We're big fans of Apple TV+ shows here at RUSSH. From Severance and Ted Lasso to Your Friends & Neighbours, we've loved seeing what the streamer continues to deliver. So when we heard about its latest series, Widow's Bay, we were excited to sink our teeth into it.
The show follows a new mayor who takes charge of Widow's Bay, a fictional island town just off the coast of New England. In an effort to boost tourism and raise the town's profile, he attempts to make the island more welcoming to visitors. However, the residents are sceptical about opening it up to the public, because of several strange occurrences and alleged curses that blanket the island.
Dismissing these happenings as nothing more than local folklore, the mayor sets out to prove them wrong. But what follows is an unsettling and psychologically thrilling series that keeps you guessing. Even if you're not usually a fan of scary shows, don't be too disheartened – there's also plenty of comedic relief throughout, making it a surprisingly manageable watch.
As the first season comes to an end, we're already preparing for the Widow's Bay-shaped hole it will leave in our hearts. To help fill the void, we've rounded up some of our favourite shows that deliver the same mix of mystery, suspense and supernatural intrigue. Below, discover our curated list of 10 shows to watch if you loved Widow's Bay.
1. Twin Peaks
Where to stream: Amazon Prime
Created by the visionary David Lynch, Twin Peaks premiered in the 1990s and, despite having only two seasons, is widely regarded as one of the greatest TV series ever made. The show follows FBI agent Dale Cooper as he travels to the small town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer. What initially appears to be the case of an innocent girl and a straightforward murder soon reveals itself to be far more complex – nothing is quite as it seems. As a surrealist horror and mystery enthusiast, Lynch fills the series with eccentric characters and dreamlike sequences that gradually intertwine with the central plot. If you're familiar with his other works, you'll recognise his signature style throughout the show.
2. Mare of Easttown
Where to stream: Amazon Prime and HBO Max
The story follows Kate Winslet character detective Mare Sheehan. Based in a small town in Pennslyvania, the show is based around her solving a teenage mothers death – but trying to deal with her own life problems, it begins to get harder and harder to seperate her professional and personal life. With an incredible cast of Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, Evan Peters and more, it's a show that will most definitely deliever a good watch.
3. Broadchurch
Where to stream: Amazon Prime and Binge
Dare I say United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries make the best crime shows out there. And the proof is in the pudding with Broadchurch. When an 11 year old boy's body is found washed up on a beach just near Dorset, the community becomes the focus of the investigation and media. A big time detective played by David Tennant takes the lead of the investigation, one that local Sgt. Ellier Miller, played by Olivia Colman, feels should have been hers. Everything starts to unravel once a suspect is named and charged, the ensuing trial sees the defendant promising to expose more of the townspeople's secrets.
4. Dark
Where to stream: Netflix
Dark is a German television series that follows a small town where two children suddenly go missing. As the search for the children unfolds, the town's dark history and hidden secrets are gradually exposed. This mystery-driven series explores whether the townspeople know what really happened to the missing children and the truths they may be hiding.
6. The Killing
Where to stream: Disney+
Loosely based on a Danish TV series, the show follows Seattle detective Sarah Linden, who must look after and mentor Detective Stephen Holder, a former narcotics officer. Over the course of four seasons, the pair team up to solve complex cases and murder mysteries.
7. Sharp Objects
Where to stream: HBO Max and Amazon Prime
A limited series that follows a crime reporter called Camille Peaker played by Amy Adams, returns to her home town after treating her mental illness to solve the crime of two young girls. However, she has to deal with her own personal battles at the same time.
8. Top of the Lake
Where to stream: Stan
Set in New Zealand, Top Of The Lake centres around the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl. Last seen waist-deep in a freezing lake, an inexperienced detective Robin Griffin leads the investigation in a town that she once endured her own trauma in, years earlier.
9. From
Where to stream: Stan
This show is quite on par with Widow's Bay as it follows a community of residents from a small town, looking to find their way out due to an increasing amount of abnormal activities. However, unknown forces keep them from leaving.
10.His & Hers
Where to stream: Netflix
A limited series that follows the lives of reporter Anna and detective Jack that crosspaths in an investigation of murders. The unrvalling of truths in this show is exceptional. There is always two sides to every story, which means someone is always lying.
