One of the things I mentioned in last year’s top 10 horror TV list is just how lacking horror TV has been. Sure, we’ve had some hits but we’ve also had some major losses and plenty of misses. Now, Widow’s Bay has entered the chat. And surprisingly, it’s a refreshing addition to genre TV. It’s taking me back to a time where TV was fun (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X-Files) with some good scares and storytelling.
Is It Better Than Nantucket?
Widow’s Bay is about a mayor, Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), who is doing everything he can to bring tourism to his small, New England town. Unfortunately for Tom, he is battling the townspeople and the town’s lore every step of the way. The writers use humor and horror to tell the town’s stories in each episode that feel like something straight out of a Stephen King novel, because they are. Inspired by stories like Jaws and The Fog, Dippold gives us nostalgic horror wrapped up in a unique take on a workplace comedy. Which makes sense because the series is created by Katie Dippold (Parks and Recreation).
Directed by Hiro Murai (Atlanta, The Bear), the first episode not only introduces us to our key characters, but also dives into the shaky past of the town. Alongside his assistant Patricia (Kate O’Flynn), town storyteller Wyck (Stephen Root), and local Sheriff Bechir (Kevin Carroll), Tom starts to see the happenings in Widow’s Bay as more than just local lore.
The Fog is the Tip of the Iceberg
In the first episode, Wyck insists there is something in the fog and Tom gets a firsthand look at what happens when someone comes out of the fog. In the second episode, the townspeople convince Tom to stay in the local inn and something strange goes down with a killer clown, possibly. Everything about this town feels real but also like a fantasy and that’s why it’s so good.
Working in tandem, the show has good writing and a great directors to deliver episodes reminiscent of late 90s TV. You know, when each episode was like its own story and you had no idea what to expect from one episode to the next. And thank goodness there’s more than just a little horror. A balance that can be difficult to achieve, Dippold knocks it out of the park. We are able to see how this community struggling to move forward is constantly held back because of its past. It’s a well developed piece of dark humor and horror, and I’m here for it.
Looking back at Dippold’s Babadook tweet, we can clearly see she knows comedy. Also her work on Parks and Recreation, Ghostbusters (2016), and The Haunted Mansion (2023), has led her to this. While Widow’s Bay isn’t without flaws, it’s some of the best horror TV we’ve had in a long while. Well established worldbuilding, creative writing, and superb casting come together to deliver episodes full of nightmarish stories laced in comedic flair. Not just a show worth watching, but one worth celebrating. We needed this.
You can watch the first two episodes of Widow’s Bay now on Apple TV and each new episode releases Wednesday.
