Ep 5. Payday

In the latest episode of High Maintenance season 3, titled "Payday," we see The Guy, played by Ben Sinclair, grappling with a difficult question. How do you balance the necessity of making a living with the things that make life worth living? It's a question that many of us have faced at some point or another, but for The Guy and his eclectic cast of customers, it's a constant struggle.

The episode opens with a vignette of one of The Guy's clients, a burgeoning rapper named Kid Fury who is busy trying to make a name for himself in the cutthroat world of hip-hop. As Fury rehearses his rhymes, he confides in The Guy that he's struggling to keep up with the pressures of the industry. He's constantly hustling, trying to find gigs and build his fan base, but it's taking a toll on his mental health. When The Guy tells him that he's planning to take a break from his work for a few days, Fury is incredulous. "You can just take time off like that?" he asks.

It's a question that haunts The Guy throughout the episode as he tries to navigate his own work-life balance. His first client of the day is a wealthy woman named Tanya who wants to buy a stash of marijuana to celebrate her birthday. The Guy quickly realizes that Tanya isn't actually interested in getting high; she just wants to impress her friends by having access to the latest trendy strain. As he watches her waste her money on something she doesn't even enjoy, The Guy starts to question the validity of his own line of work.

Next up is a woman named Lena who wants to buy a vial of LSD. Lena is a schoolteacher, and she's feeling burnt out and disillusioned. As she confides in The Guy about her struggles, he realizes that she's more than a customer; she's a friend. And yet, he's still charging her for his services. As Lena takes her leave, The Guy is left wondering whether he's in the business of helping people or exploiting them.

The day continues with a few more stops, including a visit to a group of office workers who are eager to unwind after a long week. It's here that The Guy starts to realize that maybe his work isn't so superficial after all. As he watches the workers connect over a joint and some beers, he sees how his product can facilitate much-needed moments of connection in a world where everyone is constantly on the go.

The episode's final vignette is the most poignant, as we see The Guy run into an acquaintance from his past. The two men used to work together at a restaurant, but while The Guy left to pursue his career as a cannabis dealer, his friend stayed behind and worked his way up to manage the restaurant. The Guy is initially defensive, insisting that he's happy with his work and that he's making ends meet just fine. But as his friend shows him the perks of his new job, including a steady salary and health insurance, The Guy starts to question whether he's selling himself short.

As the episode draws to a close, The Guy is left with more questions than answers. Is he really helping people, or is he just enabling their bad habits? Can he continue to make a living doing something that he's proud of, or will he eventually have to concede to the realities of the job market? Ultimately, Payday is an episode that grapples with some deep-seated questions about what it means to make a living in a world that's constantly changing. It's touching, insightful, and thought-provoking from start to finish, and it's a testament to the show's unique ability to blend comedy, drama, and introspection in equal measure.