Paradise is a strong new entry in the political thriller space. With a top-notch cast, Dan Fogelman (This Is Us) as creator, and an intriguing story, it’s no surprise the series has received positive reviews. It’s filled with action, secrets, lies, and massive plot twists, including one revealed at the end of the first episode.
It’s a short show, however, with only eight episodes. So, for those who have caught up and are anxiously awaiting a new episode and news of a potential second season, there are lots of other great shows of a similar genre, tone, feel, or theme that are worth checking out.
Paradise
- Release Date
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January 26, 2025
- Network
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Hulu
15
‘The Event’ (2010–2011)
Created by Nick Wauters
A sci-fi mystery thriller like Paradise, minus the heavy political drama, The Event follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter), a young software engineer, whose fiancée, Leile (Sarah Roemer), mysteriously disappears during their Caribbean cruise. When Sean starts searching for her, he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous government conspiracy involving a group of extraterrestrials, some of whom have been detained by the United States government for sixty-six years, while others have absorbed themselves within the human population.
Set to an intriguing premise and appealing concept, The Event combines political thriller, mystery, and sci-fi in its storytelling, being compared to genre hits like 24 and Lost. For viewers seeking a similar experience to Paradise, The Event offers several similar elements in its plot arcs, atmosphere, and characterization, leveraged by memorable performances. While its heavily enigmatic premise might not appeal to everyone, The Event makes for a good sci-fi mystery like The X-Files, befitting genre fans. —Maddie P
The Event
- Release Date
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2010 – 2010
- Network
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NBC
14
‘Designated Survivor’ (2016–2019)
Created by David Guggenheim
Both shows begin the same way, with the U.S. President dead and the White House scrambling to figure out what to do. In the case of Designated Survivor, it’s a catastrophic explosion that kills everyone in the administration besides Thomas Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland), the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He was named the “designated survivor” during the State of the Union, the one person to be at another location in the event of an unlikely event like this one. With it really happening, Kirkman is suddenly thrust into the position of president and faces uncertainty by others as to whether he’s up for the job or not.
Both shows focus on the intersection of politics and corruption, and feature presidents who are just trying to do right by their people. There’s conflict, struggles for power, and a portrayal of what happens when the power structure shifts so dramatically.
13
‘The Night Agent’ (2023–)
Created by Shawn Ryan
The Night Agent is more popcorn fare whereas Paradise has far more depth to it. But The Night Agent is a nice, lighter-action thriller to enjoy after soaking in all the seriousness and darkness in Paradise. The Night Agent is dark as well, but the writing, acting, and storylines aren’t quite as intense, even if the action is. There are numerous reasons you should be watching The Night Agent.
In both, there’s indeed plenty of action along with a main character who isn’t quite sure who he can trust. Both are also fighting against powerful billionaires and trying to uncover the truth. The lead men in each show find themselves in the crosshairs of others who may or may not believe that they’re moral and just.
12
‘The Recruit’ (2022–)
Created by Alexi Hawley
Another show involving law enforcement and agents in charge, The Recruit centers around Own Hendricks (Noah Centineo), a law school graduate who starts working with the CIA just when an asset threatens to extort them if she isn’t released from prison. Now, Hendricks has to manage this asset, leaked information about her involvement with the organization, and the political fallout.
Like Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) in Paradise, Hendricks just wants to do his job and do it well. But he comes face to face with scary individuals that put his life in danger. The Recruit is a massively popular show with two seasons under its belt. It’s a perfect binge-watch for fans who want another likable and fierce lead character they can get behind and plot twists that show allegiances questioned and shifted.
The Recruit
- Release Date
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December 16, 2022
- Network
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Netflix
11
‘Jack Ryan’ (2018–2023)
Created by Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland
Starring John Krasinski as the titular hero, alongside Wendell Pierce and Michael Kelly, Jack Ryan aka Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, tells the story of the titular CIA agent and his missions, spread across four seasons and thirty episodes. The agency’s star analyst, Jack (Krasinski), is suddenly pulled out of his boring desk job and thrown into the real world of corrupt politicians, terrorists, and criminal organizations, where he has to do what it takes to uphold law, order, and justice.
