From Spicy to Spooky: Must-Watch TV this October
by Georgia Glennie
*This article may contain spoilers*
Feeling spicy?
Hulu’s Rivals, based on Jilly Cooper’s novel series Rutshire Chronicles, is returning for a third season after the whopping success of its first two. Rivals follows wealthy, ambitious socialists in 1980’s South-West England. David Tennant, who, despite being known for playing the good natured, well-mannered Doctor Who, seems like the evilest person on the planet as the malevolent Tony Baddingham. Rupert Campbell Black (Alex Russell) and Taggie O’Hara (Bella Maclean) dance around each other in a will-they-won’t-they, age-gap, enemies-to-lovers type fashion. For fans of such romance tropes, this may be the show for you. For fans of moustaches, this may also be for you, as Aidan Turner might well be in the running for moustache of the year (if you know, you know). Rivals, personally, is one of my favourite shows of the last couple of years, particularly due to its ensemble cast, which also boasts Danny Dyer, Katherine Parkinson, and Nafessa Williams. However, the show also revels in its interlinking of plotlines, romance, and conflict, as well as incredible direction from Elliot Hegarty and phenomenal set design by Dominic Hyman. I will be tuning in on November 11th, and I suggest you do too.
Feeling sly?
Everyone’s favourite reality TV show(s) are back! Both UK Celebrity Traitors and US Traitors have returned for their second seasons, with the UK instalment debuting its first episode at 8pm on October 1st via BBC iPlayer. The star-studded TV show has a monumental ensemble of actors, musicians, presenters, comedians and broadcasters, including Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), James Acaster, James Blunt, Maya Jama (Love Island), Michael Sheen (Good Omens), Myha’la (Industry), Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) and Ross Kemp (EastEnders). The Celebrity Traitors UK is presented by national treasure Claudia Winkleman and filmed in Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, making it perfect viewing for those cold October nights. The Traitors: New Blood, the US version of the original show, debuts its second season on October 8th, with Alan Cumming (Cabaret) hosting.
Feeling spooky?
A24 and Peacock’s Crystal Lake, a prequel to the classic slasher film series Friday the 13th, is set to teach us about the original killer, Pamela Voorhees (Jason’s mother), who seeks revenge for her son’s drowning. Following the loss of her son, the show is set to depict Pamela’s descent into madness and her subsequent path to revenge, leading us up to the events of the first movie. Linda Cardellini, famous for the live-action Scooby-Doo films, Netflix’s Dead to Me and NBC’s Freaks and Geeks, is set to star as Pamela. As an admirer of her witty yet emotional performances (we all remember watching her and Reese Witherspoon face off in Legally Blonde’s iconic court scene), I’ll be excited to see her foray into horror acting. If you’re looking to tune in, Crystal Lake will be premiering on Sky and Now in the UK this October. For more spooky action to complement the falling leaves and glowing pumpkins, Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story returns for its spookiest season yet: season 13. The show boasts blockbuster actors playing fascinating characters, including Evan Peters’ troubled Tate Langdon, Sarah Paulson’s striking Lana Winters, and Jessica Lange’s ambitious Constance Langdon. AHS has spanned different times and settings across its seasons, including a 1950s circus-style ‘freak show’ and an insane asylum. Due to the significance of the 13th season (for obviously scary reasons), the returning season is set to have returning characters and storylines as a nice treat for all the fans. If you’re a crossover fan (and can’t wait for Avengers: Doomsday), this seems perfect.
