Paradise City is a strange, messy, often brilliant attempt to continue the story of American Satan, the 2017 horror-drama about a satanic rock band. Created by Ash Avildsen, it runs for eight episodes on Prime Video and follows the same band as they try to hold their family together amid the chaos of the music industry. A ghost from the past of the singer, along with a young fan, arrive to shake up everything. The result is a show that is more ambitious than it is consistent, but it mostly earns its ambition.
Trailer, via SUMERIAN.
The Band That Won’t Die
The central quartet of the Relentless is led by Andy Biersack as Johnny Faust, frontman of the band. Ben Bruce plays Leo Donovan, a member of the group. Booboo Stewart is Vic Lakota, the guitarist, and Bella Thorne is Lily Mayflower, the bassist. Together they form the core of the show, and the chemistry between them is strong enough to carry the weaker stretches.
The supporting cast is even stronger. Drea de Matteo plays Maya, the booking agent, while Rhys Coiro is Adam, the manager. Mark Boone Junior is Elias Collins, the owner of Akkadian Records, and Amanda Steele is Vivian Thomas, Faith’s mother. The show also brings back Cameron Boyce as Simon, son of Oliver and Natalie, and Lzzy Hale provides Lily’s singing voice.
A Secret From the Past
The engine of the plot is a secret tied to the singer’s past, one that comes back to haunt him through a young fan arriving at his doorstep. This thread gives the show its dramatic weight, and it pays off in the final stretch. The young fan’s arrival forces the band to confront what they have built, and the show handles this with genuine tension.
The east coast rookie kid who idolizes the band and tries to make his way in the music business adds a fresh perspective, playing the ultimate underdog against the seasoned veterans. His presence keeps the show grounded, even as the supernatural elements grow stranger.
Where Paradise City Falls Short
The show is not without flaws. Some episodes feel padded, and the pacing drags in the middle. The show also leans heavily on its rock history, which can be a barrier for viewers who don’t know the genre’s mythology. The supernatural elements are sometimes treated as background noise rather than central to the story.
The writing occasionally struggles to balance the personal drama with the larger supernatural threads. The show wants to be both a character study and a horror-thriller, and it doesn’t always land both.
The Final Stretch
The last few episodes tighten the screws on the secret from the past, and the show finds a satisfying resolution to the central mystery. The finale ties together the threads of the singer’s past with the present-day conflict, and it lands with real emotional force.
The show also makes room for the east coast rookie kid to find his place, giving him a quiet victory that feels earned after his long struggle. It’s a small moment, but it shows the care the writers put into the minor characters.
Key Facts
- Premiere: March 25, 2021
- Episodes: 8
- Network: Prime Video
- Creator: Ash Avildsen
- Score: 8/10
Paradise City is a flawed but compelling addition to the American Satan franchise. It takes risks with its supernatural elements and its character drama, and mostly pulls them off. The cast sells the personal stakes, and the finale delivers on the promise of the earlier episodes.
The show isn’t perfect, but it’s worth watching for the performances and the boldness of its storytelling. It’s a solid entry in a franchise that knows how to push boundaries.
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