This week on What Was She Thinking?, we dive into Paradise (Season 1 + Part of Season 2) by Dan Fogelman—and the decisions that could cost everything.

👉 Should Teri have gone to Atlanta? 👉 Should Annie have left with those men at Graceland? 👉 And when is it smart not to listen to a man?

Conspiracies. Survival. Trust. Let’s talk about it.

Watch, then tell us—what would YOU have done?

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro: What’s going on, spring break, past teaching days, should professors take roll? 15:30 – Conspiracy theories: Who can you trust? 29:40 – Season 1 recap: Xavier & conspiracy theories; Dan Fogelman’s timeline jumps; Columbo-style mystery; Sterling K. Brown spotlight 35:20 – Cold opens & keeping attention; the president’s death; Truman Show-like artificiality 38:00 – Sinatra’s backstory: grief, power, and saving the world 41:31 – President Cal shut down by his father 44:00 – Power, patriarchy, and shifting demographics 49:00 – Nontraditional power lens: Sinatra as the billionaire 51:00 – The “haves vs. have-nots” and access to safety 53:00 – Episode 3: Xavier’s past, turning in his father, and moral gray areas 1:02:00 – Episode 4: Life outside the bunker; lies, Billy & Sinatra; Season 1 wrap (Cal’s father holds power) 1:09:00 – Xavier’s wife, independence, and who gets saved; could everyone have been included? 1:16:00 – Sterling K. Brown, chemistry comparisons (Terry vs. Beth) 1:21:00 – Season 2 begins: Annie/Shailene; life without a “golden ticket”; new characters 1:27:00 – Women’s vulnerability in apocalyptic settings; Annie’s isolation 1:30:00 – Why Annie didn’t leave; saving Xavier; connection with children 1:33:00 – Jane kills the new president; Annie & Xavier dynamic 1:35:00 – Trust, connection, and Annie’s fate 1:41:00 – Xavier on the move with a newborn; Episode 4 wrap 1:44:00 – Themes: father-son tension, trust, appearances, and women as agents of chaos 1:48:00 – What Was She Thinking?: Nicole & Teri 1:54:00 – Building a bunker: what would you do?

In this episode of What Was She Thinking, we break down the complicated relationship between Alex and Elle from Cross Season 2.

Alex appears to be the total package—emotionally aware, thoughtful, and committed to growth. But when his actions put Elle in danger without her consent, we’re forced to ask: Is being a “good man” enough if he’s not safe for you?

We explore the tension between emotional intelligence and emotional responsibility, and why apologies don’t always repair broken trust.

Beyond the relationship, we also dive into the deeper themes shaping the series, including sex trafficking, mistrust of the police, and the ongoing impact of grief. These real-world issues influence how the characters move, love, and make decisions—and reflect larger conversations happening in our communities.

At the core of it all: What does it really look like to choose yourself, even when something feels good?

0:00 – 6:30 — Opening

6:30 – 9:50 — Intro to Cross: books, film legacy, and Aldis Hodge (plus… yes, he and Mustafa are easy on the eyes 👀)

9:50 – 18:00 — Season 1 recap: trauma, grief, mistrust of police, Black identity in policing, Alex & John’s friendship, and Alex & Elle

18:00 – 22:00 — Season 2 setup: Alex & Elle’s shifted relationship, her connection to the kids, and Alex & Kayla (…no chemistry?)

22:00 – 25:20 — Season 2 themes: sex trafficking, immigration, and systemic issues

25:20 – 29:00 — Introduction of Luz & Donnie; billionaire under threat

29:00 – 33:50 — Vigilante justice + Kayla’s personal struggles

33:50 – 37:00 — Season 2 storyline recap; John’s biological mother returns

37:00 – 40:00 — Black men and vulnerability; emotional support and parenting decisions

40:00 – 45:00 — John’s mother, incarceration, and revisiting old wounds

45:00 – 47:00 — Episode 2: Luz targeting those indirectly tied to trafficking

47:00 – 53:00 — Luz’s backstory, her network, realism of vigilante movements, and protecting children (Epstein comparison)

53:00 – 57:30 — Society’s view of women; Alex’s internal conflict; “reap what you sow”

57:30 – 1:01:00 — Luz discovered by a supporter; key decisions unfold

1:01:00 – 1:04:00 — End of Episode 5 + predictions for Alex & Elle

1:04:00 – 1:09:00 — Final thoughts: Aldis, standout moments, and Kayla predictions

1:09:00 – 1:13:00 — Why it’s binge-worthy: eye candy, real conversations, and relevant issues

1:13:00 – End — What Was She Thinking final thoughts

In this episode, we review the new series The 'Burbs starring Keke Palmer. What happens when suburban curiosity meets modern conversations about race, motherhood, and belonging? We discuss cul-de-sac culture, raising kids in neighborhoods where you might be the minority, and how this reimagining of the classic The 'Burbs adds a fresh perspective to suburban life.

0:00 – Opening | Introducing the New The Burbs Intro to the series and why we wanted to review it.

3:00 – Do Neighbors Still Talk? Suburban Community Then vs. Now Remembering when neighbors actually knew each other.

13:30 – The Original The Burbs vs. Episode 1 Introducing Samira and the mostly white suburban world she enters.

16:00 – Blackness in the Suburbs Samira, her brother Langston, bonnets outside, and maternity leave boredom.

19:30 – The Mystery Begins How the TV series mirrors the stress-relief chaos of the original movie.

22:30 – Nosy Neighbors & Library Investigations Samira starts researching the mysterious house across the street.

25:00 – Forming the Suburban Investigation Team Episode 1 ends with alliances forming and Samira choosing suburban life.

29:00 – Episode 2 Begins | Meet Agnes & Gary The enforcer of suburban rules and the suspicious new neighbor.

34:00 – The Suburban Side-Eye Is everyone being cautious… or just nosy?

38:00 – Safety vs Suspicion What it means to live alone when the police come knocking.

45:00 – A Black Writer’s Perspective Questioning some of Samira’s decisions.

47:40 – Episode 3 & The Basement Breakdown Comparing Samira’s spiral to the movie’s finale chaos.

50:00 – Breaking Into Gary’s House? Comedy, bad planning, and questionable decisions.

56:30 – Samira vs Rob Trust, frustration, and wanting to be believed.

1:05:00 – Season Questions & Predictions What happened to childhood friends and where the series might go next.

1:09:00 – Cultural Themes & Representation Is suburban life really safer? And who’s writing these stories?

1:18:00 – What Was She Thinking Perspectives Final thoughts and reflections.