Okay, so you’ve just watched the last episode of Widow’s Bay and now have no idea what to watch next? Here are a few shows that share some similarities with Widow’s Bay that you may be into – once you’ve had a chance to have a lie-down and a cup of tea to get over that ending!
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I started watching Widow’s Bay after Capsule co-founder (and my longtime friend) Emma Clifton told me it is the best show she has seen in years. Now, Cliff is a known scaredy-cat – as am I – so she warned me that it’s pretty darned creepy (she specifically told me not to watch episode 2 before bed, which is advice I completely ignored and later regretted). I have to say, a couple of episodes in, I wasn’t entirely convinced, but then, heck something clicked and I realised that more than creepy, this show is genius and hilarious and I was hooked.
So hooked, that I watched the finale as soon as it came out – and, like an absolute cliche I yelled out loud “NOOOOO” when the big twist happened.
Now, I’m bereft and can’t believe I’m going to have to wait basically a year to find out what happens next (thank GOD they’ve renewed the show for a second season.
If you haven’t watched the show (um, what are you doing?!), I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s essentially a dark supernatural/horror comedy (yes, quite the mash-up!) set in on a little secluded island, Widow’s Bay. Tom Loftis (the brilliant Matthew Rhys) is the town mayor, who originally came from the mainland, but lives on the island with his teenage son, Evan. It’s just the two of them after his wife died very young. Tom has lofty dreams for the island – he wants it to be the next big tourist destination – but there’s just one problem: the island itself. It seems the island is afflicted with a centuries-old curse that brings various terrifying supernatural evils upon the island. Tom isn’t so sure he believes in all of that (although, he’s never been game enough to take his son off the island after learning that anyone who is born on the island dies if they try to leave) – but, it’s certainly hard to deny that something is amiss on the island…
Gah, this show is so good! It’s hilarious and witty and the cast is just incredible. The characters are so well fleshed out – it wasn’t long before I loved every single one of them in different ways and was rooting for them all. If you haven’t watched it, I’d definitely give it a go. And if you’ve come to the end and are wondering what the heck to do with yourself now – here are five shows I think you might love to watch next.
Midnight Mass
Okay, if you enjoyed the darkness, creepiness and jump scares of Widow’s Bay – this show should probably be your next watch. Midnight Mass shares heaps in common with Widow’s Bay – it’s also set on a very small, isolated New England island that seems to be harbouring dark, otherworldly secrets. But while Widow’s Bay was full of laughs, don’t expect the same from this show! It’s definitely more serious – and terrifying.
It stars Zach Gilford who plays Riley, a former venture capitalist who has returned to his hometown of Crockett Island after spending four years in prison for killing a woman in a drunk driving crash. He arrives home at the same time as a charismatic – but mysterious – priest who begins to revitalize the town’s flagging faith. But, the community’s divisions are soon exacerbated as mysterious events soon befall the little town.
The show is created by Mike Flanagan who is also behind The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor – if you were a fan of either of those series, you’ll likely love this one too. There’s lots of similarities – including a fair number of the same cast members.
Watch it on: Netflix
Parks and Recreation
Nope, Parks and Recreation isn’t a horror, or even the least bit scary but, if you loved Widow’s Bay’s vibe, you’ll no doubt love Parks and Rec too. They share a big crossover in Kate Dippold – she’s the creator of Widow’s Bay and one of the Parks and Rec writers. She actually originally pitched the plot of Widow’s Bay as an episode of Parks and Rec almost 20 years ago.
The shows have loads of similarities – they both centre on a very passionate, but beleaguered local official, who is desperately trying to boost tourism and revitalize their odd hometown. Both towns (Widow’s Bay and Pawnee in Parks and Rec) have quite bizarre and tragic histories – as well as a community full of odd-ball characters.
If you loved the humour of Widow’s Bay (who wouldn’t?) you’ve simply gotta watch Parks and Recreation!
Watch it on: Hayu or Prime Video
Twin Peaks
If you’re looking for another small town mystery show that blends horror, supernatural themes and a dose of humour, it’s hard to go past the show that was really the pioneer of it all: Twin Peaks. (Honestly, if Twin Peaks and Parks and Recreation had a baby, it would be Widow’s Bay).
I missed Twin Peaks when it first came out – I was only a kid (and a wussy kid!) when it screened during the 90s, but I’ve watched a few episodes recently, and it’s wild.
It follows FBI special agent Dale Cooper (played by Kyle MacLachlan – you’ll know him as Charlotte’s ex-husband Trey MacDougal on Sex and the City or Brie’s husband Orson Hodge on Desperate Housewives), who leads up an investigation in a little Pacific Northwest town called Twin Peaks after a teenage girl has been murdered. From there, things turn wilder and wilder. This show was groundbreaking at the time – and still is! – because it refuses to fit in a box. It’s a detective fiction, but also a supernatural horro, but it’s also a campy soap opera. (It was made by David Lynch, so you know it’s going to be off the wall!).
There’s just two seasons to watch (although the second season has 22 episodes!!!) – as well as a reprisal series that came out in 2017.
Watch it on: Prime Video Store
From
In the show From, Boyd Stevens is the Sheriff of a small US town which has a bit of a nightmarish problem – the residents are trapped there, unable to leave. Sound a bit familiar?
Unlike Widow’s Bay, where the residents who were born there are unable to leave because they’ll die, in From anyone who enters the Township are stuck there – it’s impossible to find a way out.
There’s plenty of similarities to this show – there’s horror themes (in From the people are plagued by terrifying nocturnal creatures), mysteries and a whole bunch of insane creepiness.
It stars the incredible Harold Perrineau as the self-appointed sheriff and mayor, who you will know as playing Mercutio in Romeo+Juliet and Michael on Lost. Speaking of Lost, this show is made by many of the same team members – there’s lots of executive producers and directors across both, as well as a few familiar cast members. There’s also much of the same ‘wtf’ craziness and spookiness.
Watch it on: TVNZ+
Dark
Okay, I’m going to be honest with you – this is one show I haven’t watched. I can barely get through the trailer (kids go missing in this show and I’m in a phase of life where anything that involves children being harmed, I just can’t stomach) BUT this show is apparently very good and very spooky. But yes, as the title would suggest, it most certainly is dark.
It’s a German show (yes, there are subtitles) and it follows a small town where two children suddenly go missing. There’s a lot more to unearth as there seems to be something supernatural and other worldly going on… The disappearances of the children is eerily familiar to events that happened 33 years earlier. Worse, exactly 33 years earlier the same thing happened…
Watch it on: Netflix