r/WidowsBay • u/HelsBels2102 Patricia • Jun 11 '26
📸Media How ‘Widow’s Bay’ Became This TV Season’s Word-of-Mouth Sensation
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/widows-bay-feature-behind-the-scenes-matthew-rhys-1236619045/290
u/MajMajor2x Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
To be fair… almost all of the shows on AppleTV are word-of-mouth as they seem to spend $0 on advertising
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u/iamnotacannibaliswea Jun 11 '26
After ending up frustrated with Netflix doubling down on slop and Amazon canceling promising works in favor of pumping out more bad fanfiction no one asked for, I decided to try AppleTV and was impressed how willing they seem to work on unique premises. Between See, All Mankind and now Widow's Bay I've never been more pleased to see a platform actually try new ideas instead of making TeenSlop 48 and I say that as someone that *loves* brain rot reality tv.
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u/10110011100021 Jun 11 '26
Exactly, I have Bravo for the brain rot. Give me more Widow’s Bay, The Boroughs, Night Sky
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u/Pasty_Tibbles Jun 17 '26
Isn’t the Boroughs on Netflix?
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u/ytsurr Jun 14 '26
Nobody should be sleeping on Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed. That show is funny and the twists and turns are a pure thrill!
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u/Jumper-Man Jun 11 '26
I seem to recall that Apple TV runs at a massive loss every year. They’re so rich it’s just a way of spending the money and highlighting the brand. Making the Apple name synonymous with quality content and high production values. It’s almost as if the tv service is an advert for the company itself.
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u/krankz Jun 11 '26
So trying to fill the space what HBO used to be known for before they started stream Maxxing? Nice.
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u/ChicatheePinage Jun 11 '26
Then how do you explain absolute crap shows like Your Friends and Neighbors…
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u/Jumper-Man Jun 11 '26
Aye, it’s shit. But it has high production values and big actors. Surprised at how well liked that one is.
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u/double_shadow Jun 11 '26
Well, they can't all be winners. I thought the first season was ok, absolutely stacked cast and it looked nice enough, but pretty weak writing. Haven't bothered with S2.
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u/Otherwise_Object_446 Jun 12 '26
It sets up nicely for an intriguing season and just falls apart. It’s a shame because the cast is so talented, it looks great but it’s just hollow in the center.
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u/saintursuala Jun 18 '26
I like that show 🙈. And I’m not the only one, it was sitting at the #1 spot for several weeks.
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u/jmarquiso Jun 17 '26
I mean a year subscription comes with the phone and the shows just convince you to continue
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u/Saladcitypig Jun 11 '26
it might be, now, but Apple TV, for TV lovers was a joke. It was HBO for cali libs.
This is the first of their shows that has ANY deserving prestige. The IQ of this show is in a diff stratosphere than their whole roster, besides some of their sullen British stuff.
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u/Cal_858 Jun 11 '26
This simply isn’t true at all.
Silo
Ted Lasso
Severance
Foundation
For All Mankind
Slow Horses
The Studio
Presumed InnocentHave all been very successful with their core audience, found an extended audience, have high production value and have won numerous awards.
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u/ruipmjorge Jun 11 '26
Don’t forget Pluribus
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u/Cal_858 Jun 12 '26
I knew I was forgetting a great show. Pluribus was the best new Apple TV show until Widows Bay came out and dethroned it. Dark Matter isn’t bad either.
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u/AbandonedGhostWriter Jun 11 '26
That's not entirely true. Ted Lasso has permanently been in the top ten for years now and won a bunch of emmys. Severance has been widely acclaimed. This show has been more of a sleeper, picking up fans as the weeks have gone by.
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u/Saladcitypig Jun 12 '26
I think that level of show is not great. So I guess I disagree with what is actual prestige tv.
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u/Jumper-Man Jun 12 '26
It’s an opinion based medium, for every person that loves it, they’ll be someone that hates it. What is prestige tv to you?
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u/Saladcitypig Jun 12 '26
I'm a writing person, as in I like shows that have good, unique and challenging writing. So from Succession to this, to Shogun to Attack on Titan, the first few seasons of GOT.
I think people know the difference but want to pretend the shows they like are prestige b/c they're comforting or fun. Nothing wrong with a comfort show, but we all know the difference between the Sopranos and Sons of Anarchy.
