Palm Royale Season 1 Episode 6 Review: Maxine Takes a Step

Palm Royale Season 1 Episode 6, “Maxine Takes a Step,” is more emotionally resonant than its predecessors as we dive into Maxine’s past and witness Linda experience a devastating loss. It’s an outing that digs deeper into its characters and is less humor-driven than Palm Royale Season 1 Episode 5. 

Maxine Takes a Step 

We don’t get a ton of narrative movement, but the in-depth character work presented in “Maxine Takes a Step” will certainly pay off in future episodes. If anything, Norma moving around and regaining her speech opens the storytelling doors for the rest of the season. 

The moments that pack the biggest gut punch are easily the Skeet/Linda scenes and Maxine’s heartbreaking history. Said moments allow Bruce Dern, Laura Dern, and Kristen Wiig to shine. Both Derns, in particular, deliver moving yet simple performances. Of course, their real-life father-daughter dynamic informs their work. 

Their performances are grounded in truth—never over-the-top or “actor-y.” Skeet’s final day feels realistic and true to the experience of watching a loved one slip away. It’s always unexpected, and the one who’s dying isn’t always at peace with their inevitable death. Skeet voicing his fears is entirely, acutely relatable. 

Linda’s “Dad?” cuts to the quick, and Evelyn’s quiet presence in the background adds another layer of pain.

A Girl From Tennessee 

It’s interesting to hear Maxine acknowledge that the ladies from The Shiny Sheet are shallow. This level of awareness adds more texture to Maxine as a character and her objective to become queen of the season on Palm Royale.

Wiig offers a beautifully vulnerable, understated performance in “Maxine Takes a Step,” as Maxine tells Ann her backstory. 

Our affection for Maxine increases significantly when we have that context regarding her obsession with being a “somebody.” Her rough upbringing forced her to pull herself up by her bootstraps and pursue a path of riches and comfort.

We know she’s not merely materialistic but a self-conscious woman who’s never felt truly comfortable in her skin or known who she was. 

Her burgeoning friendship with Robert is a breath of fresh air. It’s easily the most developed dynamic on Palm Royale. Robert coming out to her brings them closer together, and it’s lovely to see a very Southern character in this era not be homophobic. She accepts Robert instantly.

The Mean Girl of Palm Beach 

Allison Janney’s team should submit her performance in “Maxine Takes a Step” for awards consideration. Evelyn’s scathing words to Maxine at the Moon landing-themed party deserve accolades. Janney always kills these kinds of characters, but she is transcendent as Evelyn. 

Josh Lucas continues to impress. He leans into Douglas’s inherent sleaziness, which we usually don’t get from his roles. He’s clearly having a blast on Palm Royale, too. 

Real-World Issues 

Amber Chardae Robinson finally gets more to do in “Maxine Takes a Step,” as the ladies of Our Bodies Our Shelves upend Perry’s career in a bold journalistic takedown. We’re seeing the fruits of her labor pay off.

As a character in this cast of larger-than-life characters, Virginia is a grounded, natural presence. She offers perspective on the outlandish nature of the Palm Beach hoity-toity rich scene. Plus, her words about Linda using her as a “barometer for goodness” really drive home a real-world racial issue. 

While Palm Royale might not tackle these crucial issues as hard as it should, when it does, it does so effectively. Through Virginia, who has no ulterior motives, we see the world for what it truly is—beyond the dreamy filter, the dazzling lights, and the breathtaking wardrobe. 

It reminds us that Maxine—who’s also a tool of the patriarchy, as Virginia notes—and the others don’t live in the real world. They’re so superficial and insular that they can’t see anything beyond their own perspective. The series handles this well. 

“Maxine Takes a Step” cleverly weaves the Moon landing with the episodic narrative to create a deliciously emotional and impactful outing. Bolstered by stirring performances, the episode helps endear us to these characters as they barrel full-steam ahead toward realizing their lofty dreams. 

Stray Observations: 

• That Buffy Sainte-Marie song is absolutely perfect for the Skeet passing scene. Not only is it era-appropriate, but it complements the action. 
• I can’t imagine how challenging it was for Laura Dern to act in a death scene with her real-life father. Sure, you compartmentalize as best you can, but it gets tricky when you start incorporating elements from your life. 
• Douglas might be having an affair. He seems to be pulling away from Maxine. Based on how she looked at him at the party, my money is on Mitzi. 
• This show missed an opportunity to play Bowie’s “Space Oddity” at any point during this episode. 
• The Prince and Princess of Luxembourg are scammers. That seems evident from the newspaper article Robert showed Douglas. It would explain why the princess refuses to pose for pictures. 
• Maxine would show up to lunch while repping the colors of someone’s country. She’s nothing if not fashion-conscious. 
• Mary’s line about “coming” to the Beach Ball cracked me up. Julia Duffy is a gem. 

What did you think of this episode of Palm Royale? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Palm Royale drops new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+. 

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