Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series 2026
First Emmy Nomination for Hanelle M. Culpepper!

First Emmy Nomination for Hanelle M. Culpepper!

First Emmy nomination for Hanelle M. Culpepper!
Looking for a Paradise Season 2, Episode 8 recap? Decider’s Paradise Season 2 ending explained unpacks the major moments from Paradise‘s Season 2 finale, written by John Hoberg & Seena Haddad, and directed by Hanelle M. Culpepper.
What a time to be a sci-fi nerd. But it’s an even better time, maybe, to be Hanelle M. Culpepper, the director who holds the distinction of being the only filmmaker (yet) to have worked across both the “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” TV franchises.
Matlock Season 2, Episode 14, “Day One,” addresses the catbird (for the lack of an elephant) in the room as a new phase of healing begins for Matty and Edwin. This episode, written by Jenny Raftery & Katie Wech and directed by Hanelle Culpepper, has wall-to-wall legal action and revelatory emotional depth.
“Exodus” is an unmissable episode of television, showcasing the medium at its most ambitious and unforgettable. A year’s wait for the final season feels long, but given how Paradise has grown from its first to its second season, it is more than worth it. From its relentless twists to its extraordinary performances, Season 2 cements Paradise as one of the most thrilling, intelligent, and emotionally resonant shows on television today.
The Final Countdown is a triumph, ending on a cliffhanger that will leave viewers thinking of little else in the week that follows. If any episode deserves an awards push, this is it.
