It’s next to the bay…
Warning: Spoilers ahead. Do not proceed unless you have watched the Widow’s Bay Season 1 finale, “We hope you enjoyed!”
In the Season 1 finale of Apple’s popular horror/comedy Widow’s Bay, the weary mayor, Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys), finds himself trying to kill Ruth (K Curran), only to be surprised by a shocking twist: she reveals that she is actually the mother of his deceased wife. This means his son, Evan (Kingston Rumi Southwick), is her grandson.
This revelation is significant because it means Evan is the last living descendant of Richard Warren, the island’s founder (Haimish Linklater).
As set up in earlier episodes, Tom’s motivation to kill Ruth stems from the belief that removing the last descendant of Richard Warren would lift a curse plaguing the island and save its inhabitants.
In the finale, Tom confronts Ruth during a storm. He attempts to kill her twice—first by poisoning her tea and later by trying to smother her with a pillow when he believes she’s napping. His inner conflict is palpable; he mutters, “You’re a good person, you don’t deserve this.”
Surprisingly, Ruth seems unaware of Tom’s intentions. She enjoys showing him around her home and discussing her herb garden.
Later, she confides in Tom about her past affair with a married man, which resulted in a child who ended up being Tom’s late wife. Tom is stunned and confirms that no one else knows this family secret.
Meanwhile, the townspeople are huddled in shelters as the storm wreaks havoc. Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) and Wike (Stephen Root) oversee the shelters, but chaos ensues when mold is discovered in the food supplies, leading to panic among the crowd.
In a different part of the island, Sheriff Bashir (Kevin Carroll) is alarmed to find himself trapped with his pregnant wife, and the imminent storm brings their due date closer.
Bashir is desperate for his child not to be born into the island’s curse, leading him to Ruth’s home, where he shoots her, claiming, “I don’t curse my child.” He believes killing Ruth will free everyone from the curse.
Before Tom can reveal that Ruth isn’t the last descendant, Bashir points his gun at him, seeking answers as the storm suddenly calms.
Ruth is injured but remains alive at the end. The episode closes with Tom leaving with Evan. However, a bell tolls, suggesting the island still lacks inhabitants and demands sacrifices.
This cliffhanger sets the stage for Season 2. The finale took a darker tone than previous episodes but managed to maintain a compelling narrative. Tom struggles with the moral weight of his decision to harm Ruth, who’s depicted as a kind-hearted character.
Rye’s performance is praiseworthy—if he doesn’t receive Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, it might be an oversight, to say the least.
Yet, there are still lighthearted moments. For instance, when Ruth shares anecdotes from her photo album, recalling men who made advances toward her. She humorously mentions an ex-boyfriend who was “bitten by an animal and turned into that animal.” The show retains its quirky charm.
Apple’s horror comedy has rapidly grown into a phenomenon this summer.
Matt Chernis, an executive at Apple TV, expressed enthusiasm for the show’s success, stating, “This show has become one of the shows everyone talks about.”
Guillermo del Toro has lauded the series, suggesting it might be the best streaming series for some time.
Creator Katie Dippold humorously noted that Season 2 focuses on everything being fabulous on the island, hinting at potential irony.
As of now, the premiere date for Season 2 remains unannounced.
