I felt guilty for not liking this show.

I tried 3 viewings and it just seemed dumb.

Thanks for the review !

John Gentry
_________________________________________

You lost me at fakokta. Best show on TV. 

Tom Lehr
_________________________________________

Totally agree, Bob. Refreshing to hear a like-minded take. Everyone I've talked to LOVES this thing. I don't get it. It's a thoroughly decent show. The cast is good and the humor is pretty fun, but comes at the expense of the horror element. You can't have it both ways. And the 300 year flashback was a huge miss. Lost all momentum and the humor didn't translate either.

Trevor Dauten
_________________________________________

I thought it was hysterical and creepy and specific and atmospheric. And smart! 

Not for everyone though, I'll allow.

Jacob Moon
_________________________________________

LOVED IT, thought it was fantastically funny and dark humour horror. I slogged through the series week by week and agree, the mushroom episode was particularly hysterical. I am a fan of quirky shows and this one hit the spot with clever writing and interesting characters. Way to go Apple.

Margaret Hamamoto
_________________________________________

I understand what you’re saying. Those two episodes were hilarious and there were some other fine and funny moments, performances, not to mention plot holes. The acting and humor is what puts this show on the map.  Watching Matthew Rhys’s face when the founder was eating the Vienna sausages was mint. Stephen Root was great throughout. My wife said the show reminded her of Lost and I can see that and hope it doesn’t go too far down that road. At least it’s very funny. It’s pretty good escapism. 

Harold Love
_________________________________________

I thought it was entertaining, nothing more. Gave me a bit of a JAWS vibe with the mayor insisting everything is fine, we can’t cancel summer and so on. Matt Rhys was phenomenal in the Beast In Me, which is why I wanted to see Widow’s Bay.

Derek Beere
_________________________________________

I couldn’t keep up with the villains: a sea hag, the guy they exhumed (couldn’t tell if he was a villain), the Halloween Michael Myers guy, the weather, the crawling creature from the night in the hotel and whatever was in the basement in the finale.

The scene where the old woman sketches out the family lineage on an overhead projector that went on and on and on was perhaps the most annoying scene in television history for me.  It seemed like an attempt at humor but we got the point 30 or so seconds in, why keep it going for what seemed like an eternity? 

Outside of that Matthew Rhys is a terrific actor.

John J. Petrocelli
_________________________________________

With all due respect I couldn’t disagree more. This was the most fun I’ve had watching a tv series in quite awhile. I found the mix of comedy and horror perfect and I’m not particularly a fan of horror. I rewatched each of the episodes at least once just to catch things that I’d missed. The show was created by Katie Dippold who was a writer for Parks and Recreation and the office humor is very reminiscent of that show.
The homages to Jaws and Halloween and Lost are just a few of the treats here. From your review I can’t really understand why you are so strongly against it but to each their own. I will add that I enjoy a weekly drop of a show. Like The Pitt my wife and I looked forward to each new episode and didn’t feel rushed into watching episodes back to back and we got more out of them.
Enjoy your emails and appreciate your opinions even when I disagree.

Kevin Bennett
_________________________________________

I actually thought there were a couple of good episodes. There was some good tension in there, and I really didn’t mind some of the baloney that was happening… I think the reality is that they’re dragging it out to 10 episodes when they could easily bring it down to eight. I think the episodes are too short and that’s why they turn it into Ten shows… they should each be 15 minutes long and bring it down to eight.. my wife and I never watch week two week anymore.. we wait till there’s at least 3/4 of the episodes done before we’ll watch it.. and I think that gets us into the show more.. so at that point, I really can’t go and kill it because we’ve gotten into a flow  with it. Still much bigger hyped than what it was worth..

Peace,

Jason Miles
_________________________________________

I enjoyed it! It’s not that unusual to have a show / movie that is crepey but has humorous moments.  Knives out for example. I know tons of ppl who love it

Evan Rogers
_________________________________________

I’m sorry you hated it — God knows I’ve invested time in streaming shows that I wished I had back — but “Widow’s Bay” is my favorite show in years, full stop. Once my wife and I found out the episodes dropped at 9pm EST Tuesdays, we planned the night around it in old-school Appointment Television fashion.

I can’t recall seeing a show that balances multiple tones and tensions so skillfully, with the scares landing as effectively as the gags. The acting is laser-focused from the leads to the secondary characters, and the world-building shows thought and care.

And this is why I appreciate reading what you have to say, ‘cos I am fully and completely surprised that this didn’t land for you. But that’s the nice thing about this moment in time — on to the next show.

Best, Erick Haight
_________________________________________

We couldn't figure out WHAT this show was supposed to be, genuinely creepy or creepy funny. I thought the last episode wth Ruth, unsinkable “I will be leaving work at 3” Ruth, was great, and of COURSE it was stingy at the end set up Season 2.

The party reveal with Patricia’s punch recipe and instructions was hilarious.

But most importantly, I now know how to spell “fakokta.” Boning up on my Yiddish glossary!

