Hi all!
Today I am reviewing (spoiler-free) the first season of Widow’s Bay. It follows a modern-day mayor, trying to turn a cursed New England island into a tourist destination, only to accidentally awaken a centuries-old demonic pact. This mysterious television series has already received 19 Primetime Emmy nominations. But is it actually worth all the hype? Read on to find out!
Note: This post is in partnership with JustWatch.
WHAT WORKED:
Widow’s Bay was a delight to watch from start to finish. In my opinion, it only got better as it went along. The first season perfectly set up the vibes, atmosphere and mystery of the island. At the heart of it, we have no-nonsense mayor, Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), desperate for a tourism boost. We watch him struggle to solo-parent his restless teenage son, as well as manage the paranoid townspeople intent on keeping visitors out, rather than bringing them in. Alongside him is quirky and loyal assistant, Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) and supersitious boat captain, Wyck (Stephen Root). Together, the trio undergo a harrowing journey to banish the curse once and for all. As things ramp up, so do the scares. This was my favourite aspect of the show. It was very successful at raising the hairs on the back of my neck, which was unexpected, given the comedic tone to the dialogue. I adored the nods to different horror films such as Jaws, Carrie, The Fog and more. If you had told me WB came from the world of Stephen King, I would’ve believed you. Furthermore, the short episode runtime made for an extremely bingeable experience. By the end, the stakes were incredibly high, leaving viewers on a gripping cliffhanger. It turns out, we’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s to come. Finally, I want to touch on the supporting characters, who felt as fully-realised as everyone else. Each one played a vital role in moving the plot forward. They were charming, kooky and relatable. Who hasn’t worked with a Dale, Ruth or Rosemary before? I cannot wait to revisit this world and see what comes next!
WHAT DIDN’T WORK:
The structure of the season may, or may not, work for audiences. It is not told from a linear perspective. There are time jumps, multiple POV’s and competing plotlines. For example, our lead female character (Patricia), has her own separate battle to fight, unrelated to the central storyline. They do eventually intertwine but the stark contrast may initially feel jarring. Personally, Widow’s Bay resembled almost an anthology of sorts; where each episode tackled a new aspect of the curse. The genre-bending of the show also played into that same topsy-turvy style. It mixed comedy with horror, thriller and drama elements. I didn’t mind this so much but I would love to see a more streamlined second season. In my opinion, the series came to life the most when it leaned into the horror.
Thank you so much for reading. Have you seen Widow’s Bay? I can confirm, it is absolutely worth the hype!
Peace & Love xoxo
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