AnimeMania January 28 Share January 28 Isolated, Xavier seeks answers on his own and cautiously turns to Dr. Gabriela Torabi. Meanwhile, Billy and Jane feel the pressure from Robinson's investigation. Premiere Date: January 28, 2025 Hulu Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/
Snazzy Daisy January 28 Share January 28 (edited) We have Cal’s dad with dementia and Xavier’s dad with Parkinson. Sinatra’s son is dead. Any more critical illnesses in store to pull our heartstrings? Manipulative storytelling. Quote “I have a message from the president. He said if something should happen to him, I should find you. He said Billy Pace is dangerous.” Yeah, Billy is sus and he should be included in the list of prime suspects from the beginning. Agent Robinson is so incompetent. But it’s too early for him to be the killer. And he doesn’t seem bright enough to be a mastermind. Quote “Xavier, you are here because I chose you. Everyone’s here because I chose them.” Gabriela Torabi is an architect of social well-being because she’s the gatekeeper. Her manipulative streak is a major red flag. 🚩 I wonder if Gabriela had something to do with Teri couldn’t make it to the plane to Paradise? She says Xavier is her wild card. Xavier being in a vulnerable state (after losing his wife) makes him easy to be exploited. Just a theory. Edited January 28 by Snazzy Daisy 8 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8566182
TiffanyNichelle January 29 Share January 29 I guess I should have watched this episode first before posting in the second episode thread. I wondered who picked the people and it turns out it was just Sinatra's therapist. The fact that it was just down to 1 person is kind of crazy. The story that Billy and Jane were turning off the security footage so they could play with the President's stuff was too silly for them to be believed. They were definitely doing something else. 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8566496
HelloooKitty January 29 Share January 29 So there are some GREAT actors in this and I’m enjoying it but I definitely have to use some suspension of disbelief. If I think about logistics questions things start to fall apart so I just try not to. 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8566905
nilyank January 30 Share January 30 On 1/29/2025 at 1:48 AM, TiffanyNichelle said: The story that Billy and Jane were turning off the security footage so they could play with the President's stuff was too silly for them to be believed. They were definitely doing something else. Yeah I thought it was sex as they were kissing earlier. 4 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8567795
bilgistic January 30 Share January 30 (edited) 16 hours ago, HelloooKitty said: So there are some GREAT actors in this and I’m enjoying it but I definitely have to use some suspension of disbelief. If I think about logistics questions things start to fall apart so I just try not to. I can't stop thinking about how the town "works", and it does my head in. There were plastic containers in the grocery store. Do they take them back and refill them? Do they grow cotton to harvest and weave to make more clothes? They established that dairy is plant based when they said the cheese on the cheese fries is nut cheese, but how do they get water for processing nuts into "dairy"? Do they have a power plant and water processing plant? Are the blue-collar workers paid living wages? Do they even use money in the town? Why do they want more babies to be born when there has to be finite resources? I CAN'T STOP THINKING! Edited January 30 by bilgistic 13 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8567875
SeanBug January 30 Share January 30 I've decided not to think about the logistics of the town too much. I'm assuming we're going to find out what Sinatra's role in the gov't is, and how she got so much power, and what her actual position is. Is this a riff on Musk? How does she get to boss everyone around like this? Marsden is doing a great job playing Cal as kind of a dick, but a charming one nonetheless. And Sterling K Brown is great. I can't believe they're exposing the other agent as a bad guy so quickly. Is it a misdirect? 6 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8567903
bigmag January 31 Share January 31 I know the ducks are not real, but do they have any animals? They were having eggs (and egg whites for Xavier) for breakfast. Do they have chickens or was that some sort of egg-subsitute (yuck to all I've tried)? 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8568780
marinw February 1 Share February 1 (edited) On 1/30/2025 at 9:40 AM, bilgistic said: I can't stop thinking about how the town "works" The President is more like a mayor. If I had to live in a bunker, this is one of the better ones! Of course we are only three years in, at some point there could be a rebellion or pandemic or something. Robinson mentioned something suggesting that they will be down there for at least a Century. So they need babies, but maybe whatever caused the End Of The World caused a fertility crises? As for the logistics, what is up with the SUV sized cars? They must all be electric because how would they extract and refine gas? They cars must be limited to the security staff. Everyone else must be walking. Traffic congestion doesn’t seem to be a problem. What is powering the bunker? A huge nuclear reactor? Edited February 1 by marinw 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8569136
