This article contains spoilers for Paradise episodes 1-3.Three episodes into Paradise its quickly becoming clear that nothings as it seems in this political thriller about secret service agents and the country they guard. Hulus current number one television series stars Sterling K. Brown (This is Us) as an agent assigned to safeguard a president and Ill be honest when I first watched the trailer with my husband, I wasnt sure about Paradise at all.This looks like a fake show, I said to him as we lay in bed looking for something to watch. At first glance, Paradise seems a bit cheesy and pretty similar to other movies and shows in which a bunch of suits guard a man in charge while political scandal brews. Still, what draws viewers in is the twist that occurs in the last few minutes of the first episode. What got our attention before that, however, were the literary and musical Easter eggs that helped further the plot. Here are some major moments of pop culture greatness that fit into the story of Agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown), and might explain that big twist.James and the Giant PeachIf you read James and the Giant Peach as a kid, its time to put on your thinking cap. In the 1961 Roald Dahl novel, a young orphan boy named James moves in with two abusive aunts after the traumatic death of both his parents. When a giant peach grows in James yard, he finds a hole in the fruit and ends up living inside it with a group of magical garden insects. After many adventures, the peach ends up in New York City and James gets a job, makes friends, and finds a home in Central Park, free of the trauma of his past.The book makes an appearance early on in episode 1 of Paradise. Xaviers son, James (Percy Daggs IV), is reading a copy of it as hes getting ready for school and seeing it causes an emotional reaction from Xavier. Later, we learn that Xavier guards Cal Bradford (James Marsden), the President of the United States, who Xavier finds murdered early in the episode. In a later flashback, Xavier delivers a monologue about how, when his wife was pregnant with their son, she read James and the Giant Peach, leading to her choice to name their son after the book. Through this speech, we learn Xaviers wife has died and he blames Cal for her death.Then comes the real twist. In Paradise, the United States we think weve been watching no longer exists. Years before, 25,000 humans were taken to an underground dome-shaped structure by the U.S. government when a catastrophe wiped out all of humanity. The dome, located beneath a mountain range, simulates everything about a real town, from sunsets to insect chirping noises, and the survivors have established a new society there. Cal was the former president of the above-ground United States, and acts as president of this town-turned-shelter as well.Is Xavier James? Is this underground town where so many took refuge after a major trauma the metaphorical giant peach? And what will become of Xavier as he attempts to solve Cals murder the first murder thats taken place since the 25,000 went into the dome? Theres a good chance the plot of James and the Giant Peach is foreshadowing Xaviers future, and the literary reference only adds to the uniqueness of Paradises twist and makes us wonder if some part of the U.S. as he knew it may be waiting above ground for Xavier.And its not just Xavier who fits into the James and the Giant Peach theory. Dr. Gabriela Torabi (Sarah Shahi), the therapist we learn helped choose the 25,000 and arrange the details of day-to-day life under the dome, is a lot like Miss Spider, the James character who nurtured and cared for the crew inside the peach, right down to spinning them each a bed. But is Gabriela as innocent as she seems? Its too early in the Paradise story to tell.Lots of characters in the show appear as villainous as James aunts, Sponge and Spiker: Our eyes are currently on Billy Page (John Beavers), who Gabriela just warned Xavier to watch out for at the end of episode 3. And were sure that someone will emerge as the bad guy in town, whether its one of Xaviers colleagues, members of the newly-erected government, or someone who hasnt been introduced yet, which gives major Cloud-Men vibes. Cloud-Men appear as the antagonists in James and the Giant Peach, and when theyre upset, they cause all sorts of stormy weather.We Built This City: The Revealing Music of ParadiseIn all three episodes, theres been a song that plays mid-episode as sung by the original artist, followed by an edgier, hauntingly beautiful remake of the song during the last few minutes. In episode 1, Phil Collins Another Day in Paradise plays as James and Cal discuss his wifes death during a flashback. At the end of the episode, the twist of the underground bunker is revealed as a very different version of the song by Cat vs Cat and Joyner plays to close out the episode. Its a poetic song for the start of the series as were learning so much about the paradise these characters have escaped to.Episode two brings more details about the town itself and Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson), the worlds richest self-made woman who helped create the safe space. As deception and political scandal run rampant during the episode, we hear both the Starship version of We Built This City and a dreamlike version by Aron Wright and Jill Andrews. Its an appropriate tune for an episode that gives so much backstory into how the town was built, and the haunting rendition at the end really makes you think about whether or not building this city was the right thing to do.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!In the third episode of Paradise, we get some steamy romance scenes and lots more drama and intrigue, all set to Tiffanys I Think Were Alone Now and a decidedly gothic version of the tune by Hidden Citizens. With so many secrets in this seemingly-perfect town, its no wonder you have to be careful who you trust and make sure youre really alone when you share information.As we move forward through the remaining five episodes of Paradise, keep an ear out for songs that may offer clues and tell parts of the story. Its too soon to tell, but maybe well get some answers with songs like R.E.M.s Its the End of the World as We Know It or Imagine Dragons Radioactive.Paradise episode 4 premieres Tuesday, February 4 on Hulu. New episodes premiere Tuesdays, culminating with the finale on March 4.