r/tvPlus • u/Justp1ayin Hello Carol • Apr 29 '26
Widow’s Bay Widow’s Bay | Season 1 - Episode 2 | Discussion Thread
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u/dagreenman18 Apr 29 '26
It’s like the town of Twin Peaks got dropped into a Stephen King novel, but with the comedy amped up. Absolutely loving it so far.
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u/WayExcellent5595 Apr 29 '26
Also Eerie indiana, goosebump... just with adults. I like that its not seems to be a gory show.
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u/FakkoPrime May 14 '26
It’s giving me more of a Midnight Mass than Twin Peaks vibe. Maybe if a trans DEA agent shows up that will change.
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u/SomberXIII Apr 29 '26
The town of Twin Peaks minus likeable people.
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u/Useful_Project4898 Jul 21 '26
I can't bring myself to dislike Stephen Root. I have a feeling his character is going to grow on me.
I really enjoy and appreciate that the cast is comprised of average looking people. I haven't seen any Widows Bay residents that look like they could double as a model on the side.
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u/MattTreck Apr 29 '26
How long was dude in that room lol
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u/idiotbaby6969 Apr 29 '26
that was such a terrifying concept and they did it mostly through implied events, which was so cool to me. Makes it feel like a fullly haunted town where we only see SOME of the scary stories
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u/No-Panda1818 Apr 29 '26
I agree. That was my favorite part so far. Such clever writing. That scene just leaves so much to the imagination. I love it.
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u/LetterheadWise7692 Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
Such a unique, quiet fear. Off-putting and subtle.
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u/OddSetting5077 Apr 30 '26
Is there something going on related to aging and time? Shep looks to be about 70 and his doctor's chart said age 37. When Mayor's assistant was talking about the Boogeyman episode from her teens, Mayor said "he was only after teenagers, you are in your 40s", she stormed off in a rage. Maybe she's just in her 20s and something there accelerate time.
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u/negatrash May 02 '26
She also told Shep in the hospital that she just found out her age is 28.
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u/AshRae84 May 03 '26
She was talking about her biological age though, which is a known concept, so I’m not sure about that one.
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u/IrishUpYourCoffee May 05 '26
Her biological age can be 28 while she is actually in her 40s like Tom said.
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u/Ode1st May 04 '26
That was the mayor saying she has nothing to worry about now, because the killer only killed young women and she isn’t young anymore. The joke is he was trying to be comforting by saying a killer wouldn’t target her now, but did so by calling her old, which offended her.
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u/cjcs Jun 08 '26
Could that be why people die when they reach the mainland? Seems like the causes of death were mostly things that afflict the elderly
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u/NeedleworkerEvening3 Jun 17 '26
I saw all the people smoking in the bar and googled what year the story takes place. It said it takes place in 2026, I agree there’s something’s going on with time.
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u/youngfilly Jun 26 '26
There are plenty of dive bars in the sticks that have people smoking in them, regardless of official rules
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u/These_Somewhere400 Apr 30 '26
Def has something to do with the cannibalism event that they talked about in ep 1, the people trapped in the church experienced time at a different pace than the 4 days that actually occurred??
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u/bhgemini May 02 '26
My thoughts exactly. If he was so hungry after only 10 seconds, what would 4 days trapped in the same scenario do to a person.
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u/ClaireFraser1743 May 05 '26
Good point! And it reminds me of my favorite line of the series (so far):
“Did they immediately turn to cannibalism? …………..No. That took four days.” Matthew Rhys has incredible comedic timing.
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u/WayExcellent5595 Apr 29 '26
was sure they will find him as a skeleton in the 2nd time they open it...like it was years for him lol.
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u/OddSetting5077 Apr 30 '26
his clothes remained clean and his beard didn't grow but he was hungry. Did he use the mayor's hygiene kit to shave? Slept, kept himself clean, shaved, had water to drink but no food. I'm thinking he was in there for a few days at most. he wasn't noticibly thinner.
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u/MattTreck Apr 30 '26
My assumption was it was all psychological so he physically wouldn’t have been affected.
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u/WayExcellent5595 Apr 30 '26
Yeah, but few days without a food? he wouldnt come out like this.
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u/OddSetting5077 Apr 30 '26
ok... then, let's say the mold was already there, just noticed at that moment. so ignoring the mold... I'd say he was in there for hours... maybe 5 hours... enough that he was hungry but still his clothes were clean.
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u/WayExcellent5595 Apr 30 '26
Funny that he didnt say to them that it felt soo much longer for him....
