The following contains spoilers for Paradise episode 7, “The Day,” now streaming on HuluParadise’sfalling out between Cal and Xavier is one of the most emotionally effective examples of how morality is portrayed within the show. While Xavier Collins is the main focus ofParadiseas the fallout of Cal Bradford’s death spirals into chaos for the secluded underground community, Cal has gotten plenty of character focus thanks to several flashbacks. This has painted a surprisingly complicated portrait of Cal, steadily turning him into one ofParadise’s most engaging characters. At the heart of the character’s last few interactions with Xavier was a clear sense of melancholia.
As other episodes steadily revealed, Cal and Xavier were actually friendly in the past, only for some initially unknown decision made by Cal drove a wedge between them. The exact nature of this fight is a key emotional moment inParadiseepisode 7, and serves as a precursor to one of Cal’s most overtly noble decisions within the show’s exploration of moral decisions in impossible situations. Here is whatParadise’s penultimate episode reveals about Cal and Xavier’s relationship while highlighting the show’s moral core and condemnation of the disconnected and cynical ruling class.
Cal Lied To Xavier About Saving His Wife, And It Broke Their Friendship
Image via Hulu
Xavier’s frustrations with Cal Bradford inParadisestem from his actions in the penultimate episode of the season. “The Day” explored the hours before 25,000 survivors survived the end of the world. During the chaos Cal found out that Xavier’s wife Teri was in Atlanta but assures Xavier that she can make it. For much of the episode, Xavier struggles to maintain his calm while ensuring Cal remains safe. However, as the day wears on and both men are forced to make hard decisions,it dawns on Xavier that Teri had no way of reaching them in time.
This is the moment that Xavier turned on Cal, transforming from a friend to an assignment.
Confronting Cal, Xavier discovers that Cal knew Teri was more or less doomed the second he found out she was in Atlanta. However, instead of telling Xavier the truth or keeping his older promise to rescue her in case of such a circumstance, Cal lied. He angrily apologizes and orders Xavier to board the plane without his wife.This is the moment that Xavier turned on Cal, transforming from a friend to an assignment. It’s an obvious turn in their relationship in retrospect, but it gives one of the early mysteries ofParadisea heartbreaking answer.
Cal Crossed A Serious Line With Xavier With Good Intentions
Flashbacks to happier days for Cal and Xavier have indicated that the two became friends during their time together. For all of Cal’s flaws and foibles, he and Xavier seemed to genuinely develop a fondness for one another. That’s what prompted Cal to promise Xavier that he would save Teri in case of a global emergency —and why his failure to do so broke Xavier’s faith in him so deeply. Cal effectively manipulated his friend through lies to keep him focused. It grounds the greater societal failing at the heart ofParadisein a very human betrayal.
Paradise Episode 7’s Story About The World Almost Ending In 1963 Is Based On A Terrifying Real Event
Paradise’s seventh episode ties the Hulu thriller’s world ending catatrsophe to a moment when the real world was almost consumed by nuclear war.
All of Xavier’s trust and faith in Cal is shattered in that one instant. Calling out Cal’s failure to help save people, Xavier lets his rage about Teri turn into a righteous fury over Cal’s failures to do more for the world at large. Cal finally becomes forceful in ordering him to board the plane and survive. Cal saved his friend and ensured that Xavier’s children didn’t grow up without either of their parents. To do it,all he had to do was sacrifice Xavier’s friendship all failing to save Teriand then lying about it.
The Truth About Cal And Xavier Speaks To Paradise’s Real Moral
Manipulating Others Has Done Nothing But Cause Chaos And Get People Killed InParadise
Paradisehas depicted Cal Bradford as a well-meaning but overwhelmed man whose failures to save the world are reflective of modern society as a whole. His failures to work towards repairing the world instead of denying the faults until the literal last minute represent the show’s views on the danger of climate change. While Cal’s scientists were notably mistaken in their estimations,the fact that programs like Versaille were in place while the rest of the world went on unawares is damning of the ruling class inParadise.
This is something Xavier calls out Cal on, which may have helped convince Cal to sacrifice their technological capabilities by activating a planet-wide EMP blast on the surface. InParadise, the villains cynically exploit others, like Redmond. In his worst moments, Cal does the same.Xavier is right to call out Cal for doing too little too late for countless others, andCal is right to choose to save livesover their own necessity. Cal and Xavier’s falling-out illustrates the moral core ofParadiseas a whole and what is considered wrong even at the end of the world.
