Early Review: YAGA Delivers Strong Story, Memorable Performances

It’s official: YAGA is about to be the show everyone is talking about. The show was already on my radar as one of the most anticipated shows of the Fall 2026 television season. AMC made the first two episodes available to press; now that I’ve watched, I can confirm that YAGA is everything I hoped it would be, and so, SO MUCH more. Here’s my quick spoiler-free early review of YAGA.

INTERVIEW: YAGA Cast Talks Magic at SDCC 2026

Based on Kat Sandler’s hit play of the same name, YAGA is the story of a missing billionaire heir, Henry Park (Hudson Williams), an enigmatic professor (Carrie-Anne Moss) and the investigation into his disappearance. Local Whittock detective Carson (Clark Backo) is reluctantly paired with the Parks’ private investigator, Rapp (Noah Reid). It doesn’t take long for the investigation to take a turn as secrets are uncovered and the list of suspects grows. Yes, there are all the traditional elements of a police procedural here, but YAGA takes the genre and flips it on its head with a healthy dose of mythology, lore and legends. And it works. It absolutely works.

Backo and Reid shine every time they’re on the screen, which is important because they’re guiding the audience through the story. They’re also really fun to watch. Rapp’s personality and work ethic grates against Carson’s by the book approach, making these unlikely partners ideal to explore a mystery that keeps taking shocking turns. When Moss’ Katherine appears onscreen she’s an absolute force of nature, keeping the other characters – and the audience – in thrall. Hudson Williams pulls double duty, playing Henry Park and the mysterious Logan Casey. The decision to cast Williams in this role is *chef’s kiss* perfection. He gets to flex his *ahem* acting muscles with two distinctly different characters, highlighting his incredible range as an actor.

For those fans who watched Hudson Williams in Heated Rivalry and Noah Reid in The Vampire Lestat, be prepared to see your favs in a whole new light in YAGA. And that’s true of the whole cast – they deliver unforgettable performances that will leave you wanting more.

There aren’t many half-hour TV shows that successfully weave so much into such a tight timeframe. At first you might think it would be an impediment to storytelling, but the pacing is relentless and every moment reveals some key element that keeps you glued to the screen. There’s no fluff; Sandler masterfully balances story, mythology, character development, horror and humor in each 30-ish minute episode, all beautifully packaged and wrapped with a bow.

Don’t sleep on YAGA, folks. This is about to be the show everyone is talking about.

My full detailed and spoiler-free review will arrive closer to the release date. Be sure to follow me on X aka Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube.

YAGA premieres with two episodes on Friday, October 23, exclusively on AMC+ in the US and on Crave in Canada.