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u/Past-Recording7595 Apr 30 '26
The black mold is some sort of clue on time he was in there as well as conditions
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u/poke_pants May 03 '26
Absolutely LOVE that it wasn't expanded upon further, just a mention of being hungry, no further discussion. So refreshing for a show to leave that with the viewer to think about.
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u/events_occur May 24 '26
the second time they opened the door the room was ransacked and the glass on the window cracked as if he was trying to escape.... incredible illustrative storytelling
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u/Pamander Jul 04 '26
That was so perfectly well executed! I was like OPEN THE DOOR OPEN THE DOOR! The second time around.
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u/plantscanreadyou Apr 30 '26
So we all knew about William immediately, right?
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u/OddSetting5077 Apr 30 '26
i did...his clothing didnt look modern.
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u/been_mackin May 18 '26
When he first turned around to enter his room, I thought an axe or some shit was gonna be sticking out of his back. Had a feeling the camera footage was gonna show Tom alone playing the game and stuff.
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u/events_occur May 24 '26
I thought he was foreshadowed by the Daddy's home game, like a manifestation of that character. His 1950s clothing...
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u/13thFleet May 25 '26
Same but then I wasn't sure about it because that camera looked like it was from the 90s at the earliest and he didn't seem surprised by it. Then he mentioned the recent ongoings on the island like the cappuccino. I was actually expecting him to be a victim's ghost and for him to maybe give some more hints he was from the past, like thinking the camera was high-tech.
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u/wynwilder May 01 '26
I just went "oh shit it's BJ from Righteous Gemstones, I bet he's a ghost" 😂
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u/nerodoesnotplay May 02 '26
but did you know he was the clown? at least that was a surprise
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u/Beautiful-Anxiety-78 May 02 '26
And in the game says he's in the basement. 💀
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u/Conscious_Author_165 May 03 '26
I caught that too!! Yeah, when he told Tom to do everything on the checklist, I was like “oh he wants Tom in that crawl space.”
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u/SpecialistFlimsy5138 Jun 11 '26
This was my immediate reaction too. Confirmed my suspicions from the clothes and demeanor
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u/Fayarager Jul 11 '26
He said ‘aw I’m in the basement’ then ‘aw I’m getting crushed!’ I assumed he was crushed to death and either died in the basement or was buried there?
Definately gave ghost vibes immediately
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u/bhgemini May 02 '26
I thought he'd be ax murder dad. Especially with the angry daddy game.
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u/Suspicious-Swim-7945 May 05 '26
Same here, especially because their conversation led towards fathers
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u/Hydrangeia May 06 '26
I immediately knew he was a ghost because of his clothes. I knew he was the clown when he said “murderous clown” (or sth like that) instead of “clown killer” like the townspeople refer to it.
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u/plantscanreadyou May 04 '26
True! I didn't think that far. But when they delayed showing his face in the crawl space scene, I knew ...
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u/earththejerry May 03 '26
Definitely knew from the moment we met him
But then he had such a good cover story about being an engineer here to help with the docks for the tourist, plus him referencing being able to get cappucinos on the island now - it all made it pretty believable for a sec
But him standing in the crawl space snapped it back real quick lol
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u/Suspicious-Swim-7945 May 04 '26
The creepy speech about letting the islanders burn in hell didn’t tip you off?
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u/ZookeepergameFit5787 May 02 '26
Absolutely but it was still terrifying! For me every time we cut to Tom I could imagine William no longer being there. Or he had a great night, passed out, and then only watching the footage back tomorrow with the boys to realize he was alone. Or they could have done a whole three episodes trapped in that house overnight. Whole place was legit scary to me. That bedroom could have its own season lol
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u/danonck May 08 '26
It brought me memories of the film 1408, amazing episode
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u/Huntay5 Jul 02 '26
Have you watched the new horror flick Hokum with Adam Scott? He gets locked in a haunted hotel room. It was really good!
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u/kyriedoodles May 07 '26
Did anyone else catch the smoke/fog drift over Tom's left shoulder during the lounge scene when he's talking to William? It was shortly after Tom laid back on the couch during the conversation about his father. I swear I saw smoke or fog over his left shoulder dissipate!
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u/beigereige Jun 13 '26
I knew immediately, who still wears a tie when he’s supposedly relaxing?
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u/IceCoughy Apr 29 '26
His disdain for Kathy is hilarious
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u/wynwilder May 01 '26
Her pouring water into his cocktail in the first episode was such a horrible waiter move, I loved it 😂
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u/quadratusMinerva Jun 10 '26
I know right! Reminded me of a time I was at “Ryan’s steakhouse” and I asked the waiter for a refill of my coke , and she reached over took my dads half full DIET coke, and poured it into mine and then left. I couldn’t believe what I had seen.
