Paradise: A Blending Of TV And Reality

In light of what we now know, is the Pardise story a work of fiction, or should it be considered more as a cautionary tale of things to come?

For those of you who haven't seen the series, Paradise stars James Marsden and Sterling K. Brown. Marsden is the President, and as Cal Bradford, he's been left with the greatest challenge any president has ever faced. But we don't learn that until late into episode one.

The first episode set the stage. Sterling K. Brown gets up, goes for a run, and stops to talk with Agent Billy Pace, played by Jon Beavers. The two have a good relationship, and are friendly based on their banter, as Pace tellsl his superior he called another agent to cover him, so he could go home and poop.

When Sterling K. Brown's Xavier Collins reports for duty, he gets his morning briefing, and goes to check on President Bradford. When he enters the presidents private bedroom, he finds the shock of his week, Cal Bradford is on the floor, obviously murdered by someone.

Throughout the first episode, you notice little things. The president's not at the Whitehouse. The system doesn't resemble anything you've seen before. And Sterling K. Brown's relationship with Cal Bradford, considering his Xavier Collins character is the presidents lead protective agent, is strained beyond what you'd imagine a lead agent's relationship would be and them still being the number one agent.

As the events unfold, and people grapple with the death of the President, the mysterious Sinatra appears. She has a degree of power, and Jullianne Nicholson plays the part with an on screen aura that makes her formidable and spooky. But, why is she the one running the show, and not the incoming president?

With all these questions, Xavier is questioned about the death of Bradford, and after he's through the interrogation, he's seen running down a street his white shirt and tie still in tact, and passing many buildings, people, and scenery. And there is when you realize it all.

Paradise is set in a post-apocalyptic world. Something horrendous has happened, and they're not in Washington D.C. A sign reads that there's a delay, and Xavier looks into the heavens. But the heavens aren't the skies we see when we look up. There's a visible line overhead, indicating, that Paradise is also the name of the project for the dome city, something masterminded, and ultimately controlled, by the mysterious Sinatra.

There isn't enough good things I can say about how intriguing a look at the post-apocalyptic world this show brings to us. From the casting, to the story, to the scenery, we are taken on a series of events that show the depths of humanity's desire to live on in the face of unbelievable odds, and the depth of the evils of the elite and the wealthy, who would likely be involved in planning humanity's future.

As the show winds down it's second season, and fans are clammoring for the third, and reportedly final season, the realities of such a scenario can play on the emotions we as a species have about our mortality, our survival, and that of our children and our grandchildren's futures. The show, as it happens, could be easily called a cautionary tale.

As courts decide the future outcome of the East Wing, there is construction going on below the East Wing of the Whitehouse. Whether or not the public face of that project is a ballroom, or it's returned to the original design and decor, or it's turned into something entirely different, what goes underneath it is now known to the public. A large military bunker is going into the area where the Presdential Emergency Operations Center is located.

There are other notable examples of survival bunkers being constructed by the powerful, and ones made for survival by those looking for an area they can survive the apocalypse, an extinction level event, or nuclear event. In light of the current state of the world, it would be interesting to have one of these.

Paradise was built to hold 25,000 people in the show. There's a place in the Dakotas that's built and capable of holding more than 5,000 like minded survivalists, able to ride out the event and survive the aftermath to follow. Vivos's security can spot anyone approaching the property from three miles out, and there's only one road that provides access or egress.

Private, defendable, and off-the-grid. That's what you'd want, other than for it to be unknown. One way or another, VIVOS X-Point is the largest survival community so far. Or, is it?

There's the Deep Underground Command Center, a military installation conceived in the 60s, it was meant to be 3,000 to 4,000 feet below the surface, and near the Pentagon. DUCC was designed to resist blasts over 200 megatons and maintain structural integrity. While its existence remains unknown, it's believed that it might have been halted after the death of President Kennedy.

For the rich, there's the Oppidum, if you can get a spot. The Oppidum is a former nuclear shelter from the 80s. It was a project between the USSR and Czechoslavakia, and is called the world's largest underground safe house.

VIVOS, is a community shelter that was once a Cold War-era munitions facility. It's built under a 400-foot tall mountain in Germany. It now has over 200,000 square feet of living space, and is being sold as residences that can be made custom, adding private pools, gims, and theaters, according to sources. A private apartment here costs around 2.2 million dollars.

Vivos has already installed a three hundred person bunker in New Zealand, according to Bloomberg.

Kansas Survival Condo has rebuilt a missile silon from the Atlas program, turning it into luxury condos with stanless steel appliances and full automation systems. Owners will share a pool, rock climbing wall, theater, and dog park. Penthouse sized units on two levels are 3600 sq. ft. and start at 4.5 million. Half floor, 920 sq. ft. units, go for 1.5 million.

Takeaways

Considering the Whitehouse is now building a bunker with the PEOC, or connected to it, that can withstand a nuclear attack or other such event, and all the other facilities, both known and unknown statuses included, what was Paradise? Was it pure entertainment, or, like Steve Alten's Shell Game, was it a cautionary tale. I rememmber reading the Shell Game during a week off from work, at a time when I almost always had some news on in the background. And, to my surprise, the part I was reading about was playing out as a CNN special report.

Sometimes, life imitates art, and sometimes, art imitates life. That's a known and constant part of our existence. Thinking about the events of the show Paradise, it's not that unthinkable. Considering the numerous events we've seen in the past six years, and those we know that are coming closer and closer with each day, Paradise could be needed tomorrow.