Stephen King Says Tatiana Maslany’s New Apple TV+ Thriller Channels Hitchcock Himself
Apple TV+ has spent the past several weeks building a real reputation for genre storytelling that blends sharp comedy with genuine dread, and two of its newest originals sit right at the center of that buzz. The crime thriller ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ has built its following on an addictive combination of light comedy, unpredictable twists and sharp character work, all anchored by Tatiana Maslany’s lead performance. Its streaming neighbor ‘Widow’s Bay’ has carved out its own devoted audience with a structure where each new installment plays out like its own contained movie while still providing hints to a larger plot.
‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ was created by David J. Rosen and stars Maslany as Paula, a newly divorced mother struggling through a custody battle and co parenting after her marriage ended. Her ordinary life gets upended after a young camboy named Trevor, played by Brandon Flynn, is attacked during one of their online conversations, with the police refusing to take her claims seriously. Rounding out the cast are Jake Johnson as Paula’s former husband Karl, along with Dolly de Leon, Murray Bartlett, Charlie Hall, Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg and Jessy Hodges.
That mix of office comedy and creeping dread recently caught the attention of horror legend Stephen King, who logged onto X this week to share his unfiltered verdict on both shows. After calling ‘Widow’s Bay’ good, King turned his attention to ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed,’ writing that “it’s like Hitchcock came back to do it one more time.” He reserved his highest praise for Maslany herself, marveling at how she shifts from comic timing to genuine terror within a single scene.
Critics have largely echoed that sentiment. ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ currently holds a 93 percent critics score and 85 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, while ‘Widow’s Bay’ has performed even better with a 97 percent critics score and 93 percent audience score, having already drawn praise from filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and game designer Hideo Kojima. King’s comparison to Hitchcock lines up neatly with both shows sharing a talent for balancing tension with comedy.
Maslany has spoken about what drew her into Paula’s headspace, telling UPI in a recent interview that her character “definitely has a reckless tendency to act before she’s really thought things through.” She also explained that Paula’s insecurity about money compared to her former husband and his new wife adds another layer of pressure as she works to prove her worth.
Both shows appear to have futures ahead of them. ‘Widow’s Bay’ was renewed for a second season, and ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ earned its own renewal before its first season finale even aired. With Apple TV+ also riding momentum from originals like ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ and ‘Star City’, the streamer’s genre slate shows no signs of slowing down.
Stephen King comparing a TV mom’s custody battle and murder investigation to Alfred Hitchcock is the kind of endorsement most shows would kill for, so how do you think Paula’s chaotic double life stacks up against the master of suspense himself?