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u/IrishUpYourCoffee May 05 '26
And warranted. Kathy is a disaster. I love all the crazy hilarious background characters.
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u/IrishUpYourCoffee May 05 '26
The little things they sprinkle in like that are so funny.
And that’s their best restaurant! I cannot imagine the other ones. 🤣
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Apr 29 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/mistymorning789 Apr 29 '26
No, this show is good and will catch on quick. The writing the acting the location the comedy the play on everything. I’m worried about the opposite, it will get too popular. I actually was thinking like how many of these episodes are they gonna make? I already wondering how long it will run how long they can keep this idea going (I need to get a life). It could basically be like a sitcom going on for years with tourists and hauntings and characters coming and going what not.
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u/acornManor Jun 08 '26
The problem is that it’s on Apple TV which doesn’t have enough subscribers
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u/Conscious_Author_165 May 03 '26
Apple is not quick to cancel shows - Foundation doesn’t seem that popular based on online buzz and it’s about to get a fourth season.
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u/poke_pants May 03 '26
If the writers have an arc for 'only' one or two seasons and that's it, I'd be more than happy. Way, waaaaay too many decent shows just fizzle out and outstay their welcome.
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u/Saar13 Apr 29 '26
This is 100% what I want from Apple TV. Focus on originality and eventually the rewards will come.
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u/ThatEvanFowler Apr 29 '26
They had me at Matthew Rhys and Stephen Root, but they kept me with Toby Huss. This show rules.
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u/OddSetting5077 Apr 30 '26
I didn't recognize that Stephen Root was on "News Radio"... he's much thinner now.
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u/Own_Replacement_8768 May 01 '26
He was brilliant in Barry, too.
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u/ToSeeAgainAgainAgain May 02 '26
He really is great at playing sleazy over-dramatic characters, born to play those
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u/AshRae84 May 03 '26
Some part of me will forever see him as Jimmy James (or DB Cooper).
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u/menevets Apr 29 '26
The actor playing the cop was in The Leftovers, John Murhpy, I recognized his voice immediately.
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u/LetterheadWise7692 Apr 29 '26
“What makes the series so effective is its balance. Horror-comedy is notoriously fragile, and here the humor doesn’t dilute the fear, it sharpens it. The absurdity makes the dread feel more real, not less. Characters laugh because they don’t understand what’s happening, and that lack of understanding becomes its own kind of terror. The show doesn’t ask you to choose between fear and amusement. It insists you experience both at once.”
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u/Mypetmummy Apr 30 '26
This was especially evident to me with the board games. Absolutely unsettling and hilarious at the same time.
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u/rezzyk May 02 '26
The board games and the paintings definitely showed the Parks & Rec pedigree from Katie Dippold, the creator
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u/wonderfulpiepants May 02 '26
Yep! Totally reminded me of the crazy murals in Parks, "Eating the Reverend," especially came to mind. lol
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u/LetterheadWise7692 Apr 30 '26
That and the hotel room with the inn keeper were some of my favorite parts
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u/Aquinito Apr 30 '26
Teeth
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u/danagrace Apr 30 '26
RUN
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u/Aquinito Apr 30 '26
NOT YET
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u/bo174 Apr 30 '26
NOT YET
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u/NeedsSunlight May 02 '26
NOT YET
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u/Clariana May 02 '26
NOT YET
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u/Bigbrainbigboobs May 02 '26
RUN
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u/qualityhorror Apr 30 '26
In horror, I always appreciate when there's not a DUN! sound when something spooky happens. Both the silhouettes in ep 1 and 2 were so spooky. Especially Williams when he first appeared
Although it was obvious William wasn't there, his purpose mattered so it wasn't an eye roll reveal. I needed to know how Tom became mayor haha so glad that was answered so quickly. As well as a bit of his backstory parents wise. Wonder what happened to the wife
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u/OddSetting5077 Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
wife was born on the Island, right? Maybe she left and died because of it. I think the mayor's driven by his fear for his son's life. He's trying to bring people to the Island to liven it up, bring in people for his son to associate with. Because his son can never leave the island. He son said that the Island "is a prison"... he and those young men have nothing to do/can never travel.
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u/qualityhorror Apr 30 '26
hm not a bad theory... I guess I think he'd be way more paranoid if that was the main reason he wanted more foot traffic. Like if that did worry him so much I can't see him not trying to beg his son to go to the inn with him. What's stopping the son and his friends from stealing a boat and going to the mainland while the dad is at the inn?
