Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
The amount of television on right now might seem like a trick, but if you know where to look, it can be quite the treat!
…Listen, there’s 24 hours left in the two-three months of Halloween, cut me some slack here.
In any case, that’s an awkward lede for what is otherwise a pretty straightforward piece: the 10 best TV shows that aired in October. As usual, the critics here at Decider combed through the totality of the television landscape, watching hundreds of TV shows and culled the list down to the best of the best. Everyone ranked their top five, those lists were weighted, mixed together, and scrapped in favor of me putting Evil on there 10 times.
Did I scare you?! Another trick, and though I personally like Evil quite a bit, CBS’ boo-cedural fell just short of our list. Instead, we’ve got a new take on the detective drama from ABC in the form of Stumptown (hey, did you know the show is based on a comic? It’s true!), a UK take on the venerable (and sassy!) RuPaul’s Drag Race, a depressed horse, four people trying to save the universe, and a bold reinvention of the superhero drama.
Read on for the full list below to find out who got the kiss from Daddy, and if you want to check out previous lists, we’ve got the best of March, April, May, June, July, August, September, and the first half of 2019. And most importantly of all, there’s a ghost RIGHT BEHIND YOU. Ha, ha, should have seen your face. Tricked you again.
'Stumptown'
ABC
The best word to describe ABC’s new crime drama Stumptown is fun. The Cobie Smulders-led series about a hard-drinking private eye exudes charisma, delivering a heightened version of your run-of-the-mill network procedural. Also starring Jake Johnson and Michael Ealy, the show combines captivating whodunnits, an endless array of quippy one-liners, and a killer soundtrack to deliver one of the most enjoyable new shows of 2019. If you’re late to the Stumptown party, Season 1 is now streaming on Hulu. — Josh Sorokach
'The Righteous Gemstones'
HBO
Because it was paired with the buzzy Succession, it feels like HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones flew under the radar—something you know Jesse Gemstone would hate. It shouldn’t have, though, because the first season of Danny McBride’s latest comedy opus went out on a high note. From Baby Billy’s bloody attempt at comeuppance to Judy’s horrendous monologue about her “relationship” with her high school teacher, Gemstones gave viewers a sinfully good season finale. — Brett White
'Below Deck'
Bravo
Below Deck Season 7 is wasting no time getting to the delightfully dramatic antics of this group of yachtie crew members. So far in the boat’s journeys around Thailand, the Chef has made more memorable trips to the bathrooms and multiple mistakes instead of delicious dishes, chief stew Kate Chastain has given us the smart snark we crave, and then there’s Brandy, the drunkest charter guest of all time. Ahoy, there’s still so much to come this season. — Lea Palmieri
'Superstore'
NBC
Tuning into Superstore at the end of a long Thursday never fails to feel like sinking into a hot bubble bath: Relaxed, comforted, and ready to spend 30 minutes not thinking about my stressful life. Though Season 5 of Superstore is tackling darker themes like ICE raids and exploitation of labor, it hasn’t let up one bit on the warm-hearted hilarity. I couldn’t be more grateful—sometimes Superstore feels like the only TV show left that lets me turn off my brain and smile without insulting my intelligence. I hope it never leaves me. — Anna Menta
'Living With Yourself'
Netflix
Living with Yourself on Netflix transported viewers to a world where not just one Paul Rudd exists, but TWO Paul Rudds. He’s fantastic in this 8-episode half-hour series acting opposite himself, mostly, and also the charming Aisling Bea. And if an abundance of Paul Rudds wasn’t enough, this show also gifted us with the year’s best dance scene. Thank you to all the Paul Rudds out there who made this happen. — Lea Palmieri
'RuPaul's Drag Race UK'
WOW Presents Plus
It turns out there’s no such thing as too much Drag Race. The launch of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK not only gave us a taste of what queens are like across the pond, it’s given the franchise a refreshing dose of kindness as well. But don’t let the hugs fool you! These queens still know how to stunt and turn looks on the runway! It’s just that in this season, we’re learning that lip syncs between queens that respect each other are even more dramatic than ones between frenemies. — Brett White
'BoJack Horseman'
Netflix
After putting up with these characters’ self-destructive misery for five seasons now, the first half of BoJack‘s final season finally gave us something nice: hope. Too bad it’s not going to last long. No show better understands the stress and turmoil of self-betterment, whether it’s showing BoJack’s (Will Arnett) journey through rehab or Diane’s (Alison Brie) battle with antidepressants. We’re terrified about what fresh hell is ahead for our favorite people and animal people. But for now BoJack is still a masterpiece. — Kayla Cobb
'The Good Place'
NBC
I’ll be the first to admit I don’t always understand what’s going on in The Good Place. Here in the fourth and final season of a show that’s taken us through ethereal planes, wiped memories, and occult experiments, things are getting especially complex. Therefore, major kudos to Mike Schur and his team for making me laugh out loud every single week regardless. How they manage to cram plot-y exposition, character growth, and brilliant one-liners—such as “I earned my place like my father and his father before him”—into 21 minutes remains a mystery. I’ll miss this show very much when it’s gone. Luckily, we still have a few more episodes before we say goodbye. — Anna Menta
'Watchmen'
HBO
Watchmen has already seemingly tackled the impossible. Right out the gate, the HBO series has embraced the nuance, unease, and revolutionary storytelling that made Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s graphic novel an instant classic. By reframing the story’s ethos around the inherited trauma of racial violence, Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen is forcing its viewers to examine their own complicity in evil, or work for the greater good. Strange, exhilarating, and wildly entertaining, we’ve got high hopes for where this show wants to go. — Meghan O’Keefe
'Succession"
HBO
You know how everyone debates the “song of the summer”? Well, Succession was easily the show of the summer. And you know what? The Succession intro was also the song of the summer. It’s Succession’s world, baby. We’re just living in it. Season 2 delivered countless memorable moments (“boar on the floor,” Kendall’s rap, the Roman and Gerri of it all), but nothing could mentally, physically, or spiritually prepare us for the events of the season finale. It was truly one of the most infectiously exciting twists in recent memory. Hurry back, Succession. Television’s not the same without ya. — Josh Sorokach
