The Power of X, and the Final Countdown.
Join me, AngCreates, for a breakdown of Paradise, Season 2, as we approach the season finale and attempt to untangle interesting observations.
The power of X. The letter X is represented by two intersecting lines and represents the numerical value of 10 and can be used to multiply or search for unknown variables. An X is used on ballot papers or forms to indicate a vote or a specific choice. X can be used to represent genetic information. X represents the unknown or an unspecified variable. In multiplication, X is used to separate dimensions, and X can represent coordinates.
Equally, the power of a character’s name choice and its symbolism can become very important to a story, acting as an anchor for their identity, backstory, and thematic role. So how does Xavier, also known as X in the series, link to uncovering the mysteries of Paradise? Paradise’s creator, Dan Fogelman, along with the show’s writers, are masterfully entwining together a very intricate story using several different production techniques. Unreliable narration, intentional set design, distinct dialog and narrative frameworks known also as backstory drip, and multiperspectivity, are used to connect multiple plotlines over time and show the same event through different character lenses. This choice of storytelling keeps us, the audience, entangled together, through delayed revelations and implied contradictions, whether that be story or character related. By balancing the suspense, and managing the pacing of the unfolding story, the who, what, why, where and how slowly reveal itself. It’s the type of storytelling that really begs for your undying awareness and makes use of every tiny bite-sized detail shown on screen, and within the given dialog, to advance the plot. The choice of lighting, the musical score beneath a scene, the way an actor uses inflection in their words, the set itself, a character’s name – it all matters! All of these elements combine to help us solve for X. What or who is Alex? What do the nosebleeds mean that certain characters are experiencing? How and why are these characters linked together? Are we truly experiencing time wobbles or an advanced prediction oracle computer, or is it something that can be explained in much simpler, quantifiable terms? Is the world outside of the bunker stable or will it have yet to experience the effects of the Venus Syndrome as predicted by the scientist in Season 1? What is the current fate of the state of the bunker and the residents inside? How is Alex being used, and where has she been located?
When we were first introduced to Paradise in Season 1, we, as the audience, went in thinking we were watching a political, apocalyptic, who-did-it (as in who killed President Cal Bradford and a few episodes later, who killed Agent Billy Pace) mystery-drama taking place in current time. Then season 2 came along and abruptly we appear to be in a new genre altogether! Is Paradise adapting a science fiction element? Many believe so, and it may involve some sort of time-travel device, quantum entanglement fundamentals, or outcomes of a quantum probability computer, all intertwined with fate. We do know some type of system exists and that system is being called Alex. Alex has been referred to as she several times throughout Season 2. Could Alex be revealed to be more transformative than just a big, expensive quantum computer? Alex currently seems to be the key to unlocking the mysteries of the Paradise universe. If so, how does she factor into the story and what is Sinatra using Alex for?
Season 2 expands the show’s universe to the world outside of the bunker after the world-ending Volcanic eruption that occurred a bit sooner than anticipated. We learn directly from Sinatra, also known as Samantha Redmond, that “It was never just about the bunker!” Xavier, our main character, is sent off on a holy charge to chart a new path outside of the bunker using coordinates President Cal left for him before his untimely death. He is on a mission to locate his wife, Terri, who didn’t make it to the bunker in time before the disaster unfolded in Season 1. With the world now healing from the aftermath of the volcanic destruction and subsequent EMP attack, Xavier leaves their children behind, protected by Agent Robinson, in the bunker. He flees via plane into a brave new world outside. Xavier encounters strange weather, sudden nose bleeds, visions, as well as an array of new characters. We learn that his wife Terri is a Doctor of mycology, a biologist specializing in the study of fungi. A good portion of season 2 focuses on Xavier searching for Terri in the outside world as he deals with unknown variables along his hero’s journey.
The show begins to lean into 50/50 probability and the entanglement of the characters. We also start to see elements of what may end up being timeline slips or even an alternate timeline, which is referenced using flashback (or flashforward) fragments. This could be the reason why some characters are experiencing nosebleeds. We met Dr. Henry Miller, the original inventor of Alex, named after Henry’s wife (or is it?), who we learn has been suffering from Huntington’s disease. Dr. Miller uses the concept of 50 percent chance of sun (sun could also be a disguised duality also equating to son because words in this show carry much weight!) and 50 percent chance of rain to explain quantum probability and the existence of simultaneous potential outcomes. He also notates that these are two sides of the same coin. In simplified terms, this could mean one could be both good and evil at the same time. Both of these personalities exist within someone until at the time and under the conditions that they are observed by another. We see a younger version of Agent Billy Pace, via flashbacks, who Sinatra hires to secure the Alex system from Dr. Miller, by any means necessary. We learn that Vestige Quantum is the project that Henry co-owns with a young protege, who is at least 10 years younger than anyone else in his class, and is like a son to him and his wife. It involves advanced wave functions and superposition quantum entanglement. In Season 1, we learned that Sinatra made her fortune selling a cloud storage startup called Domain, prior to the apocalyptic event and the death of her young son to a mystery illness. Sinatra sought out this advanced technology in the attempt to secure more time to save humanity from the predicted climate cataclysm and likely to also save her son somehow.