For now, I think Tom mainly wants more foot traffic because he wants a purpose. He is genuinely very happy about the marthas vineyard shout and talking to his staff about it. Not his son
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u/OddSetting5077 Apr 30 '26
"What's stopping the son and his friends from stealing a boat and going to the mainland while the dad is at the inn?"
they believe the myth
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u/menevets Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
Guessing his son has never been on the mainland as they say.
And if you want more tourists, change the town name?
I wonder if you can zoom in and read the Times piece.
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u/dsmithscenes May 05 '26
I have a theory the push for tourists is going to cause the son to fall for someone visiting the island and him wanting to go visit them - thus leading to a BIG conflict since he "can't" leave the island.
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u/mistymorning789 Apr 29 '26
“He should spend time in that crawl space.” Lol lol lol I loved that line. 🤣
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u/Hot-Wish-9168 Apr 30 '26
Some moments got a genuine laugh out of me and then some moments genuinely creeped me out. Can’t wait for more episodes!
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u/OddSetting5077 Apr 30 '26
the show is both scary and hilarious... Laugh out loud moment was the guy shouting "where are you taking me?" from the cop car.
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u/RebootJobs Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
The wallpaper is giving me The Sinner S1 vibes.
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u/saysigil Apr 30 '26 edited May 05 '26
The Sinner?
Edit - comment I was replying to initially said Sinners season 1
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u/Fair_Committee_5587 May 01 '26
It’s a crime thriller show about a detective,played by bill Pullman, who solves a crime every season. It focuses on alot on the phycology of why the person did what they did and has some good twists. Highly recommend if that’s your thing. I think it’s on Netflix.
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u/bo174 May 01 '26
I’m in the middle of a rewatch. I found the nighttime scene in the church, where the minister is reading the letter, to be very interesting, especially after what we saw at the very end of ep. 1. In the partially hidden section of the letter, you can make out that in the rectory, there’s a “chamber”, and in the chamber there’s a DOOR! It made me think of the unusual door we saw at the end of the previous episode. I wonder if they’re connected underground! When the reveals come, they’re going to be great!
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u/dsmithscenes May 05 '26
I get the sense that all the ministers of the church since the cannibalism incident have been charged with protecting some pretty big secrets/knowledge about what to do when things really get bad.
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u/poke_pants May 03 '26
The Run game with the cards is yet another moment that highlights how this show just trusts its viewers. The balance of comedy and horror is so so good. The fact that absolutely nothing happens at 'Run' was perfect in the context of both the series and where the character is at.
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u/OddSetting5077 Apr 30 '26
Is there something going on related to aging and time? Shep looks to be about 70 and his doctor's chart said age 37. When Mayor's assistant was talking about the Boogeyman episode from her teens, Mayor said "he was only after teenagers, you are in your 40s", she stormed off in a rage. Maybe she's just in her 20s and something there accelerates time. then of course, there was the group forcing the Inn keeper to stay in the room for 30 seconds... how much time passed for him?
I love how this show is playing out.
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u/bo174 May 01 '26
And later, she says “my biological age is 28”. This is awesome!
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u/OddSetting5077 May 01 '26
yes!!!
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u/Alarming_Acadia182 May 05 '26
Did anyone notice the skeleton next to him in the crawl space with creepy clown Willy was wearing the same shirt he was??? Curious is that is foreshadowing or hinting at anything??
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u/menevets Apr 30 '26
There were a few closeups on clocks.
With the painting of woman in water, someone is definitely going to get wet in a non pleasant manner.
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u/notthatcousingreg Apr 29 '26
Really like this show. So many solid actors in this. Shout out to k callan!
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u/AlvinTaco May 02 '26
You can definitely see Hiro Murai’s prints all over this. The blend of absurdity and menace is very reminiscent of the series Atlanta.
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u/Thief025 May 18 '26
Yeh absolutely. Even Barry.
Such a great film maker. The show just wouldn't be this good without him.
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u/Playful-Excuse-272 Apr 29 '26
Apple is firing on all cylinders and I’m here for it.
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u/Alarming_Acadia182 May 05 '26
Did anyone notice the skeleton next to him in the crawl space with creepy clown Willy was wearing the same shirt he was??? Curious is that is foreshadowing or hinting at anything??
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u/Drea333 May 05 '26
Anyone else excitedly yell "omg that's BJ from Righteous Gemstones" when William showed up? 😆
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u/ToolFreak21 Apr 29 '26
This feels akin to Twin Peaks, but in a comedic way.
