role she played in crafting Paradise‘s community. And crucially, we learn that Gabriela was worried about Cal before his death.
After reminding Xavier that he pled the fifth during their therapy session together, Gabriela said, “I sat with [President Bradford] the day before his death. Something happened that last week. He seemed tired, burdened.” She also shared that he was drunk in his bathrobe in her office, which is presumably the session where he warned her that Agent Billy Pace “is dangerous.” Right now, it seems like Gabriela’s mission in the dome is to help, not hurt, so she’s not a major suspect three episodes in — but on Paradise, anything can change!
-
One Of Cal’s Family Members
Based on Cal’s son’s reaction to his death, we feel confident that he didn’t have anything to do with the murder. But what about the former first lady? Or Cal’s father, who has dementia? In Episode 2, Robinson told Xavier that Cal’s dad and ex-wife had alibis, so they’re likely not involved either, but we’re looking at all the possible options, OKAY?
-
A Wildcard Wildcat Killer
In the spirit of looking at all of our options, we also have to consider the possibility that the killer isn’t one of Paradise‘s core characters, but instead, someone totally unexpected. A wildcard Wildcat killer! In Decider’s interview with James Marsden, the Paradise star teased, “Be prepared to be surprised. Nothing is what it seems on this show.” So if a killer seems too obvious, perhaps we can cross them off the list? Or is that what Paradise wants us to do?! Stay tuned for more clues as the season progresses.
New episodes of Paradise premiere Tuesdays on Hulu. Be sure to read Decider’s interview with James Marsden and the rest of our Paradise coverage for more insights into the series.
The post Who Killed President Cal Bradford In ‘Paradise’? Meet The Suspects appeared first on Decider.
