The Best New TV Shows of October 2025

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It’s no surprise to see horror everywhere on TV this time of year, and many of us, myself included, enjoy it. However, the new horror offerings for October 2025 – expansions of existing franchises like IT: Welcome to Derry and Anne Rice’s Talamasca, along with true crime-focused shows – didn’t really grab my attention. There is one good show about a serial killer worth watching this month, though. Plus, you’ll find a thriller called Down Cemetery Road that’s surprisingly spooky, a documentary about Margaret Thatcher, a fascinating look at a filmmaker obsessed with the darker side of humanity, and a hilarious and unpredictable show from Tim Robinson.

Brian and Maggie (PBS)

Over the past few years, there’s been a surge of shows and movies examining famous British news interviews. Prince Andrew’s problematic 2019 interview on Newsnight inspired both the Netflix film Scoop and the Amazon series A Very Royal Scandal. Princess Diana’s impactful Panorama interview was a key part of the 2013 film Diana and featured prominently in season five of The Crown. Now, we have Brian and Maggie, a two-part drama from writer James Graham and director Stephen Frears, which recreates journalist Brian Walden’s tough 1989 interview with Margaret Thatcher – an interview that many believe contributed to the end of her time as Prime Minister.

It’s fair to wonder why this story was told as a 90-minute series instead of a movie. American audiences might also find some of the British political details confusing. However, Steve Coogan and Harriet Walter deliver excellent, subtle performances. The series effectively shows how both Walden’s distance from his own political party and Margaret Thatcher’s loneliness as a woman in a male-dominated world led to their unlikely friendship – and why he was willing to compromise his principles to help her. The second episode powerfully demonstrates the importance of challenging interviews with those in power. The script is particularly insightful about the conflict between Thatcher’s policies and left-wing ideals, highlighting a shift from strong communities to a focus on material possessions, as one character puts it: “We used to have communities, and now we just have stuff.”

The Chair Company (HBO)

Tim Robinson, who also created the show, stars as Ron Trosper in HBO’s new comedy, The Chair Company, premiering October 12th. The show follows Ron as he spirals after a small embarrassment at work leads him to believe he’s uncovered a major crime. However, the ‘conspiracy’ he uncovers turns out to be everyday frustrations. As Ron explains during his investigation, “The biggest problem today is that you can’t reach anyone when things go wrong. Companies make terrible products, and there’s no way to complain or get an apology. It’s enough to make you want to scream!”

Fans of Tim Robinson’s comedy will instantly recognize this character. Like his roles in the Netflix show I Think You Should Leave and the film Friendship, he plays a man who gets ridiculously, almost uncontrollably angry, often without a clear reason. He’s similar to Larry David’s character in Curb Your Enthusiasm, but feels like a younger, more Midwestern version – someone who fixates on small things, is self-absorbed, and reacts to problems in wildly over-the-top ways. It’s a fantastic character, brought to life by Robinson’s signature blend of awkwardness and explosive anger, and placed in scenarios that are funny because they’re both ridiculous and surprisingly relatable to modern frustrations. Even though the show’s plot feels a bit disjointed, it’s entertaining enough to keep you watching. [Read the full review.]

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)

With the arrival of spooky season and the continued popularity of true crime shows, October is packed with docudramas about real-life criminals. This year brings titles like Monster: Ed Gein, Murdaugh: Death in the Family, and The Monster of Florence. However, if you’re looking for a true crime documentary that goes beyond simply showcasing gruesome acts—and acknowledges the lasting pain felt by victims’ families—Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy is the only recent offering that truly stands out.

John Wayne Gacy remains one of America’s most infamous serial killers, responsible for the rape and murder of over 30 teenage boys and young men. He’s an easy subject for sensationalized portrayals, given his outwardly friendly demeanor and his work as a clown, and Michael Chernus delivers a convincing performance as this terrifying figure. However, the series Devil in Disguise centers on Gacy’s victims, their families, and the flawed justice system that allowed him to target vulnerable young people for so long. Unlike typical serial killer stories, there are no clown costumes or violent scenes. Instead, showrunner Patrick Macmanus (known for Hulu’s The Girl From Plainville) weaves together Gacy’s arrest, trial, and execution with flashbacks that reveal the lives of his victims before they met him. While the dialogue can sometimes feel a bit heavy-handed, Devil in Disguise is a noteworthy example of a true crime drama that handles its subject matter with care and responsibility.

Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV)

I just started watching Down Cemetery Road, and right away, I was hooked! The show opens with a woman walking into a detective’s office, and the detective, Zoë Boehm (played by Emma Thompson), immediately jumps to the cliché assumption – husband, secretary, the usual. But she’s totally wrong! This isn’t about that at all. The woman, Sarah Trafford (Ruth Wilson), needs help with a really strange mystery, one that doesn’t even seem to involve her directly. Her obsession with this case is so weird and compelling, and it really sets the mood for what seems like a very human, and surprisingly thoughtful, thriller on Apple TV+. I’m already wanting more – you can [read the full review] if you’re curious!

Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV)

It’s always interesting to watch one artist explore the work of another. Throughout his more than 50-year career, Martin Scorsese has created important documentaries about many influential figures, including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and others. Now, Rebecca Miller—a filmmaker, novelist, and the daughter of Arthur Miller, as well as the wife of frequent Scorsese actor Daniel Day-Lewis—has made a wonderful five-part documentary series that truly captures a sense of who Scorsese is as an artist. Miller proved to be the perfect choice to direct this project, understanding both the sacrifices required for great art and the emotional impact artists often have on those closest to them.

Despite being structured as a traditional biography, built from interviews with Martin Scorsese and those who know him best, this isn’t a typical life story. The film focuses less on specific events and more on the recurring ideas that shape Scorsese’s work – things like power, the lives of people on the fringes of society, religion, what it means to be a man, violence, troubled relationships, and the struggle between good and evil. The filmmaker explores these themes by revisiting Scorsese’s films, both famous and lesser-known, and talking to his key collaborators – actors like Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, screenwriter Paul Schrader, and longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who offers insights into iconic scenes. The film also features honest, sometimes critical, perspectives from Scorsese’s former partners and daughters, who often took a backseat to his career and personal struggles. Combining these voices with Scorsese’s own candid reflections, the film goes beyond typical celebrity profiles to reveal a complex artist who evolved from a rebellious up-and-comer into a respected figure through deep self-examination.

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2025-10-30 15:06