marinw February 1 Share February 1 Well I think we’ve ruled out suicide. 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8569142
SoMuchTV February 1 Share February 1 59 minutes ago, marinw said: As for the logistics, what is up with the SUV sized cars? They must all be electric because how would they extract and refine gas? They cars must be limited to the security staff. Everyone else must be walking. Traffic congestion doesn’t seem to be a problem. What is powering the bunker? A huge nuclear reactor? Well, it looked like they had all the classic great works of art lining the walls of the boardroom, so maybe they also gathered up all the strategic petroleum reserves and put them in a bunker under the bunker? Oh and they apparently have a bus system, to deliver the domestic workers. Don’t want to change things too much. 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8569279
TiffanyNichelle February 1 Share February 1 14 minutes ago, SoMuchTV said: Well, it looked like they had all the classic great works of art lining the walls of the boardroom, so maybe they also gathered up all the strategic petroleum reserves and put them in a bunker under the bunker? I noticed the art in the boardroom and also at Sinatra's house. I wonder when they snatched those up. Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8569351
marinw February 1 Share February 1 (edited) 15 hours ago, SoMuchTV said: Well, it looked like they had all the classic great works of art lining the walls of the boardroom I can’t decide if those are originals or reproductions. 15 hours ago, SoMuchTV said: Don’t want to change things too much. They don’t want a new world, they are desperately clinging to an idealized facsimile of an America which is supposedly gone. I say supposedly since whatever caused the end of the World is so Vague things on the surface could be fine. Edited February 1 by marinw 4 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8569390
Broderbits February 1 Share February 1 14 hours ago, marinw said: I can’t decide if those are originals or reproductions. They looked like fairly bad reproductions, although I'm sure the mega-rich looted the world's great museums before going underground. I would love to see an analysis of the water; there must be some dosing of heavy tranquilizers and mood stabilizers going on for these people to seem so happy and care-free, and to keep them controllable. Just imagine the survivor guilt! 9 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8569761
marinw February 1 Share February 1 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Broderbits said: there must be some dosing of heavy tranquilizers and mood stabilizers going on for these people to seem so happy and care-free, and to keep them controllable I hadn’t thought of that, but drugging the populace would make sense. See also: Brave New World and THX 1138 Edited February 1 by marinw 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8569770
SoMuchTV February 1 Share February 1 17 hours ago, TiffanyNichelle said: I noticed the art in the boardroom and also at Sinatra's house. I wonder when they snatched those up. 16 hours ago, marinw said: I can’t decide if those are originals or reproductions. 1 hour ago, Broderbits said: They looked like fairly bad reproductions, although I'm sure the mega-rich looted the world's great museums before going underground. You know, I just assumed they were the originals and the organizers of all this went and scooped them up when it was obvious the world was ending, but now that I think more about it, I'm not sure how that would have worked. 1 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8569839
Broderbits February 1 Share February 1 3 hours ago, Broderbits said: They looked like fairly bad reproductions, although I'm sure the mega-rich looted the world's great museums before going underground. More info to support my opinion that they are reproductions: one of the paintings shown was Gainsborough's Blue Boy, which is actually about 70 inches tall. The version on that wall was no where near that size. 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8569923
Paws February 2 Share February 2 It’s funny that in the beginning of episode 1 I thought that the area Xavier lives in looked like a Disnified version of the US, like Main Street USA or the Golden Oak community just outside the gates of Disney. Turns out I’m not that far off! 8 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8570113
Sundazed February 2 Share February 2 16 hours ago, Broderbits said: there must be some dosing of heavy tranquilizers and mood stabilizers going on for these people to seem so happy and care-free, and to keep them controllable. It's probably in the cheese fries. 5 12 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8570218
