Matthew Rhys leads the new Apple TV show “Widow’s Bay” that tells the tale of a cursed New England island where the locals are fully convinced something’s wrong with the place, and the mayor is trying to drag it into the modern world whether anyone likes it or not. This new horror comedy premieres on the platform on Wednesday, April 29, and you can watch with a seven-day free trial to Apple TV.

How to watch ‘Widow’s Bay’

• When: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. ET
• TV: Apple TV
• Stream: Watch with a seven-day free trial to Apple TV.
• From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.

When will episodes of ‘Widow’s Bay’ come on Apple TV?

“Widow’s Bay” premieres Wednesday, April 29, on Apple TV, with the first two episodes dropping right away. After that, new episodes will primarily roll out weekly every Wednesday through June 17, wrapping up a 10-episode season. However, keep an eye out for Wednesday, May 27, which will feature the drop of Episodes 6 and 7.

Initially, the plan was to premiere on April 29 with three episodes, and dole them out weekly after that, but apparently, Apple had a change of heart and will do two double drops during the season.

Can you watch episodes of ‘Widow’s Bay’ for free?

Sort of. Apple TV offers a seven-day free trial for new users. If you time it right, you could catch the first three episodes without paying. After that, you’ll need a subscription. The service costs $13 per month and has just one plan, so it’s pretty straightforward. And since Apple tends to release shows weekly, this is one where you might actually want to stay subscribed for the full run instead of trying to cram it all into a week.

7-Day Trial

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Apple TV

Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

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On August 28th, 2026, the price of Apple TV was increased from $12.99 per month to $14.99 per month, the second increase in as many years.

The service is available worldwide through the Apple TV app, which is built into Apple devices and supported on most smart TVs, streaming players like Roku and Fire TV, game consoles, and web browsers. Subscribers can watch on demand, download episodes and movies for offline viewing, and stream in 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, where available. Apple TV also offers family sharing, allowing up to six people to use one subscription at no extra cost.

With a competitive monthly price and bundles available through Apple One — which combines Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, iCloud storage, and more — the service continues to grow as a key part of Apple’s ecosystem. Apple TV delivers one of the strongest collections of exclusive content in the streaming space for viewers seeking prestige originals, cinematic storytelling, and seamless access across devices.

7-Day Trial

$14.99+ / month

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Watch the teaser for ‘Widow’s Bay’?

What is ‘Widow’s Bay’ about?

“Widow’s Bay” is set on a small island about 40 miles off the New England coast, and it’s the kind of place that feels stuck in time. There’s no Wi-Fi, cell service barely works, and everyone has a story about something strange happening in the woods or out on the water. Mayor Tom Loftis is trying to change all of that. He wants to turn the island into a real tourist destination and drag it into the present. The problem is, the locals don’t respect him; they think he’s soft, and honestly, they might not be wrong.

But somehow, against all odds, his plan actually works. People start coming. The town starts to feel alive again. And then things take a turn. The stories the locals have been telling for years, the ones that sounded completely ridiculous, start happening again. What makes the show interesting is that it’s not just about the mystery. It’s about a guy trying to prove himself, trying to build something for his son, and slowly realizing he might be completely out of his depth. It mixes real horror with character-driven comedy, so it’s not trying to scare you nonstop, but it also doesn’t let you get too comfortable either.

Who stars in ‘Widow’s Bay’?

Matthew Rhys leads the show as Mayor Tom Loftis, and he’s also an executive producer here, which tells you how involved he is in shaping the whole thing. He’s playing a guy who’s trying to hold everything together while the town quietly falls apart around him.

It’s a great fit for Rhys, especially if you’ve seen him in “The Americans” or “Perry Mason,” where he’s really good. The cast around him is stacked too. You’ve got Kate O’Flynn, Stephen Root, Kingston Rumi Southwick, Kevin Carroll, and Dale Dickey rounding things out, which gives the show a strong ensemble right out of the gate.

Who created ‘Widow’s Bay’?

The series comes from creator, showrunner, and executive producer Katie Dippold. I’ve been watching Dippold in her improv group “The Smokes” at UCB for years, so it’s really cool to see her stepping into something like this. She also wrote “The Heat” and co-wrote “Ghostbusters: Answer The Call,” so she knows how to balance comedy with bigger, genre-driven ideas.

Excited for ‘Widow’s Bay’? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Widow’s Bay

April 28, 2026

The mayor of a New England town resolves to turn it into the next tourist hot spot, despite local warnings that it’s cursed.