On Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Season 1 Episode 4, “Raisins,” the secret surrounding Portland is revealed while the cops close in on Paula.
There have been allusions to Portland, but we’ve never received explicit details. All we know is that it was a major moment not just for Paula but her entire family.
The episode jumps two years earlier and fills in a lot of necessary gaps, most importantly in regards to the downfall of Karl and Paula’s marriage.
They are still together in the flashback, but the cracks are crystal clear from the jump. Karl is reluctant to sexual exploration, much to Paula’s dismay, not only demonstrating their disconnect but also what would likely drive Paula toward a camboy.
The chaotic way they prepare for this birthday party further emphasizes their disconnect, especially when compared to how Karl and Mallory run such a tight ship in the present day. As a show Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed succeeds with showing rather than simply telling. “Raisins” is a clear and concise portrait of Paula and Karl’s crumbling marriage.
It is also revealed that Karl and Mallory initially connected at work. Paula’s contempt for Mallory goes well beyond just her being the new woman in her ex’s life; Paula clearly suspected something then and still resents her for being the “other woman” now.
Tatiana Maslany does wonders with simple, quiet expressions putting Paula’s pain on display for anyone who’s paying attention to see. She is losing her husband in real time and she feels it, trying with all her might to pull him home. Up until this moment, we’ve seen Paula be utterly relentless, so it’s difficult to watch her quietly surrender in this way.
Perhaps this informs why she is the way she is in the present. She can’t let anything go and fights well past the reasonable stopping point. She surrendered once and it blew up her life, why would she want to do that again?
Mallory helping cover everything up is an interesting layer, escalating the already-complicated triangle between her, Paula, and Karl. Not only does Paula resent her but now Paula owes her. It’s also an interesting dichotomy, watching Mallory almost effortlessly handle the situation compared to how Paula seems to sink deeper into her chaos.
The pull back into the present feels a little abrupt; however, this does feel like the moment Rudy and Geri go from being snarky, comedic relief to actual characters.
Charlie Hall and Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg have a lived in banter that is genuinely endearing. The first three episodes, though, really only allowed them to be just that as they attempt to pry deeper into Paula’s plight.
For a while, it seemed they would build to, at most, obstacles for Paula. Gossipy and loose-lipped, they have the makings for people who could really blow up Paula’s secrets. However, it’s an exciting choice to have them join in the fray and actually help Paula.
Not only is it a nice opportunity to round out their own characters further, but Paula has endured this whole situation alone. Everyone that could potentially help turns out to be another complication.
It’s a relief to see her have some camaraderie and allows the character to open up. It also heightens the stakes even more as more people are put in Dennis’ path.
Though “Raisins” struggles to balance the flashback with the present from a pacing perspective, the context is delivers is necessary and well-presented. The picture feels clearer going forward.
New episodes of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed stream Wednesdays on AppleTV.
Follow us on X and on Instagram!
Like us on Facebook!
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.