reviews
THE WEEKLY STREAMING GUIDE
At The Point but heading home. GO PATS!
October 18–24, 2026
What’s worth watching this week — and what’s probably not worth getting off the couch for.
You know the drill. It’s Sunday night, you’ve got six streaming subscriptions, approximately 40,000 things to watch, and somehow you still can’t find anything good.
Before you spend another half-hour scrolling and end up watching The Departed for the 87th time, we’ve got you covered.
This week’s got a little of everything: a fantastic new comedy, political chaos, a couple of solid mysteries, and enough horror to keep Halloween season rolling.
Here are our 10 picks.
THE TOP 10
1. THE INVITE
HBO Max | Movie | Friday, October 23
🏆 PICK OF THE WEEK
Four people. One dinner party. A whole lot of uncomfortable conversations.
Olivia Wilde directs and stars alongside Seth Rogen, Edward Norton, and Penélope Cruz in this comedy about two couples whose evening together goes completely off the rails.
Think a dinner party where everybody’s got something to hide and nobody knows when to shut up.
It’s sitting at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 82 on Metacritic. That’s not just good for a comedy. That’s one of the strongest critical showings of the year.
The verdict: Friday night’s movie is handled. Don’t overthink it.
2. THE LOWDOWN — SEASON 2
Hulu | Crime / Mystery | Streaming now
Ethan Hawke plays Lee Raybon, a Tulsa journalist who can’t stop sticking his nose into other people’s business.
He’s not particularly good at staying out of trouble, which is exactly why the show works.
The first season was one of last year’s most overlooked gems. Season two is already pulling a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score from its first 13 reviews.
The A.V. Club gave the new season an A-minus.
This isn’t some cookie-cutter detective show. It’s funny, weird, a little messy, and full of characters who feel like actual people.
The verdict: If you like crime stories with personality, move this toward the top of your list.
3. SMALL PROPHETS
Apple TV | Comedy / Mystery | New episode Wednesday
Last week’s top pick isn’t going anywhere.
Mackenzie Crook’s strange little British comedy follows a lonely guy trying to uncover what happened to his missing girlfriend. His solution involves magic, tiny creatures, and a backyard shed.
It’s a lot better than that description probably sounds.
The show has a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and The A.V. Club awarded it an A.
It’s funny without trying too hard, sad without being miserable, and refreshingly different from the usual streaming nonsense.
The verdict: Still our favorite under-the-radar discovery of October.
4. THE DIPLOMAT — SEASON 4
Netflix | Political Thriller | Streaming now
Keri Russell is back, and Washington is still a complete disaster.
The fourth season dropped October 15, and the early response has been terrific.
It’s currently sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes from nine reviews, while fans on Reddit have been going nuts over the new episodes.
The show’s biggest strength remains the same: smart people making complicated decisions while their personal lives fall apart around them.
Sometimes the political maneuvering makes actual Washington look organized.
The verdict: One of the best returning dramas on television. Just don’t start with season four.
5. PHONY
Hulu | Mystery / Dark Comedy | Tuesday, October 20
Here’s one that could sneak up on everybody.
Connie Britton stars in a new series about a teenager who wakes up after a car accident convinced his mother has been replaced by an impostor.
Which is a pretty rough way to start your week.
Sam Nivola plays the teenager, and the show mixes family drama, dark comedy, and a genuinely unsettling mystery.
Early reviews are encouraging. RogerEbert.com called it one of the year’s more interesting new surprises.
The verdict: This week’s wildcard. We’re putting it on the list based on the premise and promising early reviews, not pretending it’s already a certified hit.
6. EAST OF EDEN
Netflix | Drama | Streaming now
Florence Pugh is absolutely carrying this one.
Netflix’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel is a sprawling family drama about ambition, betrayal, and people making spectacularly bad decisions.
It’s got an 86% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score, and Pugh has earned some of the strongest notices of her career.
It’s also been hanging around the top of streaming popularity charts.
Seven episodes, a terrific cast, and plenty of family dysfunction.
The verdict: Perfect for a rainy New England weekend when you’ve got nowhere to be.
7. LUPIN — PART 4
Netflix | Crime / Thriller | Friday, October 23
Omar Sy is back as Assane Diop, the world’s smoothest gentleman thief.
This time, somebody’s pulling off elaborate robberies while pretending to be him.
Not ideal when you’re already in prison.
The French crime series has always been one of Netflix’s most entertaining international hits. Clever schemes, great locations, and a lead character who’s usually about six moves ahead of everybody else.
All eight new episodes arrive Friday.
The verdict: One of the week’s biggest returning shows. Expectations are high, but we’ll wait for the new reviews before calling it another winner.
8. CARRIE
Prime Video | Horror | Streaming now
Mike Flanagan’s new Stephen King adaptation is still one of the biggest horror releases of October.
The eight-episode series brings Carrie White into the social-media age, where high-school bullying has gotten even uglier.
It’s not a straight remake of the original movie, and some longtime King fans have mixed feelings about the changes.
But the critics have been largely positive, giving it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The verdict: It’s October. It’s Stephen King. What else do you need?
9. WHERE’S WANDA? — SEASON 2
Apple TV | Dark Comedy / Mystery | Wednesday, October 21
This German dark comedy returns for another round of suburban chaos.
The first season followed a family desperately searching for their missing daughter. Now Wanda finds herself connected to a murder, and her parents are back to doing what they do best: making an already complicated situation considerably worse.
The first season earned a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score, although that came from a relatively small number of reviews.
If you like your mysteries mixed with dysfunctional families and uncomfortable humor, this one’s worth a look.
The verdict: A good sleeper pick, especially if you’ve already burned through the bigger American shows.
10. NOBODY WANTS THIS — SEASON 3
Netflix | Romantic Comedy | Thursday, October 22
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody are back as Joanne and Noah.
This season finds the couple taking another big step in their relationship: moving in together.
Naturally, their families and friends are probably going to make that considerably more complicated than necessary.
The first two seasons built a devoted audience, and the third arrives with 10 new episodes.
The verdict: For anybody who wants something lighter after three straight nights of serial killers and political conspiracies.
