Paradise – Graceland review S2 E1
Graceland kicks off Paradise’s second season with an homage to one of its clear influences — Lost — with another perspective of the day the world ended.
Just as Lost focused on the Tailies in the seventh episode of its sophomore season (available on Amazon), Graceland spotlights what happened over the course of the initial few weeks following the natural disaster and world fallout.
Annie (Shailene Woodley, Big Little Lies) was inspired to pursue a medical career after her mother died at an early age. While she was very proficient by her third year of medical school, the stress got to her and she dropped out.
With few viable options, the distraught Annie returned to Graceland, a place she’d frequently visited as her mother was a huge Elvis fan. Annie knew the tour guide spiel down to the jokes the guides would say to wrap the walkthrough.
Fortunately, Annie gets some much-needed grace from Gayle (Angel Laketa Moore), the Graceland security guard who listens to her plight and gets her a job as a tour guide.
Annie is good at the gig right down to nailing the same old tired jokes. It’s not saving lives in the ER, but it’s providing her some much needed peace of mind — until President Bradford delivers that fateful message to the nation.
Annie’s medical instincts kick in, and she and Gayle gather supplies and prepare to hunker down in Graceland’s underground shelter for the duration. It’s a smart plan that immediately comes undone when Gayle badly injures her leg coming down the stairs. While Gayle checking her phone for the latest updates isn’t an insane reaction, it was frustrating seeing her lack of urgency in this emergency of all emergency situations. It’s clear from the look on Annie’s face as she continues treating Gayle’s leg over the course of three weeks that it’s not showing any signs of improvement.
Paradise stays true to its debut season by having an early death that proves more emotional despite little time invested in a character. That’s a strong credit to Woodley and Moore for quickly establishing a bond between Annie and Gayle in such rapid fashion.
By Day 46, Annie is on her own, a state that remains to Day 689(!). The sun has finally broken through the ash clouds, which would be very welcome news if raiders weren’t coming in to ransack the place. They’re looking for Elvis’ cars. Except maybe they’re not a gang of ruthless pillagers.
Their leader/spokesman Link (Thomas Doherty) tries to make nice with her, but Annie is understandably cautious. When she spots an opportunity to break away, she quickly seizes it to barricade herself in the Graceland basement shelter.
Eventually, the smell of actual cooked food proves too tempting, and Annie takes a chance that these guys legitimately don’t want to hurt her. The gamble pays off and Annie realizes she’s got nothing to worry about from the guys, especially Link who’s roughly her age and equally awkward in trying to navigate their mutual attraction. In lieu of NCAA basketball references that set off nostalgia bells for Gen Xers, Graceland features a wider array of pop culture references including Link getting his nickname from The Legend of Zelda video games.
After three years, things are a lot better in the world, but Link’s party has been busy on a quest. Geiger (Michael McGrady) is trying to shut down all of the 94 abandoned nuclear facilities throughout the nation. Urkel (Raymond Cham Jr.) nicknamed for you know who, has a theory that an EMP was triggered. Pretty impressive theory. Two-thirds of the population are gone although it’s hard to be sure of the exact number since Gallup no longer does doomsday polling.
Annie overhears Geiger and Link talking about reaching their destination and getting “her,” who remains a mystery throughout the episode. She’s smart enough to not give away that she heard them. While they might not be upfront with everything, Annie decides they’re not a bunch of heartless killers and are actually good company. She gets a little more when a horse from the Graceland stables finds its way back home.
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The Graceland script shows Paradise has lost none of its outstanding character development in its sophomore season with some great lines like “We’re just a bunch of nerds who outlived the cool kids,” Annie stating Link’s beard makes him look more like Charles Manson than a leader and a fun dig on the Mets.
Link and Annie get a quiet moment alone after she gets to give the gang a tour of Graceland. Link and Annie don’t hop into bed. She’s overcome with emotion having people to talk to again, the awkwardness of flirting with someone she likes and just having someone to hug. This feels so much smarter and realistic right down to Annie not having shaved armpits (“the 70s are back!”).
It’s time for the gang to head out west. Link awakens to see Annie is back in the shelter. He finally gets further into the weeds with the details of their plan. They’re pretty sure there is a bunker with an underground, sustainable city in Colorado. Geiger mentions they’ve got to go so they can get to the bunker and kill someone? Sinatra’s already in bad shape.
Annie doesn’t go but seems to have some second thoughts on her decision as the days and months pass. Turns out she had a good reason for staying — she’s pregnant. Now she hears a plan landing. Is it Link after all this time making good on his promise to come back to her? No. It was a plane that crashed. It’s not Link, but a complete stranger to Annie although not to the viewers as it’s Xavier. Guess he was a little rusty on those landings?
Graceland suggests Paradise won’t have any kind of second season struggles with a compelling opening act that quickly sets up intriguing new scenarios and potential threats.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Photo Credit: Hulu
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