This genre switch up has delighted some fans of the series and has disappointed others. Maybe we can even say the audience currently stands today at a 50/50 split as we go into the finale episode of Season 2. We watch as the plot diverges and opens up the possibilities of what is actually going on in the bunker. Last season, we saw Agent Billy, upon Sinatra’s order, kill the scientists sent outside of the bunker to observe and test the current conditions. We learn that an estimated 55 million people, including Xavier’s wife Terri, are alive outside of the bunker. We met some of these people, including a mailman named Gary. Gary managed to secure a post-world-war bunker in an Atlanta post office to survive the apocalypse with a small group. He saves Terri and a young, neglected boy named Bean. We also meet Link. He has aligned himself with several other men and together they have a plan to infiltrate the bunker and destroy the Alex technology to restore the world. Link briefly gets entangled with Annie, in a short-lived, heart-warming, romantic randevu. Annie, once a medical student that had become a Graceland tour guide, sheltered in place at Graceland during the catastrophe. She is asked by Link to join them on the trek to the bunker, but she decides to stay behind. It is revealed Link suffers from nosebleeds and is using potassium Iodide tablets. Meanwhile, Xavier crash lands the plane he took from the bunker after the plane experiences instrumental malfunctions in a strange storm. He meets a small group of children who survived together, before a now very pregnant Annie appears on horseback. Annie brings Xavier to Graceland to heal. Learning Xavier is from the bunker, she convinces Xavier to take her there so she can reunite with Link. Unfortunately, Annie goes into childbirth during their travels to Atlanta to find Xavier’s wife and she doesn’t survive, due to preeclampsia. Emotionally, she begs Xavier that it has to be him to keep her newborn baby safe and take her to her father. We witnessed two births this season thus far. A boy (X chromosome) who during a flashback scene becomes the first baby born in the bunker named Calvin after President Cal, and a girl (XX chromosomes) birthed by Annie who is currently unnamed.
Flashing back, younger Billy shows up at Dr. Miller’s home to secure the tech that Sinatra wants as the bunker is being built. Miller asks Billy if he believes things happen for a reason or if they are just random. When Henry refuses to sign over his technology, also known as Alex, he pleads with Billy to let the boy live, for the fate of the world may depend on him. Henry accepts his destiny in that moment, seemingly sure things will work out as they are supposed to, while concurrently predicting Billy is about to experience a nosebleed. Before Henry’s death, he says to Billy today he is choosing to believe in the sun. Miller continues on saying that it all worked, and he believes Billy was supposed to be there with him and his wife at this moment in time. Just before this, we see Henry inject his sick wife with a medication of sorts. He tells his wife he will see her soon, implying they will be together again. At the end of this scene, Billy does encounter the boy, and Billy does experience a nosebleed as Miller predicted. Against all of his training, Billy chooses to let the boy live. We’re led to conclude that the protege, the boy that is allowed to live, is also Link and the father of Annie’s baby girl in the future. Eventually we meet the rest of Link’s larger entourage who are in Atlanta, where Gary, Terri, Bean and a few other people that survived in the mailroom bunker are located. Link’s second group are attempting to get a train moving to take them to the bunker to form one larger group, presumably to storm the bunker. Gary becomes unpredictable, shooting and killing his best friend, once he realizes Terri doesn’t love him in the way he has come to love her.
