The rise of horror filmmakers like Jordan Peele and Zach Cregger in the last decade have highlighted the blurry line that can exist between what scares us and what makes us laugh. It’s that boundary line where Widow’s Bay, the new Apple TV series from creator Katie Dippold, proudly sets up shop.
The show, which stars Matthew Rhys as the beleaguered mayor of a potentially haunted New England island town, is getting strong reviews for its first season with critics calling out its unique balance of tone in particular. Based on the initial wave of reviews, Widow’s Bay has a rare 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 81 “universal acclaim” rating on Metacritic. Here’s a sampling of what critics are saying.
The Good
“The wonderfully demented Widow’s Bay plays out almost like an anthology of Stephen King short stories, shuffling supernatural urban legends in a small New England community with equal parts humor and horror,” writes Brian Tallerico for RogerEbert.com. “It is truly unlike anything else on TV, a wild swing of tonal shifts that works because it commits so fully to both halves of the equation. The closest thing to it is the unforgettable ‘Teddy Perkins’ episode of Atlanta, a chapter of television that was somehow both hysterical and deeply unsettling (and it’s no coincidence this show has chapters directed by that episode’s filmmaker, Hiro Murai). It’s a reminder of how easily laughs and scares can coexist in the same space, not unlike what would happen if Jordan Peele decided to reboot Northern Exposure. Yeah, it’s never anything less than fascinating.”
At the center of all of the horror and the comedy is Rhys, who manages to keep the tonal shifts grounded as Mayor Tom Loftis.
“A driving factor of the series’ success comes from Rhys, who excels as a leading man in his performance as Loftis,” writes Adam Davidson for The Wrap. “Although this must come as no surprise, as he has been consistently reliable throughout his career with star turns in The Americans, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and Perry Mason. He has the rare ability as an actor to set the tone for the whole series. The way in which he seamlessly transitions between comedy and drama is magnetic as he draws the audience into the weird and wonderful world of Widow’s Bay.”
Critics are largely celebrating Widow’s Bay not just for its unique approach to genre, but for craft and thoughtfulness that feels out of a different era of TV all together.
“The best thing you can say about this Apple TV+ series is that it doesn’t feel like an Apple TV+ series,” writes David Fear in Rolling Stone. “For every Slow Horses and Severance, there are seven other shows on the streamer that have the patina of Prestige TV without any of the heft or depth associated with the term. This first season could have been lifted from the golden age of FX.”
The Mixed
One small recurring quibble that does appear in some reviews is the shift in pacing that happens near the end of the season, which sees the story lean more dramatic than comedic.
“Those influences and impulses don’t always fit together neatly,” writes Keith Phipps in TV Guide. “The season’s final stretch plays like the last act of a film stretched out to fill more episodes than it really needs. And, though they’re not without laughs, it’s easy to miss the more leisurely, comedy-forward tone of the early episodes once the plot fully kicks in and the perils mount. But that likely won’t bother those who showed up for the horror in the first place or those won over by Widow’s Bay’s compelling eccentric characters and even more eccentric setting. Why let a little bit of haunting get in the way of a nice getaway at a one-of-a-kind locale?”
While of Angie Han The Hollywood Reporter says, “The lack of payoff left me frustrated more than once. In fairness, those vibing harder with the show’s creepy-cozy vibe might find the relaxed pace of the storytelling a boon rather than a drawback — all the more time to soak it all in. And even with my minor complaints, I found myself reluctant to abandon this isle entirely … the real secret sauce of Widow’s Bay is the people.”
