October has already been a packed month for TV, and the back half is just as busy. Between returning streaming favorites, new comedies, true-crime docuseries and the start of the NBA season, your queue is about to get crowded. To help you plan, we rounded up the most notable premieres from now through Halloween, based on the premiere calendars published by The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline. Dates can shift, so double-check your streaming app before you settle in.

This week: October 18 to 24

Sunday, Oct. 18: PBS’s Masterpiece lineup continues with Season 2 of Maigret at 9 p.m., followed by Season 2 of The Gold at 10 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 20: A big night. NBC kicks off its NBA coverage with an opening-night tripleheader. Hulu debuts the new comedy series Phony, Netflix brings back the animated Cyberpunk: Edgerunners for Season 2, and Bravo launches the miniseries Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas.

Wednesday, Oct. 21: Prime Video drops all episodes of The Terminal List Season 2, perfect for a binge. Netflix premieres the docuseries The New Stanford Prison Experiment and the competition series Six Kings Slam, Apple TV returns with Season 2 of Where’s Wanda?, and ABC airs the special I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton at 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 22: One of the most anticipated returns of the fall: Nobody Wants This is back on Netflix for Season 3. Hulu also premieres the docuseries Swipe Right on the Devil.

Friday, Oct. 23: Netflix’s French hit Lupin returns for Season 4. AMC+ premieres the new drama Yaga, and NBC pairs the Season 3 return of Happy’s Place at 8 p.m. with the new comedy Newlyweds at 8:30 p.m.

Next week: October 25 to 31

Sunday, Oct. 25: Paramount+ premieres the new docuseries A Course Called Ireland, and Peacock debuts the docu-miniseries The Wolves of Real Estate: The Alexander Brothers, according to Deadline.

Monday, Oct. 26: Hulu launches the new competition series The Mob, and PBS returns with Season 2 of Pati Jinich Explores Panamericana.

Tuesday, Oct. 27: Netflix premieres The One About Matthew Perry, a new docuseries about the late Friends star. Horror fans get Season 7 of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula on Shudder, just in time for Halloween.

Friday, Oct. 30: A strong finish to the month. Paramount+ brings back Dexter: Resurrection for Season 2, and Apple TV premieres the new drama series Nocturne.

Catch up on what already premiered

If you’ve fallen behind, these October debuts and returns are worth adding to your list, according to Boston.com’s fall TV guide and The Hollywood Reporter:

  • The Diplomat Season 4 (Netflix, Oct. 15)
  • The Lowdown Season 2 (FX/Hulu, Oct. 14)
  • Tulsa King Season 4 (Paramount+, Oct. 16)
  • Abbott Elementary Season 6 (ABC, Oct. 7)
  • Grey’s Anatomy Season 23 (ABC, Oct. 15)
  • VisionQuest, a new series on Disney+ (Oct. 14)
  • Crystal Lake, a new series on Peacock (Oct. 15)
  • War, a new HBO series (Oct. 1)
  • Avatar: Seven Havens, a new Paramount+ series (Oct. 9)

Tips for managing a crowded queue

With this much arriving at once, a little strategy helps:

  • Rotate subscriptions. If two of your must-watch shows are on the same service, subscribe for a month, binge and pause before the next big release elsewhere.
  • Wait for full seasons. Some shows release weekly. Letting episodes pile up can make for a satisfying weekend binge.
  • Use your watchlist. Add shows as soon as they’re announced so you don’t forget what you wanted to see.
  • Check the release time. Streaming premieres often land overnight or at a specific hour, so plan your evening accordingly.

The wrap-up

The final two weeks of October bring something for nearly everyone, from big streaming returns like Nobody Wants This, Lupin and Dexter: Resurrection to new comedies, documentaries and the start of the NBA season. Grab the popcorn, pick your priorities and enjoy one of the busiest stretches of the TV year.

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