Why One Paradise Character Switched Sides In The Season 1 Ending Addressed By Star
Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Paradise season 1, episode 8, "The Man Who Kept the Secrets."
Paradise star Nicole Brydon Bloom explains why her character, Jane Driscoll, changes sides in the season 1 ending. When Jane kills her boyfriend, Billy Pace (Jon Beavers) on the orders of Samantha "Sinatra" Redmond in episode 4, her true nature and loyalties are revealed. This makes it all the more surprising when Jane turns on Sinatra and shoots her in Paradise's season 1 ending and instead helps Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) and his daughter Presley (Aliyah Mastin).
During an interview with Collider, Bloom breaks down why Jane betrays Sinatra. She discusses how Jane does not have any family in Paradise and that she believes Jane's decision relates to the connection she feels to Xavier and Presley. Bloom also emphasizes that Jane does not like being called "crazy" by Sinatra. This becomes a trigger for her childlike behavior that causes her to punish Sinatra after she does not let Jane have the Wii. Check out Bloom's comments below:
Yeah. I think it goes back to the question of how capable she is of real emotion. Something that was interesting that I didn't even really notice when we were filming is that Jane is the only one who doesn't have a family down there and doesn't have other friends or real friendships aside from Billy. So, no matter what kind of person you are, I do think you crave that on some level. In Episode 8, she does make a decision to side with Xavier, whether that's for her own selfish reasons or a combination of wanting to protect Presley. It's a good question, though. I think somewhere internally, she is a human being and does have the desire for love and connection, but whatever she's gone through in her past has sort of redirected her, and she's very black and white. It would be really fun to explore what did happen to Jane and what led her to this place. Why was she selected for Paradise?
I think there are two components at play. There's a phone call that happens earlier in the episode, where Sinatra calls Jane crazy. When I spoke to the writers, we talked about that. She's been such a loyal servant to Sinatra and done all her bidding, and then for her to turn around and use that word, it feels like it's some sort of trigger for Jane. But yeah, the power shift is pretty evident throughout the last episode, and it's very possible that Jane realized she's been following orders, she's been doing what she thought was perhaps right, and then now being faced with Presley — who, back to your earlier question, I do think she cares about on some level — she was just like, “Okay, you're now a problem for me, and I am going to take over. I'm going to make sure that you don't say anything to compromise my position with Xavier."
That’s the part that made me feel like Jane is struggling with something in the vein of being either psychopathic or sociopathic, where she's just kind of obsessive and compartmentalizes all of the quote-unquote evil that she does. For someone to be that fixated on something like that is wild. I was rewatching the episode last night. I hadn't seen any of that footage, and I remember John [Requa] and Glenn [Ficarra], our directors, who are incredible — when we were filming that, one of them walked by at one point, and they're like, “Ooh, that is scary.” And I was like, “Is it?” Then I watched it, and I was like, “Oh god, Jane is crazy. She is crazy!” I scared myself a little bit there. In terms of what motivates her, it's a very childlike desire and fixation. I imagine, on some level, Jane’s sort of stuck in a younger version of herself.
What This Means For Paradise
Jane Is Equally Unpredictable And Compelling
Jane's actions in the season 1 finale further cement her as one of the most unpredictable and fascinating Paradise characters. In a season filled with plot twists, Jane has two of the most shocking moments between killing Billy and shooting Sinatra. Part of what makes Jane distinct from the other main characters is that there were no flashbacks showing what her life was like before living in Paradise. This leaves more room for Bloom to interpret what ultimately motivates her character.
Paradise's Season 1 Finale Confirms The Biggest New Villain For Season 2
Paradise's season 1 finale sets the stage for a very different power struggle in season 2 — and establishes the likely next main villain of the show.
With Sinatra now in a coma and Jane no longer taking orders from her, Jane will be a major wildcard in Paradise season 2. In the past, Jane helped Sinatra and the upper class maintain control. Without Sinatra, they are flailing, and it will be intriguing to see if Jane continues to oppose them or if she changes sides again. Xavier left the underground community to search for his wife, Teri (Enuka Okuma), but his children are still there, being looked after by Agent Robinson (Krys Marshall). This presents an opportunity for Jane to further develop her connection with Presley.
Our Take On Nicole Brydon Bloom's Comments
Jane Is Already One Of The Most Exciting Parts Of Season 2
Bloom's comments, specifically the parts about Jane's past, make me hopeful that there will be flashbacks focused on her character in season 2. It would be eye-opening to see who Jane was before she came to Paradise, including how she was recruited by Sinatra. Understanding Jane's past can add more context to what she decides to do in Paradise season 2. There are countless directions that her story can go in, which makes season 2 all the more exciting.
Source: Collider
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