An Ode to Owen: Taking a Moment to Celebrate Bly Manor's Perfectly Splendid Chef

Updated on 10/16/2020 at 5:35 PM

Before you begin, this post is spoiler-free. Because guess what? I don't need to spill spoilers to talk about my favorite part of Netflix's The Haunting of Bly Manor. In fact, I don't really need to talk about the other characters or the plot itself.

All you need to know is that Owen, played beautifully by iZombie's Rahul Kohli, is a little slice of heaven. Bly Manor's loyal and loving chef is the one constant in a season filled with chaos, a beacon of light in a mansion filled with darkness. He's kind, capable in the kitchen, and yes, he does rock that '80s mustache.

Ahead, find a few gems from the season that illustrate why Bly Manor wouldn't be the same without him.

First, here's Owen in his apron.

Look at this adorable man! He's cooked for the whole house, and he still goes home to look after his ailing mother. What a guy.

Now, here's Owen interacting with Hannah.

I'm sorry, I was looking for English class but clearly I've walked into CHEMISTRY. An amazing connection between these two — you love to see it.

Owen always keeps the good puns rolling.

BATTER! Get it? Because a cake is referred to as batter before it's baked. Owen is the daddest chef of all time. Someone get him an "I'm not old, I'm well seasoned" apron.

Owen's always down for an appropriately good time.

Owen's not a big party guy, but hell, he loves a bottle o' wine by the campfire! Who wouldn't want to share a blanket and a merlot with this guy?

Here's Owen being concerned about others.

Despite the strange events happening all around him, Owen is remarkably stable. He's a source of comfort for the residents of Bly Manor, as well as the audience.

Owen, like you, loves a good story.

Cooking isn't this man's only forte. Owen is a gifted storyteller, weaving tales that I would gladly hear over a bowl of steaming stew and freshly baked bread.

And finally, here's Owen in all his glory.

Leather jacket, check. Light-wash belted jeans, check. Tucked-in demin shirt, check. Tom Selleck mustache, CHECK. I mean . . . what a specimen. Cheers to you, Owen.

For comparison, here's Tom Selleck.

This image is from the 1995 thriller Broken Trust, and it's the only one I could find in which Tom Selleck has glasses. But my goodness — the mustaches are IDENTICAL. A real vibe.