Hulu has demonstrated its ability to create exceptional science fiction shows, as evidenced by one particularly compelling series—though its complex and sometimes surreal storyline might not appeal to everyone. The six seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale established Hulu as a major player in television sci-fi. While Margaret Atwood’s original novel was relatively short and focused on ideas rather than action, the show expanded significantly upon that foundation.
Although Netflix’s 3 Body Problem and Prime Video’s The Expanse show there’s plenty of intelligent science fiction available on streaming services, Apple TV+ has become the leading platform for the genre since The Handmaid’s Tale finished. Shows like Silo, Foundation, Severance, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and the upcoming adaptation of William Gibson’s Neuromancer demonstrate Apple TV+’s willingness to invest heavily in thought-provoking sci-fi, pushing other platforms to compete.
I’m really glad Hulu is still investing in those dark, futuristic stories! Their upcoming thriller, Paradise, which premiered in January 2025, has already gotten a ton of buzz – it was even nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series and critics are loving it with almost perfect scores on Rotten Tomatoes. The show takes place three years after some kind of global catastrophe, mostly underground in this huge bunker. We initially follow Xavier Collins, played by Sterling K. Brown, who’s a Secret Service agent tasked with figuring out who killed the president.
Paradise Is Destined For Cult Classic Status In Years To Come
The new series Paradise is a standout dystopian story that begins like a suspenseful mystery, much like the popular show The Expanse. As the plot unfolds, it grows into something even more compelling and unusual. Featuring actors like Shailene Woodley, Sarah Shahi, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Enuka Okuma, and James Marsden (as the deceased president), Paradise carefully reveals a complicated conspiracy while gradually introducing its science fiction world to the audience.
Similar to many compelling dystopian stories, Paradise reflects our own world, but in a distorted way. The show uses this setting and its characters to offer commentary on current events and culture. Importantly, this clever satire doesn’t sacrifice a good story; Collins’ investigation into the president’s death keeps the central mystery and conspiracy driving the plot forward.
Netflix’s popular sci-fi series, Black Mirror, often features different characters in each episode. However, Paradise tells a continuing story, giving it the chance to develop its characters and storylines over multiple seasons. The first season was very well-received, earning an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but the second season was even more popular, scoring a 90% rating. Because Paradise has been renewed for a third season – confirmed in March 2026 – fans can look forward to the continuation of this thrilling and mind-bending sci-fi story.
Though they’ve worked together before, Paradise is quite different from the last project by Sterling K. Brown and creator Dan Fogelman. Before Hulu’s Paradise, Fogelman created the popular NBC drama This Is Us. Brown gained recognition starring as Randall Pearson in that show, which told a family’s story across multiple generations and time periods.
Despite seeming very different – This Is Us is a moving family drama, while Paradise is a fast-paced, dystopian action series – both shows share a clever storytelling technique. Both effectively used flashbacks to hide major plot twists. Creator Dan Fogelman first experimented with this style on This Is Us before successfully using it to build suspense and surprise in Hulu’s Paradise.
2026-07-26 19:29