Horror might not be as prevalent on the small screen as it is in theaters, with the likes of Obsession, Backrooms, and Evil Dead Rise making this a banner year for all things spooky, but this doesn’t mean the genre hasn’t found its place on television. The likes of American Horror Story, It: Welcome to Derry, and From have unleashed countless horrors on the entertainment world, but one Apple TV entry might soar far higher than the rest. Nominated for nineteen Emmy Awards earlier this week, Widow’s Bay has become a juggernaut of a horror series that must be seen to be believed.
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To start, let’s examine the premise of this live-action television series that blends the aesthetic of a Stephen King tale while incorporating hilarious elements with an office-comedy like NBC’s Parks & Rec. Widow’s Bay isn’t only the title of the series; it’s the island where we witness the story of Mayor Tom Loftis, who wants to transform the locale into a destination spot that could rival Martha’s Vineyard. Unfortunately, Tom has some unexpected problems on his hands: not only is his island cursed, but it’s surrounded by a variety of supernatural beings and problems that are causing him serious headaches. While Tom and his cohorts give viewers plenty to laugh at, Widow’s Bay manages to juggle comedy with sheer horror in a way we’ve never seen on television before.
Luckily, following the arrival of Widow’s Bay earlier this April, it didn’t take long for Apple TV to recognize the success of the series. The streaming service wasted little time in confirming that a second season was in the works, and it’s clear that fans and critics alike have fallen in love with the show. The Emmys nominating Widow’s Bay for nineteen awards is no small feat and proves how beloved the horror series has become in a relatively short amount of time. What you might not realize is that there is far more going on “under the hood” than you might expect, and it’s a show that works well with rewatches to boot.
The Widow’s Bay Hype Train
To start, much like Parks & Rec, the city workers of this cursed island all have infectious characters, with Tom only being the frontman for the sinister, often hilarious transpirings in Widow’s Bay. Characters like Wyck, Patricia, Rosemary, and more all get their opportunity to shine throughout the first season, not just making them lovable but also gut-bustingly funny. While some of the situations are most assuredly life-or-death, this doesn’t stop creator Katie Dippold from leveraging the comedy throughout.
What makes Widow’s Bay all the more surprising is just how scary it can get. On one hand, it might be ridiculous to see Tom encountering a “board game” that is only a pair of pliers, but the various spooky happenings in the island’s “Bed & Breakfast” is one of the earliest displays of how well the horror works. The Apple TV series found a way to perfectly mix the different genres into one, which almost makes it feel like a spiritual successor to 2011’s Cabin in the Woods. Each episode almost feels as though the original series is poking fun and examining various horror genres at the same time, giving the show an extra kick.
As for why you should start watching Widow’s Bay long before season two arrives, this show is a multi-faceted experience that has countless easter eggs and supernatural teases throughout. The first season was sure to give viewers plenty of answers surrounding why the island had been cursed, though it also builds up countless mysteries for the season ahead. A lot is going on in this supernatural locale, and watching it as soon as possible will give you the opportunity for rewatches along with diagnosing the theories surrounding the horror comedy.
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Image courtesy of DC Studios
