We have had a 2023 full of good series. So far, we’ve enjoyed impressive shows such as The Last of Us, Poker Face, and I’m a Virgo, and the satisfying returns of The Bear and Yellowjackets.
We’ve also said goodbye to brilliant shows like Succession, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, or Barry. The good news is that there are still plenty of promising projects left for the rest of 2023.
The month of October arrives loaded with excitement and surprises. TV networks and streaming services are placing big bets with premieres such as the creepy thriller The Fall of the House of Usher by veteran creator Mike Flanagan, and the long-awaited return of the God of Mischief, Loki, which will be available on Disney+.
In the coming weeks, we’ll also get to see the third season of sci-fi comedy-drama Upload and Brie Larson’s highly anticipated series, Lessons in Chemistry.
Below, we’ve put together a guide to the titles and dates you should keep an eye out for this October.
Loki
Disney+ | Season 2 | Release date: Friday, October 6
Loki, the most charismatic anti-hero in television history, will be back next month. This return comes after more than two years since the end of the first season in July 2021.
With the second installment in sight, fans are eager to learn about the new adventures of the God of Mischief (Tom Hiddleston), along with his time-traveling friends. Notably, Loki’s new season is part of Phase Five of the MCU and is expected to be much more creepy and intriguing than the previous one.
According to Marvel Studios’ previews, the series will address the ramifications of the first season and the post-credits scene from Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“Loki Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. Along with Mobius, Hunter B-15 and a team of new and returning characters, Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.”
So far, the following cast members have been confirmed to return: Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Sophia Di Martino, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku and Jonathan Majors. Actor Ke Huy Quan, known for his role as Waymond in Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, also joins the cast.
The second season of Loki will include six new episodes, likely to be around an hour long, as was the format of the first installment. Titles have not yet been revealed, nor has the length of the episodes.
The Fall of the House of Usher
Netflix | Season Premiere | Release date: Thursday, October 12
Netflix is gearing up to premiere the terrifying supernatural thriller The Fall of The House of Usher, and by the looks of it, it’s one of this month’s big bets.
The Fall of The House of Usher is the highly anticipated production from Mike Flanagan, the brilliant mind behind The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. Both series were nominated for numerous awards, proving that Flanagan has an expert eye for the grim and creepy.
This project is a contemporary adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s well-known story of the same name. The eight-part series has been said to combine psychological intrigue, terror and suspense to deliver an unsettling experience.
The story follows Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood), the CEO of a corrupt pharmaceutical company, who suddenly must confront his murky past when each of his children begins to die in mysterious and brutal ways.
According to a press release, the series will follow the “ruthless” Usher brothers as they are dragged through the demons of the past.
This production will be Flanagan’s last limited series for Netflix, as the director has signed a new contract with Amazon.
Lessons in Chemistry
Apple TV + | Season Premiere | Release date: Friday, October 13
The bestseller Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is coming to the small screen starring Brie Larson.
The adaptation is set in the United States in the early 1960s and tells the story of a female research scientist whose career aspirations fall apart because of sexist academia.
The series follows brilliant chemist Elizabeth Zott (Larson), who is fired from her lab when she becomes a single mother. Instead, she must reinvent herself and become the host of Supper at Six, a beloved cooking show.
Against all odds, the new job serves as a platform for her to share ideas that were, at least for the time, completely radical. The witty woman includes scientific information in the show and gives chemistry lessons to viewers. Eventually, Elizabeth Zott’s passion ignites something in the millions of repressed housewives across the country.
The Apple TV+ drama will have a total of 8 chapters. During the show’s launch on October 13, the first two episodes will air, followed by a new episode every Friday.
Neon
Netflix | Season Premiere | Release date: Thursday, October 19
In the upcoming Netflix drama, Neon, Tyler Dean Flores plays Santi, a young man who wants to get a record deal and become a star in the urban genre.
The eight-episode series centers on three inseparable friends, Santi, Felix and Ness, who move from small-town Florida to Miami in hopes of making it big in the reggaeton world. The fiction chronicles the rookies’ journey to stardom and the harsh realities of the industry.
Netflix shared the following synopsis:
“From small-town Florida to the bustling beaches and bright lights of Miami, Neon follows three friends as they hustle their way to making it big in the world of reggaeton. The comedy captures not only the three besties’ larger-than-life dreams, but also the harsh realities and funny mishaps of surviving the music industry. Together, they hope to make the biggest star in reggaeton — or at least pay their rent.”
Behind the scenes, the show features an impressive cast of music industry greats. Daddy Yankee takes on the role of executive producer, bringing his experience to the project as one of reggaeton’s legends. In addition, Grammy winner Tainy has been responsible for the creation of several of the songs on the soundtrack.
The series was created by renowned Mexican-American writer and screenwriter Shea Serrano.
Upload
Prime Video | Season 3 | Release date: Friday, October 20
The third season of Upload, arrives more than a year and a half after the second installment. Created by Greg Daniels (The Office), Upload is set in a technologically advanced future where humans can choose to be “uploaded” to a virtual afterlife.
Robbie Amell (Firestorm, The Flash), plays computer programmer Nathan, who dies unexpectedly and finds himself in one of these digital lives at Lakeview (a cybernetic after-death life facility), where he falls in love with his “caretaker angel,” customer service manager Nora (Andy Allo, Chicago Fire).
The third season picks up with the relationship between Nora and Nathan, who has just been downloaded into a cloned body. According to Prime Video’s official synopsis, Nora and Nathan won’t be able to enjoy the glow of romance for long as they must do what they can to stop Freeyond’s nefarious conspiracy.
The first two episodes will premiere on October 20, with subsequent episodes airing weekly in pairs every Friday. The season finale is scheduled for Friday, November 10, concluding the eight-episode season.