Paradise

Now that the Academy Awards are over, let’s take a break from film and turn our attention to the small screen, where shows like Hulu’s Paradise are sparking more conversation than many of this year’s Oscar nominees.

Other than Sterling K. Brown’s gripping performance as Xavier Collins, the strongest aspect of Paradise is its captivating mysteries. If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d recommend going in blind. But I’ll only get into very mild spoilers here…

Collins lives in a bubble, and I mean that literally. Something terrible has happened outside, but very smart (and very rich) people foresaw this disaster and managed to escape to an underground utopia. They attempt to carry on as normal–going to school, making mixtapes, or sharing a plate of cheese fries. But their paradise is an illusion. Someone important turns up dead in a place supposedly devoid of weapons, and the citizens start to question everything they’ve been told.

The people who created this world tried to capture what they thought heaven would be like, or at least one idea of it. They thought if they had total control, if they made it perfect, maybe all the pain and suffering they’d experienced would fade away. Maybe living in denial would be better than facing the devastating truth. But anywhere humans are in charge, the same old quarrels and insecurities will eventually creep in.

What would you do if you knew the apocalypse was coming? Would you bury your head in the sand? Stuff your closets full of toilet paper and prep for a long hibernation? Or would you get on your knees and pray for deliverance?

The thing is, we already know the end is near. We don’t know where, when, or how. But we can see the earth as we know it has an expiration date. Climate change aside, every individual is guaranteed a limited shelf life. We each need to be prepared for when our time is up.

The good news is we don’t have to create our own means of salvation. It’s been offered to us, to everyone, free of charge. Unlike the residents of Paradise, we don’t have to worry who’s on the guest list. Those of us who already know the way can bring others along. Some may find it difficult to accept an escape plan sight unseen, but I'm much more comfortable embracing the mystery of our faith than hoping any plan I came up with on my own might have a chance.