This is a fantastic new show that just came out. Horror comedy, or comedic horror… a bit of Stephen King, a bit of Lovecraft, a bit of Twin Peaks, a bit of Donald Glover’s show Atlanta, but really fantastic so far. Matthew Rhys stars as the mayor of a small New England island town trying to promote tourism at the same time of bizarre and creepy occurrences, with the long-time locals certain that the island is cursed and haunted. Two episodes out so far, and highly recommended.
I’m in. I just finished the second episode. It’s weird and different, creepy but also a bit silly. It’s fun to see actors I haven’t seen awhile, too. Boz (Toby Huss) from Halt and Catch Fire and John Murphy (Kevin Carroll) from The Leftovers, in particular. The always dependable Dale Dickey, as well.
I’m pretty much in on any Matthew Rhys project and it hasn’t failed me yet. Same for his partner, Keri Russell.
Episode 3 was great and super creepy. They’ve quickly moved past any question of whether the strange events were hallucinations or supernatural…
Eh…I just finished episode three and I’m still on the fence. It feels like it’s turning into “lore of the week,” and I don’t really detect any humor (dark or otherwise). I do like Matthew Rhys and I love Stephen Root, so I’ll stick with it for at least another episode to see if more of a story develops*, but so far I think I’m just not getting it.
*The bell stuff is promising.
Episode 4 was weird. I guess the idea was she thought she was putting on a party, but was actually possessed and coerced into enacting revenge upon her bullies. Or something.
Not revenge - only a few were bullies. It was a mass sacrifice arranged by the evil book. Reddit show discussion suspects that Patricia has witch lineage, which is why she was able to (unknowingly) control so many people that didn’t like her, and also may suggest why the old serial killer Boogeyman let her live when she was a child.
I’m loving this show. Terribly creative, and such a great mix of horror and comedy.
I laughed my ass off at the shaman guy.
Watching the first episode now and kind of loving it. Very funny.
“So they immediately resorted to cannibalism?”
“No. After four days. Not immediately.”
Binged this all over the past two days. I’m loving the balance of drama/horror and humor.
Favorite joke from the last episode:
Richard Warren, the immortal founder of the town is having a breakdown over see his dead children’s things, and then in the background is a novelty shirt that says “Don’t say we didn’t ‘Warren’ you”.
That is really surprising as I am finding this show so humorous. Like in the most recent episode
a 300+ zombie yelling “fuck you!” from inside a coffin. Or him saying he made the pact with his own blood, feces and semen. Cut to Matthew Rhys slowly dropping the parchment and wiping his hands.
Come on that’s funny!
I’m really enjoying the mix of comedy/horror they’ve got going on.
The lady at the historical society being proud of their witch trials (“we caught 'em, we burned 'em”) felt straight out of Parks and Rec.
I typically have a low bar for humor/entertainment, but I gave up on this show 1-2 episodes ago: I was hardly ever amused, and I didn’t find the supernatural aspect compelling enough.
It’s a very funny show. I love the Innkeeper being so nervous to enter the room that he kicks the luggage across the line.
I LOVE this show. It’s like it was made for me: horror, comedy, New England, Stephen Root, people who are my age theoretically (kid in HS), single parents.
I think my favorite funny thing was when in the 1700s episode, the council was talking to Betty Gilpin’s character and they said something about how she must be concerned for her children and she made a face and almost shrugged and said something to the effect of “For I have but just met them.” It was a real Thor in Ragnarok face.
Seconded. This has got to be my favorite show out right now. It’s got my kind of humor in. I’m also super into Lovecraftian/New England style horror. And I think this is doing that really well as each episode I get more and more intrigued. With the first few episodes I thought they might do a creature of the week style show, I am relieved it isn’t the case.
To highlight a few from the 1700s episode. I found it hilarious when the new wife arrives and is greeted at the dock by some guy. And she asks if Warren could control the weather. To which the scene gets super serious and dramatic the guy responds with ‘what’. To which she nervously repeats the question. Just for a dramatic pause with a ‘no’ answer and confused look on his face. Idk why I find that so particularly funny. Oh also the assassin going to the wrong side of the bed made me laugh alot.
Or when she and the children are running toward the dock, they pass the cloaked assassins running in the opposite direction, and she says something like Never mind that. I don’t know why that was so hysterical, but it was.
Oh yeah. It’s tiny jokes like that, given the context of what is happening, that are consistent enough throughout that I have to give the show credit for being so well written.
I just watched the one where the lady hosted a party. It was less funny, but highly entertaining and honestly kind of scary. The first proper scary episode.
I feel so much for her, too. She just wants to be well liked and she thought hosting a party, a big one, would do that.
Wanted to give her a hug.
There’s one shot where the camera pans over the crowd and you first see their real expressions in the mirror very briefly that was so creepy!
Yes, a great shot.