Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers from Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Episode 5

We are halfway through <em>Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed</em>‘s first season, and, while a lot has happened over the course of five episodes, there is still quite a bit of unresolved chaos and mystery for Tatiana Maslany‘s Paula to sort through. The twisty Apple TV thriller — which is infused with moments of levity in between the bloody murder investigation and blackmail — works as well as it does thanks to its eclectic and talented cast, which includes Murray Bartlett and Brandon Flynn.

Bartlett and Flynn portray Dennis and Trevor, respectively, two characters who are definitely not how they seem. The two men — who start out as a seemingly loving couple — quickly evolve into anything but that. Bartlett’s Dennis is a cold, calculated killer trying to track down Paula, while Trevor becomes a Cam Boy-turned-victim who thrusts Paula into a maddening kidnap-blackmail plot. During this conversation with Collider, Murray Bartlett and Brandon Flynn discuss their first impressions of the story, what it was like playing such complicated characters, and how they executed that ambitious murder scene in Episode 5.

Apple TV’s ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ Allowed Murray Bartlett and Brandon Flynn To Play Several Characters

“Trevor has many truths going on.”

COLLIDER: It’s so great to meet you both. I really enjoy the show, and your storylines go in quite a few unexpected directions, which made it that much more fun to watch. I want to start with a fun, silly question. Paula clearly finds an outlet for pleasure. Is there something like a show, a movie, or activity that will bring you out of a funk instantly and will turn your mood around?

MURRAY BARTLETT: Oh, my God. I mean, I can’t think of anything as racy and kind of cool as what Paula does. I live in the woods, so I go and walk on the beach. [Laughs] That pulls me out of a funk. I take my dog out and just hang out with my dog. That’s basically what I do. But I can’t think of anything that’s more fun and interesting than that. That’s my go-to.

BRANDON FLYNN: Usually go see something, play or museum or something.

BARTLETT: I mean, yeah, going to see movies is kind of the solution to many things.

FLYNN: It really is, yeah.

BARTLETT: It’s a mood lifter. Even if it’s sad or depressing or dark.

FLYNN: Even if it’s bad.

BARTLETT: Even if it’s bad, yeah.

You’re like, “I got out of the house and ate candy. It’s fine.”

BARTLETT: You’re still in a cinema. I think particularly for us, even if something isn’t working very well, you’re kind of still like, “These people made this thing!” There are always things to learn from it or take from it or whatever. That is sort of a joyful experience that kind of soothes anything, I think.

Dennis and Trevor are two very complicated characters. What were your impressions when you first read the script and were introduced to the story?

BARTLETT: I loved that Dennis just kind of shifts on a dime and is all these different things to different people. That’s just a great thing to play. That was a very tantalizing thing for me. I just found the story to be relatable. I think we’re in a period of time where it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed. The amazing Tatiana Maslany, who anchors our show, is going through this kind of overwhelmedness, and what you do when you’re feeling overwhelmed. I feel like that’s super relatable, particularly at this point in time. And then the fact that the show just keeps jumping and changing and surprising you made it a really compelling read. I was like, “Oh yeah, I want to be part of this.”

FLYNN: Trevor felt so fun and like he was the ultimate performer, giving the people what they want. I was excited to be part of that journey with him because I think the audience will enjoy where it goes.

Going off of that, Brandon, I know you studied at the Globe Theater. Trevor’s kind of constantly acting himself. Was there anything from when you were studying at the Globe that you took and that you feel really connected with this project specifically?

FLYNN: Oh my God. I mean, Shakespeare’s in everything. I’m sure there’s some sort of Shakespearean character that Trevor could be linked to. I mean, he’s kind of like Plato’s idea of an actor, right? At the Globe, I was always just taught, “Tell the truth.” Like that’s it. And Trevor has many truths going on [laughs], and they were all fun to tell.

Murray Bartlett Studied What It’s Like To Be a Sociopath for ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’

“They learn to imitate social cues and become great actors.”

Murray, I love watching you be really bad and scary. I’m sure it was very fun to play a villainous role. Did you prepare for this character differently than you have with other characters or do you kind of have the same method when you get into a story?

BARTLETT: I think it’s always different for me anyway. There are certain steps that I always take to make sure I’ve covered my bases but I feel like I’m always on high alert to pull in music or movies or films or people I’ve met or little videos that I’ve seen or whatever to kind of make this collage that becomes the character in a way. Sort of pulling on things from yourself that resonate with the character. But with this one, because he shifts and changes and can sort of switch emotion on and off, it felt very sociopathic.

I read this book about a sociopath which was super helpful because it was fascinating how the woman who wrote it has a very small spectrum of emotions so they learn to imitate social cues and become great actors basically. That was a really wonderful kernel that I held onto along with other amazing things about sociopaths like their lack of empathy. I’m proud to say that I feel like I have a lot of empathy but I’m also very emotional so playing someone who isn’t was exciting and challenging in a great way for me.

When he was in the car trying to channel crying and how he should feel it was unnerving in the best way. I want to talk about Episode 5 because that was brutal kill and I’d like to know how choreographed that scene was in the motel? What was it like when you read it versus when you filmed it?

BARTLETT: There’s a technical aspect where you want everyone to feel safe and comfortable because it’s disturbing stuff. When we see cameras we can objectify it somewhat but that’s when the sociopathic stuff comes into play because he doesn’t feel what most people would feel here so what would that be like? He’s just getting the job done using what’s available for him while experiencing some sort of glee which was enjoyable to imagine even though it’s horrible but it’s all play so we had fun with it.

The brutal stuff is hard for me personally to watch but having that sociopathic perspective helps because this person doesn’t respond like most people would do so that’s how sociopaths operate—they lack empathy or capacity for feelings most people have.

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed airs new episodes Wednesdays on Apple TV.