Almost Paradise Season 2 Review

The premise of the show is ex-DEA agent Alex Walker moved to Mactan seeking peace and quiet. 

My name is Alex Walker. I'm ex-DEA. One of my first assignments took me to an isolated beach right here on this island. I sold what little I had and bought myself a gift shop. Just peace, no stress, no drama.  Boy was I wrong. 

Yes, he was wrong to think he could find any peace and quiet in the Philippines. Such a concept as peace and quiet does not exist anywhere in this archipelago where one can hear music blasting from far distances at 2 a.m. But Alex's concern is not loud music. No. Instead he gets caught up with the Mactan Police Department helping them solve crimes. Good-bye retirement.

The first episode of season two of Almost Paradise features the following dialogue exchange between Christian Kane and Max Collins

So, why are you interested in Filipino Culture?

Philippines saved my life.

Season two features much of the same as the first season but there is more. This time around we get dancing inmates, corrupt politicians, corrupt journalists co-opted by corrupt politicians in order to keep a hold on power, neglected Filipinos who fought for America during World War 2, hungry ghosts, a clan war dating back to the Spanish colonization, a cult, and of course karaoke.

In the Philippines everyone can sing, says one character.

Perhaps the real star of the show is Cebu and Mactan. Almost Paradise is the first American TV show to be filmed entirely on location in the Philippines. The producers smartly utilize various locations in both cities. It looks great which is probably the only thing wrong with the show. 

Every time Alex and his gang drive around the streets are empty and clean. There are no stray dogs or people walking around or garbage or anything out of place. The show is thoroughly Filipino but we are supposed to be seeing that Filipinoness through the eyes of Alex who is a fish out of water. Everyone treats him like a newbie who still needs to learn a thing or two about the culture.

The show is well acted and very well written. There are absolutely no references to anything political nor are there any references to current events. That means no mention of the pandemic and no characters wearing face masks. This fact places the show in a sort of alternate universe and sets it apart from the pack. There is also no deconstruction of the lead male character nor is he ever portrayed as a buffoon who enjoys a privileged status solely for being a white man. The apoliticalness of Almost Paradise is refreshing considering nearly every TV show and movie these days attempts to beat the audience over the head with "THE MESSAGE." Almost Paradise is pure narrative driven entertainment.

There is usually a huge comedic pay-off set up at the beginning of each episode that sustains all the way to the end. Some of the plots are ridiculous and silly but in a surprising way and not in a bad way. It helps that the entire show is grounded in reality and not afraid to explore some of the corruption that is very real in the Philippines. The name of the show is ALMOST Paradise after all. 

Season two was released on July 21st and there is no word yet about a season three. If Almost Paradise were to be renewed it would not be for a long time what with Hollywood on strike at the moment. Let's hope there is more to come.