Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed First Look: Apple TV Unleashes a Darkly Funny Thriller with Tatiana Maslany

Apple TV is once again betting that emotional instability, suburban anxiety, and crime make excellent television bedfellows. The streamer has unveiled a first look at Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, a darkly comedic thriller headlined by Tatiana Maslany and Jake Johnson, and the early preview suggests this is not going to be your average “mom gets her life together” series.

Set to premiere May 20 on Apple TV, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed arrives with a pedigree that practically screams “prestige chaos.” Maslany, still best known for turning Orphan Black into a masterclass in acting endurance, stars as Paula, a newly divorced mother who becomes convinced she’s witnessed a serious crime. Unfortunately for everyone involved, this revelation collides with a custody battle, a spiraling identity crisis, and the high-stakes politics of youth soccer. Naturally.

The first-look footage, unveiled during Apple TV’s 2026 Press Day, leans hard into tonal whiplash. One moment Paula is navigating the humiliations of modern parenting, the next she’s knee-deep in blackmail and murder. It’s the kind of escalation Apple TV has quietly become very good at: start with a relatable mess, then light it on fire and see who survives.

Maslany appears fully locked into Paula’s unraveling, bringing a jittery intensity that makes even her quiet moments feel dangerous. Jake Johnson, meanwhile, looks right at home as part of the chaos machine, continuing his streak of playing men who seem charming until you realize they are absolutely not equipped for the situation at hand. The supporting cast only sweetens the deal, with Murray Bartlett, Brandon Flynn, Jessy Hodges, and Dolly De Leon rounding out a lineup that suggests no one here is emotionally stable and that’s the point.

Behind the scenes, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed boasts serious creative muscle. The series comes from creator and showrunner David J. Rosen (Sugar, Hunters), with David Gordon Green directing and executive producing. Add in executive producers Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon, and it’s clear Apple TV isn’t dabbling; it’s aiming for a buzzy, conversation-driving hit.

The half-hour format across ten episodes feels like a smart choice, especially for a story balancing dark comedy with thriller elements. The first two episodes drop May 20, with weekly releases continuing through July 15, giving viewers plenty of time to theorize, spiral, and argue online about Paula’s choices.

Based on this first look, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is shaping up to be another Apple TV series that thrives on discomfort, moral gray areas, and deeply flawed characters making questionable decisions. For fans of dark humor, suburban dread, and Tatiana Maslany doing what she does best, this is one premiere worth circling on the calendar.

Stay tuned to The TV Cave for updates, recaps, and deep dives as Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed gets closer to release and prepare yourself, because pleasure, apparently, comes with strings attached.