Paradise Undercuts Its Most Promising Female Character

The dystopian Hulu series disappoints with a frustratingly familiar twist for its breakout character Annie.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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When Hulu's dystopian drama "Paradise" returned for its highly anticipated second season, it opened with a departure episode focused on a new character named Annie Clay, played by Shailene Woodley. Introduced as a pragmatic and strong-willed tour guide at the Graceland mansion, Annie quickly became a compelling figure with the potential to bring a fresh perspective to the show's mysteries. However, the series soon undercuts her promising character arc by revealing she is heavily pregnant, leading to a tragic death in childbirth that serves primarily as a plot device for the male lead character, Xavier.

Why it matters

The death of Annie, a well-written female character with agency and depth, is a disappointing example of the "fridging" trope, where a secondary female character is killed off to further the emotional journey of a male protagonist. This type of narrative choice has plagued female characters in speculative fiction for decades, and it's troubling to see even acclaimed shows like "Paradise" fall into this familiar pattern rather than treating Annie's story with the same gravity and nuance afforded to male characters.

The details

In the season 2 premiere of "Paradise," Annie's backstory is explored, including the loss of her mother and the panic attack that ended her medical career. She finds purpose in guiding tourists through Graceland, and when she crosses paths with the show's lead, Xavier, it seems to signal a promising alliance. However, a twist reveals that Annie is heavily pregnant, the result of a one-night stand with a charming biker named Link a year before the series' events. Despite their careful natures, the show relies on the tired trope of unplanned pregnancy in a post-apocalyptic setting. As Annie's condition worsens, the focus shifts to Xavier's reaction, with little exploration of Annie's own feelings about motherhood or regrets about staying in Graceland. Ultimately, Annie dies in childbirth, tasking the grieving Xavier with delivering the baby to Link, a classic example of the "fridging" trope.

  • A year before Xavier's plane crashed, Annie met Link at the Graceland mansion.
  • In the March 2nd episode 'A Holy Charge', Annie experiences preeclampsia and goes into early labor.

The players

Annie Clay

A med school dropout turned Graceland tour guide, Annie is a pragmatic and strong-willed character who becomes a compelling new addition to the show's ensemble.

Xavier

The lead character of "Paradise," Xavier is the one left to grieve Annie's death and take on the responsibility of delivering her baby.

Link

A charming biker who meets Annie at Graceland and fathers her child, Link becomes an important figure in the show's larger mystery.

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What they’re saying

“Not every instance of a male character's sorrow over a female character's death is fridging, but Annie's death caps off the end of an episode that treats her like the trope's most notorious examples. Her own character arc and potential are pushed aside so she can serve as a plot device and conduit for two men.”

— Quinci Legardye, Writer (marieclaire.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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