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Paradise Season 2 fans haven’t quite recovered from the emotional gut punch in Episode 4, but Shailene Woodley has revealed how the unexpected twist is actually quite beautiful. Spoilers ahead…
The fourth episode of the show’s sophomore season sees Annie give birth to her healthy daughter in an abandoned diner, only to pass away with Xavier after losing too much blood. It’s a truly tragic moment, especially when the show spent a lot of time making audiences care for Annie in the first episode.
It’s worth remembering that flashbacks have been a key element of Paradise since the first season – remember, this whole story kicked off with the death of President Bradford (James Marsden) and he still pops up for a scene every so often.
Now, Woodley has explained the gut-wrenching twist in Paradise Season 2.
Shailene Woodley calls Annie’s death in Paradise Season 2 “primal and deeply rooted”
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Shailene Woodley opened up about filming the heartbreaking moment where Annie passes away in the fourth episode of Season 2, explaining to The Hollywood Reporter that because the woman had medical training “she knew what the consequences of giving birth could be.”
However, Woodley feels that Annie was able to die peacefully seeing that her daughter “was healthy and that she was going to have the fortitude to move forward in life in a way that Annie didn’t, I think, gave her a peace and an acceptance that’s so primal and deeply rooted.”
She added: “Because her nature is to be a nurturer, she left on a high note because she was able to be of service to those around her even as her last breath was being taken.”
Paradise Season 2 Episode 4 recap: A tale of two births
What time is Paradise Season 2 Episode 4 out?
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Woodley also took the time to praise the writers who penned the touching scene, saying: “It’s so profoundly and poignantly written, that reading it in and of itself evoked every emotion that we needed to bring it alive on the day…. I credit the writers who are so brilliant and so in touch with their own humanity, which made our jobs a lot more seamless.”
The star has “a rough idea” of what happens next in Paradise, but knows more about Link’s story than any of the other characters. She explained, “Dan [Fogelman] did tell me the extension of that storyline and where the baby goes.”
Shailene Woodley might know what to expect from Paradise Season 2, but fans will have to wait for more episodes to drop. Until then, check out our most anticipated movies of 2026 and discover our list of the best movies of 2025.
