Here Are The Best TV Series To Stream On Prime Video In October
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Halloween is almost here, and with spooky season in full effect, there’s no better time to find the perfect binge on Amazon Prime Video.
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From supernatural scares to serial killer thrillers, Amazon Prime Video has a wealth of chilling content for horror hounds to explore this month.
Outside of a selection of excellent new and original programs, Amazon has a number of engaging and relevant series to check out from their impressive roster.
Amazon Studios
Whether you're looking for inspiration for a head-turning Halloween costume or are along for the latest journeys across Middle Earth, Amazon Prime Video is your destination for some of the best entertainment in the streaming space right now.
So even if you’re not in the mood for something macabre, you can find action, laughter, and everything in between in the terrific television series available on Amazon Prime Video throughout October.
Amazon Studios
New This Month:
1.American Horror Story (2011—)
Creators: Ryan Murphy & Brad Falchuk
Cast: Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe, and Macaulay Culkin
Genre: Horror
Seasons: 10
Episodes: 114
Rating: TV-MA
While Prime Video currently has the first nine season's of the show, the most recent will soon be added to its ranks. The first double-header season in the history of Ryan Murphy’s controversial and chilling anthology series, American Horror Story: Double Feature kicks off with “Red Tide,” a Lovecraftian tale of the monstrous lengths one may go to in order to achieve fame and fortune in a seaside town filled with unusual and fiendish folk. Double Feature later concludes its run with an extraterrestrial story set in 1954 Albuquerque featuring cattle mutilation, presidential interference, and bloodthirsty alien-human newborns. While the format of the show is different, Double Feature brings back many of the series’ familiar faces, including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Finn Wittrock, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy, and Denis O’Hare, to name a few.
Watch on Prime Video with Double Feature starting on October 20.
2.The Devil’s Hour (2022—)
Creator: Tom Moran
Cast: Peter Capaldi, Jessica Raine, and Nikesh Patel
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6
Rating: TV-MAFrom executive producer Steven Moffat (of Doctor Who and Sherlock fame), The Devil’s Hour is a nerve-racking dramatic thriller that follows a young woman (Jessica Raine) who wakes up from terrifying nightmares at 3:33 a.m. every single night. With her mental state falling to pieces and her family caught up in the aftermath, her longstanding search for the truth connects her to a string of brutal murders, of which a reclusive nomad (Peter Capaldi) is the prime suspect. A dark twist on the procedural series, The Devil’s Hour will make for a demented Halloween binge for those looking for something a bit more visceral this spooky season.
Watch on Prime Video starting October 28.
3.Downton Abbey (2010-15)
Creator: Julian Fellowes
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery
Genre: Drama
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 52
Rating: TV-14
Julian Fellowes’ beloved, Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winning ensemble series is about the drama, love, and historical events affecting the wealthy Crawley family and their servants. The show, set in the Yorkshire estate of Downton Abbey, has been a staple of Amazon Prime Video, but with the impending arrival of the series’ second feature film, Downton Abbey: A New Era, on the streaming platform, those who may have yet to check out the witty, touching, and brilliantly written series might have the perfect excuse to binge the esteemed period program. You might want to watch especially in the wake of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who was a vocal fan.
Watch it on Prime Video.
4.The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022—)
Creators: J. D. Payne & Patrick McKay
Cast: Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, and Ismael Cruz Córdova
Genre: Fantasy
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 8
Rating: TV-14
The acclaimed Lord of the Rings streaming series arrived with a roar in September, offering the epic production value, mystical lore, and fantasy-driven action so often expected from the Lord of the Rings franchise. It also injects the narrative with the occasional edge absent from Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth movies. Though the episodes thus far have certainly taken the time to set the stage for everything to happen in the expanding world of the series, the final episodes of The Rings of Power’s first season are likely to bring excitement and action to the forefront while cementing that the series. They also cement that this is different beast entirely from the other popular adult-oriented fantasy programs on television.
Watch it on Prime Video.
5.The Peripheral (2022—)
Creator: Scott Smith
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Gary Carr, and Jack Reynor
Genre: Sci-Fi
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 8
Rating: TV-PG
Based on the 2014 cyberpunk novel of the same name by William Gibson, this trippy sci-fi drama was created by Westworld producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy as well as visionary producer/director Vincenzo Natali. It follows the ambitious, but perpetually underestimated, Flynne Fisher (Chloë Grace Moretz) and her US Marine brother, Burton (Jack Reynor), who seemingly witness a murder during a security job set in what they believe to be cyberspace. Soon thereafter, the pair struggle to hold their fractured family together while trying to decipher if the alternate society in which they ventured could be connected to a dark future for their own universe.
