On Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Season 1 Episode 3, “Chunnel,” Dennis infiltrates Paula’s personal life as Karl gives her an ultimatum.
“Chunnel” slows the momentum slightly from the season premiere. Things excalated massively, and now it feels like the brakes are being pumped a bit. Pacing-wise, it’s a little jarring, but it’s all in favor of building out Paula’s world, specifically her life as a parent.
Jake Johnson and Jessy Hodges wonderfully contrast Paula’s erraticism with a sternness that emanates off of them. They’re “responsible” and “put together.” The contrast in demeanor heightens the already tense dynamic between them and Paula.
It would be easy to play Karl specifically as a cartoonishly evil father, but Johnson brings a lot of nuance to the role. The ultimatum, as extreme as it is, comes from a place he genuinely thinks is generous, beneficial, and fair.
The real triumph of “Chunnel” is that it makes the beginnings of this custody battle just as engaging as the crime thriller at its center. Introducing this thread grounds the story in reality. As the rabbit hole of crime conspiracy unfolds in fun, heightened ways, Paula’s home life keeps us tethered to the real world.
Karl and Mallory’s plans for Hazel set the stage for what will undoubtedly be an ugly battle going forward while also adding to Paula’s personal stakes. Dennis’ hunt for Paula collides directly with her ability to prove that Hazel can and should stay with her.
In hindsight, Trevor’s scam feels almost naive compared to Dennis’ menacing presence. Murray Bartlett is quiet and sinister, never letting us in on his next move. He’s fully in control and has us right where he wants us as the viewer.
His cold, methodical approach to finding Paula makes it all the more chilling. There’s no regard for the people in his way, this is simply a job. Though we don’t know the extent of what he’s doing, we know he has no qualms about inflicting harm and, if need be, killing.
The attack on Mallory further emphasizes the ever-growing danger. Paula’s actions impact not only on her but the people around her, especially Hazel. Dennis’ access to these parts of her life are genuinely terrifying. “Chunnel” elevates the drama to a genuine state of danger.
Dennis also sets the stage for Paula’s abilities as a mother to be called into question. As seen in the premiere, she’s trying to carve out some space for pleasure for herself while also showing up as a mother. As this case bleeds into her personal life, her choices will be scrutinized and demonized.
It also underscores the question of whether or not Hazel is actually safe with Paula. Mallory’s attack only provides ammunition for the argument that Hazel will be safer elsewhere.
As of right now, there’s no further clarity into what exactly Paula’s stumbled into. The rabbit hole only deepens and we’re plunged further into the dark. Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed continues to subvert expectations and build a compelling mystery that strays from the obvious route without going too off the rails.
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Adam Patla
Adam grew up less than 3 minutes away from a movie theater so he was always destined to love all things entertainment. He studied Broadcast & Cinematic Arts at Central Michigan University before working as a talent agent in the Chicago area until 2020. During lockdown he began discussing film and television on TikTok where he cultivated a platform of over 50,000 followers. He is currently a member of Chicago Indie Critics.