TV to watch in October, from 'Disclaimer' and 'The Franchise'
An HBO comedy from the creator of 'Veep', a mystery from master filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón and a reboot of an '80s classic


October is the best month of the year to spook yourself. But this month's television releases are not necessarily frightening in the traditional sense. Lots of things can be scary, including falling in love, having your secrets exposed or forging a new career late in life. October TV promises all this and more.
'Love is Blind' season 7 (Oct. 2)
Getting married to a stranger far too quickly is a common enough premise on reality TV — but falling in love with that stranger through a wall is the genius spin that made this Netflix original series a hit. With the 2024 election only a month away, now is the perfect time for the show to head to Washington, D.C. — a city "notorious for its difficult dating scene, often blamed on ambitious professionals who prioritize their careers over everything else," said The Washington Post. The grand reveal, which happens when two lovers finally meet each other in-person after choosing to get engaged, "doesn't always go so well," the Post said, "making for some fascinating television. Someone might fall for the person on the other side of the wall for their curiosity and great wit, but what happens when they discover that person, say, lied about their height?" (Netflix)
'The Franchise' (Oct. 6)
Ever wonder what it is like to make a big-budget superhero or franchise flick? HBO's new original comedy series, from "Veep" creator Armando Iannucci, will give you an insider peek into the studio filmmaking process. Just don't expect it to be glamorous or flattering. "Casting superhero movies not as cinema but as wildly expensive content, it's a show that'll be music to Martin Scorsese's ears," said Nick Schager at The Daily Beast. "The Franchise" is "unafraid to mock the entire phenomenon of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on absurd and juvenile fantasies whose every element, when viewed from a distance, look borderline ridiculous." (HBO)
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
'Teacup' (Oct. 10)
If you are on the hunt for a seasonally appropriate binge watch, Peacock's new series "Teacup" should meet all your spooky needs. Executive-produced by beloved horror director James Wan ("Saw," "The Conjuring"), the show is loosely based on the bestselling 1988 novel "Stinger" by Robert McCammon and "follows a group of people desperately trying to grapple with forces far beyond their control," said NBC. It has already been praised on X by the reigning horror king himself, novelist Stephen King: "If you like FROM or LOST, I think you'll enjoy this," he said. "It's strange, creepy, claustrophobic, and scary." (Peacock)
'Disclaimer' (Oct. 11)
Talk about prestige television. Everyone's favorite blonde Aussie actor, Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, stars in this new mystery miniseries from Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón. It is Cuarón's first project as writer/director since 2018's "Roma." Based on the novel "Disclaimer" by Renée Knight, the psychological thriller follows a documentary filmmaker named Catherine who receives a book from an unknown author only to discover that she is its main character — and that the book uncovers her darkest secrets. This is "Cuarón's most provocative project since 'Y Tu Mamá También,'" said Ben Travers at IndieWire. "The way 'Disclaimer' preys on our own bloodthirsty nature to dole out judgment could seem like a screed against cancel culture, if it wasn't so well-positioned to appreciate accountability." (Apple TV+)
'Matlock' (Oct. 17)
From "Jane the Virgin" creator Jennie Snyder Urman comes a CBS reboot of a classic legal drama from the '80s that stars Kathy Bates as clever septuagenarian lawyer Madeline Matlock. The series kicks off when Matlock, under the guise of being a harmless old lady, sneaks her way into a prestigious law firm and "uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within," reads the show's official synopsis. "While it could have been a train wreck of an intellectual property grab," the series is "actually a darling little legal drama," said Kelly Lawler at USA Today. "For those who miss a 'Good Wife'-style procedural in their lives, it might just scratch an itch." (CBS)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Anya Jaremko-Greenwold has worked as a story editor at The Week since 2024. She previously worked at FLOOD Magazine, Woman's World, First for Women, DGO Magazine and BOMB Magazine. Anya's culture writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Jezebel, Vice and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among others.
-
Kill the Boer: Elon Musk and the anti-apartheid song
Under the radar Billionaire reignites controversy by linking South African 'struggle song' to 'white genocide'
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Critics’ choice: Restaurants worthy of their buzz
feature A fun bistro, a reservation worth the wait, and a modern twist on Mexican dishes
By The Week US Published
-
Film reviews: Snow White, Death of a Unicorn, and The Alto Knights
Feature A makeover for Disney’s first animated feature, greedy humans earn nature’s wrath, and a feud between crime bosses rattles the mob
By The Week US Published
-
Scottish hospitality shines at these 7 hotels
The Week Recommends Sleep well at these lovely inns across Scotland
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
7 ways to drink spectacularly across the United States this spring
The Week Recommends A bar for every springtime occasion
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Adolescence and the toxic online world: what's the solution?
Talking Point The hit Netflix show is a window into the manosphere, red pills and incels
By The Week UK Published
-
6 welcoming recipes for cooking and baking during your spring days
The Week Recommends You want it flavorful, and you want it exciting
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Spring's best new cookbooks, from pizza to pastries
The Week Recommends Pizza, an array of brownies and Cantonese-American mash-ups are on the menu
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Hollywood's new affection for the British smile
Talking Point Natural teeth are bucking the trend of the classic Hollywood smile
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
10 upcoming albums to stream in the hazy spring
The Week Recommends Ring in the end of the cold weather with some new music
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Video games to play this spring, including 'Split Fiction' and 'South of Midnight'
The Week Recommends A meta co-op game puts you in a game within a game, and a life simulator that can compete with the 'Sims' franchise
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published