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Season 1 – High Desert

Play trailer 2:13 Poster for Season 1 – High Desert May 2023 Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
69% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Peggy Newman, a woman with a checkered past, makes the life-changing decision to become a private investigator following the death of her beloved mother, with whom she lived in the small desert town of Yucca Valley, Calif.
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High Desert — Season 1

High Desert — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

High Desert is so deliberately odd and scattershot that viewers may begin to suspect they're being bamboozled, but Patricia Arquette's whirlwind performance will be enough for many to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

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Critics Reviews

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Craig Mathieson The Age (Australia) Jun 14, 2023
With Patricia Arquette giving a lights-out lead performance as Peggy Newman, a mostly reformed addict and budding private investigator, High Desert is a character-driven comedy that feels like it’s intuitively drawn out of its vivid characters. Go to Full Review Lili Loofbourow Washington Post Jun 1, 2023
What saves High Desert from being satire or black comedy is an earnestness at its heart. Go to Full Review Robert Lloyd Los Angeles Times May 22, 2023
Peggy is tough, vulnerable, impulsive, clever, scattered, focused, confident and needy, and Arquette... knits these attitudes into a single, singular person whose contradictions never feel contradictory. Go to Full Review Tamma Moksha The Hindu Jun 10, 2024
Too many plot points populated with characters without backstories make watching this show feel like a chore, but Patricia’s love for her character shines through in her performance and convinces the audience to continue to root for her... Go to Full Review Sarah Ward Concrete Playground Jul 15, 2023
While it's never afraid to be OTT, it's also wonderfully astute. Go to Full Review Joyce Slaton Common Sense Media May 30, 2023
But the best part of this series is simply sitting back and watching as Peggy's curiosity, brazenness, and lack of impulse control leads her into one adventure after another. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Erica H @RT98157148 Sep 14, 2026 5/5 Stars — Absolute Perfection!High Desert is fantastic in every single way! Patricia Arquette is absolutely amazing as ever, bringing her signature brilliant energy to the screen, and her counterpart is equally incredible. The chemistry and performances are top-tier.I really, really love this show and its wild ride. I am so incredibly sad that they aren't making any more seasons. It truly deserved to continue, and I wish they would change their minds and make another one! A must-watch masterpiece. 🍿🎬 See more Carmi A. @Slarmi Mar 4, 2026 Loved Patricia Arquette in this. Hilarious. Made the whole show and Matt Dillon. I loved the zaniness of it. See more Stephanie P @RT15630956 Aug 10, 2025 This is such a fun, crazy ride! Patricia Arquette did a great job! So, so sad that Apple canceled it without giving it a chance. See more Gregory C @RT74664417 Jun 20, 2025 Disappointed this only lasted one season! What an ending and cliffhanger. The show is a little scattered, but all enjoyable and entertaining and a wildly fun, unique setting to it all. Patricia plays her character perfectly and the rest of the casting spot-on. See more Cherie R @RT43796432 Feb 16, 2025 I don’t write reviews for many things I watch, but am compelled to do so after watching 6 1/2 episodes waiting for the show to kick into gear. Sad I wasted so much time. This is a show that has no real direction and so many dumb elements. I think they intended for the main character to be struggling to be a hero, but failing at every turn. See more Greg J @RT52130555 Nov 4, 2024 Patricia Arquette is a gifted actress, but the impressive talent on display in Escape at Dannemora isn't evident in High Desert. The fault lies in the script. The storyline wanders all over the place, the characters aren't very interesting and if there's a narrative arc, I missed it. The cast gives it their all, but the series is only minimally entertaining, not bingeworthy. See more Read all reviews
High Desert — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Nancy Fichman

Creator

Katie Ford

Creator

Jennifer Hoppe

Creator

Jay Roach

Director

Patricia Arquette

Peggy

Brad Garrett

Bruce Harvey

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 17, 2023 Pain Management Grieving her mother's recent death and under pressure from her siblings to get a job, Peggy finds a new vocation in private investigating. Details Episode 2 Aired May 17, 2023 Two Knockers and No Boyfriend = A Felony Accused of stealing money from the Pioneertown safe, Peggy takes it upon herself to find the culprit. Details Episode 3 Aired May 17, 2023 I'm Getting Close to This Guru Bastard Peggy gets closer to the case of Guru Bob's missing wife, plus meets her own mother's doppelganger. Details Episode 4 Aired May 24, 2023 Get Judy Off the Bed After making a discovery about Guru Bob's missing wife, Peggy enlists Denny to find out more. Details Episode 5 Aired May 31, 2023 Soul Retrieval Peggy and Denny try a shocking new strategy with Guru Bob, and an unexpected clue appears. Details Episode 6 Aired Jun 7, 2023 A Nod Is Not a Hello Arman and Heather threaten Guru Bob; the Gattchis become suspicious of Peggy poking around about Dona's disappearance. Details Episode 7 Aired Jun 14, 2023 This Doesn't Have to Be a Tragedy Denny and Chunky make a desperate move; Peggy confronts the Gattchis with a demand; Arman and Heather pay Peggy a surprise visit. Details Episode 8 Aired Jun 21, 2023 I Need a Hero The Gattchis attempt to seize control of the situation. Details

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High Desert — Season 1

High Desert: Season 1 Trailer High Desert: Season 1 Trailer 2:13 Now Playing High Desert: Season 1 Episode 7 Sneak Peek - Believe Me High Desert: Season 1 Episode 7 Sneak Peek - Believe Me 0:43 Now Playing View more videos
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High Desert — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Jay Roach
Creator
Nancy Fichman, Katie Ford, Jennifer Hoppe
Executive Producer
Nancy Fichman, Katie Ford, Jennifer Hoppe, Jay Roach, Ben Stiller, Nicholas Weinstock, Jackie Cohn, Patricia Arquette, John Cameron, Molly Madden, Tom Lassally, Michelle Graham
Screenwriter
Nancy Fichman, Katie Ford, Jennifer Hoppe
Network
Apple TV
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 17, 2023
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