Guillermo del Toro is one of the best horror filmmakers of our time, with acclaimed works like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, and Frankenstein. A legend in the genre, he is someone audiences tend to listen to when he recommends other movies and shows. After praising M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant and Alex Hirsch’s Gravity Falls in glowing terms, del Toro is now recommending Apple TV’s underrated horror-comedy series to every fan out there.
Widow’s BayDetailsCreated byKatie DippoldCastMatthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn, Kevin Carroll, Dale Dickey, Kingston Rumi Southwick, and Stephen RootRT Score (As of May 31, 2026)97% | 92%IMDb Score (As of May 31, 2026)8.3/10
In an X post, del Toro showered praise on the new show Widow’s Bay, starring Matthew Rhys and Stephen Root. With a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the series is already a critical darling. Del Toro’s recommendation will likely draw even more fans to this underrated show. He even said that the series, created by Katie Dippold, might be “the best streaming series in a long time.”
If I may- in my estimation- #WidowsBay may very well be the best streaming series in a long time… and hands down one of the most mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in Horror.— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) May 30, 2026
Many fans agreed with his view of the show, calling it one of the most original works in the horror genre in recent years. The comments also praised Rhys’s performance as the protagonist, Tom Loftis. Callie Hanna of FandomWire called the show “a funny and frightening new take on classic horror tropes” and gave it a score of 9 in our review of Widow’s Bay.
Spoiler Alert !!!Spoilers for Widow’s Bay episode 6 “Our History” and episode 7 “Seasickness” ahead!
Why Guillermo del Toro Chose Widow’s Bay as Best Streaming Show?
Guillermo del Toro in a still from Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Credits: ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live!/YouTube
In Guillermo del Toro’s own words, he praised the show as “one of the most mesmerizing acts of narrative prestidigitation in horror.” His description feels especially fitting, given the way the series reveals the mystery behind the island’s horror in its most recent episodes. The plot unravels like a magician’s sleight-of-hand trick.
From episodes one through five, we witness the horrors unfolding on the island without fully understanding their cause. It is only in Widow’s Bay‘s sixth episode that we receive a major revelation about the island’s founder, Richard Warren, and the pact he made with the supernatural force haunting the island. He had asked for the island’s prosperity in exchange for human sacrifices whenever they were demanded.
The church bell, which initially seemed like just another atmospheric horror element, was actually the signal that a sacrifice was due. Reverend Bryce took his own life after the bell rang, suggesting that the note that led to his suicide mentioned the pact. The buried chair-and-door vault in the mayor’s house also seems to suggest that this was where the human sacrifices were placed so the entity could enter and feed.
Del Toro may also have been referring to the final reveal involving the painting in the hotel. When Tom and Wyck dug up Richard Warren, who was somehow still alive, he claimed that ending his bloodline was the only way to dissolve the pact and lift the curse. Although Richard changed his mind at the last moment, Tom and Wyck still managed to take him beyond the island’s boundary and kill him.
However, Richard was wrong about his bloodline ending. The painting revealed that one of his children had fallen into the waters within the island’s boundary while Sarah was trying to take them away. With three episodes still left in Widow’s Bay Season 1, the show will likely explore this new complication.
Widow’s Bay‘s Writing and Originality Deserve Praise
Widow’s Bay manages to balance horror and comedy without compromising its folklore. It is strengthened by the writing and the originality of its content, both of which have been receiving praise from critics and audiences alike. We are well past the “Is the lore real or not?” question, and the show is likely to end with Tom Loftis, the current mayor, deciding the fate of the island, much like the previous mayor did.
The show’s eccentric characters bring both scares and laughs. It never loses focus on advancing the character arcs alongside the main story, as seen in Evan’s recent discovery about his mother. We hope the series delivers a great finale.
What do you think about the new Apple TV show? Let us know in the comments below!
Widow’s Bay is available for streaming on Apple TV. Episode 8 of the show will be released on June 3, 2026.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