Haleth February 2 Share February 2 Is this how the world of Silo began? Or Fallout? I’m watching too many post apocalyptic shows. (Wonder why? Heh.) Dr Gabby was standing way too close to Xavier while she was speaking. It creeped me out. I guess she accomplished her goal of seducing him so she could pass along the message. Why does Xav trust her so implicitly? 7 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8570244
Lilac2000 February 3 Share February 3 On 1/30/2025 at 2:44 AM, nilyank said: Yeah I thought it was sex as they were kissing earlier. If Billy is involved--he and Jane could have been messing around with the President's stuff some of the time to explain the cameras being shut down and then he could have been shutting the cameras down other times when Jane wasn't there and doing criminal stuff and no one would question it after he and Jane were "found out". I don't think Jane was on duty the night of the murder (unless I'm misremembering) but the cameras still got shut down. And maybe Jane is involved too and helping Billy cover. Just a theory! It seems too early, as others have said, for it to be Billy acting alone. 2 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8570894
Sandman February 3 Share February 3 On 1/31/2025 at 7:13 PM, marinw said: What is powering the bunker? A huge nuclear reactor? Is it too soon to bust out the "A wizard did it?" 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8571009
marinw February 3 Share February 3 10 hours ago, Sandman said: On 1/31/2025 at 8:13 PM, marinw said: What is powering the bunker? A huge nuclear reactor? Is it too soon to bust out the "A wizard did it?" It would be cool if if the artificial sun was literally an artificial sun, as in a cold fusion reactor, because why not? 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8571167
Anela February 4 Share February 4 (edited) Someone just mentioned farm land, in this city, but then we hear that the cheese fries are made with cashew cheese. So, the other secret service guy, may have set this up for months, and used his agent partner to do it, playing Wii Tennis on the sly. Or having sex. I thought it was too convenient that he woke up, just after the cameras came back on. On 1/31/2025 at 8:43 PM, marinw said: I can’t decide if those are originals or reproductions. They don’t want a new world, they are desperately clinging to an idealized facsimile of an America which is supposedly gone. I say supposedly since whatever caused the end of the World is so Vague things on the surface could be fine. So, it could be like the Truman Show, or The Village. His wife could be fine? On 2/1/2025 at 11:48 AM, Broderbits said: They looked like fairly bad reproductions, although I'm sure the mega-rich looted the world's great museums before going underground. I would love to see an analysis of the water; there must be some dosing of heavy tranquilizers and mood stabilizers going on for these people to seem so happy and care-free, and to keep them controllable. Just imagine the survivor guilt! I was thinking I’d be going crazy, even though it looks like a beautiful place to live. Edited February 4 by Anela 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8571904
circumvent February 4 Share February 4 I am still not sold on the logistics mentioned above. I cannot ignore that there is no way a limited amount of people would be transported to a bunker, as beautiful as it might be (not really), live the same life that destroyed the planet before, and be compliant with billionaires running them. They must put something in the water (where does it come from) to control them. Fascism pure and simple 4 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8572123
chaifan February 5 Share February 5 Another good episode. I'm really liking this, and I actually didn't expect to. I'll be honest, the murder mystery is good, the casting is great, but I'm really sticking around because I'm so intrigued by the building of the underground city to save humanity part of it. If it wasn't for that, I don't know if this show would have hooked me. The one thing that bothers me is that they're making the female secret service agent look sooo incompetent. In light of recent IRL events and accusations, that is just not sitting right with me. I'm now sort of hoping that she's the killer, she's just playing the part of "who, little ol' me?" innocent one, Billy is her puppet, and that she's really a mastermind assassin playing the long game. OK, yeah, that's going a bit far, but I want a redemption for her in some way. On 1/28/2025 at 5:44 PM, Snazzy Daisy said: I wonder if Gabriela had something to do with Teri couldn’t make it to the plane to Paradise? I was thinking the same thing! Last episode I thought I saw X's wife on the plane with him, but I went back for a rewatch and that was his daughter (different hairstyle than she has now). But I'm with you on this - I think Teri didn't make the list. I don't know if Gabriella personally selected all 25,000 people or not, but she certainly was the bouncer deciding whether or not they got past the rope line and into the club. On 1/30/2025 at 9:36 AM, SeanBug