Patricia Arquette is the sort of actor that can do no wrong, in this writer’s humble opinion. 

Whether it’s Holes, The Act, Medium or Boyhood, she tends to steal the show in every movie and TV series she stars in – so of course we’re excited about her new Apple TV+ series. Especially as it sees her reunite with Severance director Ben Stiller. And even more especially because it has been written by none other than Katie Ford.

As in, yes, the same legend that gave us the undeniably phenomenal (I’ll say it again: phenomenal) 2001 hit that was Miss Congeniality.

Watch the trailer for High Desert below:

Here’s what you need to know, then, about High Desert.

What is High Desert about?

Set in the small desert town of Yucca Valley, California, the series follows Peggy (Arquette), an on-again-off-again addict who decides to make a new start after the death of her beloved mother.

How? Why, by becoming a private investigator, of course – despite the not-so-small matter of lacking every single one of the necessary qualifications.

What follows is an outrageous journey toward self-discovery, as Peggy does her utmost to stay clean and, y’know, solve some crimes along the way.

As she tells her uptight boss, though, she fully intends to continue sleeping in until at least 11am, no matter how many files land on her desk – a decision which some uncharitable souls might describe as slacking off, but others (myself included) might just prefer to call boundaries.

Anyway, I digress. All you really need to know about High Desert is this: it’s a well-crafted and deliciously dark comedy, albeit one about grief, addiction and self-compassion. So expect plenty of emotional drama to be thrown in before the final credits roll.

Who stars in High Desert?

Arquette may be something of an Emmy Awards darling right now, but she’s by far from the most decorated person involved in this series.

Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond) stars as Bruce, the man who reluctantly hires Peggy as a private investigator. Rupert Friend (Homeland) is Guru Bob, an anchorman-turned-desert-shaman, while Bernadette Peters (Ally McBeal) takes on the recurring role of Roslyn, Peggy’s complicated mother. 

Elsewhere, Matt Dillon, Weruche Opia, Kier O’Donnell and Christine Taylor star as Peggy’s on-and-off parolee lover, best friend and straight-laced brother and sister respectively. 

And, for anyone counting, the cast of this must-watch Apple TV+ series boasts a total of 16 Emmy acting nominations and five wins between them. 

Phew.

What are people saying about High Desert?

Speaking about the series with Los Angeles Daily News, Arquette promises: “It’s risqué material. It’s a farce. It’s a counterculture comedy. It’s got all these strange characters who are, like, lost a little bit and making a lot of mistakes… [so] there’s a lot of love in it, and there’s a lot of family in it. And a lot of people make a lot of dumb decisions and dumb mistakes and chaos ensues everywhere they go.”

Peters adds: “It is this funny show going on, and irreverent, and a murder mystery. And yet there’s this underlying loss that Peggy’s going through, and just trying to move forward.”

When is High Desert available for streaming?

High Desert begins streaming via Apple TV+ on 17 May.

Images: Apple TV+