Cheers,

Henry Eshelman
_________________________________________

Don't go all meshuga on me here, but I believe it's actually spelled Fakakta. :) 

Harry Levy
_________________________________________

It was slow.  Weird. Incomprehensible at times.  Uneven acting.

That's said it had just enough to finish it.  Could I recommend it?  Not really.

Would I watch season 2?  When there is so little to watch at times and searching gets to be such a drag, at times?  Maybe.

Larry Lootsteen

Waterloo, ON 
Canada
_________________________________________

Wish you had written this BEFORE I watched it, Bob. What a waste and had to be one of the most disappointing finales I’ve ever seen.

Brad Ketchum III
_________________________________________

Watched it and loved it. Just the right amount of wry humor, wit, spooky stuff and jump scares  (but not gratuitously gory like 90% of the mediaverse.  Rhys plays it straight and all of the characters are quirky and wonderful. What's a matter with you Bob? I usually agree with all of your recommendations.

Cathy Hausman in Mamaroneck 
_________________________________________

Well you can't be right about everything, but I really liked Widow's Bay.

Gary Wisner
_________________________________________

The self contained episode 6 was the beginning of the end. Downhill from that point onwards. Can’t get that time back

Andrew Richardson
_________________________________________

The plot came full circle for me when the bloodline reveal happened. That came out of nowhere and was perfectly executed. The fact that it sets up a new season is irrelevant to me. If the show ended forever after this season, I'd be fully satisfied. Not fond of "endings" to begin with. I like a dangling cliffhanger.

Steve Schalchlin
_________________________________________

I think you’re in idiot if you don’t like this show.

It’s X-Files in its balance and Rhys and the supporting cast balance horror and comedy brilliantly.

The whole “he was taken by the fog” bit in episode one was worth the cost of admission. It gets better though if you’re willing to wait until the evil hostess party bit. How is that not the perfect balance of funny and macabre?

Trey Zenker - NYC 
_________________________________________

It’s the worst - started off ok jumped the zombie shark and got stoopid fast - watch it win awards with a big awareness campaign and cringe away. 

Luke Joerger
_________________________________________

We always line up Bob…I feel the same way about Widow’s Bay.

Sam Jones
_________________________________________

I really tried to watch this show because I really liked Rhys in that Netflix show “The Beast in Me” w Claire Danes. Rhys was really good in that. 

But the first episode of “Widow’s Bay” was so slow and so not funny that my wife and I just could not get through it. 

We just looked at each other and said “nah” and then we watched a 10 year old episode of “SVU” and we were much happier. 

thanks,
Mark Feldman
_________________________________________

Anyone who doesn’t like this show:
1. Has terrible taste
2. Missed half of it because they were on their phone. 

It’s the funniest show I ever seen in a long time. Give Kate O’Flynn the Emmy now. 

Ben Nesvig
_________________________________________

This is a series that flummoxed us. Some amazing episodes. Some downright ridiculous (digging up the old mayor for example. But the end. How can this be? A cliffhanger is one thing, but this ending resolved nothing. Felt like a waste.

Bob Menzies
Vancouver Island
_________________________________________

I watched it walking on the treadmill to pass time. My wife asked me if it was good. I told her only if there is nothing else to watch.

David Schurr
_________________________________________

I wanted to like it but when they had a 500 year old person it jumped the shark!

Randy Wind
_________________________________________

OMG Bob, we couldn't agree more! We just finished the last two episodes and were so happy to read your view since we kept saying throughout both "This is SOOOO BO-RING"! 

Also agree that the two episodes you highlighted were amusing, as was the homage to Michael Myers. Though the latter was primarily because of Kate O'Flynn, who was great throughout. 

Probably won't bother with S2, since you know that Tom will never throw that trolley switch... 

Milton Lewin 
_________________________________________

Wisdow’s Bay was everything that you said and more. The writing was on the whole terrific- why - because it focused on “character,” unique, specific, and most off them a mix of tragic and comic, unusual. And it was very funny... until it got scary. Then it got scary and did that well. So it was intentionally a hybrid genre w/a mixed tone.  Not easy to do, yet they pulled it off for the most part. I did agree with you that in the end there was a big “huh”, a let down or a “so what” factor. That was disappointing. It needed to be more of a whammy so to speak. Just FYI Hitchcock said he wouldn’t embark on a narrative unless it had 13 whammies (major story beats - like first leavening that the island is cursed). This is why Tarrantino says that series aren’t nearly as satisfying as features except for the great series because they can just go on and not commit. Remember the end of season one of Fleabag. It’s an f’n whammy of a higher order, an epiphany. This one went out "not with a bang, but a whimper." I still thought the writing and directing and acting were terrific, but if an ending doesn't pay off big-time, as Ricky Ricardo says “you’ve got some 'splaining to do.”  

Howie Wiseman
former cellist with rock band Lighthouse
associate professor emeritus, screenwriting
_________________________________________

Yeah I made it about 1.5 episodes and then Tapped out

Jason Taylor
_________________________________________

I loved it and surprised that you did not mention the character Dale. Patricia was terrific. But Dale was done so well, so over the top, such great dour expressions and in that season finale, RUN! I think I peed my pants.