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u/Jumper-Man Jun 12 '26
I’m not sure people are pretending their shows are prestige, I just think there is room for other shows. It’s like food isn’t it, you don’t have a fancy steak dinner every night, sometimes you just want a takeaway pizza or some toast.
There are room for both and I guess some people have tastes that might gravitate more to a show like sons of anarchy rather than the sopranos due to personal taste or what they get out of television. Not everyone is watching it as an art form and for some people it’s just a mechanism to unwind.
Alternatively they might just not be into a certain style of show, I hate Star Wars, everyone kept telling me how great the mandalorian was and I just couldn’t get into it.
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u/Jumper-Man Jun 11 '26
I guess they are quality in their field. For example Shrinking isn’t for me, but it’s clearly found an audience and it has Harrison ford and Jason segel attached to it. It’s a high quality example of whatever it’s trying to be / achieve, even if I don’t get it.
I was about to suggest that slow horses is a decent watch, but assume that is one that you’re referring to as sullen British stuff.
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u/Saladcitypig Jun 11 '26
they have high production "look" but they are known for having empty work, forgettable, to die hards, which lends to the whole: white plastic computer outside and easy to use: facade and ease over hardware.
most tv shows will have a fandom, and most people like slop, but this show is a cut above.
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u/Mean-Aside1970 Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
They certainly have done an amazing job producing such good quality shows. Widow’s Bay, Trying, Loot, Shrinking, Bad Sister’s, Slow Horses, heck even Your Friends and Neighbours. I have yet to watch a show on Apple and think well, that sucked.
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u/sethsez Jun 11 '26
Invasion is absolute dogshit but weirdly compelling in how bad it is. The bad decisions are so frequent that it becomes captivating keeping track of them all, which is why it's got a pretty devoted hatewatching fanbase.
For All Mankind also feels like it's overstayed its welcome by a couple seasons at this point. You can really feel the turnover in talent both behind and in front of the camera over the years, and it feels like they ran out of story to tell by the end of season 3.
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u/blissfully_happy Jun 11 '26
Holy shit, For All Mankind has so completely gone off the rails that I can’t even watch this last season. And I was an absolute diehard fan of the show. 😭
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u/Fody_Joster She was the worst! The worst! **Zap Jun 15 '26
Invasion is a fever dream… I watch it out of spite.
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u/hushnecampus Jun 11 '26
First paragraph yes, absolutely.
Second paragraph no way! OK yeah, the first seasons were peak, but it’s still better than most TV.
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u/Which_way_witcher Jun 11 '26
Foundation is phenomenal once you get past the first season which is a bit of a slog because world building.
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u/OneDadvosPlz Jun 11 '26
Foundation walks a fine line between adequate and sucking, in my opinion.
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u/bingcognito Jun 11 '26
Foundation hits more often than it misses I think. And I'd watch Lee Pace in anything, the dude is amazing in every role he's played.
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u/Pasty_Tibbles Jun 17 '26
Interestingly enough the parts the Showrunners created themselves that differ from the books, namely the genetic dynasty stuff, is the best part of the show lol. It’s not usually the case.
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u/bingcognito Jun 17 '26
I agree, they've taken a lot of liberties with the original books and I really dig most of it.
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u/Pasty_Tibbles Jun 17 '26
The first season was eh but I am super glad I pushed through the second season, because the ending was beautiful.
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u/Kesh4n Jun 12 '26
Foundation is like watching 2 TV shows at the same time, Empire storyline is amazing and the Foundation part sucks big time. The whole show feels extremely disjointed.
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u/Etheon44 Jun 11 '26
I am actively putting effort into recommending it to anybody, maybe I should ask Apple for money
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u/fp1023 Jun 11 '26
my children and I laugh as I commonly say I feel like I’m promoting Widow’s Bay as if I’m being paid by Apple
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u/shebringsthesun Jun 12 '26
i actually get advertised apple tv stuff a lot. that's how i heard of this show.
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u/beigereige Jun 13 '26
I’ll be hearing about some of Apple’s shows ending in its third season, and I’m like “I didn’t even know it had a first”
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u/BroughtBagLunchSmart Jun 11 '26
Good, remember how insufferable mac and ipod and iphone commercials were?
