Binge-Watching Paradise: Reasons This Is Us Had Me Crying

I just finished binge-watching Paradise, and let me tell you, it hit me right in the feels. Unexpectedly, this Hulu series got me emotional for the same reasons that This Is Us does. I wasn’t prepared for these two shows to tug at my heartstrings in similar ways, but they did.

Paradise is a gripping thriller about a presidential murder in an underground bunker made for doomsday. On the other hand, This Is Us is a heartfelt drama about a family. At first glance, they seem worlds apart in terms of content. However, as I delved into both shows’ exploration of family dynamics and their skillful use of timelines to create connections, I found myself reaching for tissues for the same reasons.

Like This Is Us, Paradise centers around the core families that the show revolves around. Dan Fogelman, the brilliant mind behind both series, excels at creating characters that you can’t help but care deeply about. Whether it’s the Pearsons from This Is Us or the characters in Paradise, you witness their triumphs, struggles, and everything in between. Their imperfections and strengths shine through, and you become invested in their journeys.

While the stakes are undeniably higher in Paradise, with the looming threat of the end of the world, at its core, it’s about protecting loved ones. The relationships between characters like Xavier and Sinatra are driven by their deep love for their families, much like how the Pearson family navigates life’s challenges together in This Is Us. The emotional impact of tragic character deaths and world-altering events hit me hard in Paradise, evoking the same intense emotions I felt when I learned about Jack’s fate in This Is Us.

Both shows also masterfully employ timeline jumps to enrich their storytelling. If you’re familiar with This Is Us, you know how effectively those flashbacks and flash-forwards deepen our understanding of the characters. The same technique is at play in Paradise, as we move between the past and present to unravel characters’ histories and motivations. This narrative tool adds layers to characters like President Cal, whose complexities are gradually revealed through well-crafted flashbacks.

If you’re itching to dive into Paradise like I did, you can enjoy a free month of Hulu to binge-watch this enthralling series. Both Paradise and This Is Us have a unique way of prioritizing family bonds, and it’s this common thread that makes them both so emotionally impactful.