Hudson Williams takes on a dual role in the new supernatural mystery series Yaga, which premiered in the U.S. on AMC+ and in Canada on Crave on October 23, 2026, with the show arriving in the UK and Ireland on Sky Atlantic on October 31, 2026. According to The Guardian, the actor—who became an overnight sensation following the success of his previous series—delivers a compelling performance in this genre-bending mystery that blends folk horror, eroticism, and feminist reinterpretation of Slavic legend.
Williams portrays Henry Park, the vanished heir to a wealthy family in the remote Canadian coastal town of Whittock, as well as Logan, Henry's strikingly similar-looking roommate who resides rent-free in the Parks' staffed mansion in exchange for assisting with podcasts, social gatherings, and other pursuits. When Henry's parents travel to Japan, they dispatch private investigator and family associate Charlie Rapp (Noah Reid) to locate their son, who has a pattern of disappearing on international trips. Rapp partners with Carson (Clark Backo), a by-the-book local police officer, and together they navigate the town's mysteries while uncovering clues about Henry's disappearance.
What is the series based on?
The show represents a reimagining of the Baba Yaga legend from Slavic folklore, traditionally depicting a misunderstood, malevolent figure. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Canadian playwright Kat Sandler serves as showrunner and has reframed Baba Yaga as a feminist antihero, with David Frazee and Rachel Talalay directing the series. This feminist lens infuses the narrative with contemporary themes, transforming what could have been a straightforward mystery into something with deeper thematic resonance. The adaptation introduces sapphic elements throughout, particularly evident in Carson's character arc and the dynamics between various townspeople.
Who are the key characters?
Beyond Williams and Reid, the ensemble cast includes Carrie-Anne Moss, who also serves as executive producer, playing Katherine, an enigmatic and charismatic professor specialising in osteology who has authored a book titled Sexy Bones. Despite being 60 years old, Katherine maintains an active romantic life with younger men, a detail that raises questions about whether supernatural forces might be at play. Ezra Franky portrays Pam, a former girlfriend of Henry's who emerges as a formidable presence among the town's women. When asked about Henry's disappearance, Pam delivers a blunt assessment:
Shitty guys should be dead.Her indifference to Henry's fate signals that the investigation will uncover uncomfortable truths about the missing man.
What supernatural elements drive the plot?
The series employs classic folk-horror imagery to build atmosphere and tension. Dead and bloodied birds recur as a motif throughout the narrative, with chicken feet discovered in both Henry's and Logan's rooms. Mysterious symbols appear in unexpected places, and a secret passageway adds to the sense of hidden dangers lurking within the mansion. Blood spots materialise in breakfast eggs served at the local diner, and a drug-fuelled party at the mansion triggers chemically induced visions for Rapp. Each episode opens with a guttural voiceover from a woman with a Slavic accent delivering ominous pronouncements such as
A witch isn't born. She begins.The visual palette emphasises mist and dense forests, while nightmare sequences feature grotesque imagery including spiders emerging from mouths, jolting characters awake in terror.
How does the tone shift as the mystery deepens?
The narrative balance shifts when a castrated body washes ashore on the beach, a discovery that marks a tonal transition from supernatural thriller toward police procedural. This development grounds the story in more tangible crime investigation while maintaining the eerie atmosphere that has defined earlier episodes. As the malevolent presence haunting Whittock becomes clearer—though the revelation unfolds deliberately—the feminist reinterpretation of the Baba Yaga legend gains narrative force. The series strengthens considerably as these thematic elements crystallise, transforming what initially reads as a solid mystery into something with greater thematic depth and contemporary relevance.
Is the series worth watching?
Yaga functions as an unconventional, unpredictable endeavour whose appeal depends heavily on individual taste and viewer tolerance for genre-blending storytelling. The series contains distinctive elements that distinguish it from conventional supernatural mysteries, though its precise appeal resists easy categorisation. Williams delivers a nuanced dual performance that anchors the increasingly complex narrative, while Moss brings gravitas and charisma to her role as the mysterious professor. The supporting cast, particularly Reid and Backo, develops genuine chemistry as their characters navigate professional and personal tensions. According to IGN, the series comprises eight half-hour episodes, allowing the narrative to develop at a measured pace that rewards patient viewers while occasionally testing those seeking more straightforward storytelling.
What happens next?
The two-episode season finale is scheduled for November 27, 2026, providing resolution to the mysteries established throughout the first season. Viewers invested in uncovering the truth about Henry's disappearance and Katherine's true nature will need to wait until that date for answers.
