I’m sure every single one of us has those days where nothing goes according to plan. Those days remind me of the Bridget Jones’ movies. Because sometimes, when one thing goes wrong, there is somehow nothing else that works. Imagine that being your life for days? Tatiana Maslany’s Paula Sanders can relate. In the new Apple TV series, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, created by David Rosen, its lead is thrown into an anxiety-ridden rollercoaster of events. The show is a successful mix of comedy, drama, and crime, and provides a social commentary on not only online sex work, but the judicial system.
Paula is a divorced mom to Hazel (Nola Wallace), sharing custody with ex-husband Karl (Jake Johnson) who’s now with Mallory (Jessy Hodges). When she’s not working as a fact-checker at one of the cultural magazines, she’s spending time with her daughter, coaching soccer, or seeking online companion for just an evening. The latter is what gets her in trouble when she’s a witness to a brutal murder on video. Suddenly, Paula is caught in a dangerous blackmail, but it gets from bad to worse when police get involved.
Tatiana Maslany Is Utterly Magnetic in Apple TV+’s Boldest New Series
One thing is certain: Tatiana Maslany is a phenomenal actor. If you don’t believe me, just come back to BBC America’s Orphan Black — you’ll thank me later. Even though, in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, she doesn’t portray multiple different characters, she’s all the same impressive. From the moment you meet Paula, you’ll want to be her friend. She’s fierce, protective, but also so fun! She treats her daughter like a human being who deserves to have a play time as well as school, and extracurricular activities.
A lot of Maslany’s impressive acting in the show zeroes in on her reactions to what’s occurring and how she responds to the events. Thus, we can observe her astonishing ability to convey a variety of emotions just with her face expressions.
When Paula gets tangled into the web of murder mystery that threatens to unravel something from her past, she’s set on finding out what exactly is happening. With the help of her coworkers, Geri (Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg) and Rudy (Charlie Hall), Paula uncovers more ambivalent information than clues. Soon, the group stumbles upon the trail of a mysterious man (Murray Bartlett) who will not hesitate to harm anyone who stands in his way.
Goldberg and Hall are perfect counterparts for Maslany’s character. They both portray adults who want more from their lives, but struggle to figure out what it is. Another amazing addition to the plot is Dolly de Leon who portrays Detective Sofia Gonzalez. Recently seen on season 2 of Nine Perfect Strangers, De Leon as Sofia is cunning, smart, and possesses an intuition that may well help Paula clear her name, before yet another parent drops her from the group chat.
Next to what Maslany’s character is forced to deal with, she, too, must confront Karl, who, together with Mallory, has ambitious life plans that could trigger major changes. Through the lens of this storyline, the series offers a commentary on the judicial system (custody-specific) in which children are typically the ones who suffer the most. The scene that serves as the culmination of this arc is one of the show’s most poignant moments, featuring an extraordinary performance by Maslany. Johnson, too, deserves praise.
What’s another standout in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is musical accompaniment. The creators utilize techno/rave music to intensify what’s happening on screen; while more issues pile up on Paula’s plate, the more intense the music gets, which adds to the overall feeling of anxiety. We can almost feel what Paula must be feeling. Directing, too, attributes to the feeling of uneasiness crafted for the needs of the storyline, focusing on zoom-ins to fully present the character’s breakdown as she still tries to keep it all together.
The central storyline in Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed
includes a commentary relating to online sex work. As Paula is one of the people seeking online companionship, she’s constantly ostracized for that, to the point of it being one of the bullet points in the custody case. Many people around her blame her for the situation she finds herself in. Meanwhile, one cannot stop but think how would people react if Paula was a man. It’s a thought worth pondering, especially post-watching.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is a must-see show that will have everybody talking about the genius of Tatiana Maslany. It’s fast-paced, engaging, full of twists and turns, and with a gasp-worthy finale that will have you want much more.
Grade: A-
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed premieres on Apple TV on May 20th.
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