Watch it on Prime Video starting October 21.
What to Watch:
6.Angel (1999-2004)
Creators: Joss Whedon & David Greenwalt
Cast: David Boreanz, Charisma Carpenter, and Alexis Denisof
Genre: Horror
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 110
Rating: TV-14
This spinoff of Buffy the Vampire Slayer follows the angst-ridden adventures of the noble vampire Angel (David Boreanaz) in Los Angeles. Angel also welcomed Buffy alum Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter), Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Alexis Denisof), Spike (James Marsters), and Harmony Kendall (Mercedes McNab) in their battle against monsters, demons, and even a lurid law firm. Positioning the fan-favorite protagonist in a greater power struggle between good and evil, Angel helped pave the way for a number of supernatural procedural series that followed thereafter (particularly Supernatural) and provided fans of Buffy with a deeper look into the series’ expansive and eerie universe.
Watch it on Prime Video.
7.Baywatch (1989-2001)
Creators: Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Gregory J. Bonann
Cast: David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, and Yasmine Bleeth
Genre: Drama
Seasons: 9
Episodes: 242
Rating: TV-PG
Becoming one of the most popular and longest running television series in the world after having been initially canceled by NBC after its first season, Baywatch is known for its rotating ensemble cast of sexy, melodrama-friendly performers and the iconic red swimsuits. It may not be the most imaginative (or substantial) costume of all time, but if you want to dive headfirst into this iconic series, you're bound to find a Baywatch hero that you can emulate this Halloween, whether that be David Hasselhoff's Mitch Buchannon, Pamela Anderson's C.J. Parker, Yasmine Bleeth's Caroline Holden, or even the fresh-faced Jason Momoa's Jason Ioane.
Watch it on Prime Video.
8.The Boys (2019—)
Creator: Eric Kripke
Cast: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, and Antony Starr
Genre: Science Fiction
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 24
Rating: 18+This is one of Amazon’s most popular (and shockingly deranged) original series. There’s a good chance that you might be familiar with this NSFW adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s comic book even if you don’t actively watch the series, as its imagery and sequences have resulted in popular memes, viral videos, and even references from all areas of pop culture. With the third season airing last summer, the costume options, from Homelander to Starlight to Soldier Boy and everyone in between, should feel fresh this spooky season, though you might want to steer clear of dressing up as some of the series’ more “reprehensible” characters.
Watch it on Prime Video.
9.Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Creator: Joss Whedon
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, and Anthony Stewart Head
Genre: Horror
Seasons: 7
Episodes: 144
Rating: TV-14
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a groundbreaking horror-fantasy series that changed the standard and language of television writing, especially for fiction in the genre space. It follows Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her friends (lovingly dubbed “The Scooby Gang”) as they strive to vanquish the evil bombarding their town of Sunnydale. Bolstered by a committed and charismatic ensemble cast, Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s ability to develop interesting character directions, unique narrative devices, and fun interpersonal dynamics while offering kickass supernatural action defined it as one of the best shows of its era and a wickedly wry slice of Halloween season entertainment.
Watch it on Prime Video.
10.Carnival Row (2019—)
Creators: René Echevarria and Travis Beacham
Cast: Orlando Bloom, Caroline Ford, and Cara Delevingne
Genre: Fantasy
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 8
Rating: 16+
From the imaginative minds behind The 4400 and Pacific Rim, Carnival Row mixes neo-noir inspirations and images with fantasy lore in its story of a detective solving murders occurring in a poor and oppressed urban community of mythological creatures. A quick binge (at least until the second season arrives at some point), the central romantic fae duo of Philo (Orlando Bloom) and Vignette (Cara Delevingne) is posited as a potential couple’s costume for those looking to blend steampunk and fantasy visages. But there are a number of additional possible costume options for the more resourceful viewers out there, including a wealthy faun (David Gyasi), a decrepit witch, and many others.
Watch it on Prime Video.
11.Dexter (2006-13)
Creator: James Manos Jr.
