Summary
Episode 4 of Paradise uses its focus on Billy Pace to tell an unexpectedly poignant and complex story, building to yet another last-minute twist.
“It’s the not knowing.” This is a line repeated a few times in Episode 4 of Paradise. In context, it’s about the difficulties of trying to manage a secretive subterranean society in the aftermath of a devastating climate catastrophe, but on a macro level, it could be describing the show itself. What’s the appeal? Why has Hulu seemingly struck gold here, when so many streamers release so many thrillers that pass by mostly unnoticed? It’s the not knowing.
The things you don’t know about Paradise are endless. It’s a matryoshka doll of nested mysteries and conspiracies that seemingly has a bombshell revelation prepped for every episode – this one included. And you really don’t know. You don’t know what’s going on, why anything is happening, or who’s to be trusted. Although, at least after “Agent Billy Pace”, you have a fair idea of who can’t be trusted. And, surprisingly, it isn’t Billy Pace.
A History of Violence
Paradise deploys its usual multiple timeline structure in Episode 4 to explore the origins and interiority of the titular Agent Billy Pace, who took on an unexpected degree of importance after Gabriela told Xavier that Cal warned her Billy wasn’t to be trusted.
But the show’s clever with this. It starts by implying that Billy is some crazy psycho addled by a lifetime of trauma but then gradually, almost surreptitiously reveals him to be a pretty stand-up guy – albeit one with some foibles. Abused by an uncle whom he eventually killed – rather than euthanize his dog; fair play – and then bounced around juvenile detention and the military, Billy has a history of violence that makes him the go-to guy for the dirty jobs that nobody else will take. But does that mean he assassinated the president?
No, it doesn’t. And from the earnestness of Billy’s response when Xavier accuses him of doing so, it’s obvious to both Xavier and the audience that Billy is innocent of that particular crime. But not of others, and it’s those others that expose more about what’s really going on in Paradise.
Sinatra Is the Real Villain
In case it wasn’t obvious from her own episode, Sinatra is clearly the Big Bad of Paradise. Episode 4 makes it clear that she isn’t just in charge by accident, but thanks to careful planning and highly questionable decision-making, and it also reiterates that she’s willing to cross any line to maintain her power. At least one of those lines seems to have been having Cal killed. But there are plenty of others.
Sterling K. Brown in Paradise | Image via Hulu
One of the others is a mission Sinatra sent Billy on to kill an expeditionary team whom Cal had dispatched to analyze the world above. This idea came to Cal thanks to Billy and Xavier, both of whom reiterated the idea floated at the top – it’s the not knowing. The people in Paradise don’t see themselves as a privileged few; they’re just curious about whether those left behind may have survived.
Sinatra can’t have that truth being revealed. The Earth’s surface is wrecked, there’s no doubt about that, but the air is breathable. Sinatra later describes the atmosphere as being “liveable, but not hospitable.” In her view, it’s better for the citizens of Paradise not to know that. Of course, that’s what she’d think – she stands to benefit the most from the lie being perpetuated.
Uncle Billy
“Agent Billy Pace” humanizes Billy primarily through his relationship with Xavier and his kids; he’s Uncle Billy to them, and he takes the responsibility seriously. He gives Presley some meaningful advice about shooting her shot with Cal’s son Jeremy, and when he confronts Sinatra, his only request is that she leave Xavier and his family alone. He means it.
Even after Sinatra belittles Billy for only being useful as a killer, he doubles down on his insistence that if Xavier isn’t protected there’ll be hell to pay. But the thing about killers is they’re ten a penny, even in Paradise. Billy warns Sinatra that if she’s going to send someone after him, it better be the “biggest mother*cker” she has. She takes that seriously.
Even though it becomes really obvious that Billy is going to die – especially after he promises to tell Xavier the truth about everything the next day after spending one final night as “Uncle Billy” – you’d never suspect who his assassin turns out to be. When he gets home for a beer after a long, hard day, Jane seems pleased to see him. You don’t realize she has poisoned the bottle of Budweiser until Billy collapses on the floor. “You told her to send the biggest motherf*cker she had,” Jane gloats as Billy dies, “that’s me, baby.” Yikes.
