Critic’s Rating: 4.25 / 5.0
4.25
So many shows nowadays are made for people who spend their time scrolling through Instagram or TikTok while watching.
Thankfully, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed isn’t one of those shows. Seriously, I’m stunned that we’re four episodes in and the twists and turns keep getting better.
Maybe it’s the half-hour runtime, but it feels impossible to look away for even a second without missing something important.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
Maximum Pleasure Season 1 Episode 4 kept peeling back layers of the mystery while making the characters feel even messier and more compelling.
The episode opened by giving us all the context we needed following the revelation that Paula killed someone in Portland.
Truthfully, I would have been perfectly fine if the entire episode had stayed in the past, because it was fascinating to watch all the red flags in Paula and Karl’s relationship as Mallory slowly inserted herself deeper into their lives.
It was painfully obvious from the opening scene that Paula and Karl were no longer compatible sexually.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
A lot of couples use roleplay to spice things up in the bedroom, but Karl clearly wasn’t into it, and honestly, that’s okay. It’s not for everyone.
Still, the disappointment on Paula’s face afterward made it obvious that something had shifted between them and that she was already questioning their future together.
The party raised alarm bells for several reasons, mostly because Karl told Paula he needed to make a good impression on his boss.
The last time I checked, Mallory wasn’t his boss, and he spent most of the party whispering away with her instead of paying attention to his wife.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
Did he seriously think Paula wouldn’t notice how close they were getting?
Paula was right to remove herself and Hazel from that situation, but it also felt like Karl used the opportunity to get even closer to Mallory.
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed May Feature a Cheating Husband
It definitely made me wonder whether their relationship had already crossed a line before that night. If it had, then Paula’s resentment toward both of them would make complete sense.
I’m still not sure what to make of Mallory telling Paula to drink a huge glass of wine after killing Caleb.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
Her reasoning made sense. If alcohol showed up in the toxicology report, it would look less suspicious that she was drunk.
But what still feels strange to me is how quickly Mallory jumped into cover-up mode.
Without Mallory there, Paula probably would have been arrested and faced serious jail time.
That’s what makes Mallory’s behavior so suspicious. She barely knew Paula and was immediately willing to help cover up a deadly accident.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
And we still don’t know whether Paula intentionally hit Caleb or whether it really was an accident.
I want to think she wouldn’t willingly run someone over with her daughter sitting in the car.
At the same time, I can absolutely understand why Paula resents both Karl and Mallory for what happened that night, because if Karl had left with her, there’s a good chance none of this would have happened.
Still, Paula also has to accept responsibility for her own actions because driving while upset, tipsy, and distracted with your child in the car is a terrible combination.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
What surprised me most in the present-day storyline was Gonzalez’s refusal to immediately peg Paula as the suspect, because she clearly believes there’s more to the story.
Frank’s overreaction during the interview instantly raised red flags for her, and I had a feeling she was going to keep digging until she figured out exactly what he was hiding.
The sad thing is that Paula probably could have stayed out of the police crosshairs if she had been more honest from the beginning about what happened at Trevor’s house.
Instead, every bad decision she makes keeps making her look guiltier.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
If she keeps going down this road, it’s eventually going to become difficult to root for her.
Then there’s the Geri-and-Rudy side of things.
Will Geri Crack This Entire Case?
Geri’s curiosity about Paula’s secrets finally paid off when she went through the laptop.
Honestly, Paula should probably be thanking her because it looks like they may have finally caught a break in the Trevor case after finding photos on his social media connected to the person who attacked him on webcam.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
Whatever happens next, Paula at least has people fighting in her corner now, which is something she definitely didn’t have at the beginning of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Season 1.
What could really blow up in their faces, though, is Frank. He’s clearly onto Paula, and there’s no way he’s taking his foot off the gas anytime soon.
As for Karl and Mallory, I’m still not entirely sure what to make of their storyline after the attack on Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Season 1 Episode 3.
Karl has to be terrified that Paula getting dragged deeper into this investigation could expose what really happened in Portland.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
The last thing either he or Mallory needs is for the police to start asking questions about covering up a crime.
I also can’t shake the feeling that Karl will eventually have to choose between Paula and Mallory.
He clearly has deep-rooted issues with Paula, but I still don’t believe he’d willingly let her go down for a crime she didn’t commit.
There are still so many things up in the air as we head into the midway point of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Season 1.
(Courtesy of Apple TV)
But four episodes in, the series still feels unpredictable in the best possible way, and that’s becoming increasingly rare for TV dramas.
Over to you, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Fanatics! What are your thoughts on those Portland reveals?
Are you surprised that Paula is now the person the cops think killed Trevor?
Let’s keep the conversation going — it’s the only way the good stuff survives.
Say something in the comments, share if you’re moved to, and keep reading. Independent voices need readers like you.
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Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Season 1 Episode 4 reveals the truth about Portland, and it’s a doozy. Let’s discuss!
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