If you thought Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed couldn't get any more unhinged, Episode 9 arrived to prove you wrong. The Apple TV+ thriller, created by David J. Rosen, has been a wild ride from the start, but the penultimate episode of Season 1 cranks the tension to a boiling point—both in Paula's (Tatiana Maslany) personal life and her increasingly dangerous investigation. As Karl (Jake Johnson) and Mallory (Jessy Hodges) gear up for a custody battle over Hazel (Nola Wallace), Paula is still unraveling the mystery tied to that disastrous date with CamBoy Trevor (Brandon Flynn).
But the real fireworks come from two characters who started as mere annoyances: coworkers Geri (Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg) and Rudy (Charlie Hall). By Episode 9, they've transformed into surprisingly deep allies, and their confrontation with a mysterious woman from Yale—whom Geri had earlier encountered—leads to a poolside explosion that fans won't soon forget. In a recent interview, Goldberg and Hall opened up about filming that intense scene, their electric chemistry, and what it's like working with the unpredictable Maslany.
From Office Antagonists to Unlikely Heroes
When we first meet Geri and Rudy, they're basically Paula's office tormentors, trading witty barbs and making her life harder. But as the season progresses, they become essential to the main plot. Paula brings them into the loop about Dennis (Murray Bartlett) and his scheming, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown. Goldberg and Hall credit the show's collaborative atmosphere for making their characters' evolution feel organic. 'That scene where you meet us, we were given the freedom to play with that one a lot,' Goldberg recalled. 'David Gordon Green was throwing the funniest exercises at us, like, “Okay, now steal each other's lines,” or “Ask the lines as a question.” That got a little off the rails in a really fun way that just breathed so much life into Rudy and Geri's dynamic right from the jump.'
Hall added that car scenes were a particular playground for improvisation. 'We would just go until we're back at the starting point. So we would just do more and more runs, being able to improvise and play, and that always got a little silly and probably none of it made it onto the show. But we did it.'
Filming Rudy's Meltdown: 'A Lot of Takes'
The pool scene in Episode 9 is a standout moment, with Rudy losing his cool in spectacular fashion. Hall described the process as both exhausting and exhilarating. 'We did it like a million different ways,' he said. 'Tatiana brings this boundless, unpredictable energy that makes every take feel fresh. You never know what she's going to do, so you have to stay on your toes.' Goldberg agreed, noting that Maslany's spontaneity often pushed them to find new layers in their performances. 'She's a force. It's like acting with a live wire.'
The scene required multiple takes to capture the right balance of comedy and tension. 'Rudy's meltdown is this perfect storm of frustration and fear,' Hall explained. 'He's been holding it together all season, and it all comes out in that moment. We wanted it to feel real but also stay true to the show's tone.'
Comfort Shows and Basketball: The Cast's Escape
When asked about their own sources of 'maximum pleasure,' Goldberg didn't hesitate: 'Pen15. Easy. I've rewatched that show so many times.' She also revealed a fun connection: 'Jessy Hodges, who is also on our show, was on Pen15. When I saw that she got cast, I DMed her and was like, “I loved you as the choir teacher on Pen15.”' Hall, meanwhile, turns to basketball and the sitcom New Girl. 'I'm not just saying that because Jake Johnson is in this show, but New Girl is totally my comfort show. I love, love, love that show.' He admitted to freaking out when he learned Johnson was joining the cast. 'He's been my favorite actor for a very, very long time.'
With Season 1 of Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed nearing its finale, fans are eager to see how Paula's story ends—and whether Geri and Rudy will survive the chaos. If Episode 9 is any indication, the finale promises to be just as unpredictable and thrilling. For more on the show's explosive twists, check out our deep dive into Stephen King's new obsession with this twisted thriller.
