The Small Screen: What to watch this October

It's 'Rocktober' folks and there's some fantastic small screen offerings lined up for this month. From new seasons of your favorites to the quirky, the fantasy, the sci-fi, the superheroes and the downright bizarre, we have you covered for all your chill-in night binging. 

Here's lifeofUz's top pics for what to watch at home this October:

Netflix

1. Squid Game

A story of people who fail at life for various reasons, but suddenly receive a mysterious invitation to participate in a survival game to win more than 38 million US dollars. The game takes place at an unknown location and the participants are locked up until there is a final winner. The story will incorporate popular children's games from the 1970s and 1980s of Korea, such as squid game, literal translation of its Korean name, which is a type of tag where offense and defense use a squid-shaped board drawn in the dirt.

This quirky Korean 'running-man-battle-royale-hunger-games-survival' series has become the most popular series on Netflix to date and has audiences totally obsessed. Catch the hype and add it to your binge list!

2. Money Heist (S5)

To carry out the biggest heist in history, a mysterious man called The Professor recruits a band of eight robbers who have a single characteristic: none of them has anything to lose. Five months of seclusion memorizing every step, every detail, every probability culminate in eleven days locked up in the National Coinage and Stamp Factory of Spain, surrounded by police forces and with dozens of hostages in their power, to find out whether their suicide wager will lead to everything or nothing.

The grand finale to Netflix's popular heist series reaches an epic conclusion that will have you singing 'bella ciao' loudly for several weeks.

3. You (S3)

Based on Caroline Kepnes' best-selling novel of the same name, YOU is a 21st century love story that asks, "What would you do for love?" When a brilliant bookstore manager crosses paths with an aspiring writer, his answer becomes clear: anything. Using the internet and social media as his tools to gather the most intimate of details and get close to her, a charming and awkward crush quickly becomes obsession as he quietly and strategically removes every obstacle - and person - in his way.—ahmetkozan

The obsessively compulsive Joe Goldberg and his murderous ways are back - this time in the burbs with his partner in (murderous) crime, Love, who is now pregnant with their son. Dysfunctional? You bet.

4. The Chestnut Man

The Chestnut Man is set in the quiet suburb of Copenhagen, where the police make a terrible discovery one blustery October morning. A young woman is found brutally murdered in a playground and one of her hands is missing. Above her hangs a small man made of chestnuts. The ambitious young detective Naia Thulin is assigned to the case, along with her new partner, Mark Hess. They soon discover a mysterious piece of evidence on the chestnut man evidence connecting it to a girl who went missing a year earlier and was presumed dead - the daughter of politician Rosa Hartung.

If you enjoy murder mysteries then check out this dark, artsy Scandinavian thriller that will give you the chills and have you on the edge of your seat!

5. Lock & Key (S2)

After their father is murdered under mysterious circumstances, the three Locke siblings and their mother move into their ancestral home, Keyhouse, which they discover is full of magical keys that may be connected to their father's death. As the Locke children explore the different keys and their unique powers, a mysterious demon awakens - and will stop at nothing to steal them. From Carlton Cuse and Meredith Averill, Locke and Key is a coming-of-age mystery about love, loss, and the unshakable bonds that define family.—Netflix

My kids absolutely loved the first season of this mystery-fantasy series. Season 2 looks...well, magical. Be sure to check it out.

6. Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld stars in this television comedy series as himself, a comedian. The premise of this sitcom is Jerry and his friends going through everyday life, discussing various quirky situations, to which we can all relate (especially if we live in New York City). The eccentric personalities of the offbeat characters who make up Jerry's social circle contribute to the fun.—Tad Dibbern

Finally! I've been waiting ages for Sienfeld to hit Netflix. This 90s comedy series has become a cult classic. Definitely on my watch list.

7. Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle

The story of Koko, a young boy raised by Pokémon, and the creation of a new bond between humans and Pokémon.

One for the kids and the kids at heart...and also all the Pokémon fans.

8. Cowboy Bebop

Spike Spiegel is a bounty hunter in the far future with an easy going attitude and some deadly skill at martial arts. Together with his partners, Jet Black, and later Faye Valentine as well, they go from job to job across the galaxy looking for the high priced fugitives to bag.—Kenneth Chisholm

With a live action Cowboy Bebop coming to Netflix very soon, you absolutely need to check out this cyberpunkish-scifi-western anime classic series.

Disney Plus

9. Star Wars: Visions

Seven Japanese anime studios bring their unique talent and perspective to “Star Wars: Visions”—a collection of animated short films that will stream exclusively on Disney+. The anime studios are Kamikaze Douga, Geno Studio (Twin Engine), Studio Colorido (Twin Engine), TRIGGER, Kinema Citrus, Science Saru, and Production I.G. Each studio will use their signature animation and storytelling styles to realize their own visions of the galaxy far, far away. As a first formal venture into anime, each “Star Wars: Visions” short bears a unique Japanese sensibility, which in many ways aligns with the tone and spirit of Star Wars storytelling. From the beginning, stories told in the Star Wars galaxy have counted Japanese mythology and the films of Akira Kurosawa among their many influences, and these new visions will further explore that cultural heritage through the unique animation style and perspective of each anime studio.

Star Wars in anime. Star Wars was inspired by Kurosawa. The Jedi are analogous to Samurai. Lightsabers are just kitanas anyway. This is Star Wars...in anime. WHAT the heck are you waiting for? Check it out!!!