Widow's Bay Season 1 Review
- Viktoria
- Jun 23
- 4 min read
Creator: Katie Dippold
Year of release: 2026
Country of origin: United States
Spoiler status: Light spoilers
Genre: Supernatural horror
I've been wanting to write this piece since I watched the first episode. Widow's Bay is a brilliant fresh take on the classic horror tropes. It's got slashers, monsters, ancient gods, and plenty of dread-inducing moments. The fictional New England island town that is set to be the next Martha's Vineyard and is definitely not haunted has absolutely everything your little horror-loving heart could desire.
After watching MGM+'s From, I was convinced I would never find a remotely entertaining and captivating horror show. Luckily, I was wrong. Katie Dippold created a world full of mystery, intrigue, and a crazy amount of humor. Somehow she managed to balance the scares and the jokes perfectly, so they didn't take away from each other's momentum.
This show is simply perfect. If you want to find out why, join me on this expedition into the Bay's thick and deadly fog.
The plot of Widow's Bay
Welcome to the New England island town of Widow's Bay. They've got beautiful beaches that are definitely not infested with hags or ancient gods, a bell tower that works perfectly fine, totally natural and not at all cursed fogs, and they can definitely leave the island whenever they want to (but please, don't make them do it for real and don't ask why). Our main character, Tom Loftis, the mayor of this completely ordinary town, is trying with all his might to fight all the superstitions the town has gathered throughout the centuries. His biggest dream is to turn Widow's Bay into the next Martha's Vineyard, and for a moment, he actually believes he managed to do something good. That is, until the centuries-old curse activates again, right when his efforts start paying off, and tourists start arriving on the island. At this time, Loftis's best friend is denial. He tries to deny everything he sees or experiences, blaming it all on natural occurrences or black mold growing under the wallpaper. Unfortunately for him, he can't keep this up for too long, because after experiencing a haunting or two of his own, he must come to terms with the island's unfortunate nature. This might be the next Martha's Vineyard, but unfortunately, it is most definitely haunted.
As the story unfolds, we learn a lot about the history of the curse that's plaguing the place, as well as the different entities preying on the townspeople. The plot is filled with intense twists and turns, and they never disappoint. Heartbreak, terror, hope, and pure joy are only some of the emotions on this rollercoaster. While watching this show, not once did I feel overwhelmed or annoyed with a character or an incident. Everything that happened logically enriched the lore, never feeling like too much. So if you want something binge-worthy that's light, but not overly so, this is a great show for you. It balances horror and humor perfectly, giving you the Summerween special you need and deserve.
Is Widow's Bay scary?
The show has plenty of jump scares as well as subtle, dread-inducing moments. As a kind of love letter to the horror genre, especially to the classic horror tropes, it has everything it needs to make you cover your eyes or find comfort under your safety blanket. The good thing about this show is that you don't have to worry about staying scared for too long, because every dread-heavy scene is followed up with a comic relief. I don't know if you ever did this, but I used to watch funny videos on YouTube after every super scary horror movie. It helped me regulate my nervous system. This show reminds me of those days, but instead of having to look up funny videos online, we get all of that in the same episode. And what I appreciate even more is that the jokes and the comic relief scenes aren't campy. This is probably an unpopular opinion, but campy horror comedy makes me uncomfortable. Oftentimes, they try too hard with the jokes, and it turns the movie annoying and/or boring (looking at you, Scary Movie franchise). I have to say that I felt a huge amount of relief when I realized that Katie Dippold didn't go down that road.
So if you enjoy horror that unsettles but also comforts, you're going to love this one. Do yourself a favor and binge it this weekend. Trust me, you won't regret it.
Rating: 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️ (5/5)
This show is one of those you can keep coming back to because with each rewatch, it reveals more of its secrets. It's immensely entertaining, but isn't "too light". It has a perfectly thought-out story that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster and have you scream with enjoyment the whole time. It's simply that good, so it comes as no surprise that the show has been renewed for a second season. We don't know yet when we can expect it, but one thing is sure. We can't wait to get back to the fog-filled town of Widow's Bay and look for answers with Mayor Loftis, Patricia, and the rest of the gang!
If you'd like to see what all the fuss is about, make sure to check out the trailer below!
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