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This Could Be the Thriller Everyone’s About to Obsess Over — From the Desperate Housewives Producer Comes a Dark, 8-Part Psychological Nightmare Where One Crime Shatters Three Lifelong Friendships, Led by Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, and Kate Mara at Their Most Intense!

Apple TV+ has just dropped the first-look images for Imperfect Women, and the anticipation is already skyrocketing. This eight-episode limited series, premiering globally on March 18, 2026, with the first two episodes dropping at once followed by weekly releases, is generating massive buzz for all the right reasons. Created, written, and showrun by Annie Weisman — a seasoned producer and writer whose credits include the iconic Desperate Housewives, as well as Physical and Based on a True Story — the show is an adaptation of Araminta Hall’s gripping 2020 novel of the same name.

At its core, Imperfect Women is an unconventional psychological thriller that dissects the devastating ripple effects of a single crime on three women bound by a decades-long friendship. The story revolves around the murder of Nancy Hennessy (Kate Mara), a woman whose outwardly perfect life concealed deeper complexities. Her death leaves behind her two closest friends, Eleanor (Kerry Washington) and Mary (Elisabeth Moss), forcing them to grapple with grief, suspicion, and the unraveling of long-buried secrets.

As a police investigation intensifies, the narrative shifts perspectives, revealing how memory, loyalty, and self-perception can warp the truth. The series delves deeply into themes of guilt and retribution, love and betrayal, and the quiet compromises that define women’s lives — often at great personal cost. Hall’s novel was lauded for its sharp, nuanced portrayal of female dynamics, avoiding tropes while exposing the raw messiness of real friendships. Weisman’s adaptation amplifies this with taut, episodic suspense, promising twists that will keep viewers second-guessing everything.

The first-look photo released by Apple TV+ shows Moss, Washington, and Mara toasting with wine glasses, their warm smiles and relaxed postures evoking a moment of carefree camaraderie. It’s a deceptive image, perfectly encapsulating the show’s premise: surfaces that gleam with perfection, hiding fractures waiting to erupt.

The Powerhouse Trio Leading the Charge

What elevates Imperfect Women from promising to potential obsession-worthy is its casting. Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, and Kate Mara — three of television’s most acclaimed and fearless performers — are at the helm, each bringing a history of commanding thriller roles.

Elisabeth Moss plays Mary, one of the surviving friends thrust into emotional turmoil. Moss, an Emmy winner for The Handmaid’s Tale and Mad Men, has become synonymous with intense, layered characters in high-stakes dramas like Shining Girls and The Veil. Her ability to convey quiet inner turmoil while building to explosive revelations makes her ideal for a role that demands vulnerability masked by resilience.

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Kerry Washington portrays Eleanor, the other friend navigating the aftermath. Washington, who earned widespread acclaim and multiple Emmy nominations for her commanding performance as Olivia Pope in Scandal, excels at portraying intelligent, driven women harboring complex secrets. Her work in Little Fires Everywhere and UnPrisoned further showcases her range in psychological dramas, where moral ambiguity and emotional depth are key.

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Kate Mara takes on Nancy, the victim whose death catalyzes the chaos. Mara, known for her breakout role in House of Cards (earning an Emmy nomination) and appearances in thrillers like A Teacher and Class of ’09, brings a subtle intensity that hints at hidden depths. Even in a role that unfolds partly in flashback, Mara’s presence is expected to loom large, revealing Nancy’s “perfect” facade as anything but.

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Both Moss and Washington also serve as executive producers, alongside Weisman, ensuring a vision centered on authentic, multifaceted female characters.

A Stellar Supporting Ensemble and Top-Tier Production

The leads are backed by an impressive supporting cast that adds even more intrigue. Joel Kinnaman (For All Mankind) plays Robert, Nancy’s husband, while Corey Stoll (House of Cards, Billions) portrays another key figure in the web of relationships. Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton) joins in a recurring role, alongside talents like Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary), Keith Carradine (Madam Secretary), Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty), Wilson Bethel (All Rise), Rome Flynn, Sherri Saum, Jill Wagner, Violette Linnz, and more.

Behind the camera, Lesli Linka Glatter — renowned for directing tense, character-driven episodes of Homeland, Mad Men, and Love & Death — helms the pilot and serves as executive producer. The series is a co-production between 20th Television and Apple Studios, with additional executive producers including Lindsey McManus (via Love & Squalor Pictures, which optioned the book), Pilar Savone (Simpson Street), author Araminta Hall, and Kay Oyegun.

Weisman’s track record with female-centric stories — from the satirical edge of Desperate Housewives to the introspective Physical — positions her perfectly to mine the novel’s psychological depths. Her experience crafting addictive, twisty narratives suggests Imperfect Women will blend emotional authenticity with nail-biting suspense.

Why This Could Be the Next Big Obsession

In an era dominated by psychological thrillers like Big Little Lies, The Undoing, and The Perfect Couple, Imperfect Women stands out for its focus on perspective and perception. The shifting viewpoints promise unreliable narration, forcing audiences to question whose “truth” to believe. It’s not just about whodunit, but why — and how far friends will go to protect (or expose) each other.

The timing couldn’t be better. With production wrapped and a spring 2026 launch, the series arrives amid growing demand for smart, female-led limited series. Apple’s recent hits like Presumed Innocent and Lady in the Lake have proven the streamer’s knack for prestige thrillers, and this one combines star power, literary pedigree, and timely themes of female friendship under pressure.

Critics who praised Hall’s novel for its “wickedly sharp insights” (comparisons to Patricia Highsmith and Paula Hawkins abound) will likely find much to love in this adaptation. Early buzz from the first-look release has fans drawing parallels to Big Little Lies for its ensemble of flawed women and domestic intrigue, but with a darker, more introspective twist.

As secrets unravel and alliances fracture, Imperfect Women looks set to deliver the kind of binge-worthy drama that sparks endless theories, group chats, and rewatches. With Moss, Washington, and Mara delivering what promise to be career-highlight performances, backed by Weisman’s proven storytelling chops, this is the thriller poised to dominate conversations in 2026.

Mark your calendars for March 18 — this dark, twisting nightmare about friendship, deception, and the cost of perfection might just be the one everyone can’t stop talking about.