Matthew Rhys' 'Widow's Bay' has been hailed the best show of 2026, and now you can binge the entire series for free. The 10-part creepy comedy has already been given a second season, and it's so worth signing up for.
The Best Show of 2026
The best show of 2026 came to an end this week. For the past 10 weeks, fans of atmospheric, tense, and intriguing horror comedy have been charmed by 'Widow's Bay' on Apple TV. The show has picked up momentum thanks to word of mouth and being utterly brilliant. Dubbed a 'genre-bending' show, 'Widow's Bay' stars Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, the Emmy Award-winning star of 'The Americans' and most recently 'The Beast in Me' on Netflix. He's known for his more serious, spine-chilling roles, but as Tom Loftis, he adds another string to his bow.
Plot and Setting
The action is set on an island around 40 miles off Massachusetts. It has no wifi, no mobile reception, and a rampant reputation of terrifying supernatural folklore. Rhys' character battles against this to bring the island into the 21st century as a successful tourist destination. He fights against it until he can't anymore, and there's a murderous clown screaming in his face in the crawl space of a haunted hotel. It does sound creepy, and it is. I found myself peeping from behind a cushion at several points, and for one Halloween-esque scene, audibly whimpered.
Throwback Aesthetics
I love that the first couple of episodes really throw you off guard. The aesthetics of Widow's Bay itself are dated; the front of the title card is a John Carpenter/Stephen King/pulp-horror fiction throwback, but it's set in present day. It looks great, and it pulls together a cast of odd characters that by the end, of course, are what makes the show what it is. There's a pervasive odd and unsettling atmosphere. You know something isn't right but you're not sure what, and the drip feeding of info and action is pitched just right. It'll keep you hanging on with the grip of a fisherman's hook. One episode is just never enough. I've watched it in the linear style, tuning in as soon as possible on Wednesdays, and the endings leave you hankering for more.
Humour and Horror
As I mentioned, it is creepy, but it is also funny. The humour glides side-by-side with the menacing undertone so brilliantly. Cheers to creator Katie Dippold for the writing; her pedigree built on shows like 'Parks and Recreation' and 'Mad TV' seeps through with 'Widow's Bay'. Subtle but not shy, there are moments of true slapstick. Matthew Rhys' seafaring fall, take a bow. Without the funny elements, this show wouldn't be as special as it is.
Critical Acclaim
With a near-perfect score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 'Widow's Bay' is impressing viewers. It's already been given a second series by Apple, and it's also been touted as the 'best show of 2026 so far'. It achieved something brilliant, not just the show itself, but the word-of-mouth clocking onto the show has seen its profile grow and grow since it launched in April.
Ensemble Cast
As well as the moreish writing and edge-of-the-seat intrigue, one more thing that really pushes 'Widow's Bay' to the top of the tree is the brilliant ensemble of actors who are utterly watchable and perfectly cast in each role. Matthew Rhys' Loftis has, somewhat unfairly I think, been compared to Mayor Vaughn in 'Jaws'. But put it like this, with no spoilers: Murray Hamilton's character in Spielberg's 1975 box office smash does not get into the water with the shark. Mayor Tom Loftis is a huge departure from the Welsh star's previous characters. In the past decade or so, his MO on screen has been serious Russian spy in 'The Americans', serious attorney in a reboot of 'Perry Mason', serious Agatha Christie detective in 'Towards Zero', and bone-chilling killer in 'A Beast in Me'. I over-simplify, of course, but 'Widow's Bay' exercises Rhys' acting talents even further, taking Dippold's idea and tone and bringing it to screen brilliantly.
He is supported by the wonderful Kate O'Flynn as the lonely but efficient Patricia and comedy stalwart Stephen Root as Wyck, who is dramatic but maintains the empathetic pull he always brings to roles. Yes, I am thinking of him as poor Milton in 1999's 'Office Space'.
How to Watch
So take my word-of-mouth advice and start bingeing 'Widow's Bay' right now. It's worth getting just for a month. Or you can sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV, here.
