<p>🌟 Unlock special gifts with our latest podcast highlights and full VODS. Gain early access on our Patreon: patreon.com/ivebeenmeaningtowatch. 🌐</p><p><br></p><p>Host <strong>Manika</strong> and guest <strong>Cam</strong> take on Hulu’s <strong>Paradise</strong>: a political-sci-fi thriller where President <strong>Cal Bradford</strong> (James Marsden) is assassinated and <strong>Xavier Collins</strong> (Sterling K. Brown) uncovers a manufactured reality inside a sealed bunker. We cover the premiere’s genre pivot, why the flashbacks matter, <strong>Samantha Redmond’s</strong> power play, performances, themes (control, grief, complicity), and season-two stakes. Up top, a frank <strong>Media Mania</strong> segment on the <strong>Riyadh Comedy Festival</strong>—censorship rules, who accepted/declined, and the paycheck-vs-principles debate—followed by a Watch List of films/series we’re eyeing next.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Paradise Hulu review, Paradise recap, Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, Dan Fogelman, political thriller, bunker mystery, dystopian TV, Hulu originals, Samantha Redmond, Media Mania, Riyadh Comedy Festival, comedy censorship, pop culture news.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 — Intro &amp; returning guest<br>Who we are; why Cam’s here; what this episode covers. </p><p><br></p><p>00:26 — Guest intro: Cam’s shows and focus<br>Cam’s “Jacked Up Review Show,” pop-culture coverage, and new true-crime/history project. </p><p><br></p><p>03:02 — Media Mania: Riyadh Comedy Festival explained<br>What the festival is, why it’s controversial, platform rules/censorship claims, who spoke out, who went/declined, and the ethics of “cash vs. principles.” </p><p><br></p><p>22:27 — Main review begins: Paradise (Hulu)<br>Premise and pivot: assassination investigation becomes a bunker reality; tone/genre set for the series. </p><p><br></p><p>27:00 — Story craft: why the flashbacks matter<br>How backstory and structure build stakes, clarify loyalties, and pace reveals without stalling momentum. </p><p><br></p><p>37:00 — Characters &amp; performances that carry the show<br>Xavier vs. Bradford dynamic; <strong>Samantha Redmond</strong> as power behind the throne; supporting players who elevate tension. </p><p><br></p><p>1:03:00 — Mystery mechanics &amp; takeaways (no “mystery-box” bloat)<br>How the show plants clues, avoids gimmicks, and sets up season-two conflicts without losing plausibility. </p><p><br></p><p>1:30:00 — Season 2 outlook: stakes, villains, open threads<br>What could shift topside vs. in-bunker; who holds power; what we expect to be answered next season.</p><p><br></p><p>1:32:22 — Watch List: what we’re excited to watch next<br>Recent/coming releases and series on our radar (films, prestige TV, anime), and why. </p><p><br></p><p>1:45:37 — Where to find Cam<br>Cam’s platforms and community plug.</p><p> </p><p>1:46:21 — Plugs &amp; outro<br></p><p>Cam&#39;s Links</p><p>The Jacked Up Review Podcast Apple Podcast </p><p>https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jacked-up-review-show-podcast/id1494236218</p><p>Podbean https://jackedupreviewshow.podbean.com</p><p>Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jacked_up_podcast/?hl=en</p><p>Twitter https://x.com/jackedupreview?lang=en</p><p>Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Eg8w0DNympD6SQXSj1X3M</p><p>YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIyMawFPgvOpOUhKcQo4eQQ</p><p>Podcast Socials</p><p>YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ivebeenmeaningtowatchthatp2316</p><p>Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeenMeaning2Pod</p><p>Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivebeenmeaning2pod</p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ive-Been-Meaning-To-Watch-That-113280083760521/</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivebeenmeaning2/</p>