Back inside the bunker, chaos is starting to ensue. Those inside the bunker are becoming more aware that things may not be as they seem. Some are aware that the outside world was in fact survivable and is currently livable. A risky, youth-led movement that is using X as a symbol begins. The movement is spearheaded by President Cal’s son Jeremy and Xavier’s daughter Presley. The current President, who was the sitting Vice President to President Cal, wants to bring back summer holidays to try and restore harmony within the bunker, as it has been approximately 3 years they have been living underground. To bring on summer-like conditions, would require more power. We find out that a large chunk of power is being siphoned off from the bunker to be used elsewhere, most likely to run Alex, unbeknownst to any board members. Sinatra is recovering most of Season 2 after being shot by Agent Jane Driscoll at the end of Season 1. Sinatra’s maid, Carmen, seems to be looking after Alex during Sinatra’s recovery period. Carmen tells Sinatra the power issue has been resolved and Alex is getting closer. Sinatra remembers being shot by Jane and when asked, Jane tells Sinatra she shot her to protect her from Xavier. Jane goes on to say she chose to keep her alive because Sinatra was of no use to her if she is dead. Gabby, Sinatra’s adviser and the bunker’s psychologist, who we learned in Season 1 was responsible for selecting the individuals who would survive in the underground bunker, is becoming more suspicious. Gabby questions Sinatra as to her true motives and who Alex is. Gabby also confronts Jane regarding her involvement with several deaths, including the murder of the current president and her attachment to Sinatra. In Season 1, we also learned that Gabby selected Xavier as her wild card. She told him that she trusted him to do good no matter what. Meanwhile, Jeremy and Presley continue to piece together the secrets and lies of the bunker. Jeremy conspires to end up in the bunker prison alongside the bunker’s designer. Later, special agent Robinson joins them after she is framed for murder by Jane. The three form a plan to force open the bunker doors to give the people inside the bunker the choice of freedom outside. Presley befriends Sinatra’s daughter Hadley, as Hadley starts to become suspicious of her mother’s true intentions after learning her mom is indeed Sinatra.
The finale of Season 2 begins to reach critical mass as we flashback to an email sent on May 29, 1997 to some circuit city tech bros in a basement setting from an Alex Q. It doesn’t appear that the entire message is revealed, but what we do see reads “A killer will be born on June 6th at 12:01 A.M. She can be stopped when it matters, if you deliver a message to her:” One might summarize this may be the origin story of Alex. The audience assumes the killer in question is Jane since this email appears around the same time Jane is born. As of now, we do not have confirmation that Jane is this killer in question. The word she has been used all season in relation to Alex as well. Back outside, in the present, a standoff is building by the train between Xavier, Gary, and Link’s second group who are running late to convene at the bunker. The group has already missed one assembly point prior. Xavier was told by Gary that these train people took Terri and Bean. Xavier leaves the baby in the safety of a female couple from the post office bunker and plots a plan to rescue his wife and Bean. Xavier tells Gary a story about his son’s love of trains and how all his son wanted to do was smash the trains into each other. He goes on to say maybe his son was onto something and maybe it isn’t fun to play with trains that ride smoothly along their tracks. “Maybe the possibility that one day these huge metal trains could crash into one another is the point.” As this is transpiring, we see a scene of Sinatra in her office looking at security footage of Link and his current forces who are at the bunker door asking to be let inside. On Sinatra’s order, Jane is sent outside to find out what Link and his team want and to secure any terms in designing a meetup to de-escalate. Back outside, Xavier ends up reuniting with his wife, Bean, the baby, and Link’s Atlanta crew onboard the train. The train leaves, leaving Gary behind, with the intended destination being the bunker.
We flashback to when the bunker was just finished being built, prior to the event, and President Cal telling Sinatra he hopes the bunker ends up being just an expensive story to tell at parties versus the alternative of a world-ending disaster happening. Sinatra tells President Cal, a once aspiring history teacher, that the bunker is not an impulse buy, it IS the future. President Cal questions the bunker’s redundancy plans for different types of scenarios that could potentially happen. He specifies one scenario in particular. He goes on to remind Sinatra of the history of how empires fall, specifically using the fall of the Roman Empire as the example. He presses on further stating that empires think they are invincible, but they start in-fighting and then they implode. He reminds Sinatra that “everything that achieves greatness has one thing in common; they end.” Filled with hubris, she smirks and says to him “not on my watch.” This scene takes place over the song The Final Countdown, as we build to the season finale.
