Pop Culture Diary: This Week's Reviews, Reads and Roundups: 'Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed,' More

What I've Been Into...

"Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed" I've been impressed and entertained by Tatiana Maslany's acting since her remarkable multi-role performance in "Orphan Black" (and, hey, she was great in "She-Hulk," too), and she's impressive form here as a harried single mom wrongly accused of murder.

The story centers on a camboy who blackmails Maslany's character, Paula, by threatening to expose her use of his services. In the midst of this, however, he's killed. It turns out he'd been working for a larger criminal organization involved in blackmail and other nefarious activities, and he thought he could get away with running his own hustle on the side. He ends up being very wrong and Paula is a witness to his murder.

In trying to extricate herself from the situation, Paula digs herself further into trouble and the syndicate sends an assassin after her.

There's suspense and a real sense of peril as we root for Paula, despite her flaws and terrible decisions, to get away, but the show is also very funny. The writing is sharp and has smart things to say about double-standards regarding sex, parenting and the workplace.

Maslany, as we know, can do anything, so we're right there with her fretting when she's in danger, nodding our heads when she's right and shaking them when she's being dumb. She's also supported by a great comedy relief duo in her co-workers Rudy (Charlie Hill) and Geri (Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg), who are used sparingly enough to remain delightful every time they show up. Murray Bartlett ("White Lotus") is darkly amusing, yet menacing as the guy out to kill Paula.

The first season zoomed by and ended with cliffhanger. I'm eager to see more.