So, What’s the Big Secret, Sarah?
Shahi, who’s been around the block, and is out there talking about her new book, Life Is Lifey: The A to Z’s on Navigating Life’s Messy Middle (and can we just appreciate that title for a sec? Chef’s kiss, honestly), she’s telling Us Weekly that the upcoming season of Paradise is gonna be… well, you guessed it, a roller-coaster. But she said something that caught my ear. She gave a shout-out to Dan Fogelman, the show’s creator, saying he’s “just so good at taking the audience and pulling the rug out from underneath them.”
Now, that’s a specific kind of twist, isn’t it? It’s not just a plot turn. It’s that feeling where you’re absolutely convinced you know what’s up, you’ve got it all figured out, and then bam. The whole foundation shifts. I’ve seen that happen in shows before – The Good Place comes to mind, or certain seasons of Lost back in the day (don’t even get me started on Lost, that’s a whole other article). It’s a tricky line to walk, because if you pull the rug too many times, or if the rug-pull makes no sense in hindsight, then people get annoyed. Like, really annoyed. Nobody likes feeling manipulated just for the sake of it.
The Fogelman Factor
But Fogelman, he’s got a track record, right? This Is Us was basically an emotional rug-pull every other episode, wasn’t it? Just when you thought you understood a character’s motivation, or a family dynamic, he’d throw in a flashback or a flash-forward that completely reframed everything. And that’s the magic. It’s not just a surprise; it’s a surprise that deepens the story, makes you rethink what you thought you knew. So, for Shahi to specifically highlight that talent in him for Paradise… yeah, that’s got me raising an eyebrow in a good way.
Are We Really Ready for More Twists?
You know, after season one, I thought I had a handle on things. Not gonna lie, I was pretty invested. And then Shahi says, “Just when you think you know what’s happening, [something surprising happens], and then you’re like, ‘Oh, my God. I didn’t even see that coming.'” That’s the quote, exactly. And it makes you wonder. What kind of surprising? Is it a new character? A betrayal? Someone’s not really dead? (Because, let’s be honest, in TV land, nobody’s really dead until you’ve seen the body cremated and scattered, and even then…)
“Oh, my God. I didn’t even see that coming.” – Sarah Shahi on Paradise Season 2
She’s been “tight-lipped” about the whole thing, which, sure, all actors say that. But you can tell she’s genuinely excited for February 23rd, when it drops. And that’s the thing. When an actor is truly hyped, not just doing their press tour duty, it usually means there’s something substantial. It means they’ve actually seen the final product and they know it’s gonna land. Or at least, that’s what I tell myself.
The “Messy Middle” and TV Tropes
So, we’re talking “messy middle” for Shahi’s book, and “pulling the rug out” for Paradise. Feels like there’s a theme here, doesn’t it? Life is messy, and so is good television. What I’m hoping for isn’t just cheap shock value. I’m hoping for those twists that make you gasp, sure, but then immediately go, “Oh, that’s why that character did that thing back in episode three!” The kind of twist that makes you want to rewatch the whole damn season with new eyes.
Because if it’s just a twist for the sake of a twist, that’s where I lose interest. That’s where you start feeling like the writers are just throwing darts at a board hoping something sticks. But given Fogelman’s track record, and Shahi’s genuine enthusiasm, I’m leaning towards the former. I’m leaning towards the kind of narrative gymnastics that actually enhance the story, not just derail it.
What This Actually Means
Honestly? It means you should probably clear your calendar for February 23rd. And maybe, just maybe, don’t try to guess everything that’s going to happen. Because if Shahi is to be believed – and I tend to think she is, she’s got that vibe of someone who tells it like it is – then we’re going to be wrong. Like, spectacularly wrong.
And sometimes, being wrong in the most surprising way is exactly what makes good TV great. So, I’m ready. I’ve got my remote, I’ve got my snacks, and I’m prepared for my rug to be thoroughly, completely, unexpectedly pulled. Let’s see what Dan Fogelman and Sarah Shahi have cooked up for us… and if it’s truly as “lifey” as her book title implies.
