Watch With Us: Oct 2015

The pumpkin month brings with it fresh content as The CW returns, new cable series get started and our coverage expands to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve.

Let’s bitch it out…

Let’s do a review of our existing coverage since we unexpectedly picked up a few series at the last minute:

• Sundays:
  • Blood & Oil S1 (9pm EST, ABC) – reviews by thedude
  • Lost Girl S5 (9pm EST, Showcase) – reviews by cinephilactic. Wraps up Oct 18
• Tuesdays:
  • The Muppets S1 (8pm EST, ABC) – reviews by bcgray
  • Scream Queens S1 (9pm EST, FOX) – reviews by couchpotato
• Thursdays:
  • Heroes Reborn S1 (8pm EST, NBC) – reviews by cinephilactic
  • Scandal S5 (9pm EST, ABC) – reviews by couchpotato
• Fridays:
  • America’s Next Top Model S22 (9pm EST, The CW) – reviews by harrisonfanatic
  • Strike Back S4 (10pm EST, Cinemax) – reviews by cinephilactic. Wraps up Oct 9
  • Continuum S4 (11pm EST, Syfy) – reviews by cinephilactic. Wraps up Oct 16
• Saturdays: Doctor Who S9 (9pm EST, BBC America) – reviews by harrisonfantatic & cinephilactic

Alright, let’s press on to our new content for the month!

Halloween Horror Nights

• What is it? We’re celebrating Halloween with our favourite horror movies – in list form! Be sure to check out our top picks in different categories and chime in with your own contributions.
• Why should you care? Movie lists are fun and will hopefully identify a few new films to check out this Halloween, especially since the pumpkin day lands on a Saturday this year which will give you plenty of time to binge!
• Who’s covering it? Resident horror aficionado will try and rope a few other contributors into his twisted list making
• Debuts: Every Tuesday throughout October

The Leftovers S2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9RlsD8lIO0

• Where did we leave off? After a season of angst, pain and mean-spirited reminder about missing loved ones courtesy of white-afficiandos the Guilty Remnant, the Harvey family were reunited. Throw in a raging fire, a bunch of fisticuffs and the town of Mapleton more or less self-destructed. Next up: a move by the series’ principle characters to a mysterious Texas town that clocked exactly zero Departures, which has its own share of misery and drama in store.
• Why should you care? The Leftovers was one of the most divisive shows of last year, but for those willing to brave the “grief porn”, the dramatic results were well worth the investment (it made our Bitch Awards ‘Best Of’ list, coming in at #8). The performances on the show, particularly break-out Carrie Coon, relentless Ann Dowd and nearly-wordless Amy Brenneman, were top-notch and the visual imagery was mesmerizing. All in all, The Leftovers made for compelling watching for those who could bear the sadness.
• Who’s covering it? cinephilactic has hidden the sharp objects and has a box of kleenex on hand
• Returns: Sunday, Oct 4 at 9pm EST on HBO

iZombie S2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-2-7uRvMyM

• Where did we leave off? S1 ended with a series of massive cliffhangers: main character Liv (Rose McIver) lost her roommate Peyton (Aly Michalka) and former fiancé Major (Robert Buckley) when she was outed as a zombie, cured adversary Blaine (David Anders) and found herself in a moral dilemma when her brother required a blood transfusion of her tainted blood.
• Why should you care? What began as a fun, pleasant diversion turned into one of the most legitimately entertaining shows on network TV. Credit Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero for crafting a perfect blend of drama & comedy, complete with a series of great twists, memorable characters and a rock-solid leading performance by chameleon actress McIver.
• Who’s covering it? cinephilactic can’t wait to dig back into this big ol’bowl of brains
• Returns: Tuesday, Oct 6 at 9pm EST on The CW

The Last Kingdom S1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqoq6SCciJQ

• What is it? This ninth century AD tale focuses on the last remaining kingdom not sacked by the Vikings in what will eventually become the UK. Awesome English actor Matthew Macfadyen is Uhtred, an English lord who was kidnapped and raised by Vikings who must decide where his allegiances lie in this sprawling historical epic.
• Why should you care? Memorable semi-realistic historical epics are rare on TV, so for fans of Vikings this might hit the sweet spot until the next season begins (we refuse to acknowledge Kurt Sutter’s meandering The Bastard Executioner). The acting talent in this adaptation and the glossy visuals suggest that unless the writing lets the series down, The Last Kingdom could be a nice change of pace from all of the police procedurals this fall.
• Who’s covering it? fictura gets his history on for this swords and armour tale
• Debuts: Saturday, Oct 10 at 10pm EST on BBC America

Grimm S5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yYPvNfweZw

• Where did we leave off? Umm, only with the most dramatic season finale ever! Lots happened, but the skinny is this: Juliette went full Hexenbiest and ultimately had to be put down, by Trubel (Jacqueline Tomboni), not Nick (David Giuntoli).
• Why should you care? Grimm really brought its A-game to the table with the back half of S4, so fingers crossed that the writers keep up the narrative momentum. There’s plenty of uncomfortable developments ahead as Adalind (Claire Coffee) prepares to deliver Nick’s child and apparently the long-gestating Key storyline will be revisited. We’re totally down.
• Who’s covering it? cinephilactic is ready to deal with the latest Wesen and (finally) unlock the mystery behind the Royal Keys
• Returns: Friday, Oct 30 at 9pm EST on NBC

Ash vs Evil Dead S1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unnLg1TPCYM

• What is it? This sequel to the Evil Dead series picks up 30 years after the events of Army of Darkness. Ash (legendary character actor Bruce Campbell, reprising his signature chainsaw-wielding role) is still working at the ValueStop when the Deadites return. Along for the ride is genre fave Lucy Lawless as a woman seeking revenge.
• Why should you care? The previews for STARZ’s de facto sequel look like the tone of the films – gleeful mayhem – have been captured perfectly. Plus the narrative possibilities inherent in a series could put the films to shame, to say nothing of the limitless number of new catch phrases we’re hoping to hear Ash create!
• Who’s covering it? cinephilactic is ready to get groovy in celebration of Ash’s return
• Debuts: Saturday, Oct 31 at 10pm EST on STARZ

That is it for October! If we’re lucky, our press accreditation for the Toronto After Dark film festival will be approved and we’ll bring you fresh horror film reviews Oct 15-23.