In Episode 3 of Widow’s Bay, the darker folklore of the town is explored further and Tom is brought closer to accepting that the supernatural threats surrounding him may be very real.
The scene opens on the Historical Society with visitors watching a documentary on the history of Widow’s Bay. The video credits Richard Warren as the town’s first mayor, and sets the tone for another day of tourism and local celebration. More visitors arrive in town and Gerrie continues to lead the tour.
Tom is glad to see Widow’s Bay getting some recognition. On the way to work he meets a tourist named Marissa, who seems lost after a prankster changed several street signs. Tom offers her a ride and tells her about the town’s upcoming events, including the first swim and the sunset cocktails gathering.
Marissa says she’s here for a bachelorette weekend with friends who are staying at the inn. She says that they’re going to Barnabus Cavern later that evening and invites Tom to come along, openly flirting.
Tom Goes Off Track
At the office Dale tells Tom that some of the local businesses are fighting the city sales tax. But Tom seems to be a lot more interested in his encounter with Marissa than he is in work.
Instead of tackling the tax issue, he tells the staff to focus on promoting the sunset cocktails event. Patricia soon notices his strange behavior and the team mocks him when they find out he gave Marissa a ride.
Later, Tom prepares for his evening plans, telling Evan that he is meeting colleagues. Before he leaves, he asks Evan about the street sign prank, but Evan denies any involvement.
A Frightening Encounter
Tom waits for Marissa and her friends at Barnabus Cavern, but they don’t turn up. He goes home, disappointed.
On the way home he sees an old woman standing alone and offers her a lift. At first she ignores him, then she suddenly charges his car. Her disturbing look sends Tom into a panic.
Tom drives off and pulls over to compose himself. The woman appears behind him and scratches his hand before disappearing.
Tom, badly shaken, visits Dr. Morgan and reports to Sheriff Bechir what has happened. “She might have escaped from a psychiatric facility on the mainland,” Tom said, guessing. But Bechir laughed off his fears.
The Sea Hag’s Advice
Dr. Morgan warns Tom not to take part in the first swim but Tom is unwilling to pull out. He feels, as mayor, that the town expects him to prove the water is safe.
Ruth tells him Marissa stopped by and left a message that she might see him at the swim, back at the office. Soon after, Rosemary warns Tom that the woman he met is actually a sea hag.
Legend in the area says that once a sea hag scratches a person, she begins to stalk them.
Tom shrugs off the warning and makes his way to the beach for the event.
First Swim Goes Wrong
A technical glitch leaves the event without electricity or a working microphone, and Tom has to address the crowd without amplification.
The townspeople cheer as Tom walks into the water and starts to swim toward the buoy. And out there in the water he sees the sea hag again.
He tries to swim away but the beast claws his leg before he can escape.
Tom, terrified, goes to Wyck, who knows the whole legend.
Wyck Explains the Curse (CLICK HERE)
Wyck says the sea hag tracks victims with blood and skin taken from her scratches.
She finds them and kills them in a horrible way.
Tom is still skeptical, but Wyck insists that he lock himself in a chest for 72 hours until his wounds heal. He warns that by nightfall Tom will be weak and unable to fight back.
Tom dismisses the advice and goes home.
Tom and Marissa’s Date
Evan is home and he clever distracts Tom from noticing he has friends over when he is supposed to be grounded.
Then he convinces Tom that he can stay at a friend’s house, giving Tom the chance to meet Marissa for dinner at the Driftwood.
The date goes terrifyingly well. Tom talks about losing his wife and the challenges he and Evan have faced since her passing.
Marissa feels for him and suggests they continue the night at his place, but Tom respectfully declines.
Strange Happenings in Town
Elsewhere Father Bryce gets lost in the woods and finds an old well that makes strange noises.
He then encounters Evan and his friends drinking nearby. He warns them that evil is in the town. They do not see him at all.
Meanwhile Wyck is leaving a frantic message on Tom’s home line. The sea hag will do any trick she can think of to get into Tom’s house.
The Sea Hag Attacks!
Marissa arrives at Tom’s house right when he’s about to go to bed.
Suspicious of how she got his address, Tom refuses to let her in, thinking she may be the sea hag in disguise. Eventually Marissa leaves with her friends.
Tom waits, blocking the door with a baseball bat.
And then finally the exhaustion sets in and the sea hag manifests as the ghost of Tom’s dead wife. She comforts him and then shows her true form.
Tom is too weak to fight and looks helpless as the creature moves in to finish him off.
At the very last moment, Wyck appears and shoots the sea hag, her body dissolving into rank sea muck.
Tom wants answers, but even Wyck admits he has no clue what’s happening.
Episode Recap
The episode closes with Tom getting a disturbing voice mail from Father Bryce, who sounds very shaken up by what he’s discovered.
Moments later, Sheriff Bechir is heard on the radio calling for back up from any available units admitting he has no idea what is going on.
Something is afoot in Widow’s Bay… and it’s way bigger.
Review of Episode
Episode 3 raises the stakes with Tom’s first real taste of the supernatural reality of Widow’s Bay.
Ignoring repeated warnings, Tom nearly pays for it with his life. But he’s determined to keep up the pretence of normality. And he’s in danger, particularly in the first swimming session.
Wyck remains one of the most interesting characters as both protector and keeper of the town’s darkest secrets.
The grisly discovery of Father Bryce and Sheriff Bechir’s frantic radio call indicate that Tom’s run-in with the sea hag may be only the beginning.
Supernatural forces are affecting a number of people in the town now and it looks like Widow’s Bay is ready to reveal even darker secrets in the episodes to come.