AMC+ has been carving out a niche for moody, atmospheric thrillers, and its latest offering, Yaga, arrives with considerable pedigree. The series, adapted from Kat Sandler's play, boasts a cast that includes Carrie-Anne Moss and Noah Reid, and marks the latest project for Hudson Williams, fresh off the viral sensation Heated Rivalry. With such talent and a premise steeped in Slavic folklore, Yaga should be a can't-miss. Yet, despite its promising ingredients, the show struggles to find its footing, delivering a muddled narrative that wastes its considerable potential.
At its core, Yaga is a mystery. Private investigator Charlie Rapp (Reid) is hired by the wealthy parents of Henry Park (Williams) to find their missing son. He's paired with local cop Frances Carson (Clark Backo), and together they delve into the secrets of the small town of Whittock. But this is no ordinary missing person case. The title hints at the supernatural, and it isn't long before Rapp and Carson realize that something otherworldly is at play.
The show flirts with several genres—detective thriller, supernatural horror, character drama—but never commits to any of them. One moment it's a gritty investigation, the next it's a quirky comedy with offbeat humor and anachronistic needle drops (a Croatian cover of “California Dreamin'” is a standout). This tonal inconsistency is jarring, making it difficult to invest in the story. The voice-over narration from the mysterious Baba Yaga adds a layer of mythic gravitas, but the series fails to weave these themes into the fabric of the plot, leaving them feeling like decorative flourishes rather than integral elements.
The biggest misstep, however, is the protagonist. Charlie Rapp is meant to be a charming rogue, but he comes across as incompetent and, frankly, a bit of a creep. He's constantly hitting on every woman he meets, even in the middle of an investigation, and his decision to knowingly take mysterious drugs at a party while on the clock is just one example of his questionable judgment. It's hard to root for a character who seems to be actively working against his own case. Meanwhile, Carson, the more grounded and compelling of the two, is relegated to the role of straight woman, and the forced romantic tension between them feels unearned and distracting.
Even the supporting cast, which includes the always-intriguing Carrie-Anne Moss as a enigmatic professor, can't elevate the material. Moss brings a magnetic presence to her scenes, but her character is underwritten, and the mystery surrounding her is telegraphed far too early. Hudson Williams, pulling double duty as both the missing Henry and his lookalike roommate Logan, shows range, but the script doesn't give him enough to work with.
The show's visual style is also disappointingly flat. For a series that aims to be sensual and atmospheric, the cinematography is surprisingly inert. The camera rarely does anything interesting, and the sex scenes, which are plentiful, lack the heat they're going for. The half-hour episode format doesn't help, leaving little room for the slow-burn tension that these stories require.
In the end, Yaga is a frustrating watch. It's a show with ambition and a talented cast, but it's undone by its own indecisiveness. If you're looking for a tight, compelling thriller, you'd be better served by checking out some of the best thriller series that nail it in eight episodes or less. Or, if you're in the mood for something with a similar vibe, there are plenty of near-perfect thrillers on Paramount+ that deliver the goods. Yaga, unfortunately, is a miss.
