Apple TV+'s Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed has quickly become one of the most talked-about thrillers of the year, thanks to its darkly comic tone and unpredictable twists. At the center of the chaos is Paula (Tatiana Maslany), a recently divorced soccer mom caught in a blackmail scheme involving an online sex worker (Brandon Flynn). But as Episode 5 reveals, the show's most compelling drama might be the custody battle between Paula and her ex-husband Karl (Jake Johnson) and his new partner Mallory (Jessy Hodges).
In an exclusive interview, Johnson and Hodges opened up about their characters' motivations, the importance of perspective, and why Johnson never saw Karl as a villain. "I think everybody always thinks they're the protagonist of their story," Johnson said. "From Karl's point of view, he's a really great father who has made a hard decision."
Why Karl Isn't the Bad Guy
Johnson, known for his charming roles in New Girl and Ride the Eagle, explained that he approached Karl the same way he approaches any character. "I viewed this from Karl's point of view," he said. "If the script were a little different and we were seeing it from Karl's point of view, the audience would like him a lot more and like Paula a lot less." The actor emphasized that Karl genuinely believes moving their daughter Hazel (Nola Wallace) to Boise is best for everyone, including Paula. "So when terms like manipulative get thrown at him, I think it was a shock to Karl."
Hodges, who plays Mallory, agreed that perspective is key. "We read so many scripts, and when I got this one, it just leapt off the page," she said. "It's so well written and dynamic." The actress, known for her work on Barry, noted that the show's unpredictability keeps viewers guessing. "There's so much going on."
Episode 5's Shocking Twists
Episode 5 of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed delivers major revelations, including Mallory's bribery scheme ahead of the custody trial and Karl's lie about the police. These moments put both characters in a darker light, but Johnson and Hodges maintain that their actions come from a place of love. "He doesn't want to rip Hazel from Paula," Johnson said. "It was a very enjoyably frustrating role to play."
For fans of the series, the interview offers a deeper understanding of the custody battle that drives much of the tension. As the show barrels toward its finale, the question remains: who is really the villain? According to Johnson, the answer depends entirely on whose story you're watching.
For more on the series, check out our interview with Murray Bartlett and Brandon Flynn on Episode 5's wild kill and Jake Johnson's panic attack in Episode 5.
