‘Yaga’ Casts a Spell on Critics as Hudson Williams and Carrie-Anne Moss’ Witchy Thriller Lands a Strong Rotten Tomatoes Debut

Witches are having a moment, and ‘Yaga’ is the latest series looking to ride that wave. Based on Canadian playwright Kat Sandler’s 2019 stage play, the mystery thriller reimagines the Slavic legend of Baba Yaga, a witch-like woman from folklore who lives deep in the woods in a hut built on chicken legs. Sandler serves as writer and showrunner, with the series marking her first greenlit TV project and reframing the wicked witch as a feminist antihero.

The show also carries some notable firsts for its home network. ‘Yaga’ is Crave’s first-ever half-hour original drama, running for 8 episodes of 30 minutes each. Produced by Front Street Pictures and Blink49 Studios and co-directed by David Frazee and Rachel Talalay, the series was filmed across Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island, with locations like Oak Bay’s historic Kiwanis Tea Room at Willows Beach helping build its eerie coastal atmosphere.

Now, the series has officially arrived, and early reviews are glowing. ‘Yaga’ has debuted with a 90% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 10 reviews, while audiences have been even more enthusiastic, giving it a 97% Popcornmeter score from more than 50 ratings.

Not every critic was fully sold, though. The Hollywood Reporter’s review described the series as an intriguing but undercooked blend of modern crime and ancient folklore, arguing that the show overplays the womanizing of Noah Reid’s character. Phantasmag, meanwhile, praised it as spooky, sexy, and atmospheric.

‘YAGA’ debuts at 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Starring Hudson Williams, Carrie-Anne Mos, Clark Backo, and Noah Reid. https://t.co/8YdlYEvmtD

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 23, 2026

The story follows Rapp, played by Reid, a private investigator who arrives in a small coastal town to look into the disappearance of Henry Park, the young heir to a powerful fishery. Working alongside Clark Backo’s local detective Carson, he finds himself questioning a mysterious university professor, Katherine, played by Carrie-Anne Moss.

What follows is a psychological descent into ancient witchcraft and seduction. Hudson Williams, who plays Henry, also takes on a dual role in the series. The ensemble is packed with familiar faces. Moss, who also serves as an executive producer, leads alongside Reid, Backo and Williams, with Sheila McCarthy, Megan Follows, Ezra Franky, Patrick Gilmore, Katharine Isabelle and Hiro Kanagawa rounding out the cast.

Rilasciato un nuovo trailer di Yaga. https://t.co/VjK34WIlf1

— Rebelle Vague (@rebellevague) October 19, 2026

For Williams, the series is another big step after his breakout as Shane Hollander in Crave’s ‘Heated Rivalry’. The role has already brought him plenty of attention, and ‘Yaga’ marked his Toronto International Film Festival debut when the series premiered there in September.

The series has been building buzz for months. Its first teaser premiered at San Diego Comic-Con in July, where Moss, Reid, Backo and Sandler attended the panel, while Moss and Williams sent in video messages. A full trailer later arrived set to an Alanis Morissette cover of “Season of the Witch.”

The cast and creative team also appeared at New York Comic Con on October 9 to share exclusive content ahead of the launch. ‘Yaga’ premiered on October 23 on Crave in Canada and AMC+ in the United States, where it debuted with 2 episodes. New episodes will roll out weekly on Fridays, with the next one arriving October 30, ahead of a 2-episode finale on November 27.

Viewers in the UK and Ireland can catch the series on Sky and NOW. AMC+ reportedly won a competitive bid for the US rights, adding the show to its growing slate of witchcraft-themed programming alongside ‘Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale’.

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