Roy Pascarella
_________________________________________

Couldn’t agree more! Watched the first episode and couldn’t buy in. Matthew Reyes is one of my favorite actors, but this series is a waste of time. 

Keith Bishop
_________________________________________

not a big fan of this, and of horror ghost stuff, but bc of reviews and rhys I watched.  I agree, there are some epiosodes I really enjoyed, and it did start out slow, I almost gave up. but its not bad and i liked it much better than  4 seasons-i didnt love S1 and gave up on S2 pretty quickly   

Brian Barry Esq.
_________________________________________

Sometimes I feel we are not experiencing  the same show or same recordings.

Other times I think you’re in my room watching the same show or listening to the same record  but in this case, if you don’t think that K  Callan AS RUTH  doesn’t deserve an Emmy for her performance in the finale and that the show doesn’t set up season two absolutely perfectly Then you and I are absolutely not on the same Jimi page!

Morley Bartnoff
_________________________________________

This is a show where your really need to put your phone down.  There are so many quiet little throwaways that are hysterical.   

Tim Redman
_________________________________________

It's a comedy first, not second. If you saw it that way from the start you may have enjoyed it more. It's one of the better shows Ive seen in years.

Bob Kalill
_________________________________________

Thanks, Bob, for confirming my initial thoughts on the show after watching 2 episodes.

So we left it and have gone back to some classic movies and shows.

Watched Midnight Cowboy, Taxi Driver, Apocolypse Now, Godfather 1, 2, 3 and are currently watching Deadwood (on season 3 and then the movie) and The Wire is next on our list. We've seen all of these before, they are so good they are worth watching again.

And so much better than Widow's Bay.

Best Wishes,

Jim Wills
_________________________________________

I could barely get past your first line which included the word fakokta.. I heard it many times growing up but have never thought how it was spelled..thanks for the laugh!! Maybe I’ll watch Widows Bay, maybe not.

Best,

Dayle Levy
_________________________________________

Bob - I will accept farkakte, ferkakte,  nothing less 

deborah wilker 
_________________________________________

Widow's Bay season 1 was fun enough but all the hoopla I see online about it is overkill. I'm a fan of Stephen King style horror and loved how the show runners didn't take themselves too seriously. They have fun with the classic horror tropes, there is some great comedy and characters, and some truly frightening bits. But, ultimately, I agree that sometimes the show just fell flat and dragged. The "twist" was easy to spot from a mile away. 

This isn't on the same level of a Breaking Bad, Sopranos, the Wire, or even Severance, etc. It's good, not great...yet. I'll definitely see how Season 2 shapes up. Perhaps this show will get stronger with more seasons.

Sean Geraty
_________________________________________

I loved Widows Bay. I thought it was a hoot. And I loved it precisely because it kept me offkilter the entire time. The show has an inspired cast, but for me what distinguishes it is the writing. It’s really fresh and confident and I appreciate all the left turns. 

I know you’re really down on streamers that dole out content week by week but sometimes it works to let us savor a good show. It becomes “appointment television” and the anticipation is part of the fun. 

TomKB
_________________________________________

It’s a terrific show. The build in the conversation week by week is a big part of its success. You’re missing the podcast tv world which has become a major aspect of marketing and analysis. It’s fine if it’s not for you. I’ll say the ending was not as strong, I’ll give you that. All the best from Delaware! 

Ron Ozer

Programming - Elkton Music Hall
_________________________________________

The only thing this waste of time revealed is that it is abject garbage... Good morning Bob 

Charles Michael Green
_________________________________________

Thanks Bob,

I wasn't sure how I felt, but fakokta sums it up nicely...

J.B. Brenner
_________________________________________

It's one of those shows (the majority of shows nowadays) which are neither good nor bad.

They are beige.

But yeah, Rhys is a very fine actor. 

And I ain't watching Cape Fear. If Javier Bardem is boycotting Israel, well, I am boycotting you back, you...(expletive of your own choosing.)

All love,
Baptiste-Elias Piégay-Natanson
_________________________________________

I don’t know what ‘fakokta' means, but it *sounds* like a perfect description of this show. We just finished watching the finale and sat there looking at each other thinking “we spent how many hours watching this fakokta?”

You expect resolution, with maybe a hint that there could be another season. Not this time. No, most things unresolved, and new clues(what happened to the guy in the shelter basement?. The reveal about Tom’s son. Is Ruth still alive?

I did enjoy the acting, particularly Kate O’Flynn, and of course Stephen Root (whom you didn’t mention).

I’ll watch season 2, if there is one.

Phil Schawe

PS - OK I looked it up:  messed up, ridiculous, broken, or utterly foolish
_________________________________________

You asked, I actually liked it. Some episodes better than others. Betty Gilipin, always watchable and the Boogeyman episode was tense. It was an original story line.  So much of the same stuff on streaming, this was different.  4 out of 5 stars. 

Alan Segal


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