Cast: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, and David Zayas
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Seasons: 8
Episodes: 96
Rating: TV-MA
Based on the lauded and lurid novel series from Jeff Lindsay, this delightfully demented Showtime series is about a Miami-based vigilante serial killer (Michael C. Hall) who must face his own dark nature. This is all of course while finding off the suspicions of others, including his co-workers at the Miami Metro Police Department, and the gruesome gallery of sadistic murderers on whom he preys. Though the series has been debated much over its hit-or-miss seasons and controversial ending (which was thankfully course-corrected in the follow-up limited series New Blood), Dexter’s horrific highlights make the bumpy and bloody journey one absolutely worth taking, especially the unforgettable “Trinity Killer” storyline elevated by a spectacular supporting turn from John Lithgow.
Watch it on Prime Video.
12.The Fall (2013-16)
Creator: Allan Cubitt
Cast: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, and John Lynch
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 17
Rating: TV-MA
An intense cat-and-mouse thriller, The Fall pits a methodical serial killer (50 Shades of Grey's Jamie Dornan) against a hard-headed detective (The X-Files' Gillian Anderson) in Northern Ireland. The investigation and chase are complicated by various obstacles, from the former's web of lies to the latter's bureaucratic roadblocks. A series that is bolstered by the tour de force performances across the board, The Fall makes for a great horror offering for those who prefer their serial killer thrillers with more realism and less glorification. Nevertheless, the series is definitely harrowing at points, so those who may want spookier or lighter Halloween fare should proceed with caution.
Watch it on Prime Video.
13.Good Omens (2019—)
Creator: Neil Gaiman
Cast: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, and Jon Hamm
Genre: Fantasy
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6
Rating: 16+
From the wicked and wonderful mind of Neil Gaiman, who has found success on the small screen with Netflix’s adaptation of The Sandman and Starz’s jaw-dropping take on American Gods, Good Omens follows a protective, human-loving angel (Michael Sheen) and a fiendish demon (David Tennant) who must come together to prevent the emergence of the Antichrist. With a supporting cast that also includes Jon Hamm as the angel Gabriel, Adria Arjona as an occultist, Michael McKean as a modern witchfinder, and Mireille Enos as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the fantastical comedy series includes many fun and vibrant costumes that one could possibly achieve at home on a significantly lower budget.
Watch it on Prime Video.
14.Grimm (2011-17)
Creators: Stephen Carpenter, Jim Kouf & David Greenwalt
Cast: David Giuntoli, Russell Hornsby, and Bitsie Tulloch
Genre: Horror
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 123
Rating: TV-14
From creators Stephen Carpenter, Jim Kouf, and David Greenwalt, the latter of whom notably produced the aforementioned Buffy and Angel, Grimm follows a homicide detective in Portland, Oregon (David Giuntoli) who learns that he must protect the delicate balance between mankind and mythological creatures. Initially taking inspiration from Grimm’s Fairy Tales, this spooky series truly found its footing in its second season, and maintained a stellar reputation for its ability to balance engaging mysteries and recontextualized monster lore with the ever-present thrill and chill factor. Moreover, the series received some exceptional support from its scene-stealing roster of guest stars, including the likes of Reg E. Cathey, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Titus Welliver, and Sam Witwer.
Watch it on Prime Video.
15.Jean-Claude Van Johnson (2016-17)
Creator: Dave Callaham
Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Phylicia Rashad, and Moises Arias
Genre: Comedy
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6
Rating: 16+Starring ‘90s action legend Jean-Claude Van Damme as a fictionalized version of himself, having only been a Hollywood mega-star as a front for his covert spy operations, the Ridley Scott-produced Jean-Claude Van Johnson takes an absurdist look at filmmaking, ego, and the action genre, with hysterically outrageous parodies of action franchises like The Fast and the Furious. Elevated by Van Damme’s absolute game appearances to make fun of himself and the tropes of the genre that made him famous, Jean-Claude Van Johnson mines a lot of laughs from its fairly brief single season, especially from the faux film-within-a-series action take on Huckleberry Finn.
Watch it on Prime Video.
16.Key & Peele (2012-15)
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Creators: Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele
Cast: Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele
Genre: Comedy
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 54
Rating: 16+
While the years since the series concluded have been kind to both Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, there’s a reason that their Peabody and Emmy Award-winning sketch show has endured in pop culture relevancy for as long as it has: It’s too damn funny to be forgotten. Thankfully, Key & Peele’s entire five season run is available on Amazon Prime Video, allowing new fans to discover some of their most memorable characters, including “Mr. Garvey,” “Meegan and André,” and “The Valets,” while providing longtime viewers with the opportunity to dig into their favorite sketches. Plus, Key & Peele was also known for their episodes embracing various holiday spirits, so should you feel up to it, the spooky Halloween episodes of the series should scratch your seasonal itch.
