Paradise – Mayday review S2 E2
Mayday was a fitting title for this episode as Xavier constantly found himself in a state of emergency.
The first mayday call was the most obvious as he was flying through a hailstorm with very limited visibility.
His mayday message was questionable for a Secret Service agent. No doubt Xavier would be eager to find Terri, but why would he tell the coordinates of the Colorado bunker? Is he just assuming that everyone who would come by is a good guy? Has he never watched The Walking Dead (get the complete series on Amazon)?
While Graceland set it up like Xavier crashed and was immediately discovered by Annie, Mayday revealed he had a far different path before that encounter. When Xavier wakes up, he finds the plane in the upright position in a tree. While attempting to lower himself closer to the ground, he hears a familiar popping sound.
That triggers the long flashback interspersed throughout Mayday.
During his secret service training in 2004, Xavier fell and tore some ligaments and suffered a torn patella. Xavier remembers how the doctor treated it and starts to do it himself when a young boy (Alexander Gumpert) warns him to be quiet but helps himself to his bag. Xavier can’t maneuver well, but the kid returns with a stick to help him walk.
Before they can leave, two men the boy warned Xavier about arrive to check through the wreckage until the hailstorm chases them off. That gives the boy the window to take Xavier to the boat he’s used as the hideout — along with four other kids. They’re not especially chatty forcing Xavier to recall another time he had to be a ‘patient’ patient.
MORE:
- Primate review (2026)
- Crime 101 review (2026)
- Misdirection review (2026)
- Paradise Season 1 review (2025)
After his meniscus reconstruction surgery, he wasn’t a great patient and was trying the patience of his nurse (Britney Young), who was thrilled at the prospect of him being healthy enough to start his outpatient recovery. He’s been such a nuisance that he aggravates his roommate, Teri (Enuka Okuma). It’s love at first sight for him and Xavier suddenly isn’t in such a rush to get released. His nurse knows why he wants to stay longer and says he’s got no chance.
Xavier isn’t against putting in some work and gets Teri to at least admit he’s hot although marriage isn’t in her plans and she’s not even sure she wants kids. Her surgery doesn’t quite go as planned and she’s got a case of temporary blindness.
Xavier initially stays to help her get through her early panic and fears, but the temporary phase has shifted to a long enough stint that he’s walking without a limp when he comes to visit her. Eventually, her sight does return, and she sees the love of her life in front of her.
In the present, Xavier works on his patience trying to communicate with the kids. One gives him some water while the one who helped him earlier warned him to hold off fixing his knee until the lighting strikes. The surgery hack resulted in Xavier passing out, but he introduces himself. The kid who initially helped him is Daniel, his sister, Yoyo (Abigail London) gave him the water.
He landed in Arkansas, the area Link warned Annie not to go too last episode. The kids were on a travel bus for a game when The Day happened and Xavier says after he finds Terri, they’re welcome to come back with him. Later that night, Xavier hears some noise outside and goes to investigate. It’s one of the guys who pulls his gun out. The guy is savvy enough to note that Xavier doesn’t look like he’s been out in the wilderness. Again, Xavier is a little too quick to drop the Colorado intel. Mayday, Xavier, not everyone is going to be your friend out on the surface!
The guy asks if Colorado is where Xavier plans to take the kids he’s been tracking for a while. That’s all Xavier needed to hear and bum leg and all, he still manages to take down the guy. The kids witnessed the aftermath and cover the guy in leaves and dirt while Yoyo notices Xavier has a knife in his gut.
Much like with Cal, his protective instincts kicked in, and he didn’t notice his own pain. He awakens with the wound bandaged up and the Lost Kids — and his bag — are gone. They did leave the picture of Presley and James. He heads back to the plane wreckage seemingly dealing with an infection from the stab wound and passes out.
With all the Mayday flashbacks covered, it’s time to catch up to Graceland’s final scene where Annie finds Xavier and puts him on her horse. He awakens in a semi-delirious state and tells Annie the kids are in the bunker in Colorado, but he’s got to get to Teri in Atlanta. Annie isn’t concerned about his itinerary — he’s taking her and her baby to Colorado.
Mayday sets up an interesting series of challenges for Xavier in his quest to reunite with Teri while providing valuable backstory as to why he’s so committed to her. Despite some out of character risky decisions from our hero, this was another solid episode to get the season’s agendas rolling.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Photo Credit: Hulu
As an Amazon Associate, I earn through qualifying purchases.