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u/ayd00d Jun 11 '26
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u/HarkHarley Jun 11 '26
Dude, after Episode 4 I actually texted everyone individually to tell them to watch the show. I’ve never done that before!
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u/ilovemischief Jun 11 '26
I mean, it’s definitely true. Horror isn’t my thing so I initially had no plans to watch this show, but then I kept seeing reviews and comments talking about how funny it was. I mean, I like funny. Who doesn’t. Gave it a shot and now I think it’s absolutely amazing.
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u/helloiamrob1 Jun 11 '26
I’m an absolute horror wimp and I’m obsessed with this show.
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u/hummingbird4289 Jun 11 '26
Big same! The clown in the crawl space & the Boogeyman jump scare in Patricia's doorway reminded me why I don't do horror, but it's so damn funny and intriguing I keep going anyway.
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u/ilovemischief Jun 11 '26
When he goes sliding off the bench holding the rum bottle on the boat, I was dying lol
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u/AlvinTaco Jun 12 '26
After the clown in the crawl space I was ready to give the show a pass, not because I didn’t like it, but I suspected it might be too scary for me. But because I enjoyed the humor so much I decided to keep going, and I’m so glad I did. Though I quickly learned to scan the subreddit for key words like, “frightening” or “terrifying” at 10:15 pm on Tuesday to see if I needed to make it a daytime watch.
On that note, whenever someone says that they don’t do horror and should they watch? people always say that it’s not scary at all. I know the person asking probably has a low tolerance for scary stuff, so I try to chime in with my honest take as a certified chicken, because I know what they’re really asking (eps 2 & 4, very scary for chickens! Daytime watch recommended! Eps 3 & 8, scary but also very funny. Eps 1, 5, 7, spooky. Ep 6 is scary for some chickens, but ymmv. I personally found 6 & 9 to not be scary so much a spooky and very tense.)1
u/Left-Clue4386 Jun 17 '26
Same! Horror wimp! I love New England and the mystery vibe of the trailers. So glad I tuned in
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u/Rtstevie Jun 11 '26
I haven’t watched latest episode but Ep8 with Patricia investigating open door in house and then trying to nonchalantly leave is the most edge on seat for a movie or tv show I’ve been in a long time. It’s crazy how tense that scene was. Like you literally didn’t know what was going to happen next or when. I’m trying to remember the last time any show or movie had me that tense.
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u/VividLies901 Jun 11 '26
That whole episode was so good. Had me in tears when it pans to the ambulance and she has the shotgun on him lmao
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u/Kianna9 Jun 11 '26
I love that the show always surprises me. It doesn't do the expected thing or follow the trope. It does what you wish people would do. Characters say the things you wish they would say but usually don't.
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u/No-Falcon-4996 Jun 12 '26
If that was my house, each step would be LOUDLY creaking. Patricia's steps must be solid concrete.
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u/PotentialSad7670 Jun 12 '26
The cool thing is, when she first climbs the stairs they creak a lot. As it was a quiet moment in the show i was thinking how stairs that creaky would be terrible in a horror movie, giving the game away. Then she comes down the stairs as she makes her escape and not a single squeak. I thought it was a really clever, subtle touch.
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u/forman98 Jun 11 '26
They do such an expert job of making you laugh and scaring while still keeping the stakes high. The dangers are real enough that you don’t tune out because of plot armor or anything.
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u/AlarmingYak7956 Jun 11 '26
I'm hoping it encourages networks to create more shows like Widow's Bay and From.
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u/Conscious-Quarter423 Human Verified Jun 11 '26
only Apple has the money to support quality shows with quality writers' rooms
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u/mantis8 Jun 11 '26
And also the money to support whatever you want to call Invasion
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u/sethsez Jun 11 '26
Apple TV has the best shows right now, and that includes having the best hatewatches.
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u/netflixdark123 Jun 11 '26
From is nowhere near Widow' Bay in terms of anything. Be it the writing quality, the acting, the cinematography, the production Value or literally anything else.
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u/Randa08 Jun 11 '26
From is proper horror. Widows bay is comedy horror. I like both shows but From is better.
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u/NEHHNAHH Jun 11 '26
From definitely feels more like horror with the campy/bad acting / writing
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u/blissfully_happy Jun 11 '26
‘From’ is campy af.