Watch it on Prime Video.
17.The Kids in the Hall (1988—)
Creators: Lorne Michaels & Joe Bodolai
Cast: Dave Foley, Mark McKinney, Scott Thompson, Bruce McCulloch, and Kevin McDonald
Genre: Comedy
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 109
Rating: 18+
If there was any sign that the world was healing in 2022, one could point to Amazon’s long-awaited revival of The Kids in the Hall, in which the iconic Canadian comedy troupe reunited for a sixth season that was gleefully unhinged thanks to the lack of restrictions on the streaming platform. In addition to proving that the group was as daring as ever, The Kids in the Hall’s sixth season includes a number of sketches that could stand among their best work ever, including “Drop Average,” “Imaginary Girlfriend,” “Doomsday DJ,” and “Antique.” And if you love their most recent work, Amazon has the whole original series on their platform as well to make sure the well-deserved laughs don’t have to stop anytime soon.
Watch it on Prime Video.
18.Mad About You (1992-99)
Creators: Paul Reiser & Danny Jacobson
Cast: Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt and Anne Ramsay
Genre: Comedy
Seasons: 7
Episodes: 176
Rating: 7+
Anchored by the always wonderful duo of Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt, this beloved staple of ‘90s sitcom television follows two neurotic newlyweds who attempt to navigate life in Lower Manhattan. The popular program was notably inoffensive while remaining as relatable and entertaining as its more lasting contemporaries Friends and Seinfeld. Mad About You also received a seventh season revival in 2019 with both Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser returning as “empty nesters,” which is also included on Amazon Prime Video for those who find themselves infinitely charmed by the comedy series.
Watch it on Prime Video.
19.Psych (2006-14)
Pacific Mountain Productions
Creator: Steve Franks
Cast: James Roday, Dulé Hill, and Maggie Lawson
Genre: Comedy
Seasons: 8
Episodes: 120
Rating: TV-PG
Anchored by deservedly star-making turns from James Roday Rodriguez and Dulé Hill, Psych follows Shawn Spencer (Roday Rodriguez), the son of a detective who utilizes heightened observational skills and an eidetic memory to convince his local police department that he has psychic abilities he can utilize to solve crimes alongside his clever best friend, Gus (Hill). A boon to the USA Network to its run that continues to thrive through direct-to-television/streaming films, Psych’s vocal and loyal audience has only grown over the years as the infectiously charming series and solid concept has endured via its frequent syndication and binge-watching.
Watch on Prime Video.
20.Them (2021)
Creator: Little Marvin
Cast: Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, and Ryan Kwanten
Genre: Horror
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 10
Rating: 18+An original horror anthology series produced by Lena Waithe (The Chi), the first season of this terrifying (and likely traumatizing) Amazon original series followed a Black family who migrates from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood in 1953. Facing shock and horror from both their neighbors and supernatural forces within their own home, Them has garnered many comparisons to American Horror Story, and with a directorial roster that includes Zola’s Janicza Bravo, X’s Ti West, and The Last Exorcism’s Daniel Stamm, the “Covenant” story arc is pulled off with a spotlight on the onscreen and subtextual carnage simultaneously.
Watch it on Prime Video.
21.The Tick (2016-19)
Creator: Ben Edlund
Cast: Peter Serafinowicz, Griffin Newman and Valorie Curry
Genre: Action
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 22
Rating: 18+
Based on the cult comic from Ben Edlund (as well as both the animated and live-action adaptations of the same name that followed), The Tick's tongue-in-cheek universe of capable yet foolhardy superheroes expertly blended comedy and humor to much critical acclaim. With its exceptionally talented ensemble cast, which includes frequent project MVP Peter Serafinowicz as well as Griffin Newman, Valorie Curry, Jackie Earle Haley, and Yara Martinez, this 2016 version of The Tick offers plenty of colorful costume inspiration for anyone looking to find that sweet spot between goofy, ridiculous, and kind of badass at the Halloween get-togethers this year.
Watch it on Prime Video.
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Get your heart pumping with Fall, a new thriller that will take you to terrifying heights. Watch it on demand right now, and on DVD/Blu-ray on October 18.
