You’re probably as tired of the “what’s a comedy?” debate as I am, particularly when it comes to awards shows like the Emmys. FX’s “The Bear” reignited that conversation a few years ago, even though it’s hardly the only show to be nominated or even win an Emmy despite it often feeling more like a drama.
This year, the attention turned to Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay,” one of the hottest new shows of the season. The acclaim for “Widow’s Bay” seems nearly universal, and the show’s 19 Emmy nominations prove that the buzz surrounding the show wasn’t a fluke. But again, we have to ask: Is it a comedy?
“Widow’s Bay” comes from a comedy writer, “Parks and Recreation” alum Katie Dippold. And it absolutely sprinkles laugh into the horror format, particularly through the town’s quirky characters. As the misfits who make up Widow’s Bay react matter-of-factly to some of the creepy and strange goings-on around them, at the center of it all is Matthew Rhys as Mayor Tom Loftis. He bumbles his way through a secret that threatens the well-being of his small, New England-set island community.
There’s creepy clowns, scary apparitions, undead serial killers, a wild sea hag and a terrible curse that haunts the show’s characters throughout the season — and while the laughs cut the tension, you’re still on the edge of your seat for all 10 episodes. And by the way, on its own service, Apple TV classifies “Widow’s Bay” a “mystery,” while “Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking” are labeled “comedy.”
