So many TV shows made today rely on shoving as many twists and turns as possible into the story. This is especially true in the thriller genre. While we can chalk it up to lazy writing and the need to pad out the plot, there’s another culprit. An underrated aspect is how the wealth of television options also fuels the need to stand out. Which is why it’s always a delight when a show pulls off the balance and delivers something worthwhile. Especially when it has a title as bold as Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.
Apple TV’s latest is a thriller, a comedy, and a family drama all in one anxiety-inducing package. The series stars Tatiana Maslany as Paula Saunders, a recently divorced fact-checker who develops a relationship with webcam boy Trevor (Brandon Flynn). In Trevor, Paula finds a person to vent to about her legal troubles and job precarity. Things take a turn when it becomes clear that Trevor is attempting to scam her, dragging Paula into a dark mystery. All the while Paula has to contend with her patronizing ex-husband (Jake Johnson), his new wife (Jessy Hodges), and a droll detective who seems exasperated by her choices (Dolly de Leon).
Much of the show’s Pleasure comes from Maslany, who puts in possibly her best work since Orphan Black. Thrillers often require the characters to make poor choices to move the story along, which can feel grating or obvious. Maslany and the writing team take the time to walk us through Paula’s frazzled mindset. This allows us to rationalize her bad choices in a way that both keeps the story engaging and builds sympathy. The writers also avoid casting judgement on Paula’s relationship with Trevor, wisely leaving it as the inciting incident. None of it works without the careful guidance of Maslany’s performance.
So many TV shows made today rely on shoving as many twists and turns as possible into the story. This is especially true in the thriller genre. While we can chalk it up to lazy writing and the need to pad out the plot, there’s another culprit. An underrated aspect is how the wealth of television options also fuels the need to stand out. Which is why it’s always a delight when a show pulls off the balance and delivers something worthwhile. Especially when it has a title as bold as Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.
Apple TV’s latest is a thriller, a comedy, and a family drama all in one anxiety-inducing package. The series stars Tatiana Maslany as Paula Saunders, a recently divorced fact-checker who develops a relationship with webcam boy Trevor (Brandon Flynn). In Trevor, Paula finds a person to vent to about her legal troubles and job precarity. Things take a turn when it becomes clear that Trevor is attempting to scam her, dragging Paula into a dark mystery. All the while Paula has to contend with her patronizing ex-husband (Jake Johnson), his new wife (Jessy Hodges), and a droll detective who seems exasperated by her choices (Dolly de Leon).
Much of the show’s Pleasure comes from Maslany, who puts in possibly her best work since Orphan Black. Thrillers often require the characters to make poor choices to move the story along, which can feel grating or obvious. Maslany and the writing team take the time to walk us through Paula’s frazzled mindset. This allows us to rationalize her bad choices in a way that both keeps the story engaging and builds sympathy. The writers also avoid casting judgement on Paula’s relationship with Trevor, wisely leaving it as the inciting incident. None of it works without the careful guidance of Maslany’s performance.
The able direction of TV vets like David Gordon Green and Dan Sackheim also helps. The series gets a lot of mileage out of quick close-up shots of Maslany’s face and other environmental elements like a boiling pan overflowing to ratchet up the anxiety. It’s no coincidence that these moments are usually followed by Paula making a bold decision. Fun choices like these help the series stand out in the crowd of similar thriller programs.
While Maximum Pleasure succeeds at merging the thriller and family drama elements, the addition of comedy proves to be a harder balance. The show finds a winning dynamic in the fraught relationship between Maslany and Johnson, and de Leon is effortlessly funny. It’s when we head back to Paula’s work, specifically her two cubicle mates, Rudy and Geri (Charlie Hall and Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg) that we lose steam. Hall and Goldberg play the role of comic relief well, but the writing fails them. The duo should be a balm to the tension that surrounds the rest of the show. Instead, they disrupt the flow. Even their later addition to the main story fares poorly.
While it doesn’t deliver to the Maximum, this series still provides plenty to recommend. A twisty thriller headlined by the outstanding performance of Maslany is more than enough to keep you coming back. It’s a rare talent that keeps you engaged with a character through every wrong turn they make. Rarer still, to keep you rooting for them. Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed succeeds at both with ease and leaves you desperate for more.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is currently streaming on Apple TV. New episodes air on Wednesday.
