Why 'Paradise' Season 1 Recap Doesn't Play Until Episode 2 of Hulu's Second Season

If you’re watching season two of Paradise on Hulu, there’s a reason why the streamer doesn’t show you a season one recap before the first episode. It’s actually saved for the second episode!

The first season of the show followed the murder of President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) and how his Secret Service security detail Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) was targeted as a suspect. The big twist that was revealed during the show was that it took place in an underground bunker following an apocalyptic doomsday event.

In season two, Xavier searches for his wife Teri out in the world and learns how people survived the three years since The Day. Back in Paradise, the social fabric frays as the bunker deals with the aftermath of Season 1, and new secrets are uncovered about the city’s origins.

So, why is the season one recap not shown until the beginning of episode two?

Keep reading to find out more…

The season two premiere is a standalone episode that doesn’t feature any original cast members until the very final moment.

The first episode of season two introduces us to Shailene Woodley‘s character Annie and shows us how she survived doomsday while taking shelter in Graceland. We’re also introduced to Thomas Doherty‘s Link and his friends, who invade Graceland a couple years after the doomsday event and find her living there.

At the very end of the episode, Annie sees a plane crash in the distance and she finally leaves Graceland to go investigate. She finds Xavier lying on the ground.

“The first episode is so strong,” Sterling told Us Weekly. “Shailene holds that s*** down so fiercely that I was like, ‘We are going to be all right.’”

After that shocking moment of seeing Xavier outside the bunker, Hulu shows the season one recap as we head into the second episode. You can watch a more comprehensive version below!

Check out all of the cast changes for season two!