Must Be the Season of the Witch

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The much-anticipated folk horror show YAGA premiered in the UK, appropriately on Halloween. The TV show is based on the play of the same name by Canadian playwright Kat Sandler. Billing itself as a ‘feminist dark comedy’ and a ‘supernatural horror mystery series’, YAGA had a lot to live up to.

The story centres around the disappearance of fishing heir Henry Park (Hudson Williams) from a small Canadian fishing community. Private Investigator Charlie Rapp (Noah Reid) comes to the island to investigate at the behest of Henry’s millionaire parents. Rapp works with the fishing village local law enforcement, including Detective Carson (Clark Backo). The Odd Couple-like pair dig deep into Henry’s private life and discover that it’s rather interesting, to say the least. Henry is indulging in the usual rich brat activities like throwing extravagant drug-fuelled parties and expecting the maids to clean up after them. However, it is discovered that Henry’s extracurriculars also include the possible sacrificing of chickens in dark rituals, wearing their feet, and (according to promotional material) having sex with pretty much everyone.

Henry also lives with and has a worrying relationship with his best friend and look-alike: Logan (also played by Williams). The production makes little attempt to differentiate the pair’s similarity (being the same actor and all), Logan even quips that they are different because he has “glasses and brown eyes”.

We are only three episodes in, and intrigue is already building. What is Henry’s and Rapp’s relationship? What is Henry’s and Logan’s relationship? What the hell is going on in that town? Only three episodes in and someone has already been castrated. 

The show is a lot funnier than I had anticipated. Many have commented on the tone being somewhat campy and pulpy. I am enjoying the subversion of recognisable tropes such as the clashing personalities of the detectives, the bratty rich kid, and the possible red herring of a suspicious university professor (Carrie-Anne Moss). I am excited to see what the series is escalating to.

Both Reid and Williams are both taking a staunch departure from their best-known characters. Reid’s chaotic, sexually charged detective; Rapp feels miles away from his sweet and likable Patrick in Schitt’s Creek. Williams is a self-assured playboy, unlike his awkward but lovable starring role in Heated Rivalry. Though staying true to form in happily portraying edgier scenes, one of his first scenes is him dropping to his knees whilst donning a BDSM pup mask and having sex with someone wearing angel wings from behind. 

It remains to be seen exactly how this Canadian supernatural drama relates to the Slavic folklore legend Baba Yaga, from which it gets its name. Baba Yaga is a Slavic witch being, an aesthetic queen, who lives in the woods in a house with chicken feet, flies in a mortar and pestle, and eats the bones of children (only bad ones, don’t worry). Baba Yaga appears to narrate the beginning of each episode, which helps add to the campy feel. I am also enjoying the use of the Slavic versions of pop songs and Slavic music. 

In this iteration, is Carrie-Anne Moss’s professor Baba Yaga? Or Detective Blanco? Or even Henry? All, I’m sure, will be revealed!

YAGA is available to stream on Sky Atlantic and AMC+