said: I'm assuming we're going to find out what Sinatra's role in the gov't is, and how she got so much power, and what her actual position is. Is this a riff on Musk? In Ep 2's flashback to the Billionaire's Summit, Sinatra and Cal already had known each other for some time, but I didn't get the impression Cal was in any political office at that time. My guess is that once Sinatra became convinced the world was going to end, Sinatra convinced Cal to run for office, funded the campaign, and did this so she'd have someone in the White House who would be on board with building this underground city. So, sorta like Musk, but with the intent to SAVE the world. On 1/31/2025 at 7:13 PM, marinw said: Robinson mentioned something suggesting that they will be down there for at least a Century. So they need babies, but maybe whatever caused the End Of The World caused a fertility crises? If I had to ensure the continuation of the human race, I'd stock the city with random sperm/egg/embryos from pre-disaster fertility clinics and everyone who wants to get pregnant uses IVF at random. This would ensure "cousins aren't having babies", would ensure genetic diversity, racial/ethnic diversity, etc. But I still don't understand how things can be so bad that they are down there for 100 years, but two teenagers can easily reach the surface and hang out in the airplane hangar. I can think of no disaster in which both would be true. On 1/30/2025 at 8:40 AM, bilgistic said: I can't stop thinking about how the town "works", and it does my head in. I'm right there with you! I was wondering last episode if the entire town is vegan, vegetarian, or at least pescetarian, as having large animal farms would be a drain on the system. I laughed out loud when X complained about cashew cheese, because I feel the same way! It's not cheese! I was actually scanning the background in the grocery store to see if there was meat, and I didn't see any. A whole lot of produce. But there were packaged goods, which surprised me. I like that they showed a community garden. But I love thinking about the how and why of this, and I like that Gabriella explains some of it. On 1/31/2025 at 8:18 PM, SoMuchTV said: they had all the classic great works of art lining the walls of the boardroom I didn't even notice this! In an earlier episode thread I wondered if this was the ONLY bunker in the world, or if there were others in the US and around the world. If the world's greatest art is here, that supports this being the only bunker. But we have yet to have one non-American character, except for Build Me a City guy. How would you get France to give you the Louvre's greatest treasures without securing a spot for the French President and his family? Also, since we know the above ground hangar was untouched by whatever disaster occurred, it stands to reason that other buildings exist (except on the East coast) and art and historical treasures have been warehoused above ground. 3 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8572850
rejnel February 9 Share February 9 Loved seeing the great Glynn Turman as Xavier's dad. I imagine it's quite a thrill for Sterling K. Brown to get to play substantial scenes with him (not that Brown is any slouch!). 4 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8576351
HerkyJerky February 10 Share February 10 19 hours ago, rejnel said: Loved seeing the great Glynn Turman I remember him from an episode of the reboot of the Twilight Zone called "Paladin of the Lost Hour". He held his own with Danny Kaye. 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8577050
Hanahope February 21 Share February 21 On 2/5/2025 at 9:47 AM, chaifan said: In Ep 2's flashback to the Billionaire's Summit, Sinatra and Cal already had known each other for some time, but I didn't get the impression Cal was in any political office at that time. My guess is that once Sinatra became convinced the world was going to end, Sinatra convinced Cal to run for office, funded the campaign, and did this so she'd have someone in the White House who would be on board with building this underground city. So, sorta like Musk, but with the intent to SAVE the world Cal was a Senator when they met at the Summit. Sinatra clearly bankrolled most of Paradise, though likely got contributions from other billionaires that got seats inside too. Billy definitely used the other agent as a cover and was part of the murder set up but she doesn’t know about that. She probably was relieved of duty and went home. 3 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8587010
chaifan February 21 Share February 21 11 hours ago, Hanahope said: Cal was a Senator when they met at the Summit. Thanks for clearing up Cal's position. 🙂 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8587283
