Return to Paradise’s love triangle is more crushing than ever, but isn’t the best thing about it

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Fans of Paraverse are back in Dolphin Cove with Return to Paradise, and it feels like no time has passed at all. Detective Inspector Mackenzie Clarke (Anna Samson) is right there with them, as she never actually left! After the shocking reveal at the end of season one involving Glenn (Tai Hara), Mackenzie couldn’t bring herself to leave and remains stuck in the Cove, determined to find answers.

Is her ex-fiancé still in love with her, as she is with him? Or did she ruin any chance of reconciliation when she left him at the altar and disappeared for six years? The answer to the first question becomes clear the moment Mac and Glenn see each other again – their undeniable connection speaks volumes, even without them saying a word.

The attraction between them is so strong it hangs in the air, even when they’re dealing with a grim murder investigation. As they team up to solve the case, their initial spark grows into an undeniable connection. Finally, Mackenzie admits she overheard Glenn tell her he loved her, and confesses she needed to know if his feelings were genuine.

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Colin (Lloyd Griffith) predictably interrupts, and his answer is held back until the very end. He eventually confesses he both said and felt something, but then delivers a disheartening statement: “We had our chance.”

It’s heartbreaking to watch her after all the sweet flirting and longing looks, especially since he clearly has feelings for her. It’s even worse than when Mac found out about his engagement, because now she knows he cared for her, but she also has to face the fact that she let a potentially great relationship end.

But that connection is also why people will definitely keep watching each week. We’re all eager for little glimpses into their relationship, hoping to see their story develop and, eventually, lead to them getting back together.

Even though the show’s depiction of unfulfilled desire is captivating, the real reason to watch Return to Paradise is Mackenzie’s quiet and charming development as a character.

Samson has made Mackenzie deeply aware of her own sensitive side. We first noticed this last season, when she tried hard to hide her feelings. But now, Mackenzie seems much more at ease with acknowledging and openly sharing her emotions.

While she clearly opens up to Glenn in the first episode of the season, she’s also starting to become more honest with others.

I’m really getting into this show! There’s this detective, Mooney, played by Ardal O’Hanlon, and my character opens up to him about some personal stuff she’s dealing with – she’s trying to face it instead of avoiding it, which is cool. It’s starting to affect all her relationships, especially the one with her coworker, Reggie, who Celia Ireland plays brilliantly.

Mackenzie surprisingly confides in Reggie about a relationship issue, almost tearing up as she does. This is a big step for her – in the first season, she tended to hide her feelings, but now she’s learning to accept them. It’s still difficult for her to actually talk about what she’s going through, though.

Facing Glenn and honestly talking to Reggie show how much she’s grown. She’s proving she’s not avoiding challenges, but actively working towards change and self-acceptance, and that’s a powerful message that resonates beyond just the story.

In a recent interview with Digital Spy, Samson discussed how the character of Detective Mackenzie Clarke has resonated with fans.

Samson expressed how rewarding and impactful it is to hear young women saying they feel different or don’t quite fit in. She finds it particularly moving to have created a character in a TV show who embraces being different, and to realize that this message—that you don’t need to conform to be loved—is resonating with people.

You don’t need to conform to what’s expected of you. As a woman, you don’t have to be agreeable or constantly nice to earn love and respect. I’m really proud to be sharing that message.

It appears the person exiled from Cove is discovering a valuable truth: she can be authentically herself and still be accepted – and even loved.

I’ve noticed Mackenzie changing lately, and it’s really cool to see. She’s still got that strong stage presence, but she seems to be letting her guard down a bit. It’s like she’s finally willing to be more open with her feelings, and isn’t as afraid of getting hurt. She’s really embracing vulnerability, and it makes her performances even more powerful.

This season, Samson observed, really highlights the importance of feeling worthy of love. He also noted a growing understanding of the value of letting friends support you and accepting help from others – things he believes are fundamentally more meaningful and are beginning to change people’s perspectives.

We’re already seeing exciting changes, and it’s great to watch. As a fan, you definitely won’t want to miss what happens with her story this season!

You can watch the new season of Return to Paradise on BBC One every Friday at 8pm, or anytime on BBC iPlayer. If you missed it, season one is already available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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2025-11-01 00:21