Based on characters and plots from Tom Clancy’s fictional Ryanverse, Jack Ryan is rife with politics, perspectives, and presidential conspiracies, and is likely to intrigue fans of Paradise. The series has been critically acclaimed for the impeccable casting and the elevated performances by John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce, along with stunning visual effects. A character-based drama, with an impactful socio-political thriller narrative, and great visual effects, Jack Ryan makes for a terrific espionage thriller to watch next. —Maddie P
10
‘Zero Day’ (2025–)
Created by Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, and Michael Schmidt
Image via Netflix
Robert De Niro is at the center of Zero Day, a political thriller poised to be one of the best political drama TV shows. It’s about a massive cyberattack that takes down systems in the U.S. and leaves thousands dead. Retired president George Mullen (De Niro) is called in by current president Evelyn Mitchell (Angela Bassett) to lead the charge in finding out who is behind the attack, taking them and anyone involved down, and preventing it from happening again. But he has his own demons to contend with.
There are a lot of similarities in the situations of the two shows, as well as the overall foreboding tone and sense of realism that each situation is something that could happen in real life. Both have interesting twists, including a big one at the end of the first episode for each.
Zero Day
- Release Date
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2025 – 2024
- Network
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Netflix
9
‘House of Cards’ (2013–2018)
Created by Beau Willimon
Go way back to one of the preeminent political thrillers and one of the first-ever shows on streaming with House of Cards. Kevin Spacey is Frank Underwood, an overly ambitious and amoral politician who has set his sights on the White House and will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. His wife Claire (Robin Wright), meanwhile, is just as vindictive.
There are a lot of similarities between Underwood and Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond (Julianne Nichols) in Paradise, both seemingly unfeeling, greedy, menacing individuals who thrive on power and live by their own moral codes. Both shows also focus on elite members of society and how their quest for power and control can have damaging effects.
8
‘Presumed Innocent’ (2024–)
Created by David E. Kelley
While it isn’t necessarily the main focus of the show, Paradise begins when Agent Collins finds the president dead on his living room floor. He’s the last person to see him alive, the first person to see him dead, and he had conflict with him prior to his death. In the same manner, Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal) in Presumed Innocent, which counts as one of the best Apple TV+ original series, is suspected of having killed his co-worker and secret romantic partner, Carolyn (Renate Reinsve). Evidence of his guilt, including negative run-ins with her prior to her death, seems irrefutable.
The shows are very different, with Presumed Innocent a legal versus political thriller. But the pacing, plot twists, and theorizing about the killer along with the themes of suspicions, trust, and motivation, are similar in both.
7
‘Condor’ (2018–2020)
Created by Todd Katzberg, Jason Smilovic, and Ken Robinson
Perfect for those who feel like they have watched every new political thriller out there, Condor is an older series that largely flew under the radar when it originally premiered. Max Irons stars as Joe Turner, a young man who joins the CIA with high hopes of changing things from within. But when he survives an attack on his office and discovers a plan that could lead to millions of deaths, he is the only one left to fight.
Both shows feature a strong and skilled character at the helm and involve a story about protecting human lives and saving humanity as well as uncovering a weave of complicated deception at every turn. Both also have incredible supporting casts, with Condor featuring actors like William Hurt, Mira Sorvino, and Constance Zimmer, with Brendan Fraser in a recurring role.
- Genre
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Thriller
- Debut Date
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June 6, 2018
6
‘Silo’ (2023–)
Created by Graham Yost
At their hearts, both shows are about someone moral trying to protect residents in a community while evil forces are at play. Both have a primary antagonist who believes they are doing right by their people. But neither has entirely selfless motivations and is blinded by the influence of others and traumatic past events.
As arguably one of the best shows in recent years, the sci-fi dystopian drama Silo has a gripping plot with life-or-death implications, just as in Paradise, along with lots of shocking, big-brained plot twists. Both communities also face questions about what truly happened and what life exists beyond their enclosed walls.
Silo
- Release Date
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May 5, 2023
- Showrunner
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Graham Yost
