Stephen King has addressed one of television’s ongoing trends by highlighting a rare shift in quality between Seasons of a current sci-fi series. The author shared his response, noting how rare it is for a follow-up season to surpass its predecessor.
Stephen King praises Paradise
Stephen King has praised Hulu’s science-fiction thriller Paradise following its second season, highlighting its quality and consistency.
In a post on Threads, he wrote, “PARADISE (Hulu): First season is good, second season is even better. How rare is that? The acting is good, the story actually hangs together, and the dialogue is the best part. Sharp. Few cliches. Highest praise: Elmore Leonard would watch this.” His comments emphasize improvements in storytelling, dialogue, and overall execution.
Dan Fogelman created the series, which premiered in January 2025 and drew strong critical reception and viewership. The show debuted season 2 in February 2026, expanding the narrative beyond the bunker as Xavier Collins searches for his wife, Teri Rogers-Collins. On March 17, Sterling K. Brown announced the show’s renewal for a third season.
Critical response reflects similar trends, with Rotten Tomatoes indicating an increase from 86% for Season 1 to 90% for Season 2. The show also received four Emmy nominations for its first Season, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nominations for Brown, James Marsden, and Julianne Nicholson. The dialogue highlighted by King aligns with comparisons to Elmore Leonard, known for precise and effective writing.
King has previously used social media to comment on television series including Silo, Alien: Earth, Stranger Things, and From. In some cases, his comments have drawn attention to those productions. The recognition of Paradise comes as its second season approaches its finale release on March 30, with production on the third season scheduled to begin on April 7.
Hulu releases new episodes of the series on Mondays, maintaining a consistent schedule across Seasons. The production team follows an annual release model established between the first and second seasons.
