Paradise PD

Did You Know?

• The graphic novel will pick off right after the finale's cliffhanger.
• Gina Jabowski is the PD counterpart of Brickleberry main cast member Ethel Anderson.

Premise

The series follows Kevin Crawford as he joins the crime-ridden town of Paradise's police department, where his mother Karen serves as mayor and his estranged father Chief Randall Crawford initially opposes his son joining the force, blaming Kevin for accidentally shooting his testicles. The other officers are equally incompetent and morally corrupt: the violent Gina Jabowski, PTSD-afflicted Gerald "Fitz" Fitzgerald, morbidly obese Dusty Marlow, senior citizen Stanley Hopson, and drug-addicted drug dog Bullet. Regular townspeople include hillbillies Robby and Delbert, Hobo Cop, Dr. Funtlicher, Preacher Paul, Frank Flipperfist and his son Jerry. The first two seasons' overarching storyline involves Kevin trying to earn his father's love by cracking down on a crime boss called "The Kingpin," eventually revealed to be an alternate personality of Fitz whose master scheme is turning Paradise into a giant deep-dish pizza. The third season covers Kevin and Gina's relationship, Randall and Karen rekindling their romance with Karen pregnant, and Fitz and Bullet raising a dog/dolphin hybrid son. Gina runs off on her wedding day after the police force is fired. The fourth season depicts the former officers dealing with Kevin's newborn baby brother trying to kill him and an eccentric CEO named Charles Lovely moving to Paradise with sinister plans.

Cast and characters

Sarah Chalke (main; seasons 1–3) and Donna Jay Fulks (recurring; season 4) portray Gina Jabowski, a psychotic and violent police officer who is the most feared enforcer in Paradise. As a fat fetishist, she obsesses over and sexually harasses her obese coworker Dusty Marlow. As a child, her father used her as a human shield against a bullet from Randall, which hit the back of her head; the bullet remained in her skull, causing her violent temper and obese-loving harassment. She and Kevin fall in love, leading her to surgically remove the bullet to be faithful to him. During their wedding, Isis attacks and takes everyone hostage, forcing Kevin to shoot her in the head to restore her angry persona. After the season three finale, Gina works with the Strawberry Action Squad to infiltrate Lovely Corp. David Herman plays Kevin Crawford, a newly hired police officer and son of Chief Randall Crawford and Mayor Karen Crawford. Initially dim-witted, he proves capable when given proper equipment. He has faced constant abuse from his parents since accidentally shooting his father's testicles thirteen years before the series. In seasons two and three, he develops a crush on Gina, and they eventually become engaged. He is heartbroken when she leaves him after nearly killing him on their wedding day. After his baby brother is born, he is renamed "AFKAK" (Asshole Formerly Known as Kevin) before asserting himself for respect.

Production

The series was created by Waco O'Guin and Roger Black, with production by Bento Box Entertainment alongside Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment. The second season includes a crossover episode with Brickleberry, with references throughout the latter half of the first season. Alongside the initial announcement, Dana Snyder, Cedric Yarbrough, David Herman, Tom Kenny, Sarah Chalke, and Kyle Kinane were cast as series regulars.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 40% approval rating with an average rating of 5/10 based on 5 reviews. The Daily Dot's Audra Schroeder gave the series two-and-a-half stars out of five, describing it as "blunt-force humor without much emotional attachment." Decider's Joel Keller recommended viewers skip the series, stating it is not worth sitting through the many unfunny, dirty gags. Konbini's Florian Ques praised the series for its natural ability to slip in real burns aimed at pop culture figures, calling the humor well-executed.