What to Watch This Week: October 8 to 13

From a return to Riverdale to the dawn of a new dynasty, we round up our top 10 shows to watch this week

From a return to Riverdale to the dawn of a new dynasty, we round up our top 10 shows to watch this week

 

1. Episodes – Sunday, October 8, 9 p.m., TMN1 | Series Finale

What a long, strange trip it’s been for U.K. TV writers Sean and Beverly Lincoln (Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig), who voyaged from London to L.A. to create an American version of their acclaimed comedy about an elderly school headmaster. Thanks to dimwitted network meddling, it became Pucks!, an awful sitcom starring Matt LeBlanc (playing himself) as a high school hockey coach. The five-season journey concludes in tonight’s series finale.

 

2. Riverdale – Wednesday, October 11, 8 p.m., The CW | Season Premiere

If you remain concerned about Fred Andrews (Luke Perry) after he was gunned down in that season-one finale, you aren’t alone. And while we can’t say for certain whether or not he’ll survive, producers have promised that the fate of Archie’s dad will definitely be revealed by the time this week’s premiere has wrapped.

 

3. The Bachelor Canada – Wednesday, October 11, 9 p.m., W Network | Season Premiere

There’s no greater love story than one that’s been generated in front of a national audience. Following the resurrection of the brand last year with The Bachelorette Canada, a third season featuring a male suitor looking for the ever-elusive love of his life premieres this week. And naturally, that means a slew of eligible and attractive young females hoping to win his heart. This season, the honour of bachelor goes to Chris Leroux, a former Major League Baseball pitcher who is now looking to invest the cash he made on the baseball diamond into one that fits around a lucky gal’s finger.

 

4. Dynasty – Wednesday, October 11, 9 p.m., The CW | Series Premiere

Three decades may have passed since primetime soap Dynasty stopped airing, but the memory of Krystle and Alexis’s delicious catfights still lingers. With the creative teams behind Gossip Girl and Revenge at the helm, a reboot now promises to take greed, ambition and epic rivalry—over the attention of a man, of course—to new levels. “We are definitely living in an age of dynasties. Right?” says executive producer Josh Schwartz. “Whether we are talking about Trumps or Clintons or Kardashians, our news is filled with the stories of family dynasties, and that is something that was really exciting to us about why to do the show today.”

The Carringtons and the Colbys are back and making wealth, power, deception and betrayal look equal parts electrifying and quotidian. The show centres on Fallon (Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll’s Elizabeth Gillies), the daughter of oil baron Blake Carrington (Melrose Place‘s Grant Show), and her antagonistic relationship with her father’s new fiancée, Cristal (UnReal’s Nathalie Kelley). Unlike the original, Fallon’s focus is not just to marry rich, but become the CEO of her father’s company—which also happens to be Cristal’s perceived agenda. “These women are ambitious career women,” says Schwartz. “I think having Cristal not just be the secretary, but actually somebody who really contributes to the company in a powerful way, makes her more credible in this drive for control of this company.”

 

5. Mr. Robot – Wednesday, October 11, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m., Showcase | Season Premiere

At the time of publication, very few details were available on what’s ahead in the series’ third season, save for that it’s the aftermath of the 5/9 attack and Elliot (Rami Malek) has survived the shooting by Tyrell (Martin Wallström) at the end of season two. Word has it that Wallström’s character will play a bigger role this season, but beyond that the actor was reluctant to elaborate. “Basically we will see what happens, how the world looks after the 5/9 attack and how… the world is falling apart,” Wallström says. “And I would say that this season, it’s a lot more like season one in terms of the pace and it’s more like external drives and what happens to the characters. So I think it’s more like season one in that sense.”

 

6. Room – Thursday, October 12, 2:40 p.m., TMN1

Abducted as a teen, Joy (Oscar winner Brie Larson) lives in a shed, raising a son (Vancouver’s Jacob Tremblay) fathered by her captor. As far as the boy knows, there is no reality beyond his “room.” When a chance for escape at last arises, it opens up a wide world of pain and confusion for mother and child alike.

 

7. Stephen King’s It — Friday, October 13, 5 p.m., Spike

While It burns up the box office, now is the perfect time to revisit the first screen adaptation of Stephen King’s horror tale: this four-and-a-half-hour 1990 miniseries, featuring a star-studded cast including John Ritter, Tim Reid, Annette O’Toole and Rocky Horror star Tim Curry’s terrifying turn as Pennywise the demonic clown.

 

8. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – Friday, October 13, 8 p.m., The CW | Season Premiere

The unhinged adventures of Rebecca Bunch continue in season three, with star/creator Rachel Bloom declaring: “If you thought this show was going to be ‘Funny Fatal Attraction,’ that’s where we’re going this season,” after Rebecca found herself spurned by the object of her obsession, Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III).

 

9. Lore – Friday, October 13, Amazon Prime Video | Series Premiere

Based on the popular podcast of the same name, this six-part anthology aims to put American Horror Story to shame by dramatizing the real legends and lore that inspired many of the boogeymen who currently dominate pop culture. And, really, isn’t it the feeling that what you’re watching may actually have happened that inspires true, up-all-night terror?

The project has attracted a pair of big-name producers in the form of Gale Anne Hurd (Aliens, The Walking Dead) and Glen Morgan (The X-Files), who will lend their expertise to shepherding some of the podcast’s most memorable episodes to a larger audience—from a good-old-fashioned family haunting to a German village that bands together to hunt a murderous creature.

Also, be on the lookout for vampires, changelings, werewolves, séances and possessed dolls. Yes, it seems as though Lore has a little something for everyone.

And whether you’re a true believer or not, the series promises to ensnare the senses thanks to its unique approach. Each of the episodes combines documentary footage and narration with “historical mixed media” and gripping cinematic scenes to bring these bone-chilling tales to life. For those cinematic segments, the cast includes the likes of Holland Roden (Teen Wolf), Colm Feore (The Borgias) and Adam Goldberg (Fargo).

 

10. Supernatural – Friday, October 13, Netflix

Brothers Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, respectively) continue to do battle with all that is other-worldly. And, often, without so much as a hair out of place. Season 12 of their popular adventures comes to Netflix this week.