Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed

Tatiana Maslany stars as recently divorced mother Paula in Apple TV+’s slick new drama series Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. Stuck in an ongoing custody battle over her young daughter, Paula finds companionship in Trevor (Brandon Flynn), a sex worker she regularly opens up to during steamy video calls. It’s during one of these sessions that Paula witnesses him being violently beaten by a masked intruder. While the police dismiss the incident as an online hoax, Paula’s own investigation leads her down a dangerous rabbit hole of killers and blackmail. Fronted by an outstanding cast, showrunner David J Rosen keeps viewers guessing in a series that’s as funny as it is gripping.

Maslany is phenomenally cast here. The Emmy-winning star of Orphan Black and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law effortlessly blends dramatic chops with wry comedic delivery. Her rapport with her daughter (played by Nola Wallace) is delightfully endearing and forms a large part of the series’ heart. Jake Johnson does a solid job as Karl, Paula’s jerk ex-husband, and Dolly De Leon is pitch-perfect as the sardonic detective assigned to Paula’s case. However, it’s Murray Bartlett (The White Lotus) who steals the show as menacing antagonist Denis. A meticulous and brutal hitman, he’s a frightening and seemingly unstoppable force of nature that brings a palpable sense of danger whenever he’s onscreen.

Although the show is quick to reveal Trevor’s fate, this is only a small piece in a much larger puzzle. The series is brimming with unexpected twists and revelations that take events in intriguing directions, with most episodes ending on a tantalising cliffhanger that leaves audiences eager to find out what happens next. Even as more subplots are introduced, including a possible new romantic interest for Paula, the tight 40-minute length means that no second is ever wasted.

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is a fitting promise of what viewers can expect from this Apple TV+ show. Rosen deftly combines family drama, mystery thriller, and comedy and packages them together with an excellent ensemble cast and a stylish presentation. It’s a blast from start to finish and a testament to Maslany’s talents.