What is it about Spooky Season that inspires such a cult following of costume-clad enthusiasts? There just seems to be something about the mulled spices, and musty smell of fallen leaves that sinks deep into our bones. It could be the sense of adventure, which creeps from the overgrown path through the woods, that tantalizes us. It’s the push and pull of fascination, fear, and discovery even, that drives us onward into dark places. We are, at our roots, explorers, and excavators, digging beneath the surface for treasure—or bones—whatever it may be.
Upcoming show Yaga appeals to this visceral, thrill-seeking drive in all of us. When Henry Park goes missing, investigator Rapp and officer Carson are challenged to step into unknown territory, and unravel the mystery that involves something more than human perhaps. They stand at the threshold of what could be, and ask the question, “What creatures hide in our dark woods?” Is it supernatural or something warped and twisted, like the knotty branches of their Canadian forest?
The show begins with a question: Where is Henry Park? A wealthy runaway, off on another spending spree in Europe, perhaps? Officer Carson (Clark Backo) seems to think so. Yet, certain unforeseen events start to rattle the spine of this skeptic, and even she cannot deny that things seem spookier than usual. She investigates the case alongside a rather devil-may-care sidekick, private investigator Rapp (Noah Reid), who appears to hold secrets of his own. They round up the usual suspects, which in this case involves the “Bone Beast,” a local biology professor who focuses on osteological studies, played by Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix, Memento). She is a seasoned woman with a taste for younger men, and her femme-fatale aura raises eyebrows, especially with the onset of rumors surrounding her extracurricular activities.
Strange things happen, thus leading the audience to speculate and ruminate about the oncoming plot. After two episodes, I’m left feeling impatient for more, wondering where the story will lead and who the culprit will be.
But there’s an element to this story that seems even more ominous, bubbling beneath the surface of this wicked brew: the show’s reference to Slavic legend Baba Yaga. In most accounts, she is an old, hideous woman that haunts the woods, and kidnaps children to devour them. The lore around this character is as fantastic as it is terrifying. She flies on a mortar and pestle, sweeping away her tracks with a broom. She lives in a cottage that moves by way of giant chicken legs, and dwells within a gate of bones. She is dangerous and powerful. A witch to some, a hag to others, but always mysterious. And there is power in this mystery. The reference to the folklore hints at ancient magic that will come into play in time.
Yaga leads the audience to question what kind of power invisibility may spawn and inspires us to think twice about who the villain is in this mystery-thriller. There’s something appealing about women who lurk unapologetically within dark places and challenge onlookers with a steely gaze. Confident, competent, and wisened by her years, maybe the seduction of this character is what makes her so horrifying. Her power makes her dangerous; her mystery makes her enthralling. This is perhaps a new angle to the legend, revealing layers to what was once simply a foil to the male hero plot line. She is liberated to roam free in this modern interpretation, and she dares to escape the witch hunt, perhaps. An antihero possibly. A villain more likely. But one thing is certain, she truly is the vixen to haunt the night in this upcoming series.
The show is based on the hit play Yaga, written by Kat Sandler. It is an eight-part series that premieres October 23, 2026 on AMC+.