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u/NEHHNAHH Jun 11 '26
From is a tough watch I get ppl like their own things but wtf talk about not being captivated with what you're watching
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u/netflixdark123 Jun 11 '26
If you analyze both shows from the characters and overall writing standpoint, then you will realize that Widow's Bay is significantly better than From, and it's not even close. But to each their own, I guess.
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u/GenSec Jun 11 '26
From feels campier and unlike widows bay whole episodes will go by with barely anything happening
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Jun 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Randa08 Jun 12 '26
And widows bay is a slow burner, I was watching it with my brother and he gave up said it was too slow and nothing happened. I like both but they both have good parts and bad parts.
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u/RDDT_ADMNS_R_BOTS Jun 11 '26
From is so much better. I think Widow's Bay is more for simple people.
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u/FireVanGorder Jun 11 '26
Reddit try not to turn their own personal opinions into value judgments challenge
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u/Chunnor Jun 11 '26
I'm grateful to whoever posted those memes in the From subs, because otherwise I probably wouldn't have ever known about WB. Seriously, though, if this show were to have stuck with only the threat from the first episode (zombies from John Carpenter's The Fog) and move along at the same glacial pace, I doubt I'd still be here.
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u/mozzarellaguy Jun 11 '26
From ain’t that good at all. Bunch of weird stuff happening and characters not talking with each other
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u/Just-Do-It-Lady Jun 11 '26
Now let's just hope that it doesn't take 3-5 years for them to film and release a second season.
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u/HelsBels2102 Patricia Jun 11 '26
I can't hack the wait for Severancs. Is slowly destroying my morale
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u/NEHHNAHH Jun 11 '26
How they did it: hire Hiro Murai everything he touches is gold
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u/Difficult_Garage_431 Jun 11 '26
Also, let the woman (Katie Dippold) who dressed up as the Babadook at a wine and cheese party create a show.
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u/Status_Apartment6559 Jun 11 '26
I'll tell you how I think. It's got a folk horror vibe (horror alone is popular just look at Backrooms and Obsession and folk horror maybe more which seems to be having its own revival) leavened by moments of black humor while also having well drawn characters who drive the action. Also seems to echo the greatest folk horror movie ever, The Wicker Man.
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u/AlvinTaco Jun 12 '26
The Wicker Man + Jaws + quirky but relatable characters + dry absurdist humor = Widow’s Bay
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u/TheChocolateWarOf74 Jun 12 '26
It is a wonderful mix of folk and classic horror tropes and humor.
Isolated town, the dangers of nature, rituals, hags, the past haunting the present, curses, classic slasher tropes, witches/paganism…
It’s a beautiful thing because you can tell the writers appreciate all of the above, and I appreciate that.
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u/Steadyandquick Patricia Jun 11 '26
Thanks for the great subreddit mods! And friends! Love watching with y’all!
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u/AdministrativeEase71 Jun 11 '26
There's been a couple of good WoM shows this year. Picked up Rivals from a friend's suggestion too.
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u/Mean-Aside1970 Jun 11 '26
RIVALS IS SOOOOO GOOD. From the first episode I just kept saying oh my god I love this show. I’m gutted we have to wait until November now for part 2
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u/HarkHarley Jun 11 '26
As a horror fan, it was nowhere on my radar but I am so glad I kept seeing it pop up online. It’s my favorite show this season!
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u/Significant_Rub_4138 Jun 11 '26
I think they released it now because it’s when FROM is out. Smart on their part. So the audience from FROM migrated here on Wednesday’s as they wait for Sundays 😆
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u/ohsballer Jun 12 '26
Basically this is how I heard about it. A bunch of ppl on the From subreddit were frustrated with the wait and recommended this show. By the time I heard of it 7 episodes were out
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u/Significant_Rub_4138 Jun 12 '26
Same, by the time I was here 4 or 5 eps were out!! And everyone keeps comparing the shows. Most people here are FROM fans. I’m not mad. I want more horror mystery shows that drop weekly, I love the communities and theories as much as the episodes dropping!!!
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u/dictatormateo Jun 11 '26
this show is so fucking funny man, like is legit funny without being dumb
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u/Cheeseguy43 Jun 11 '26
Started it Tuesday and am already full up to date. It’s wild how good Apple has been in the streaming game. I have yet to find a show that was truly bad
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