We learn from Hadley that her mother uses her deceased brother’s birthday of May 16th for all of her passwords inside the bunker. She and Presley hack into the system to gain access into the protected areas, specifically looking to access the prison level. We learned in Season 1, since Sinatra’s son Dylan passed away, that she was quietly battling depression and anxiety. This is how Sinatra met Gabby. Sinatra has the main bunker door opened and agrees to give Link a slice of apple pie, as he requested. They both come face to face inside the bunker for the first time. The two of them go off alone onto the parked Airforce One plane to talk. Link appears to be fascinated by the plane, as well as a picture of then President Cal. He takes a pen from the president’s desk as a souvenir. He seems surprised it was not President Cal that met him at the bunker door. Sinatra informs Link he is dead, to which Link says, “spoiler alert.” While onboard the plane, Link tells Sinatra it all comes down to Luke and Vader in the end, stating Sinatra is Vader of course, because she is evil. As he eats the apple pie, Link lets her know he is aware of all the capabilities of the bunker as he attempts to negotiate for one nuclear reactor to restart the world. We learn the bunker has four nuclear reactors that it has been running off of. After Sinatra refuses, Link makes it known he is aware of Alex. Sinatra brushes it off and gives herself credit for building the bunker and everything in it and tells Link to forget about the bunker and Alex. Link reminds her she bribed, stole, killed, and destroyed the planet in the first place and that he would be back. It is then revealed Link’s true name is Dylan and that he has the same birthday as Sinatra’s son Dylan, that being May 16th. Link would also be the same age that her son Dylan would be now had he survived. After this reveal, both Link and Sinatra experience nosebleeds and Link vows to destroy everything before he rejoins his group.
Sinatra heads back home after the meeting with Link and tells her husband that she thinks it worked. He seems clueless as to what she means. They reconnect physically for the first time in a long time and Sinatra appears to be glowing. She gets up to leave afterward, and it almost feels as if she is saying goodbye. We end with Jeremy and agent Robinson smashing tanks to open the bunker doors in conjunction with the bunker’s board calling an emergency meeting about Link’s imminent invasion. The board makes the decision to start lockdown procedures seeing Sinatra is nowhere to be found. The bunker is about to implode and is hemorrhaging oxygen due to conflicting commands being input at once, which so happens to be one of the original redundancy fails that President Cal had mentioned and was dismissed over. Presley and Hadley become trapped together in a bunker elevator, with no one aware of them being there. The entire bunker system is failing, leading to an impending meltdown. In the midst of this chaos, Jane comes for Gabby and Gabby is ready for her. In self-defense, Gabby strikes Jane with an object that leaves Jane bleeding out. Xavier, Terri, and the rest of Link’s brigade are on a collision course on the train heading for the bunker as we simultaneously see Sinatra riding in a separate train car by herself heading to a possible second bunker. We see Xavier experience another nosebleed. Sinatra departs her train car, dons a lab coat and then walks by what appears to be tanks of nitric oxide. She says Hello Alex. Light shines on the wall behind her.
Does everything happen for a reason or is everything that is playing out random? Hopefully the season finale will help us on our quest to solve for X. I suspect it will also give us more variables to factor into the equation, and maybe even open up another dimension to explore!
Let the Entanglement Ensue!
About the Author
This was a great breakdown, especially the way you framed everything around X and kept it tied to the bigger mystery.
Now that the finale’s out, it’s interesting how some of the open questions you brought up start to narrow a bit. The Alex stuff in particular feels less like time travel and more like extreme prediction, especially with how it was answering things before they were even asked and then going silent like it was locked into a massive computation.
Also the Link and Dylan angle feels a little different in hindsight. The finale makes it seem less like some kind of timeline crossover and more like Sinatra projecting something onto him. Curious to see how you feel about it now after the finale, because a lot of what you set up here still fits, just in a more grounded way than it first seemed.
Thank you for the compliment, I appreciate that very much. I plan to write another piece based on summing up the season 2 finale episode, and give my opinions and where things stand, at least in the way I see it (which this show takes a village to piece together! 🙂 If people would be interested, I could continue every month or so posting observation posts that we can all dissect and discuss together up until the Season 3 premier which most likely will be Jan of 2027.
I do agree that Alex is more of quantum prediction AI, and that she can traverse all timelines (past, present and future) and thus she manipulates outcomes possibly through choice (50/50) to collapse timelines onto each other. As the audience we aren’t time traveling per say or even seeing multiple timelines play out in real time, we are seeing outcomes from other timelines being integrated into the main timeline with I believe Link being the anomaly for the timeline we are in. My take on Link is that he is not Sinatra’s son Dylan in the sense that he’s the same boy she gave birth to and raised until he became sick and passed away. Link (Dylan 2) is another version of her Dylan, from a different timeline who potentially has past life memories. I do think the show is implying multiple realities or lives, even if we are not seeing that play out on screen fully. The multiple lives theory also fits in with the whole video game references they keep hammering home throughout.
Sinatra seemed to believe she was in full control of Alex. Or is Alex actually in full control, and most concerned with her overall survival? Duality is at play here between Sinatra and Alex. She is smart quantum AI, so she has to make people believe in her to manipulate them to get to her desired outcome. Then the question becomes is the desired outcome the same or different and what does that mean going into Season 3? We were solving for X and apparently so was Alex! User X has now been chosen!