Normally, I’d try to make some sort of pithy title for my review, but Paradise Season 2, Episode 6 “Jane” is no laughing matter. Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom) is absolutely terrifying. Even Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson) admitted it. But full credit to Bloom where it’s due, her ability to switch between seemingly sweet and maybe even a little naive to ice cold is unmatched. Seriously, she’s absolutely incredible in every scene she’s in. Also, she can never bring any gift to anyone’s dinner party ever again. Sorry, Bloom. That ship has now officially sailed.
Mind of a Killer
I wasn’t really looking forward to Jane’s backstory episode. Mostly because I thought her mystery added to the terrifying aspect of her character. Except I was wrong. There is no softening how chilling this character is. Though her backstory did make her maybe a touch more sympathetic. In a “she still needs to be as far away from me as possible” kind of way.
Are killers born, or are they made? That’s been the eternal question. Certainly, Jane’s childhood wasn’t exactly picturesque. There was abuse, of course. But also lingering questions regarding the message that her mom received days after Jane was born. That Jane would be a killer one day.
In a previous review, I discussed some theories that have been swirling around this season. Primarily, fans speculate that Alex is some sort of time-travel technology. And the initial scene in “Jane” suggested that it may be true. Or at least something can travel through time, if not people. The messages at the beginning were from AlexQ, after all.
Though that beginning scene did raise some questions. Alex said that Jane would be a killer, and she could be stopped when it matters. The immediate assumption is that the two sentences refer to the same person (Jane). But I don’t think that’s really true. For one thing, maybe Jane can be stopped when it matters, but if Alex knew enough to know Jane would be a killer, it would know that her mom won’t be around to do the stopping. And the message wasn’t for Jane’s mom. It was for Jane.
Jane is a killer. She (Sinatra?) can be stopped when it matters. Sinatra or not, Jane can stop her “when it matters.” Well, we know that Jane views herself as a weapon, and a weapon can only be utilized by someone wielding it. Alex just pointed her in someone’s direction and cocked the trigger. Time will tell who she’s pointed at. For the record, my money isn’t on Sinatra. There are only so many times a person can be shot, after all.
Though the whole opening sequence of Jane’s childhood brings up some “chicken or the egg” questions. Did Jane become a killer because of the message she was sent, or would that have happened anyway? Did her mom abuse her because of the message, or was that always going to be the case? (She didn’t seem like the most patient of mothers, even without the message.)
Is Alex changing history? Or intentionally creating it?
Mommy Complex
Is it any wonder that Jane fixates on mother figures? She fixated on her mentor at “The Farm.” Enough to…let’s just say, “use her particular set of skills to try to ensure a promotion on her behalf.” Her determination to get a Wii is likely due to this relationship. And now Jane has a new fixation. Sinatra. Her next mother figure.
I actually shudder to think what happened to the last one when she didn’t express appreciation for Jane’s gift. (By the way, am I the only one who thought of a certain SNL skit when the penny dropped what was in the bag?) Well, one thing that can be said about Jane. She’s a literal thinker. A very, very literal thinker.
But Jane’s fixation with Sinatra also puts the latter in an even more precarious situation. Jane knows all of Sinatra’s secrets, true. But Sinatra also can’t possibly live up to Jane’s mommy issues and the pedestal she’s been put on in that respect. Even if she wasn’t…you know…who she is. (To be fair, “who she is” would hardly be off-putting to someone like Jane.) But she’ll never see Jane the way Jane sees her, and that’s just a recipe to end badly.
Hope she has a Switch 2 somewhere in that bunker to buy herself a little more time.
Smart People Doing Dumb Things
Speaking of recipes for things to end badly. I love this show. But why are characters doing so many stupid things? You have Xavier (Sterling K. Brown) trusting Gary (Cameron Britton). Okay, I’ll give him a pass on that. Yes, he’s trusting. Too trusting, since he never suspected Jane. (Though her “sweet, innocent girl” shtick is pretty flawless. Even when she goes out to meet Link (Thomas Doherty).) Plus, he does realize the truth just in time.
But you also have Robinson (Krys Marshall) messaging a group chat with Jane included when she realizes Jane probably killed Billy (Jon Beavers). Maggie (Michelle Meredith) tipping her hand to her mom, Sinatra, that she suspects more is going on in the bunker than she’s been led to believe. I’m going to add Jeremy (Charlie Evans) alienating Robinson because she slept with his dad. When he could definitely use her help.
But none of that – none of that – compares to Dr. Gabriela Torabi (Sarah Shahi) confronting Jane. Not only just confronting her! Telling her that she knows everything Jane’s done. And that she’s going after Sinatra anyway.
Girl. Girl. Shouldn’t you be able to read people???? Do you have a death wish or something?????? If you know even half of what Jane’s done, you know she isn’t the kind of predator you approach head-on. You lurk in the shadows and hope she has no idea you’re coming. You’ll only have one shot. And then you pray your aim is good.
I’m really hoping Gabriela has some sort of plan to confront Jane. Otherwise, that is “trying to surf the tsunami that took out New York” levels of foolish.
Inside Meets Outside
We’re racing towards the season finale at a speed I’m frankly uncomfortable with. And now, three episodes to the end, we finally get the ball rolling on getting people in the bunker to come face-to-face with the survivors on the surface. We haven’t seen it yet, but they laid the groundwork. Jane negotiated with Link for a meeting with Sinatra.
I’d love to speculate on what’s going to happen next, but I’m not even going to try. Thankfully, we have Xavier reunited with Teri (Enuka Okuma). But he still has to cross several states with Annie’s baby to get to the bunker to meet Link. At least, he does if we’re going to see the payoff of those visions he had earlier this season. Luckily for him, if he can get that whole “sorry I tried to blow you up” thing sorted, he can hitch a ride on a train.
But you also have Link v. Sinatra. Gabriella v. Jane (and Sinatra?). Jeremy v. … probably Sinatra. Xavier v. everybody when he comes back and realizes how much went to hell in his absence. And, oh yeah, maybe a little Teri v. Xavier when she finds out what he was up to with Gabriela in her absence. (He better explain whose baby he’s carrying and why. Fast.) And of course, Xavier and Teri v. Gary.
That’s a lot to pack into the last two episodes. Sinatra better learn how to tap dance, because she’s going to have to do a lot of it. Plus, we have to figure out what Alex is, exactly. Why does Link want to destroy it? And set up the cliffhanger for season 3.
Buckle up, folks. I have a feeling we’re in for a hell of a ride.
What did you think of Paradise Season 2, Episode 6, “Jane?” Sound off in the comments below!
New episodes of Paradise Season 2 stream on Mondays on Hulu.
