You’re probably all Halloween-ed out by now, bellies filled with mini chocolate bars and candy corn and exhaustion setting in after dealing with dozens of trick-or-treaters. Thankfully, you can get back to your regularly scheduled programming. You might be looking for something less intense to help you unwind. But maybe you want to keep the thrilling momentum going and still have an inkling for something a bit darker than usual.
We have you covered with five great TV shows to watch after Halloween that are a nice blend of both. These are lighter than the horror movies or shows you probably watched over the last month but still have some thrills to keep you sufficiently entertained.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, best shows on Hulu, best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and the best shows on Disney+.
Based on a True Story (2023-)
With the second season coming at the end of November, it’s the perfect time to binge your way through all eight short episodes in season 1 of Based on a True Story. The dark comedy-thriller is a fun romp through the lives of a married couple desperate to keep up with their wealthy, elitist friends. But they’re each going through their own professional crisis while awaiting the birth of their baby and struggling to figure out how they’re going to afford taking care of her. Ava Bartlett’s (Kaley Cuoco) obsession with true crime podcasts, however, leads to opportunity in the most bizarre way.
When a serial killer is on the loose in their town and her amateur sleuthing skills help her discover his identity as someone they know, a light bulb goes off. Rather than turn him into police, why not capitalize on this knowledge, strike a deal with him to chat anonymously in a true crime podcast, and they won’t tell. A podcast interviewing a real-life killer could make them a killing! Of course, they also have one other small ask of their potential new business partner: stop killing people.
Naturally, however, as Ava and her husband Nathan (Chris Messina) quickly realize, negotiating with a serial killer isn’t exactly easy, and the situation turns bleak. But it’s too late. They’re in far too deep now and would implicate themselves if they were to betray him. Based on a True Story has its dark moments, and while the premise is unbelievable, you can’t help but delight in how the charming killer’s narcissistic ego takes over. The rapport among the unlikely trio is hilarious at times, troubling at others.
Stream Based on a True Story on Peacock.
Severance (2022-)
Easily one of the best new shows in 2022 and arguably of this decade, Severance is a mind-bending sci-fi psychological thriller that delivered one of the best season finales we’ve ever seen. Adam Scott is Mark Scout, a man grieving the death of his wife who decides to undergo an experimental procedure. A bio-tech company will sever his brain so he has an “innie” who exists when he’s at work and an “outie” at home. When he walks into the building and travels up to his floor, he does not know anything about his life at home.
Conversely, when he leaves the building, his severed brain switches to his “outie” again and he forgets everything about work. It’s a shockingly severe method of forcing a seemingly healthy work-life balance.
When Mark is approached on the outside by a man claiming to be a former co-worker who alerts him that not all is what it seems at Lumon Industries, Mark starts to question things both at home and work, confused each time as to why. As he uncovers conspiracies, some of which involve his own personal life, everything comes to a head in the explosive finale. Severance returns January 17, 2025, for its second season, so now is a great time to catch up or re-watch season 1 so you’re ready for the fallout.
Stream Severance on Apple TV+.
Sweetpea (2024)
Described as the female Dexter, Sweetpea stars Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets, Fallout) as Rhiannon Lewis, a young administrative assistant who has trouble speaking up for herself and largely feels ignored. It’s not a figment of her imagination, as she has been bullied and pushed to the background her entire life.
When her father passes away, her dog dies, and her old high school bully returns to town, Rhiannon has had enough. She snaps and murders someone. She feels deep regret but also notices something odd. Her life is starting to get better. She has more confidence, she’s getting noticed, and the thrill of the kill is releasing a darkness that has likely been brewing inside her all along.
Sweetpea is beautifully acted and, while predictable at times, will draw you in from one episode to the next as you watch Rhiannon’s descent into madness. Rhiannon’s journey from meek, forgettable young woman to a terrifying killer reinforces that saying: “it’s always the quiet ones.”
Stream Sweetpea on Starz.
Shrinking (2023-)
Harrison Ford is an absolute delight in this Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso) comedy drama in which he stars as Dr. Paul Rhoades, a senior therapist and mentor, friend, and co-worker of Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel). Jimmy, also a therapist, is grieving the death of his wife in a tragic car accident. He has gone off the rails, neglecting his work and, most importantly, his teenage daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell).
He starts to see the light when he uses unconventional methods with his patients that seem to be working, much to Paul’s objection. But Jimmy slowly begins to heal. Roadblocks, however, stand in the way of his recovery, including a major one presented in the second season, which premiered in October 2024.
The chemistry among the cast in Shrinking and the combination of light-hearted comedy and dark drama create a show that sufficiently fills the massive gaping hole left by Ted Lasso. You’ll notice a lot of similarities in the tone and feel since both Lawrence and Brett Goldstein (who played Roy Kent in Ted Lasso and is counted among its writers as well) are creators. Goldstein appears in an on-screen role in season 2 that gives him the chance to show off his acting range in some of the show’s most heart-wrenching scenes. But make no mistake, there are just as many hilarious moments in this show to have you running through a range of emotions from one episode to the next.
Stream Shrinking on Apple TV+.
The Night Agent (2023-)
Coming out of the gate as a sleeper hit for Netflix, the first season of The Night Agent is like a corny action movie expanded into 10 hour-long episodes. The story follows FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), who was happy to be recruited to work in the White House until he learned he has a boring desk job as a secret Night Action group telephone operator.
He sits in a dark room night after night flipping through papers, waiting for the single rotary phone to ring. It never does, until one day when a loud ring surprises him. When he answers and hears a terrified young woman named Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) on the other end, he abandons his post and springs into action to investigate and help her. Together, the two uncover a massive conspiracy and must go on the run, unsure of who they can trust.
The twists and turns of the plot, which involve law enforcement, political figures, corporate businessmen, and assassins, keep your eyes glued to the screen the entire way through. It’s near impossible not to hit play on the next episode after watching one. The Night Agent counts among Netflix’s most-viewed series ever, breaking records when it first debuted. Season 2 will premiere in early 2025, so you have time to watch season 1 and be ready to join Peter on his next mission soon.
Stream The Night Agent on Netflix.
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