When it comes to watching TV, there’s nothing quite like having the rug pulled out from underneath you. From the likes of Netflix’s His and Hers to The Woman in Cabin 10, a well-executed plot twist that leaves you unsure of what day it is or what planet we’re living on really can’t be topped. But just because it’s thrilling and entertaining doesn’t mean that the storytelling device is necessarily easy to do. In various films and TV shows where the audience could have supposedly “never seen it coming,” audiences have complained that the twist lacks any logic or believability.
However, in the fourth episode of Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay, I can confidently say that not only is it one of the best plot twists I have ever seen, it is comfortably the best 45 minutes of television I have seen all year. Set on an island just off the coast of New York, Katie Dippold’s (Parks and Recreation) 10-part series sees town mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) attempt to revive his struggling community. Directed in part by The Bear and Atlanta’s Hiro Murai, Tom clashes with a group of superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. And, soon after the tourists begin to flock to the destination, supernatural forces take hold in a terrifying way.
After being introduced to these spooky occurrences and Tom as mayor in the first few episodes, the fourth episode centres on Kate O’Flynn’s character Patricia. Ostracised by her fellow inhabitants, town loner Patricia finds a self-help book that encourages her to host the perfect party in the shape of a Sunset Cocktails event. Offering her a checklist of items, recipes and speeches that will wow the attendees, things finally seem to be turning around for Patricia. However, following a few clashes with some old school friends, suddenly, it becomes apparent that the Sunset Cocktails are in fact a hauntingly demented disaster.
After being caught on CCTV reading her self-help book for hours on end and through the night, the town’s sheriff discovers that the book is in fact a leather-bound witch-like book and Patricia has indeed been casting a spell that entrances her guests. Instead of the small tiara she is wearing, Patricia is actually donning a demonic deer-like headpiece and she has been serving her guests crow corpses for the night’s punch. As each of the guests can be seen dancing, a mirror’s reflection shows them all completely under the spell of her book.
Reacting online, one user called Greg wrote on X: ‘Holy hell episode 4 of Widow’s Bay might be the best 45 minutes of horror I’ve seen in recent memory,’ and I couldn’t agree more! The fifth episode of Widow’s Bay airs on Apple TV on Wednesday. If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
