Catch up first: read Anika’s Episode 1 review, Episode 2 review, Episode 3 review, Episode 4 review, Episode 5 review, Episode 6 review, Episode 7 review and Episode 8 review before diving into this Episode 9 spoiler review.
The Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed cinematic universe continues to expand in episode nine as we learn that the shady fake lawyer is the infamous Jennifer. We start the episode with Jennifer following the burner phone signal to Rudy's apartment. It felt a little bit like re-heating creepy Dennis' nachos - find tracking device, creep on unsuspecting person's apartment, come to blows, etcetera, etcetera. I was surprised (though I shouldn't be at this point I guess) that they resolved this fear for Rudy's safety so quickly. He's whacked over the head with his bong and then that's it. Not that I wanted Rudy to die, but, why is it that Paula is a loose end needing fixing but Rudy is not? The logic doesn't quite make sense. It seems that the show likes to set up compelling cliffhangers but then doesn't trust the story enough to let us sit with them.
Most of this episode is spent as follows: Jennifer creeps around; Rudy and Geri make up while the article is quickly nixed; Paula gets her conspiracy wall going as she processes the continued fall out of her arrest; the three fact checkers team up for real this time; Detective Gonzalez realizes she was right all along (finally!). Amidst all of this, it's also exposition central. I found myself waiting for a moment that captured me, but I found myself unmoved by most of these story beats.
However, one moment in particular did get me in my feels. When Paula is turned away from her daughter's art show I was moved by the deep heartbreak in her eyes. The grief that she felt was palpable. Amidst this pain, Paula experiences a brief but beautiful moment of empathy when Steve sees her as she cries in the car. Rather than avoid her gaze like all of the other parents, Steve sees her humanity and gets in the car to comfort her. He makes lighthearted jokes and shows her Hazel's bird-like rendition of Mallory. He treats her as a person deserving of care and respect - a rarity in Paula's current circumstances. I appreciated this moment as it slowed down the exposition and allowed these characters to sit with the ramifications of all that has happened. I stand by the fact that Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is at its best when it slows down and reckons with the human impact of these big twists and turns.
Speaking of big twists and turns, this episode continues to unravel the never-ending web of conspiracies. I found these revelations to be a bit disappointing. The web has gotten too large and vague that it's difficult to feel excited about each new revelation. It still feels like a generic "big bad" corporation doing shady dealings, and it's hard to feel invested in something so unspecific. Hopefully the final episode has some more answers that make these discoveries feel more impactful.
We end again with another cliffhanger. This time the question is - who was shot? Was it Detective Baxter, Jennifer or Paula? My guess is that Baxter was shot, though I don't think he will actually be killed. I imagine he's likely seriously injured and that there will perhaps be a moment in a hospital between him and Detective Gonzalez, as he hopefully tells her she was right all along (as she deserves).
For a penultimate episode it left much to be desired, so this makes me slightly nervous for next week. There is so much potential here but will they stick the landing? I really hope so. I'm rooting for them.