I've Been Meaning To Watch That

Manika Dulcio

Paradise Review: Sterling K. Brown Leads a Smart Political Thriller w/ Cam Sully

OCT 27, 2025106 MIN
I've Been Meaning To Watch That

Paradise Review: Sterling K. Brown Leads a Smart Political Thriller w/ Cam Sully

OCT 27, 2025106 MIN

Description

<p>🌟 Unlock special gifts with our latest podcast highlights and full VODS. Gain early access on our Patreon: patreon.com/ivebeenmeaningtowatch. 🌐</p><p><br></p><p>Host <strong>Manika</strong> and guest <strong>Cam</strong> take on Hulu’s <strong>Paradise</strong>: a political-sci-fi thriller where President <strong>Cal Bradford</strong> (James Marsden) is assassinated and <strong>Xavier Collins</strong> (Sterling K. Brown) uncovers a manufactured reality inside a sealed bunker. We cover the premiere’s genre pivot, why the flashbacks matter, <strong>Samantha Redmond’s</strong> power play, performances, themes (control, grief, complicity), and season-two stakes. Up top, a frank <strong>Media Mania</strong> segment on the <strong>Riyadh Comedy Festival</strong>—censorship rules, who accepted/declined, and the paycheck-vs-principles debate—followed by a Watch List of films/series we’re eyeing next.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Paradise Hulu review, Paradise recap, Sterling K. Brown, James Marsden, Dan Fogelman, political thriller, bunker mystery, dystopian TV, Hulu originals, Samantha Redmond, Media Mania, Riyadh Comedy Festival, comedy censorship, pop culture news.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 — Intro &amp; returning guest<br>Who we are; why Cam’s here; what this episode covers. </p><p><br></p><p>00:26 — Guest intro: Cam’s shows and focus<br>Cam’s “Jacked Up Review Show,” pop-culture coverage, and new true-crime/history project. </p><p><br></p><p>03:02 — Media Mania: Riyadh Comedy Festival explained<br>What the festival is, why it’s controversial, platform rules/censorship claims, who spoke out, who went/declined, and the ethics of “cash vs. principles.” </p><p><br></p><p>22:27 — Main review begins: Paradise (Hulu)<br>Premise and pivot: assassination investigation becomes a bunker reality; tone/genre set for the series. </p><p><br></p><p>27:00 — Story craft: why the flashbacks matter<br>How backstory and structure build stakes, clarify loyalties, and pace reveals without stalling momentum. </p><p><br></p><p>37:00 — Characters &amp; performances that carry the show<br>Xavier vs. Bradford dynamic; <strong>Samantha Redmond</strong> as power behind the throne; supporting players who elevate tension. </p><p><br></p><p>1:03:00 — Mystery mechanics &amp; takeaways (no “mystery-box” bloat)<br>How the show plants clues, avoids gimmicks, and sets up season-two conflicts without losing plausibility. </p><p><br></p><p>1:30:00 — Season 2 outlook: stakes, villains, open threads<br>What could shift topside vs. in-bunker; who holds power; what we expect to be answered next season.</p><p><br></p><p>1:32:22 — Watch List: what we’re excited to watch next<br>Recent/coming releases and series on our radar (films, prestige TV, anime), and why. </p><p><br></p><p>1:45:37 — Where to find Cam<br>Cam’s platforms and community plug.</p><p> </p><p>1:46:21 — Plugs &amp; outro<br></p><p>Cam&#39;s Links</p><p>The Jacked Up Review Podcast Apple Podcast </p><p>https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jacked-up-review-show-podcast/id1494236218</p><p>Podbean https://jackedupreviewshow.podbean.com</p><p>Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jacked_up_podcast/?hl=en</p><p>Twitter https://x.com/jackedupreview?lang=en</p><p>Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Eg8w0DNympD6SQXSj1X3M</p><p>YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIyMawFPgvOpOUhKcQo4eQQ</p><p>Podcast Socials</p><p>YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ivebeenmeaningtowatchthatp2316</p><p>Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeenMeaning2Pod</p><p>Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivebeenmeaning2pod</p><p>Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ive-Been-Meaning-To-Watch-That-113280083760521/</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivebeenmeaning2/</p>