The first season of “Paradise,” now streaming on Hulu, came to an end on March 4 with a major twist. The killer was revealed as none other than Trent, the show’s librarian. Played by Ian Merrigan, Trent had been working behind the scenes as the project manager helping to build the bunker, Paradise.
Trent’s journey began when he alerted architect Anders (Erik Svedberg-Zelman) about the presence of deadly iron arsenic sulfide on the work site. However, instead of taking action, Anders fired Trent and convinced him that the dangers were overstated. This led to Trent’s anger towards leadership, specifically the president.
Trent’s actions escalated as he became a threat to the establishment. He posed as an officer, killed a couple who were on the list for Paradise, and even enlisted a woman from the diner to pose as his family. As he settled into Paradise, Trent felt he deserved to survive, but then saw Cal (James Marsden) entering the library.
“We wanted it to be satisfying and attached to the bigger picture of the bunker,” creator Dan Fogelman explained. The reveal was always planned, with subtle hints throughout the season. For example, in Episode 6, Cal’s son visits the library, where Trent is seen talking to him.
The finale ends with Xavier (Sterling K. Brown) discovering Trent’s true identity and chasing him up to the power grid. In a surprising twist, Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom) saves Xavier’s life after shooting but not killing Trent.
Fogelman teases that Season 2 will introduce new mysteries, including whether Xavier’s wife is alive and what’s happening in the outside world. The show will also explore a bigger story, with “Easter eggs” hidden throughout the first season leading to a larger narrative.
New cast members will join the show in Season 2, but fan-favorites like Marsden’s Cal will return. Fogelman promises that Marsden’s character will make an appearance, but details remain under wraps for now.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/paradise-finale-who-killed-cal-1236326728