As platforms battle it out with new releases this October, viewers are in for a treat with titles as interesting as they are varied
1. The Walking Dead (AMC)
Finally, one of the most extensive series of the 21st century will reach its definitive closure, with the third part of season eleven sure to bring the curtains down on the story of Maggie, Negan, Daryl and the rest of the survivors, before they continue with their runs in other independent shows, or spin-off series such as Tales of the Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. The mother of all zombie series, running since 2010, will bid a fond farewell with eight episodes available for viewers from day 3. However, there is still a lot of grass to cut when it comes to the universe itself, which is spreading like wildfire on TV.
2. High Water (Netflix)
And from hordes of insatiable zombies to dramas that seem motivated by the harmful effects of climate change. On October 5, Netflix release an interesting Polish series entitled High Water, where the action takes place in Wrocław in 1997, where scientists, locals, and the local authorities are forced to deal with the effects from an impending flood, facing extreme life and death decisions. Starring Agnieszka Żulewska, Tomasz Schuchardt and Ireneusz Czop.
3. The Bear (Disney+)
One of the most critically-acclaimed and popular series among viewers this summer in the US, The Bear, is also available on Disney+ on October 5. The storyline of this comedy drama revolves around Carmy Berzatto, a chef who returns to his hometown to take over the family business after his brother commits suicide. The 8-part series explores the monotony of routine, the consequences of loss and interfamily dynamics, starring TV and movie actor, Jeremy Allen White.
4. The Midnight Club (Netflix)
Filmmaker Mike Flanagan, one of the most acclaimed voices in contemporary horror, returns to Netflix with his miniseries The Midnight Club, based on the Christopher Pike novels. The creator of Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House writes and directs this new horror installment about six patients living in a hospice, who meet up at night to tell each other scary stories. Then, one night they make a pact so that the first person who dies will have to do everything possible to communicate with the rest of them from the afterlife.
5. Los 8 de Irak (Movistar Plus+)
October 10 sees the arrival of the documentary series Los 8 de Irak on Movistar Plus+, produced in association with 100 Balas (The Mediapro Studio). The platform’s latest non-fiction installment puts the spotlight on the worst attack suffered by Spanish intelligence service members, who in November 2003 were victims of a savage ambush south of Baghdad. Almost twenty years later, those who survived the attack and worked together with the agents remember this tragic event in an emotional exercise of memory from creator Fatima Lianes.
6. Candy (Disney+)
On October 12, a new example of 80’s American culture will be available on Disney+, Candy is a five-part series that explores the lives of serial killer Candy Montgomery and her victim, Betty Gore. In what appears to be a re-reading of the canonical slasher, this latest crime chronicle comes from debutant Robin Veith and veteran creator Nick Antosca, best known for the celebrated Brand New Cherry Flavor, released last year. Actress Jessica Biel leads the cast.
7. Shantaram (Apple TV+)
Beloved actor Charlie Hunnam takes the helm in Shantaram, a new Apple TV+ series set to premiere on the 14th. Once again, we’re going back in time to the 80’s, in this case in chaotic streets of Bombay, where we will follow Lin Ford, a heroin addict imprisoned for robbery, who manages to escape from prison. Ford’s criminal ties will lead him to enter into dealings with the Afghan mafia, in what appears to be a continuation of Hunnam’s role in Sons of Anarchy. This one’s a tough guy series created by Steve Lightfoot, The Punisher showrunner.
8. The Peripheral (Prime Video)
Prime Video continues to bet on science fiction proposals, in this case, The Peripheral. The series focuses on Flynne Fisher, a woman trying to keep her broken family together in a region of a futuristic America. Chloë Grace Moretz is the main cast attraction, while the series is the result of the first project from writer/producer Scott B. Smith, seconded by directors Vincenzo Natali, who also participates in Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities and Alrick Riley (Bridgerton).
9. Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (Netflix)
Then, on October 25, Netflix features one of the most eagerly awaited premieres of the season, as the masterful Guillermo del Toro, in Alfred Hitchcock Presents style, brings us eight macabre and creepy tales, each independent of one another. A new and promising anthology series that goes hand in hand with American Horror Story, but with the unwavering hallmark of one of modern-day cinema’s greats, as he heads a group of directors including the distinguished Panos Cosmatos, Ana Lily Amirpour and Jennifer Kent.
10. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (Disney+)
October 26 sees the arrival of the new animated series set in the ever-growing and vast Star Wars universe, this time with Tales of the Jedi. The series follows two parallel storylines, that of Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. Both will be put to the test before embarking on the adventurous destiny that lays before them, as they will have to prove, time and time again, that the Jedi force is indeed strong within them. Although this isn’t the first time the universe created by George Lucas explores the field of animation, this proposal comes from Dave Filoni, architect of the six episodes that make up this first season.
11. El Inmortal (Movistar Plus+)
Finally, on the 27th, Movistar Plus+ has put a good few eggs in the basket of their latest series, El Inmortal, a story of crime and drugs set in the 90s, starring Marcel Borràs and Álex García, who put themselves in the shoes of the members of Madrid’s infamous criminal gang, “Los Miami”, who practically monopolized the attention of newspaper frontpages during the 90’s with tales of cocaine trafficking and the control they exercised over Madrid’s nightlife scene. The capo di tutti capi at the time was known as El Inmortal, and this series is inspired by his reign.
