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October 2026 has been a stellar month for television. While there has been a lot of new content to watch, six titles rose above the rest, landing on my "Best Shows of October" list. And while Carrie on Prime Video and The Diplomat season four on Netflix are included, other buzzy series (like Nobody Wants This season three) didn't quite make the cut.
Here, the six best shows of October 2026, from East of Eden to Kill Jackie.
Just two weeks after this Stephen King horror series about a young girl with telekinetic powers hit Prime Video, it was given the green light for a season two. Those that read the book or saw the OG movie are likely wondering how this could be (given how things are supposed to wrap up). But it appears that season one's pig's blood and explosive finale are just the beginning. The acting in this show is phenomenal, the twists are exciting and the memes are all over my social media feed ("Chris Hargensen is Carrie Red...").
This is my favorite show of the month—and easily the most underrated. The fabulous Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Jackie, a woman with a checkered past who is being hunted by a group of the world's deadliest hitmen known as The Seven Demons. Unfortunately for these hitmen, Jackie plans to take them out one by one before they have the chance to get her. The show is smart, funny, full of action and is a must-watch for anyone who loved the Netflix show The Gentlemen as much as I did.
Powerhouse Florence Pugh leads the stellar cast of this top-notch series adaptation of the classic John Steinbeck novel about a wrecking ball of a woman as she crashes into the Trask family. The Netflix series has an impressive Rotten Tomatoes rating, and rightfully so. The show is great. In fact, my colleague wrote in her review, "The characters are well-cut, and Pugh is absolutely phenomenal as Cathy. With just a turn of the shade in her eyes, Pugh conveys the intricacies and nuances of this complex female character that keeps the viewer on their toes."
Full disclosure: I skipped the first three seasons of this show and dove straight into season four. But let me tell you, it's so good, I'll definitely be circling back to the beginning soon. In the latest episodes of this hit Netflix political thriller, Keri Russell's U.K. diplomat tries to diffuse an international crisis and save her marriage, all while tip-toeing around a president (played by the incomparable Allison Janney) who may be getting too close to her husband. And that twist at the end of episode one? Oof!
What, what, what is going on in this bonkers Hulu thriller starring Connie Britton and Sam Nivola? Nivola plays a high schooler who wakes up in the hospital after an accident to discover that the woman he knows as his mother has been replaced by an imposter. Is it all in his head? Is there some kind of giant conspiracy? It's impossible to guess (which I love), but I'll absolutely be watching every episode to find out the truth.
It must just be a month for wild thrillers, and YAGA is another must-watch series to add to your list. Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams plays two different characters in this AMC+ show about a billionaire heir who goes missing. A semi-private detective (played by Schitt's Creek star Noah Reid) and a local police officer are tasked with solving the mystery...which may or may not involve a heavy dose of witchcraft.
And if none of these recommendations pique your interest, try these options from even earlier this year. Happy streaming!
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