While we love the longer and lighter evenings, we’re looking forward to autumn when we can hibernate in our living rooms in front of the television (without feeling guilty) as the nights draw in. And Sky has given us the ultimate reason to look forward to spooky season with a twisty new mystery thriller, YAGA, that'll leave you with a chill.
The series, adapted from Kat Sandler’s book and stage show, follows private investigator Rapp (Noah Reid), who arrives in a small coastal town when a young man, Henry Park (Hudson Williams), vanishes. This dark reimagining of Slavic folklore has been hailed ‘a different kind of creepy’ – and it promises a web of enigmatic suspects, secrets and ancient magic.
With the series coming out this autumn, here’s everything you need to know about YAGA, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is YAGA about?
The eight-part series, adapted from Kat Sandler’s stage show of the same name, will transport us to a small Canadian coastal town that’s been rocked by the disappearance of a young heir to a powerful fishery, Henry Park (Hudson Williams). Rapp (Noah Reid), a private investigator, is tasked with the case, but when he arrives to start his search, he has to contend with apprehensive local detective Carson (Clark Backo).
While he investigates, he also encounters a vivacious university professor, Katherine (Carrie-Anne Moss), who has a taste for younger men; a colourful assortment of suspects hiding secret lives; and some spooky supernatural forces. The title, YAGA, links to the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga, a witch who lives alone in the woods – a contradictory character who’s embodied countless different iterations throughout history.
The trailer offers a gripping glimpse into the action as Katherine tells Henry about the various iterations of Yaga – she can be terrifying, she can be seductive, but she’s always memorable. We can’t wait to see what version of her we’ll see in the series – and what part she plays in the mystery.
Who’s in the cast of YAGA?
The cast of YAGA includes:
- Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) as Katherine
- Noah Reid (Schitt’s Creek) as Rapp
- Clark Backo (The Changeling) as Detective Carson
- Hudson Williams (Heated Rivalry) as Henry Park
- Sheila McCarthy
- Megan Follows
- Ezra Franky
- Patrick Gilmore
- Katharine Isabelle
- Hiro Kanagawa
- Emilija Baranac
- Georgia Acken
- Anisa Harris
- Sam Krochmal.
Is there a trailer for YAGA?
Yes – you can watch the trailer for YAGA below.
How can I watch YAGA?
With production for YAGA currently underway, the series will be available to watch on Sky and its streaming service NOW this October. We don’t have the exact release date yet, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated here as soon as it lands.
What other mystery thrillers can I watch now?
If you’re on the lookout for a gripping crime thriller, we’d recommend Love & Death, which is based on a shocking true crime story. The series introduces us to church-going Texan housewife Candy Montgomery (Elizabeth Olsen), who starts a tumultuous affair to try to combat her suburban ennui – only it lands her in handcuffs. You can watch Love & Death now on ITVX. For another eerie thriller with supernatural elements, we’d point you towards Mayday. The drama, starring Lesley Manville, centres around a small town in Sussex that’s rocked when a 14-year-old girl vanishes in the woodland on their May Day parade – and every resident becomes a suspect. You can watch Mayday now on Prime Video.
