It’s our lucky day since we receive two episodes of Widow’s Bay. The first goes back in time during the early days of the settlement while the second brings us back to the modern day as our heroes try to break the curse on the island.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
On a basic level, “Our History” is a great period piece thriller. It expertly crafts a feeling of isolation for the narrator Sara Wescott with her both being an outsider to the community as well as a woman during the era. Combine that with her rocky home life and lack of connection to her husband Richard Warren, the leader of Widow’s Bay, and you can sense her aloneness.
That solitude helps make the town’s and her husband’s odd behavior stand out more. It’s a great build from odd idiosyncrasies to prominent red flags. Bit by bit you become more uneasy with the situation and root for Wescott to escape. The story plays with the trope of a nightmare wedding real well.
One of Widow’s Bay’s strengths is the continuity and callbacks throughout the series. The episode does a good job of bringing more context to many aspects shown previously. The attention to detail is admirable whether it’s hearing the church bells ringing and Warren immediately leaving to take care of it or the well Reverend Bryce found in the middle of the forrest. They all have a purpose.
Then, there are the explanations to Warren’s cylinder, or his eating the True Sight mushrooms, the random chair underground, and even the origins of the curse itself. It’s satisfying to receive all these answers, and they are revealed not in a basic exposition dump but through Warren’s spiteful ravings which makes them more dramatic.
“Seasickness” is the second part to Richard Warren mini arc of the season. The first leader of Widow’s Bay holds the key to ending the curse. Early on, the show has fun with the comical side of someone surviving hundreds of years. Matthew Rhys’s facial expressions alone are entertaining and demonstrate his incredulity. Patricia’s constant interruptions add to the jokes since their for inane reasons but also provide jump scares.
For his part, Hamish Linklater is able to humanize Warren despite his monstrous appearance. His emotional response seeing his children’s possessions is heartbreaking knowing how much time his character has lost. Then, as Warren willingly sets out t to set the island free of the curse, his cold feet is understandable as he reflects on his own mortality.
The final confrontation is quite suspenseful and exciting. On one hand, there is the struggle between Warren and Wyck and Loftis. The lights going off cutting visibility adds to the tension. Then, there is the added pressure leaving the vicinity of the island which is detrimental for a local like Wyck. It’s the one time Loftis doesn’t look like an idiot and can have his heroic moment. Although the closing image might indicate a premature celebration.
This week’s two-episode release seems well paired together considering their ties to Richard Warren. It begins with an uneasy thriller that provides context and lore to the narrative and ends with suspenseful monster fight.
New episodes of Widow’s Bay release Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
