Paradise – Jane review S2 E6

Breaking News: Jane (Bobbitt) is a psycho!

Ok, maybe that’s not exactly the most ground-shaking reveal in two seasons of Paradise so far. What is becoming clearer is the Paradise writers are perfectly angling the corner they’re painting themselves into when it comes to Sinatra and Jane. These are the characters who are so villainous that otherwise sensible characters have to do incredibly stupid things in order to showcase their brilliance.

They can’t keep getting away with everything, but it sure is easier to accomplish anything if there’s no credible resistance. Regardless if it’s Xavier, Robinson, Gabriela or Link and his militia, Jane and Sinatra are like the strongest No. 1 seed in the tournament and it’s going to take a massive update for them to take an L.

In some regards, Paradise writers are handling Sinatra and Jane in a similar manner to the treatment the Lannisters got in the first four seasons of Game of Thrones. Or for a more recent example, how Hayley and Lesley get away with murder currently on Beyond the Gates.

A good villain is only as good as the competent hero. When the protagonists have to act out of character to keep the villains ahead, it becomes frustrating. The 24 writers realized a certain villain was overstaying their welcome and got rid of them in Season 3. Paradise couldn’t function without Jane and Sinatra, but it’s time for them to have to face some spiraling situations. That’s why killing President Baines felt like a mistake. Even if he was a buffoon, he could have jammed up the works for Sinatra.

Jane — the episode — not the character was a solid setup for the final act of this season.

In May 97, a Circuit City (!) employee gets an email from Alex (!!) that a killer will be born on June 6. “She can be stopped when it matters if you deliver a message to her.” The employee blows it off, but then his beeper — kids, ask your grandparents — and email start spamming a three-word command “deliver the message.”

Conveniently around that time, a mother gives birth although she’s not particularly thrilled at her bundle of joy and doesn’t try to calm the baby girl down when she’s hollering. The employee spots the mother leaving the hospital and delivers the message although in the most “this guy is crazy!!” manner possible.  Of course, is there a good way to tell a mother your kid is going to be a killer?

Young Jane talks to her imaginary friend and listens to her prompt to lock her mother and boyfriend in the sauna. When Jane lets them out, her mom throws her in the sauna shouting that the lunatic at the hospital was right. Mom has a very stern timeout policy.

A decade later, our little homicidal maniac is getting field agent training. Her mentor Stacy (Ryan Michelle Bathe, who’s married to Sterling K. Brown) advises her to fight smarter and utilize meditation techniques to focus herself. Stacy believes in Jane, who she thinks just needed someone to tell her she was special. Stacy also invites her to hang out and play Wii. Wonder how that will turn out?

Stacy gets passed over for a promotion for her peer, Thomas Radnor, who she suggests was only given the job “because he has a dick.” Gee, with that logic any bozo could become president over a far more qualified woman…  Jane decides to visit Radnor and bobbitt him. Hopefully Stacy has some ice for that thing. Sure, this made Jane look like the baddest bad a$$ ever, but it also should have landed her below a prison or killed once Radnor sought revenge for losing his joystick.

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That was the end of the origin story for Sinatra’s No. 1, who never fear, manages to look completely cool later on. This episode felt like a bit of a scramble to move a bunch of subplots further along the tracks.

Gabriela goes over her transcript notes for references of Alex. She does come across one that seems to hint at Sinatra’s concerns about Alex and how it will take her down a dark path. Gabriela visits Robinson, who seems largely uninterested in helping Gabriela out with her Sinatra problem since she’s untouchable because of Jane. Robinson said she never saw her coming, which isn’t completely true since Robinson was getting suspicious only to act like a complete moron so Jane could frame her for killing Baines.

Given that Robinson is in custody for killing the president, she’s in the underground prison with vandals and disturbers of the peace instead of the most wanted woman in Paradise. This all seemed to be so Robinson could be in position to see Jeremy and Anders plotting to escape and ultimately aid them when they were about to get caught. Anders knows a way to open up the city, which could be a problem if say an armed militia were outside waiting to come in. Maybe they’re just outside for a day of love? In which case no problem at all.

Sinatra has Jane issue her terms to chat with Link. Naturally, Jane fully takes control of the situation by snatching Urkel’s gun and making some flirty negotiations with Link.

Presley decides to take some initiative and tells Sinatra’s daughter, Hadley, that her mother is not as virtuous as she appears. Maybe from a certain point of view, Presley. Hadley does confront Sinatra asking about the disappearing people, including some of her classmates. Perhaps realizing her mom is straight up lying to her, Hadley offers to help Presely get the missing people.

Gabriela does that stupid thing every character has to do when they’ve got something on Sinatra and Jane — she tells Jane she knows what she did. This served no purpose beyond putting her on the town’s resident killer’s radar. Gabriela should be smarter than this especially since it seems like Jane can be somewhat controlled by flattering words by motherly figures. You’d think Paradise’s resident psychologist would understand that approach instead of the telling the murderer “I know you’re a killer.

Speaking of characters having to be oblivious to a killer in sheep’s clothing, Xavier breaks down his plan to Gary. He’s going to place the bomb in a spot that won’t get anyone hurt yet create enough of a distraction to get the train crew’s attention. Gary is fine watching as Xavier moves into position.

His weird response when Xavier tells him to deliver a message to Teri if he doesn’t make it prompts Xavier to look at the picture of the Post Office Crew. It’s then that he notices the lust in Gary’s eyes (shout out Macho Man Randy Savage) and runs off as Gary detonates the bomb.

Xavier gets clear but is dazed as the train crew runs up to him. As he tries to regain his focus, a woman pushes through the crowd. It’s Teri. We’ve finally got our big reunion. But is it too late for Xavier?

Jane’s origin story wasn’t particularly satisfying since last season revealed she would kill someone she loved. This didn’t offer much new insight prompting other subplots to get rushed along.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Photo Credit: Hulu