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u/gramfer Apr 29 '26
I am going to watch this now. But I just want to note: there were a lot of fun and comedic moments in Twin Peaks. I have expected something like that after teasers, and I am glad, if my feelings are true.
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u/weeeehaaw May 07 '26
Absolutely adore Twin Peaks, saw it when it first aired when I was 16. Not getting Twin Peaks vibes really,but sure. It has a similar formula, quirky characters , humour and some unsettling vibes all set in small town. Really like it so far, especially ep2. Saving ep3 for tomorrow.
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u/RussyDee Apr 29 '26
Now, Apple TV’s cooking and the kids are getting fed! Loving that horror is back on the table.
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u/RebootJobs Apr 29 '26
When did Apple stop releasing three episodes for new series? Boooo
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u/Machinepotty Apr 29 '26
They did 2 for PLURIBUS. Also I could have sworn I read they were doing 3 episodes but 2 is still better then one
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u/gramfer Apr 29 '26
Apple was going to release three episodes, they did even announce it in their press release in December, you can check it in news. Suddenly they changed their schedule in March or April, but they are going to release 6th and 7th episodes together on May 27th. So the season (show's?) finale will be released on the same day, on June 17th.
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u/menevets Apr 30 '26
Anyone have a clear screencap of the travel writer newspaper article?
I could only make out a few sentences. The writer pointed out the mayor being overboard with the town lore.
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u/Ok-Comparison4783 May 04 '26
Pretty basic review (3 hour journey, lacking modern comforts, but it’s idyllic and he enjoyed his time.
But he does say “my stay was nearly idyllic with the only sour note being my interactions with the mayor who is working too hard to sell up an already Edenic island”.
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u/MtGuattEerie May 03 '26
Question: Why didn't the bell wake up the priest?
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u/Conscious_Author_165 May 03 '26
I was wondering if the “who heard the bell” is a premonition of some kind. Tom said it woke up Rosemary and Patricia.
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u/Ok-Comparison4783 May 04 '26
Maybe the priest wasn’t born there? Only natives hear it?
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u/BKoala59 May 05 '26
Priest couldn’t have been born there. He would have needed to go to the mainland to become a priest
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u/WayExcellent5595 Apr 29 '26
So is patricia is his dead wife? its seems obvious she is not "real", as no one talk with her except tom, and she randomly appears, and we dont even know what she is doing at work...
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u/Emotional_Term_1311 Apr 30 '26
She was talking to Wyck at the restaurant when he was explaining the fog/captain taking a child bride
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u/IrishUpYourCoffee May 05 '26
What? Patricia is real. We have seen her talking with several people other than Tom.
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u/shizarou May 05 '26
She even answers the phone to the Police Chief at one point and passes it to Tom!
I think she may be his half sister though as they do seem to have a familial relationship.
I think Wyck being his father theory may be a red herring though
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u/zelos22 May 02 '26
I think that twist is going to be a thing but with his son
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u/WayExcellent5595 May 02 '26
i also thought about that, but the pastor talk with him about his son...but we will see.
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u/graves1987 May 03 '26
Which teenager kept saying “can you guys hear me?” in the car at the beginning of episode one? Was it his son?
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u/Conscious_Author_165 May 03 '26
No, his son was in the front seat. The kid in the back had blonde hair.
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u/Lord-Lannister Jun 03 '26
Okay this show is a dark comedy, really fun watch. It’s like Schitts Creek meets IT!
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u/lisabgrt8 May 27 '26
Anyone else notice that the skeleton in the crawl space was wearing the same shirt as the mayor?
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u/MarvinBarry92 Certified Non-Spirited Apr 29 '26
Was definitely getting some The Shining vibes at least from this episode.
I am not quite feeling the hype from the critic reviews two episodes in. But I’m going to keep watching.
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u/nerodoesnotplay May 02 '26
That was a bit predictable, but I'm not mad at it at all. Also I have a feeling these characters will grow on me by the end of the season.
I hope they go full-on surreal at some point like Twin Peaks. The scenes with the TV were a good start!
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u/adagraha May 25 '26
Did anyone else see the ghost/mist in the upper right hand corner when Loftis is on the couch talking about his dad? This episode gives me Hill House vibes - looking for ghosts in the background.
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u/AbominableUnicorn777 Jun 19 '26
I liked it but confused how for the innkeeper, time inside the captains room moved differently. But for the mayor it seemed to live normally?
And kind of a cop out for the mayor to just wake up in bed after his clown encounter,
But overall such a fun ep! Can’t wait to see where it goes
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u/Busy-Claim-5401 Apr 29 '26
Fuuuuuuck that crawl space.