When Widow's Bay appeared on Apple TV in April, all signs pointed to it being another underwatched and undermarketed curiosity, like Sunny or Land of Women or Extrapolations, that routinely get dumped onto the platform before quickly fading into obscurity. Instead, something remarkable happened. Unless Apple has been secretly trialling a new strategy where they directly pay everyone I know to tell me how good its shows are, Widow's Bay has become the biggest word-of-mouth hit that television has seen in years. With every passing episode, the buzz grows louder. And this is for a very good reason: Widow's Bay is absolutely wonderful.
A Masterful Blend of Horror and Comedy
A horror comedy about a small New England island cursed by a centuries-old supernatural entity, the greatest strength of Widow's Bay is its absolute mastery of tone. Most of the time, when something like this is attempted, the balance ends up a little off; either the scares are too spoofy or ironic, or the jokes merely serve as lazy tension cutters. Somehow, Widow's Bay gets both exactly right. It is simultaneously a beautifully sharp, zippy character-based comedy and a genuinely unsettling horror that leaves you holding your breath without realizing it. That it manages to achieve this without diluting anything is little short of a miracle.
The Premise
For those who have not yet been pressed to watch the show, here is the premise. Widow's Bay is a small tourist island that desperately needs visitors. After much cajoling, the well-meaning but unpopular mayor convinces a New York Times reporter to visit, resulting in a glowing write-up. Tourists flood in. Unfortunately, this coincides with a plague of sea hags, killer clowns, masked murderers, and reanimated corpses, all controlled by a demonic island-wide entity. However, since the series was created by Parks and Recreation's Kate Dippold, it also functions as a snappy workplace comedy. The island's mayor finds himself torn between ignoring the entity for the sake of tourism and imposing a curfew on everyone. His assistant is an eccentric outcast who struggles to fit in. There is a doomy-eyed prophet played by Stephen Root and a checked-out shaman played by Chris Fleming.
Outstanding Performances
The star is undoubtedly Matthew Rhys, an actor known for extremely serious roles in The Americans and Perry Mason. He brings some of that haunted gravity to his role here, but the main note he gets to play is baffled dread. This, it turns out, is something he is astonishingly adept at. At the first sign of anything creepy, his eyes swivel and bulge as if trying to escape his head. It is a remarkable performance. However, I suspect that the most beloved character will end up being his assistant, played by Kate O'Flynn. A standout in the Channel 4 sitcom Everyone Else Burns, O'Flynn has long been a huge talent in search of a breakout role, and this looks to be it. There are moments on this show where she manages to detune her entire face into a state of angry incomprehension in a way I have never seen another performer do. O'Flynn is also the beating heart of the show's standout episode, in which, blighted by self-esteem issues, she attempts to throw a party for the island's residents. It is a genius piece of construction. You are so drawn in by her awkwardness and heartbreak that the gloriously horrible turn, no spoilers, catches you completely off guard.
The Secret Trick
This is the show's secret trick. Throwing a party to increase your popularity is a hokey old sitcom trope, and it is not the only one the show utilizes. Other episodes revolve around mushroom trips, horny strangers, spending a night in a haunted inn, and all manner of clichés you have seen dozens of times before. But the show makes them feel fresh because they are bolted onto an engine of pure horror. This surely has something to do with the participation of lead director Hiro Murai, who has made a name blending the funny and disquieting. He worked on the hazily disturbing Atlanta and the darkly violent Barry, and you have to assume that his visual sensibilities prevented Widow's Bay from becoming too corny.
Comparisons and Final Thoughts
When something generates as much word-of-mouth buzz as Widow's Bay, comparisons are inevitable. Some have compared it to Twin Peaks, although this has far more narrative momentum. Others have compared it to Stranger Things, although this is far more intelligent. I have seen Severance thrown about too, but that might just be because it is on Apple TV. In reality, Widow's Bay is entirely its own thing. By the time of the finale, it will be all that anyone is talking about. Catch up while you can.
