Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Scamboy

On Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Season 1 Episode 5, “Scamboy,” Paula, Geri, and Rudy wind up in a terrifying standoff as Mallory takes the custody battle to the next level.

“Scamboy” feels like a proper escalation of Paula’s situation. The first four episodes built the danger and laid the groundwork for what’s really at stake for Paula. “Scamboy” builds upon that and elevates the series in many different ways.

First and foremost, this episode feels like an activation. While the first half of the season was certainly not boring, the energy shifts. Paula feels more active in her case and now has direct contact with some key players in Trevor’s life.

Her confrontation with Sky and Ash drips with delectable tension. These two are not enemies of Trevor, but they feel like wildcards due to the kinetic energy Nina Bloomgarden and Daniel Dale bring. They play with an interesting tension; we want to trust them because they are just as scared of Dennis as Paula is, but we can’t although we don’t fully understand why.

The confrontation presents two desperate parties fumbling for some sense of control. It escalates rapidly and we never know when the breaking point comes; just when you think it will go one way, it ramps up again. This scene stands out as a series best and showcases Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed at the height of its capabilities.

It’s abundantly clear, though, that Ash and Sky are a bit out of their depth when it comes to trying to turn the tables on Dennis. In a roundabout way, they position Paula for success, no matter how temporary, and continue to shift the ever-changing power dynamics.

Tatiana Maslany’s command of the entire situation is admirable and engaging. Paula is treading water and Maslany taps into her desperation without stripping her of her agency. She’s backed into a corner but she’s going to claw her way out by any means necessary.

“Scamboy” also elevates the intricate web Paula’s fallen into.

Ash, Sky, and Trevor answer to Dennis but we learn Dennis also answers to someone higher up than him. Not only that, but someone knows that Paula is a loose thread. We still don’t know exactly what Paula is up against, but it’s an exciting development nonetheless knowing that this goes far deeper than just Dennis.

There’s an interesting balance of showing the audience more (Dennis blackmailing an employee of Yale) but raising more questions. Normally, making it five episodes in without any further illumination could be quite frustrating. Yet, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed deepens the mystery without feeling like they’re dragging anything out.

Deepening this mystery also presents the first opportunity to see beneath Dennis’ facade. Murray Bartlett cracks him open just enough for us to understand he isn’t exactly safe either. The icy persona works in driving the danger, but he now feels like a person too.

Geri and Rudy come along for the ride but, frustratingly, don’t do a whole lot still. It was exciting when presented with the opportunity for them to tag along. Yet, they remain quippy comedic relief as of right now.

Charlie Hall and Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg make their dynamic fun and engaging, but their characters are now falling into a repetitive rut. They are merely just there and haven’t added anything that moves the story forward. We know little tidbits about their personal lives outside of work, but not much to grasp beyond that.

Hopefully, now that they’ve been directly exposed to the very real danger Paula’s been grappling with, they’ll also activate. Once again, though, they feel like they’re just there. Yet, with the way the show just shifted gears, it feels like any of these characters could take any direction.

 

 

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