We have a lot of questions when it comes to Apple’s brilliant horror-comedy Widow’s Bay, but first on the list is obviously: WHAT THE HELL IS IN THE BASEMENT?

The basement became a source of mystery when Tom came home to his son Evan—who had just found a box in the bedroom full of proof that his mother didn’t really die in childbirth. Tom’s reaction to seeing Evan was saying “You went through the basement?" in a full panic, but he visibly relaxed upon realizing Evan had simply gone through the bedroom. Which once again begs the question (to quote Evan): “What the hell is in the basement?”

Two people sitting in a dimly lit living room around a wooden coffee table.
Robert Clark//Apple

So…what’s Tom hiding? The internet has some theories.

  • One person on Reddit thinks Tom isn’t actually Evan’s dad. As they put it: “Tom asked about the basement after Evan called him ‘Tom’ instead of ‘dad’ and had a box of papers on his lap, so it's possible that there's something that shows that Tom isn't really his dad in there.”
  • Another person notes that Tom could be hiding his wife in the basement “who is insane but cannot die.” Would be a wild twist, though…why not just tell Evan the truth at this point?
  • Another Redditor noticed that when Tom plays the game in season 2, one of the circles on the board says “No! Basement is bad! You lose.” Which feels…relevant!
Board game with colorful path, dice, and player pieces on a table.
Apple

But the most compelling theory (in my opinion)? This one from a fan who thinks “the sacred geometry hand drawing” is actually a map of underground tunnels in Widow’s Bay that leads “to the chair/door under the salty whale, and the show’s basements are the 5 entry points.”

I believe.