Ilovepie Thursday at 09:33 PM Share Thursday at 09:33 PM I just started watching this, and I kind of like it, mostly because of James Marsden and Sterling K Brown. But the underground bunker seems like background noise for this show - it's the hook to make it interesting, but how this whole thing works is not something I expect to get answers for in a show with only 8 episodes. I think we're just supposed to go with it. The problem is that this concept has been done so many times it's hard not to compare and think about that. Hmmmm..... Sinatra is entering mustache twirling levels of power (or is that hair twirling/pulling?). All she's missing is a hairless cat. I get that she created the whole thing, but that much power for one person is dangerous. Yet everyone bows to her. Even the new "President". Kind of unbelievable. And the sex scene? I thought it was cringey. The dramatic take on "I Think We're Alone Now" was ridiculously overwrought and the therapist whispering that Billy was dangerous" as they are naked in the shower.....just ugh. So dumb. I will keep watching, but this show is just ok for me. 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8600048
lovett1979 Friday at 02:46 PM Share Friday at 02:46 PM 17 hours ago, Ilovepie said: I get that she created the whole thing, but that much power for one person is dangerous. Yet everyone bows to her. Even the new "President". Kind of unbelievable. Yes, completely unbelievable that a President would bow to the billionaire tech mogul who helped get him into power. /sarcasm 5 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8600580
topanga Friday at 04:36 PM Share Friday at 04:36 PM 18 hours ago, Ilovepie said: And the sex scene? I thought it was cringey. The dramatic take on "I Think We're Alone Now" was ridiculously overwrought and the therapist whispering that Billy was dangerous" as they are naked in the shower.....just ugh. So dumb. I will keep watching, but this show is just ok for me. I hand-waved some of the unbelievable aspects of the show. The performances, especially Sterling, James, and Julianne Nicholson, are what really drew me in. What I didn't like about the shower scene is that I always consider it unethical when a therapist engages in a romantic relationship with a client or former client. It happens a lot in TV and movies, and I hate it every time. What did I like about that scene? All six feet of Sterling K Brown's back half. He seems taller, BTW. 2 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8600673
Ilovepie Friday at 06:07 PM Share Friday at 06:07 PM 3 hours ago, lovett1979 said: Yes, completely unbelievable that a President would bow to the billionaire tech mogul who helped get him into power. /sarcasm Not just him - EVERYONE. And this isn't the real world. She is controlling literally everyone. I find it strange that nobody questions her at all. Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8600782
lovett1979 Friday at 07:22 PM Share Friday at 07:22 PM I'm really confused as to Gabriella's motivation for most of her actions here. First, she never answers his question about why she told him to "say yes" during the polygraph. And I really needed that answer too. I get that she's the psychological mastermind of this whole community, but how did she plan ahead that she would go into the interview, ask him that question, show him her hand so he answers "right," and that be proof enough to get him out of suspicion for the murder? Then, does she only come onto him to give him the message? Or was his being into it the final push she needed to tell him what the President had said to tell him in the first place? They are making out and she notices the band on his wrist, then suggests they go to the shower (I think?). Did she think/know the band was "listening?" But they don't take the bands off in the shower anyway, so what does it matter? Does the sound of the water prevent it from hearing? None of that sequence makes any sense to me (other than SKB's beautiful body). 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8600851
Paloma Friday at 09:32 PM Share Friday at 09:32 PM 3 hours ago, Ilovepie said: 6 hours ago, lovett1979 said: Yes, completely unbelievable that a President would bow to the billionaire tech mogul who helped get him into power. /sarcasm Not just him - EVERYONE. And this isn't the real world. She is controlling literally everyone. I find it strange that nobody questions her at all. Maybe everyone goes along with it out of fear, just like in the real world--only in Paradise it may be fear of getting kicked out into the ruined world rather than fear of being fired or primaried. Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8600963
Ilovepie Friday at 09:59 PM Share Friday at 09:59 PM (edited) 26 minutes ago, Paloma said: Maybe everyone goes along with it out of fear, just like in the real world--only in Paradise it may be fear of getting kicked out into the ruined world rather than fear of being fired or primaried. That may be true. It's probably difficult to cross her because she has eyes and ears everywhere, which is why the therapist had to whisper her secrets during sex in a shower. She is still in villain territory for me, despite trying to make her sympathetic with the situation with her son. I guess I'll see...... Edited Friday at 09:59 PM by Ilovepie 1 Link to comment https://forums.primetimer.com/topic/151608-s01e03-the-architect-of-social-well-being/#findComment-8600986
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