Richard Comes Back With A Horrifying Truth
Widow’s Bay season 1 episode 7 returns the story to the present following Tom’s disturbing encounter with the demon haunting the island. Tom falls asleep and is awakened by a call from Wyck and Sarah who urgently request him to come to the museum.
Tom arrives to discover something shocking: Richard is still alive, and is communicating through written notes. What is more disturbing is that Richard will not speak to anyone but the protector of the island. “It’s Tom’s fault. He’s the mayor.
Tom is scared out of his wits but he goes in the room anyways. His aim is to get Richard to open the pendant around his neck. To our surprise, Richard actually speaks and finally tells the truth about the curse on the island.
The Origin of the Pact of the Satan
“The demon fed itself on the first settlers on the island when they were starving and desperate,” explains Richard. Richard had made a horrible bargain: lives would be sacrificed to the demon, in return for survival and the chance to build a life there.
His pendant contains the signed covenant that sealed the deal. Richard also explains why he is still alive. The demon kept him alive so the pact could continue.
There is only one way to break the curse, Richard believes. If he crosses the island’s border, then the demon’s power can no longer touch him.” When Richard is dead, outside the influence of the island, the pact should end.
Tom and Wyck Take Richard Afar to the Sea
Tom persuades Wyck to go along with Richard’s plan, but Wyck has one condition: Richard has to remain in the coffin until they are safely on the boat. Tom tells Richard that they will let him out once they are far enough away from shore.
Meanwhile, Bechir responds to a noise complaint and Patricia tries to distract him. On the way home she tells him the truth of what is going on. Bechir does not believe her and decides he wants no more to do with it. He tells her to pass on Tom’s resignation.
On the boat, Wyck plans to make it to the border and then have Tom carry Richard’s coffin the rest of the way in a dinghy. Tom ignores Wyck’s warning and frees Richard, however.
Wyck then tells of a painful memory from his youth. Once he and a friend stole a boat and got too close to the border. His friend died and Wyck survived by abandoning him. That guilt has stuck with him, and it’s why he knows Richard will do anything to stay alive.
Richard Strikes Before Curse Is Broken
They near the border and Richard viciously assaults Tom and Wyck. They manage to shove him back into his coffin just in time.
Tom then throws Wyck a life ring, and pushes him over board to save him. At the border, the boat finally turns Richard into dust and bones. Tom quickly turns back and saves Wyck.
For a moment it seems they have succeeded. Tom and Wyck think they’ve broken the curse and saved Widow’s Bay.
Evan Learns of Tom’s Trickery
Back in town, Kelly tells Evan to look in Tom’s room for answers. Evan thinks his father has something to hide, but he doesn’t know what.
Evan goes through Tom’s possessions and discovers photographs of himself as a child with his mother. This proves Tom lied about Evan’s mother dying in childbirth. The discovery raises questions about what really happened to her, and opens up a new emotional mystery.
The ending hints that the curse isn’t over.
The episode concludes at the inn, and Kurt throws a customer out. The camera then zooms in on a painting on the wall. The painting depicts a young boy seemingly trying to grab a hand as a boat sinks.
The boy is the likely son of Richard which in turn means the curse could have not died with Richard’s death. If there’s another descendant still tied to the pact, Widow’s Bay may be in danger.
Review of the episode
Widow’s Bay Season 1 Episode 7 is one of the stronger episodes because it finally gives viewers major answers without slowing the story down. Richard’s confession explains the origin of the curse and gives a clearer form to the horror of the island.
Tom and Wyck are also good together in this episode. They bicker constantly which adds energy to the story but when things get dangerous their teamwork still feels believable. Their boat sequence is tense, fast and slick.
The episode also gives more emotional weight to Evan’s story. His discovery about his mother also adds to Tom’s secrets and makes their family drama feel more pertinent to the larger mystery.
That final scene is frustrating in a good way. As Tom and Wyck seem to have saved the island, the painting suggests the nightmare may not be over. Episode 7 answers a lot of questions, but leaves one big question unanswered. Did they really break the pact or did the demon have some way of surviving on the side?