‘Almost Paradise’ Recap: ‘The Magellan Cross’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Christian Kane and Samantha Richelle as Alex Walker and Detective Kai Mendoza in ‘Almost Paradise’. (Photo Courtesy of Chari Villegas/Amazon Freevee.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Premiere of ‘Almost Paradise’. To revisit the Season One Finale, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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One particular cliché in storytelling, that has definitely worn out its welcome… is that of the ‘new chapter, happy ending’. Wherein a character that was suffering hard from the stresses of life, hits rock bottom and uses the reset button to put their life back together to enter a new chapter in their lives. One full of happiness and contentment and where story can end happy… and well… that really needs to stop in storytelling. Because life doesn’t end when we conquer one big challenge in our lives. More await and there’s more for us to do when we’re starting over in life and that is why… the Amazon Freevee series, Almost Paradise is of note. Because thankfully, this is that rare story that doesn’t let that cliché rule the day, as evidenced by its season two premiere.
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For when we caught up with Alex Walker in ‘The Magellan Cross’, he was… starting a new chapter in his life. After all, he had made great peace with much of his past, worked to heal with his daughter and finally let his new friends into his world emotionally. So now was the time… to explore what comes next and what would fulfill him in this new chapter, especially since he was about to be fully independent, since his disability checks were ending as well. All of which prompted Alex to think upon what he wanted outside of that DEA life, and well… he wanted to settle down romantically for starters. Which brought forth some endearing and some funny moments. The kind that saw him struggle with dating apps and saw him genuinely open up to a socialite in town to woo her and perhaps be with her, and there was more that he wanted as well.

Because Alex in essence, made it clear he wanted to put down roots and really forge a life that didn’t require him to travel the globe and see the ugly side of the world. Which meant, becoming part of the community. Of course, it took a little push from Kai and Ernesto to really get that going, since Alex has been on his own for so long… but he did it, primarily by helping his friends/extended family, help restore a church ravaged by fire. Which led to the case of the week, but more on that in a moment. Because we need to celebrate… what this show explored from a new chapter perspective. For it perfectly explained that starting over requires baby steps, and reflection, and an indulgence of what the heart desires once the dust settles down from hitting the reset button. And it was just magical and wonderful to see Alex embrace change and what comes next, because that’s what storytelling needs. To showcase the reality that more occurs after we make a change and that there is still learning and growing to be had when we enter that new phase of our life.

But while it was wonderful to enjoy such a wholesome and wondrous new beginning for Alex, let’s not forget this is Almost Paradise we are talking about here. A show that mixes life lessons with some epic crime elements and that was present here too. Since that fire and a subsequent discovered murder, and trouble for the woman that Alex adored, all related to a crime motivated by greed. For so many wanted an artifact known as the Magellan Cross since it was stepped in history and jewels, and it was up to Team Alex to stop them. Which brought forth the action and adventure we crave, the amazing one liners we adore, and the fist fights that are the stuff of legend. The kind that not only let Ernesto shine with his amazing skills as a fighter but reminded us to never mess with Kai and of course… let Alex bring this case to a close as only he can. Giving rise to nothing but better days ahead for the church… and for Alex as well.

Because this is it, he’s smack dab in Act II of his life and we… get to see it play out and explore an aspect of life we don’t see all that often in fiction, courtesy of an amazing season premiere. Because not only did this story grow Alex as a person, but it gave the other characters care and wonderfully eased us back into the majestic paradise we left behind. Plus, what’s incredible… is that the long hiatus had no impact on the quality of the show. If anything, the wait made the show better. For everything is crisper and tighter and everything flows perfect from beginning to end. And the already top-notch acting, is even better… simply because the actors are comfortable now and that’s letting Christian Kane really showcase his talents. But what matters most, is that this series is back on the air and doing what it does best… which is to inspire us to be better to fight for more in this life, and much like season one… that message could not have come at a better time. And it will simply be a true delight to experience more goodwill from this brilliant series as we continue our journey through the next chapter in Alex Walker’s magnificent life. Until next time.

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