TVLine's Performer Of The Week: James Marsden

THE PERFORMER | James Marsden

THE SHOW | Paradise

THE EPISODE | "The Day" (Feb. 25, 2025)

THE PERFORMANCE | If ever there were a moment for Paradise's Cal to step up and be the president America needed, this week's episode was it. What a gift it was to watch Marsden give a spot-on performance as his character rose to the ultimate, unenviable task.

Up until now in the Hulu drama's first season, Mardsen deployed Cal's matinee-idol looks and dancing-through-life philosophy to excellent effect: Relax, guys, he seemed to broadcast, it's just the presidency! The breeziness he lent Cal in the face of both near-certain ecological destruction and the cave new world of Paradise was a) a refreshing foil for Sinatra's intensity, and b) frankly, kinda alarming, right?

Cut to Episode 7, which took us back to the day of humanity's near-destruction. Early on, as the White House staff shepherded the president through the doomsday protocol, you could see Marsden have Cal struggle with the insincerity of his recorded speech to the nation. Marsden was great throughout the hour, but everything notched up a bit after Cal's interaction with the White House porter.

It was a galvanized, sober and heartbroken Cal that Marsden brought back into the Oval Office — and wow, was he captivating. Marsden delivered the president's final address to his fellow Americans with a gravitas heretofore unseen in the character, and a grief he allowed to slip through the embattled POTUS' cracks. His near-break as he bid goodbye to family, friends and loved ones he'd never see again, as well as Marsden's quick move to pull the character back together, was a beautiful thing.

At this particular moment, are we looking to a fictional commander-in-chief for steadiness and reassurance? We can neither confirm nor deny. We'll just say this: For his work in Episode 7, Marsden has our vote.

Scroll down to see who got Honorable Mention shout-outs this week...

Few things are certain in life, except death, taxes... and that Elsbeth's Guest Star of the Week will go kinda big with their performance, especially as the walls (read: Elsbeth's tote bags) begin closing in around them. Jordana Brewster, however, was the coolest of cucumbers as Chloe, a "consultant" who was truly unbothered by Elsbeth's repeated visits and inquiries. In fact, Chloe seemed charmed by Elsbeth, and vice versa. As a TV trope, the high-paid escort nine times out of 10 gets played as aloof, flashy or preening; Brewster instead imbued Chloe with an understated, approachable elegance, as well as an air of intelligence and curiosity that was refreshing. Elsbeth's suspects can oftentimes get animatedly defensive, but Brewster's line readings were buttery and sounded like actual human conversation. In an episode that deviated from the CBS procedural's formula in other ways, Brewster gave a killer performance. — Matt Webb Mitovich

We've been waiting to find out what's happening with Mark's wife Gemma on Severance, and this week's episode delivered, with a powerhouse performance from Dichen Lachman as Gemma. It turns out that Gemma has been turned into a lab rat for Lumon's severance technology, and Lachman wore Gemma's desperation on her face as she wearily entered countless rooms to perform countless menial tasks. Plus, we got to see Mark and Gemma fall in love in flashbacks, and Lachman found a vital spark inside Gemma — one that was sadly missing from her present-day scenes. At one point, Gemma nearly escaped, but Mr. Milchick stopped her, and our hearts just about broke watching Lachman collapse in sobs as Gemma found herself back inside Lumon again. It was a devastating hour of television, and one that was hard to watch at times, but Lachman's searing work as Gemma made every minute worthwhile. — Dave Nemetz

Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments!