Spooky season is upon us, TV Fanatics.

Halloween is my favorite time of the year! Between the fun-size candy and endless horror movies, there's a lot of ghoulish treats topping the list.

Horror and spooky-themed TV shows, especially, make this month extra special.

Masked killers, witchy teens, paranormal ghosts from beyond the grave — there's a bevy of eerie TV shows to fill your Halloween hunger.

There are too many to choose from and a lot of options depending on what kind of horror sub-genre you're into it. Not sure where to start? We've got some tales for you.

Below, we've picked out a handful of fun, freaky and spine-tingling shows to get you into the Halloween spirit and kickstart your spooky season.

Author's Note: Only TV shows will be included below. TV Movies and movies on streaming sites won't be mentioned, so you won't see Netflix's Fear Street trilogy or Amazon Prime's Welcome To The Blumhouse on this list.

Check out the list below!

Slasher (Shudder, Netflix, Chiller, and Super Channel)

The name speaks for itself. Slasher is the perfect nod to the slasher genre of horror films.

This anthology series focuses on a new serial killer each season and a new set of hopeless victims trying to survive until the end.

Slasher is well-written and doesn't shy away from the gore. From the brainless jock to the resourceful Final Girl, each character feels like they're trying to avoid a bloody death at the hands of their killer.

Plus, every season highlights a new tone, and it's easy to jump into. Maybe give the recent season of Slasher Season 4 (titled "Slasher: Flesh & Blood") a shot?

American Horror Story (FX)

American Horror Story is another anthology series that will set your spooky season on fire.

American Horror Story helped to pioneer the format, and now halfway through American Horror Story Season 10, there's a lot of frights for you to catch up on. And just like any horror genre, you can pick the season that's right for you.

Haunted houses, bloody curses, dark asylums, and aliens are a few of the tropes awaiting each story.

The series is a tad inconsistent with delivering pure horror in the later seasons, but when it hits its stride, the eerie chills make it a fun time. Plus, with ten seasons and a spinoff, it's an excellent option for a binge-worthy fix.

Midnight Mass (Netflix)

Midnight Mass is the latest anthology series from the mind of Mike Flanagan.

The series takes place on a small island and focuses on a tight-knit community dealing with religious fanaticism and the supernatural. Chaos eventually threatens to tear everything (and everyone) apart.

Midnight Mass features many familiar elements from a Mike Flanagan-created show: interpersonal drama, a creepy aesthetic, and many "blink and you'll miss it" surprises hiding in the background. Religion plays a connecting thread through the plot and themes, so beware if that is a theme you're not interested in exploring.

Midnight Mass Season 1 is a quick binge with seven episodes, but the momentum rages like a wildfire once it gets going in the second half.

Scream (MTV)

Scream was an underrated gem dealing with the weight of the juggernaut that was the Scream movies.

Say what you will about movie vs. TV, but the adventures in Lakewood offered a suspense-filled slasher whodunnit with lots of fun to spare. The MTV series channeled its own meta-style and paid homage to the movies.

And the cast of characters was a great mix of classic horror archetypes mixed with new depth. (Brooke is a great example of growing beyond her mean girl trope.)

If you're in the mood for a modern take on the slasher genre, Scream would be a great option. Its reboot has its moments, but the first two seasons and Halloween special are the main draws.

The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)

Just like Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House is peak Mike Flanagan. However, you'll get unrelenting horror and ghostly terror in this mini-series.

The Haunting of Hill House Season 1 takes place within a (you guessed it!) haunted house filled with ghosts. The story focuses on the present and the past, centering on a family dealing with the trauma from their time living at Hill House.

Creepy jumpscares, ghosts hanging around in the background, terrifying twists … this anthology has it all. And, it has well-written characters performed by a talented cast; you can feel their connection and the tension between them as a family. If you're more into supernatural, this is the best of the three Flanagan series.

Make sure you have a light on if you're watching at night. But, don't say we didn't warn you.

Into The Dark (Hulu)

Into The Dark is an interesting entry on this list as it gives you the most horror movie-like experience as a TV show. Each episode is framed around a holiday but in an anthology setting.

A slasher for New Year's Eve? A haunted board game for Halloween? Corrupted killing dolls for Easter?

Into The Dark goes there and plays off the horror tropes we've come to love.

You don't need to watch every episode in chronological order to have a good time or follow the plot. Pick the holidays you feel like watching and jump around to get into the spooky spirit.

The Walking Dead (AMC)

Do you like zombies? Do you want A LOT of zombies? No?!

How about "walkers" then? I joke, but The Walking Dead is the titan for zombie apocalypse fair on TV.

Its spinoffs, Fear The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: World Beyond, equally deliver that post-apocalyptic vibe you've been craving.

Though, if you're planning to start a series, try with the main entry first. The Walking Dead has many strong seasons, especially in the first half, and great characters like Rick, Glenn, Maggie, Michonne, and more are in the mix.

There are 11 seasons waiting for you if you get hooked on the zombie chaos and drama between the survivors.

Stranger Things (Netflix)

Stranger Things is the perfect nostalgia when you're in the mood for 80s adventures with a modern twist.

Set in Hawkins, Indiana, the series focuses on a ragtag group of kids battling the paranormal and trying to save their missing friends. In the subsequent seasons, the paranormal horrors grow to affect the town and the unsuspecting citizens.

Plus, there's a government conspiracy, equally strong plots with the adults and teens, and great special effects with its monster designs. Seriously, the monsters on Strangers Things would be frightening to face in real life.

There's a reason why this series became (and still is) a cultural phenomenon.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (Amazon Prime)

Just in time for spooky season 2021, we have Amazon Prime's latest horror entry on the list.

I Know What You Did Last Summer's name says it all. This series is the first TV adaptation inspired by the iconic 90s teen slasher film (and the Lois Duncan novel) of the same name.

The story, once again, focuses on a group of teens being stalked by a killer one year later after covering up a death caused by a car accident. Expect to see chills, thrills, and blood spills for your Halloween pleasure.

I Know What You Did Last Summer is perfect if you're in the mood to start a brand new series and join along weekly for each new terror that comes next.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (The WB and UPN)

Instead of playing victim to the supernatural creatures, jump into the shoes of Buffy Summers and take them down.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer is an amazing cult classic that balances horror elements with witty comedy. The series focuses on a group of teen outsiders as they face everything weird and paranormal that affects their demonic town.

Plus, you have Sarah Michelle Gellar in her iconic role as Buffy, the one chosen slayer in all the world to hunt and kill the vampires.

Great writing, a strong cast, and emotional beats that will tug at your heartstrings. You might think it's a campy entry from its name alone, but the series is so much more. It's one of the best series coming out of the 90s.

True Blood (HBO)

HBO's True Blood is the perfect option if you want more drama mixed into your horror. And plenty of sex and excess to make you blush.

There are many reasons why True Blood became our guilty pleasure summer obsession during its 7-season run.

Between the supernatural elements and the captivating characters, the series kept us on our toes. It also had cheeky writing with characters ready to bite back with their words instead of their fangs.

And, new mysteries plagued the town to keep the seasons interesting, from werewolves to witches to a vampire conspiracy.

Harper's Island (CBS)

Not all horror has to be supernatural or extremely gory. CBS's mini-series, Harper's Island, channeled a classic mix of slasher and Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None."

The series focused on a wedding party heading to the island to celebrate their big day. Similar murders happened in the past on the island, and as more people disappear, the guests can't help but wonder if the serial killer has returned to enact another string of killings.

Does anyone make it out of the wedding alive? Who is the killer?

You'll have to watch to find out.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix)

Bring on all the teen drama with a demonic twist!

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina gave a darker side to the classic Archie Comics character. Plenty of magic spells, gore, and darkness to fill your spooky season thirst. The aesthetic alone feels like it's ready for Halloween every episode.

And, it was a different take on the TGIF classic TV series, Sabrina The Teenage Witch.

If you want some witchy fun with a darker Riverdale twist, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina might be right up your alley.

Channel Zero (Syfy)

Think of Channel Zero like Slasher or American Horror Story, but the plots are about creepypastas.

It's another anthology series with self-contained arcs and lots of horror elements. You can choose which set of episodes to watch to follow the relatively short narrative.

Seriously, each season's plot only lasts six episodes!

Go right in with one batch of episodes or try all four seasons. Channel Zero delivered terror and chills with each arc that felt vastly different from the other.

The Twilight Zone (CBS)

Take a trip into the paranormal and explore the unknown in The Twilight Zone.

Whether it's the classic black and white series or the many reboots (like the recent CBS All Access series), The Twilight Zone has hooked viewers for generations. This is the show that has inspired many parodies and cartoon nods.

The Twilight Zone features a new mystery or case of the unknown each week. Sometimes the plot deals with sci-fi, or it's a paranormal oddity ready to deliver a harsh life lesson.

Once you're in, you'll wonder if you'll ever want to stop watching. But that's what happens when you venture into The Twilight Zone. (*Theme music intensifies*)

The X-Files (Fox)

A sci-fi classic that left its mark on the world like no other.

If you're not in the mood for killers, werewolves, or other horror tropes, a trip to a more scientific theme might be it. In this case, it's all about aliens and the paranormal.

Join FBI special agent Mulder and special agent Scully as they tackle cases to prove (or disprove) the truth of the paranormal.

Mulder and Scully are a great team, and they balance each other by providing a lot of truth or skepticism for each case. Plus, there's a fine mix of season-long arcs and one-off "monsters of the week" episodes.

Teen Wolf (MTV)

Teen Wolf is more than just ship-worthy couples and werewolf abs. (Don't get me wrong, it's a big part, but there's so much more!)

Look beyond the high school aesthetic to see a powerful story about small-town citizens fighting against paranormal entities and forming a new werewolf pack — lots of heart, zingers, and supernatural action.

Teen Wolf's special effects are one of its greatest strengths. The transformation from a teen into the wolf is still one of the best scenes for a teen horror show.

Plus, the horror tone comes out in full force, especially with its use of shadows, gore, and creepy music. Teen Wolf does a great job balancing spooky and action.

Ash vs. Evil Dead (STARZ)

Fan of the Evil Dead movie series? Well, we've got the show for you.

Ash vs. Evil Dead is a continuation of the films 30 years later. Ash Williams (the main hero) is back, and he's fighting the forces of evil as they corrupt the world.

This show is all horror-comedy. It doesn't take itself too seriously, so you'll get plenty of laughs in between all the gore and outlandish horror.

Plus, it'll bring back all the nostalgia of the films. Pair this with your Evil Dead movie night to keep the fun going.

Scream Queens (Fox)

Think of Scream Queens like a B-horror movie playing off all the sorority tropes. But there's so much more to the series than just pledge night and a masked killer picking off victims.

Scream Queens is filled with plenty of wit and one-liners to make you smile.

A great cast that includes Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, and Keke Palmer, to name a few, make their characters come alive. And Scream Queens delivers with the camp and horror nods.

There are only two seasons (the sorority massacre and the hospital bloodshed), but by the end of the final episode, you'll be wanting more of this cult classic.

Penny Dreadful (Showtime)

Penny Dreadful adds that dark gothic touch to your spooky season.

The series includes many elements of classic horror monsters and characters, like Count Dracula and Frankenstein's monster, but in a darker and stylish aesthetic. Full iconic horror mixed into a beautifully addictive story.

The plot of Penny Dreadful is one of the main draws as the narrative will hook you in. However, the twists, the bloodshed, and the creature effects bring this show to the next level.

Penny Dreadful isn't like those childish fairytales you heard as a kid.

Locke & Key (Netflix)

Want something spooky for you and the family?

Netflix's Locke & Key might be the right choice. Most of the story focuses on three young siblings discovering magical keys in their home that give them powers or uncover secrets.

Locke & Key will sometimes feel more like an adventure series, especially with its fantasy effects and sibling shenanigans. Though, as with any spooky show, there's always a sinister twist lurking within the tale.

It's a great one if you want less of the scares and more of the adventure.

Nancy Drew (The CW)

You might be wondering, "Why Nancy Drew?" And to that, I say, "Why not!"

Nancy Drew's current tale on The CW focuses on many cases that involve the supernatural or curses within the quiet town of Horseshoe Bay. During Nancy Drew Season 1 alone, there's a poltergeist haunting the main cast and pushing them to solve a murder.

We're not even getting into the other terrors, like a sea creature with a death curse or demonic demons.

Come for the paranormal cases, but you'll stay for the excellent writing and the chemistry between the Drew Crew.

What We Do In The Shadows (FX)

So much comedy. So many laughs. So many goofs.

What We Do In The Shadows is a well-acted and well-written horror-comedy. The laughs will keep coming as you follow the misadventures of these vampires living in the modern world.

Similar to some other entries on this list, a horror-comedy can be the perfect fix for your spooky season needs. It's not always about the haunts and terrors that go bump in the night.

What We Do In The Shadows might be just what you're looking for during spooky season (or beyond).

Goosebumps (YTV and Fox Kids)

If you're a 90s kid, Goosebumps will bring a warm flicker to your jack-o-lantern heart.

Watched the series before? Jump back in for a rewatch.

New to the series? Oh, you're in for a treat!

Based on the classic books by R. L. Stine, each episode of Goosebumps highlights one of the plots from his books. It's a great way to catch up on the novels if you don't have the time to read the Goosebumps books.

Plus, it's so deliciously nostalgic. The 90s kept us fed with horror shows for kids.

Are You Afraid Of The Dark? (YTV and Nickelodeon)

Another great horror kids show from the 90s. (Just like I said above, it was so perfect.)

The series focused on a group of kids called "The Midnight Society," as they met in the woods at night to tell scary stories. The tales would cover everything spooky, from vampires to ghosts to werewolves to scary clowns.

Are You Afraid Of The Dark? has two iterations you could choose depending on what you're in the mood for watching.

If you want something episodic to jump around, go for the original series from the 90s. Each episode will cover a new tale and offer something different per watch.

Though, if you want a connected plot, go for the 2019 or 2020 Nickelodean reboots. These mini-series cover one big mystery each season and include a new cast of characters in their version of The Midnight Society.

Supernatural (The WB and The CW)

Supernatural is a bit of a time commitment. We're talking 15 seasons of demon-fighting glory here!

However, you'll get a large selection of episodes to fill your horror-loving heart.

Supernatural is a simple show at its core: two brothers on the road together defeating demons and solving supernatural cases. Werewolves, zombies, vampires. If you can think of a horror monster, the Winchester brothers have probably faced it.

What you'll also get is well-written characters, plenty of action, and 15-seasons' worth of character development between the brothers. All the positives are there to balance out the commitment.

The Purge (USA Network)

Just like the movie series, The Purge TV show hits many of the same beats.

You'll get a night of bloody fun, plenty of action with people trying to kill each other, and an alternate world where this holiday exists. It's a great companion piece to the installments in the main film series.

Both seasons focus on two very different themes: The Purge Season 1 is all about the time while in The Purge, and The Purge Season 2 highlights the after-effects in the year leading up to the bloody night.

If you want more Purge in your life, add this into the mix to start the spooky season countdown.

Dead of Summer (Freeform)

Friday The 13th. Fear Street Part Two: 1978. Sleepaway Camp.

What do these have in common? They're all slashers set at a summer camp.

Dead of Summer captures the 80s vibe of a teen camp slasher. Think of it like a B-horror flick but extended for ten episodes.

The thrills are addictive, and the characters fit into all the cheesy horror tropes. It's an underrated gem that will give you all the slasher treats you want with your tricks.

Hannibal (NBC)

Brace yourselves, TV Fanatics. This might be the show that pleasantly surprises you based on its writing, editing, and overall aesthetic.

For many fans and audiences, Hannibal has been deemed one of the best horror TV shows. (No pressure with your expectations.)

Hannibal centers on FBI profiler Will Graham and his team-up with iconic horror villain Dr. Hannibal Lecter during his investigations. There's a fascinating balance between solving the cases and Hannibal trying to manipulate everyone around him to achieve his goal.

You never know what Hannibal (or the rest of the cast) will do next. The show has a way of keeping you on your toes.

Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Lovecraft Country only lasted one season, but it was a strong arc filled with gripping drama and monstrous terrors.

Set in the 1950s, Lovecraft Country Season 1 centered on a group taking a road trip searching for a missing parent. Along the way, the group deals with racism, small towns, and dangerous monsters that threaten to kill them.

If you're a fan of the works of H. P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu vibe, Lovecraft Country might be for you. Many of the monsters and tropes were inspired by Lovecraft.

Plus, the terror alone will pull you in!

Van Helsing (Syfy)

Let me say this upfront: Van Helsing isn't the most consistent series on this list.

Between the vampire lore, the deaths, and a mix of magic, this post-apocalyptic series goes all over the place. But, it owns every minute of its outlandish action and drama.

Van Helsing doesn't take itself too seriously. Don't get me wrong though, the show has a serious plot, and the cast performs it amazingly. However, everyone involved knows exactly what kind of show they're making.

Van Helsing is an off-the-wall and thrilling horror drama that throws everything at you. Prepare for this to be your next cult classic favorite.

Sweet Home (Netflix)

Need a new obsession now that you're done bingeing Squid Game Season 1?

Try Sweet Home, an apocalyptic horror set in South Korea. The series focuses on a group of residents trapped within an apartment building as monsters try to wipe out humanity.

The terrifying creatures are some of its biggest draws. The monsters terrify and rip through the building, hunting down the residents to no end. But, it's a strong drama with well-defined characters too.

No need for music to join this monster mash.

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (Cartoon Network)

Yes, this is a cartoon. And yes, this is a cartoon aimed at children, so you won't get any blood or guts here.

On the other hand, what you will get is one of Scooby-Doo's best series to date.

Mystery Inc. is in peak form as the iconic members deal with new foes and iconic enemies terrorizing unsuspecting towns. Plus, this is a serialized show, which means the characters have overarching plots and developments.

This isn't like your typical Scooby-Doo cartoon. Every Scooby-Doo cartoon is amazing and loved, but if we had to recommend one, place this one higher on your list.

Now, it's your turn, TV Fanatics!

Which horror show is your favorite on the list? Did we miss any of your favorites?

What will you be watching this spooky season?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

13 Scariest Moments in Television History

Open List

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HBO on Friday officially canceled Lovecraft Country after a single season.

“We will not be moving forward with a second season of Lovecraft Country,” HBO said via statement.

“We are grateful for the dedication and artistry of the gifted cast and crew, and to Misha Green, who crafted this groundbreaking series."

"And to the fans, thank you for joining us on this journey.”

Based on the critically-acclaimed 2016 novel by Matt Ruff of the same name, Lovecraft Country blended terrors both real and supernatural.

The series follows Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) as he searches for his missing father Montrose (Michael Kenneth Williams, The Wire).

This causes Atticus, his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Underground), and his Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance, Law & Order: Criminal Intent) to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America.

This begins a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that feel like they arose from a Lovecraftian paperback.

The cast also included Courtney B. Vance (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story), Aunjanue Ellis (Quantico), Jurnee Smollett (Underground), Wunmi Mosaku (Luther), Tony Goldwyn (Scandal), and Jaime Chung (Once Upon a Time).

News of the cancellation is surprising. The series drew rave reviews from critics and became a quick fan-favorite at the network.

The ratings were strong, but the network ultimately opted to nix plans for a second season which had been pitched by Green.

Lovecraft Country Season 1 was designed as a limited series, but there was still so much the series had to say, and it's a real shame fans will not get to step back into the world created.

According to reports, scripts for the second season had been written by Green.

Green shared intel on what Season 2 would have been like via Twitter after news of the cancellation broke.

“A taste of the Season 2 Bible,” her tweet read.

“Wish we could have brought you Lovecraft Country: Supremacy. Thank you to everyone who watched and engaged. #noconfederate”

These Shows Should Be Igniting Conversation!

Open List

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But this year calls for a slightly different way of determining the best. Our souls are on the line, as is our sanity.

These shows address both our sanity and our souls with brilliant casts and fast-moving stories that surprise, comfort, and fascinate in meaningful ways. Excellent production values drive these series to the very top of the list of the best on TV for 2020.

Check out our picks below(in alphabetical order!).

Better Things (FX)

When I reviewed Better Things Season 4 in March, I called it perfection. That still stands.

Creator and star Pamela Adlon doesn't shy away from life's ugly little secrets. Instead, she embraces them with nuanced beauty that makes her on-screen family (Sam and her three daughters, mother, and lots of friends) feel like our family.

There's not much better than that.

The Boys (Amazon)

The Boys Season 2 managed to touch on timely subjects without ever losing track of it's gloriously gory and R-rated core.

The bad got badder, and the not-so-bad got a little more heroic, despite their many obstacles. There were complaints about the pacing, but it never suffered in my eyes, and getting to soak it in weekly was a nice change of pace.

We got to talk about it as it aired, and too often, the best streaming shows miss that watercooler experience.

Dead to Me (Netflix)

In my review for Dead to Me Season 2, I posited that the sophomore outing was every bit as good as its first season.

It thrives on the strength of the bond between Jen (Christina Applegate) and Judy (Linda Cardellini) and its ability to grow even stronger under every new peculiar circumstance.

There is one more to go, and we see no reason it won't go out on top.

The Flight Attendant (HBO Max)

Kaley Cuoco needed to break free of The Big Bang Theory in front of the camera. She'd already ditched TBBT with Harley Quinn, but it is animated.

With the Flight Attendant, Cuoco's Cassie is just as funny as the character she's known for, but she's a lot darker. The show is almost all Cuoco's, and she makes Cassie's many crises both entertaining and heart-wrenching.

It's pure excitement from start to finish, and we needed to get away more than ever this year.

I May Destroy You (HBO)

Michaela Coel's immersive look at the ways sexual assault can change your life was deeply moving.

Rape isn't entertaining, but Arabella's fighting spirit sure was, and if it was vengeance.

A no-holds-barred peek inside the way being a victim without being victimized transforms your life, I May Destroy You easily earned a spot on many top lists for 2020.

I'll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO)

True crime fans aren't the only people who found something to love in the documentary following Michelle McNamara's quest to bring The Golden State Killer to justice.

She lost herself in the crime, the killer, and the victims, ultimately working herself to death as stress and sleepless nights sliced through her life.

Her journey was both heartbreaking and admirable, offering a cautionary tale for anyone following in her footsteps.

Lovecraft Country (HBO)

Writers and showrunners have found a way to turn humanity's gravest mistakes into something entertaining.

Lovecraft Country speaks to racism in America with a genre show that took viewers on a trippy journey episode by episode.

Black history saved the day as much as the characters, and Jurnee Smollett finally found her start turn.

McMillions (HBO)

This fits into the stranger than fiction category. McDonald's Monopoly game had everyday Americans stuffing Big Macs and Quarter Pounders down their gullets to get game pieces with the hopes of winning millions.

Little did they know that individuals with mob ties had corrupted the game, found the wins, and shared the loot with friends and family. Just before the world changed during 9/11, the Feds were ready to make their bust.

This story is so fascinating, especially in light of 2020, when we are at our most vulnerable. It's really easy to see the appeal of free money, even when it means committing a felony.

Ozark (Netflix)

Ozark Season 3 took a darker turn with Tom Pelphrey's arrival as Ben, the bipolar brother of Wendy Byrde.

Keeping their secret was difficult enough with the kids, but adding Ben's volatile condition into the mix was met with devastating consequences.

The Byrdes have been pirouetting in so many directions, and they've never gotten dull in the process.

The Queen's Gambit (Netflix)

If the idea of a TV show focusing on chess champions sounds as scintillating as watching paint dry, then you haven't seen The Queen's Gambit.

Anya-Taylor Joy is mesmerizing as an orphan, Elizabeth, desperate for connection and finding it through chess with the orphanage's janitor. Excelling at chess takes her place she could never have imagined. Co-Creator and showrunner (among other titles), Scott Frank manages to make chess into edge-of-your-seat viewing.

The set decoration and costumes are out of this world. Altogether, The Queen's Gambit was one of the most satisfying series in recent memory.

Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

From a little commercial plugging soccer in partnership with the NFL, Jason Sudekis and Brendan Hunt partnered with Bill Lawrence to make feel-good entertainment cool again.

Even the characters who are painted as the bad guys on Ted Lasso are developed incredibly well.

But it's always Sudekis' Ted Lasso who brings a smile to your face with his kindness and desire to make the world a more joyful place than it was before you knew him.

The Undoing (HBO)

Nicole Kidman is on a role with HBO. Hot off of Big Little Lies, she takes on another troubled relationship on The Undoing with consequences just as dire.

As a therapist who didn't heed the warning signs in her marriage, Kidman is matched with Hugh Grant as a charming surgeon with a very dark secret.

Grant, as the bad guy, took the world by storm, and why says a lot about how we view good and evil.

Upload (Amazon)

Finally, Robbie Amell found a starring vehicle that showcases his talents. As Nathan Brown, Amell is tasked with bringing the future of the afterlife and the possibility of living forever into focus.

Upload isn't a deep dive, but it offers a lot to think about life after death. There is comedy and mystery with dribbles of existential angst on Upload.

And this easy watch even has a little bit of old-fashioned romance.

The Wilds (Amazon)

If being a teenager is rough, stranding a group of them on a deserted island for their betterment sure is entertaining.

The Wilds takes teenage angst to the next level in extraordinary circumstances but proves that when the climate is right and you open up to others, your life can change for the better, even when people are trying to keep you down.

Young women rooted The Wilds and gave it life, while the adults manipulated the action for viewers' enjoyment (and the girls' development?).

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But as shown on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 10, a happy ending would have been out of character for Lovecraft Country.

After all, Tic and company have been playing catch-up all season long. Why should this episode be any different?

They had to learn the hard way about magic, monsters, spirits, and time/dimensional travel. And any progress they've made in those areas came only after they were willing to believe.

Basically, everyone got trapped in this magical mess because of Braithwhite subterfuge. 

Montrose was the bait which got Tic, Leti, and sadly George involved. Then Hippolyta, Ruby, Ji-Ah, and Diana got dragged in as well.

On the other side was Christina, who has been planning her ascension seemingly since birth and was still trying to prove herself to her dead father.

Christina was playing chess while Tic and his circle were playing defense, all the way through.

So was it any wonder that, even with the help of ancestors Hanna, Hattie, and Dora, they suffered more casualties in the end?

If only this magic business wasn't so damn nebulous.

They went through the horrors of the Tulsa massacre to retrieve the Book of Names on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 9.

But possessing the Book wasn't enough. They had to know how to utilize the information within it, and they were still faking their way along, with power they were ill equipped to handle.

Tic and his unborn son had Braithwhite blood in their veins, but that didn't impart the necessary magical knowledge to them.

Tic and Leti got as far as they had through smarts and luck, and it was enjoyable to watch them succeed for a time in an uphill battle.

But the wheels were going to inevitably fall off because Christina was several steps ahead of them all the way through.

Should Tic have just given the Book to Christina, to get her out of his life?

No, because his family had been protecting the Book as far back as Hanna, with the idea of keeping it out of the hands of the racist Braithwhites.

You just knew things were going to end badly for Ruby. She thought that Christina was going to hand over her hard-won mystical knowledge to Ruby, who could use it to overcome society's racist obstacles.

Did she and Christina have real feelings for each other? That's a complicated question.

Ruby was in love with the idea of the power that Christina offered. Christina was only concerned with her master plan, and Ruby could serve as a window into Tic's world.

It was always going to come down to whose side Ruby was going to take: her wayward sister or her aloof lover.

In her end, Ruby made the right choice in siding with Leti, but she just didn't have the finesse to pull off what she needed to do.

As a result, Tic's plan was doomed, as he carried his enemy directly to where she needed to be.

Tic did have one trick up his sleeve, bringing along Ji-Ah, the only mystical creature he knew. Still, he couldn't have foreseen the role she would ultimately play during the showdown in Ardham.

Or could he? After all, only he, and later Diana, had read "Lovecraft Country," written by Tic's unborn son, George, in the future.

His fate had to have been spelled out in its pages. And Tic accepted that, all the while feeding Montrose the line about it being only one, possible future.

And frankly, if the show was going to lose another character in addition to the inevitable Ruby, Tic was an acceptable choice. He got to go out a hero, making up for his war crimes.

At least, everyone else survived, leaving a strong core of characters for a second season if Lovecraft Country gets picked up.

It's a shame that Hippolyta, who represented the power of science, couldn't have played more of a role in the finale.

Yes, it's thanks to her that they retrieved the Book. And it was heartening to see that she had survived powering the dimensional machine on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 9.

The series had an annoying habit of leaving a character or two in peril at the end of each episode.

This time out, both Hippolyta and Diana were left hanging. And even after a spell was performed from the Book, Dee was still burdened with a demon arm. That should have been a head's-up that the coming battle wasn't going to go well.

And who could fault Diana for being pissed off at Hippolyta for disappearing for weeks during a stressful period for Dee?

Fortunately, the gift of a bionic arm helped to smooth things over between them.

Who thought it was a good idea to leave Diana alone in Woody in the middle of the Ardham woods? And how did they smuggle Tic's guard-dog monster back to Ardham?

The new and improved Dee, who put Christina out of our misery, promises to be a character to watch in the future.

If there is a future.

How do you have a magic-based series after killing off the only magical character? Or is Leti magical now that she's carrying a Braithwhite descendent? 

For that matter, is Tic really dead? Leti came back to life for a second time after being tossed from the tower, so you can't assume anything.

To revisit the whole season, watch Lovecraft Country online.

Where you surprised Tic was killed? Or is he dead?

How did you enjoy the first season?

Do you want more?

Comment below.

The post Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 10 Review: Full Circle appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The post Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 10 Recap: Full Circle appeared first on TV Fanatic.

That's after Tic, Leti, and Montrose went back in time to grab the big prize on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 9.

Since Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 2, the Book of Names has been the Holy Grail for a lot of unholy people.

The unholy include Samuel and his white minions in the Sons of Adam chapter, Lancaster, although he appears to be out of the running, now, and of course, Christina, although she may have all she needs with just the negatives of Titus's pages.

Maybe it's just as well the Book of Names has ended up with the well-meaning, if not magically trained, black folks.

At least their hearts are in the right place.

They just needed the right leadership all this time. Not Tic, leading with his rage, not Leti, leading with her heart, and definitely not Montrose, leading with his fear.

Enter Hippolyta, back from finding herself in multiple dimensions on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 7.

Hippolyta was properly motivated after returning to find Diana dying from her encounter with demons, Topsy and Bopsy, on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 8.

Tic, Leti, Montrose, and Ruby tried to handle Diana's condition on their own, even resorting to calling on Christina with all her doubtful motivations for help.

But the best that Christina could manage was a restoration spell, which only bought Diana time. And Tic had to agree to his deadly date with destiny on the autumnal equinox to get that stopgap measure.

I'm confused, a not uncommon happening on this series. If Christina still needs Tic to complete her immortality spell, what was getting killed by those thugs and coming back to life all about? She isn't immortal yet, then?

Regardless, everybody realized they needed the Book of Names, which had been destroyed during the Tulsa riots in 1921 but only Hippolyta could foresee how that would have to happen.

So off everyone rushed to the Winthrop Observatory, which was located in Kansas in Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 7, but the title card had it in Kentucky this time around. Did the observatory get transported as well, or has the series shifted dimensions?

Once again, it's just details.

This time around, I could buy Hippolyta being able to repair the dimensional-hopping/time machine. After all, she had gotten centuries worth of knowledge in, what, a few weeks?

And she now had ports in her arms so that she could serve as the motherboard for the machine in the present. That's convenient!

This meant sending Tic, Leti, and Montrose back into the past without adult supervision.

This was the much-needed Montrose spotlight episode. You just can't keep Michael Kenneth Williams in the background. Now, we understand why Montrose is the way he is. Now we get why he drinks as much as he does. 

Better yet, Tic understands, after spending his life hating Montrose and wishing that George was his father.

Montrose's father, Verton, beat anything soft out of him. So Montrose, in turn, did the same to Tic.

In short, it was hard enough to be Black in Tulsa in 1921. But to be gay on top of that was a bridge too far.

It remained something that Montrose had to keep hidden in the mid-'50s.

The last thing he wanted to do was to relive the hell that was the Tulsa riots, when young Montrose saw his first lover shot by Whites in front of his eyes.

But he had to be the guide for TIc and Leti if they were to save Diana. Or, as his dad would have put it, he needed to man up.

Leti's invulnerability sure came in handy, having the White rioters' bullets bounce off of her.

You could see her heart breaking as Tic's great-grandmother melted while their house burned to the ground.

And what a memorable scene when she walked through the fire during the destruction of Black Wall Street!

It was also great when, after Montrose and Tic made up, Tic became the hero of Montrose's oft-told story about the riots.

Tic's fevered bat swinging to save young Montrose, George, and Dora echoed his fever dream of Jackie Robinson attacking monsters way back on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 1.

The trio made it back through the portal with the Book, but the conditions of Hippolyta and Diana were left up in the air for the finale.

Also undecided was on whose side was Ruby going to come down.

Christina was been very clear about her desires. She had a meticulous plan, and she was going to stick to it, regardless of who she has to kill to get there. Just ask Lancaster.

Ruby is the X Factor here. For some reason, Christina has kept Ruby around rather than cutting her loose. I can't believe Christina would fall for anyone, but that's what it looks like here.

And Ruby wants power. She showed that when she ruthlessly cut off oxygen to the comatose Del while explaining that she'd rather be a redhead.

Now on to the finale, with plenty of questions to be answered. What's going to happen to Hippolyta and Diana? Will Tic survive Ardham again? Any chance George comes back?

To catch up before the finale, watch Lovecraft Country online.

Do you understand Montrose better now?

What will the good guys do with the Book of Names?

Who isn't going to survive the finale?

Comment below.

The post Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 9 Review: Rewind 1921 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The post Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 9 Recap: Rewind 1921 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Many of the characters were searching for ways to protect themselves and theirs on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 8, but with two episodes to go, it's too early to tell if those exchanges will be to their detriment.

The precipitating event was the funeral of Diana's friend, Bobo, aka Emmett Till, who was introduced on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 3.

The South Side gathered to say goodbye to Bobo, who was lynched and vilely murdered by whites at age 14.

As Montrose sagely noted, it's a seminal event in every Black's life when someone they know is killed too young for no good reason.

And, following her father's mysterious death and her mother's subsequent disappearance, Bobo's death naturally sent the normally levelheaded Diana spiraling.

After seeing what had been done to Bobo, Diana ran off and into danger.

That peril came in the form of the nefarious Captain Lancaster, who later reaped what he sowed.

In another headscratcher, Lancaster was able to track down Diana, one of millions of blacks living in Chicago in 1955, based on her homemade comic book.

I realize Lancaster had black magic on his side, but c'mon.

After D failed to help him locate Hippolyta, Lancaster put a curse on her that would haunt her for the rest of her day, two demons in the form of young Black girls who stalked her.

Diana, superhero that she is, finally tracked down Lancaster and confronted him, but refused his devil's deal.

Did D's defiance ultimately cost her her life?

I can't believe that would be the case. But then, I'm still waiting for Uncle George to be resurrected after he was killed on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 2.

Diana, who realized that the adults around her are lying about Hippolyta doing research on the road, found proof by discovering Woody hidden at Leti's boardinghouse.

There's got to be some reckoning following that.

D wasn't the only one having to make hard choices, as both Tic and Leti made Faustian deals with Christina.

Desperate to protect Leti and their unborn son, Tic traded the orrery key for knowledge about how to cast a spell.

That seemed like a one-sided bargain for Tic, right, since that the dimensional-wormhole projector thingee was destroyed on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 7?

Ji-Ah surprisingly popped up at Leti's house, of course, creating tension between Tic and Leti.

As Tic angrily asked, if she had no intel about his impending death, why did she come? Just to see Tic one more time? If so, he was understandly not accommodating.

Ji-Ah's surprise appearance naturally pissed off Leti, who made a move as impulsive as Tic's running off to cast a spell. She gave Christina the negatives of Titus's pages in exchange for Christina making Tic invulnerable.

But instead, Christina made Leti invulnerable. Why? And will that invulnerability spell have any affect on Embryo George?

It was a heartwarming moment when Montrose explained his life with Dora to Tic, andf then Tic showed him the paperback written by Tic's son George, and the two of them made some kind of peace.

Then they attempted to cast a spell together. Ah, father-son bonding time!

After reading George's book, Tic believed that he's destined to die in five days for Christina to achieve immortality. But he also noted (in a sly nod to the deviations Misha Green and company have made from Matt Ruff's original novel) that George has gotten a few details wrong from the "real story" of Tic and his family.

But Christina paid two thugs to kill her and dump her body in the water. Then she emerged resurrected. So isn't she immortal already, without Tic dying? Is the butterfly effect at work here, with little changes causing big ripples in the overall picture?

Speaking of family reunions, Leti and Ruby were back to being as close to harmony as they get after a round of true confessions. Leti said she was pregant, while Ruby admitted that she's in bed with Christina.

Ruby is playing the most dangerous game of all, thinking she's going to gain power through magic, thanks to Christina.

Christina is too cunning, and the rest of them too reckless for Christina to ever get the short end of any deal.

What to make of Ruby and Christina's relationship? It's weird. That gender- and race-bending, potion-aided sex scene was hard to watch.

But the two do call each other on their shit. Ruby berated Christina for feeling nothing about the outrages committed against blacks. But Christina knocked Ruby off her high horse by pointing out that, on the day of Bobo's funeral, what Ruby really wanted was to get laid by a white man.

This can't end well for Ruby.

Now that Tic has proven his worth as an amateur spellcaster, summoning one of those murderous Ardham guard monsters, what does this mean for our heroes? Can they go from defense to offense? Might the rest of them make it out alive?

To figure out the narrative before season's end, watch Lovecraft Country online.

Who made the right moves this episode?

Was it heartwarming to see the families make up?

What is Christina up to?

Comment below.

The post Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Jig-a-Bobo appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The post Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 8 Recap: Jig-a-Bobo appeared first on TV Fanatic.

It was George's wife's turn to shine on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 7.

And shine she did, as she went through a revealing journey of self-discovery that helped her to understand what she's been feeling.

Her trip started under the guise of determining the truth about George's death, which Montrose, Tic, and Leti had been hiding from her, obstensibly for her own good.

But Hippolyta was too smart for that deception. So she naturally went back to the scene of the crime, Ardham.

At first, this seemed like a lost opportunity, as Hippolyta truly didn't get to experience the white-supremacist freak show that was Ardham.

Then again, with Samuel and his Sons of Adam dead (?) and Christina attempting to set up a new base in Chicago, perhaps Ardham itself is in ruins, just like the remains of the lodge that Hippolyta picked through.

The scene in Christina's lab proved that both William and Dell are dead people into whose images Christina has transformed when it suited her.

So, yeah, probably there was nothing for Hippolyta to find in Ardham other than Diana's comic book, which gave her the proof she needed that she was right all along that there was more to George's death than she had been told.

What we discovered in this spotlight episode is that there is a whole lot more to Hippolyta than previously indicated on the series.

Yes, she was George's loving wife and is Diana's protective mother. (So why did she take Diana along to Ardham, which could have proven more dangerous than it turned out to be?)

And it had been established she was an astronomy buff. But lots of people have hobbies, with no great proficiency in them.

But for some reason that has yet to be revealed, Hippolyta is predestined to be a part of this quest.

It can't be coincidence that on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 3, she found Hiram's orrery, Christina's Holy Grail which was bound to appeal to an astronomy fan.

Then, using her knowledge of astronomy, in this episode she was able to operate the orrery, unveiling a key and coordinates inside just for her.

Naturally, Hippolyta got sucked into that mystery.

And when she found what appeared to be an abandoned observatory at those coordinates, it was like kismet.

That was when the narrative went astray.

Thus far, Hippolyta was just an enthusiastic amateur scientist. Yet she was throwing around scientific theories and numbers like she had been doing it for years as she tried to get the mystery machine running.

A bit of a headshaker, that. But Lovecraft Country is good for a few of those every episode.

Like when Tic rushed in to save Hippolyta from the pair of yokel cops Lancaster had sent to check on the observatory.

Yes, Missouri and Kansas are adjoining states. But Tic was relying on public transportation and are we to believe the bus route ran by this observatory in the middle of nowhere?

Again, suspension of disbelief is a must here.

For such a big brain, Hippolyta got way too close to that interdimensional rift, especially after seeing that cop get pulled in.

But that was necessary for her journey of self-discovery.

My favorite of those worlds was when she got to be a backup dancer, then confidant, for her idol, Josephine Baker. I especially loved that elaborate production number to "Lady Marmalade."

Each of these stops were made to force Hippolyta to look inward and to understand the feelings she had been shoving down for so long.

And who couldn't relate to her feelings of "shrinking," of settling for less and less rather than striving to be something more?

Little wonder she was pissed, being a '50s black housewife rather than Hippolyta the Discover?

But in the end, love won out, as she opted to return to Diana rather than take her place in an enlightened society.

There are still some unanswered questions: Why did someone want her to go through this psychic cleansing? What role does she play in what's to come? And where the hell did she go, since it wasn't back to the observatory?

The hits also just kept coming for Leti and Tic.

After finding out he was destined for a premature death on Lovecraft Country Season 1 Episode 5, Tic naturally wanted to instantly translate the spells in the Book of Names.

The freakiest part was that he and Leti were sharing the same dreams about Hanna.

How did Leti not pick up on Hanna's signal that Leti was pregnant?

Then Tic got confirmation that Montrose is gay and his mother knew about it. So he concluded that the beatings he had taken from Montrose, a self-hating gay, were meant to knock the "softness" (gayness) out of him.

At least their conclusion that Hanna had stolen the Book of Names gave TIc a clue to follow, however slight. What did he expect to get from talking with Ethel's old friend about a book of spells? "Oh, yeah. She mentioned that during Bible studies."

All he discovered is that he and Ethel shared a tattoo, which likely will mean something down the line.

Someone (Ruby) now knows Christina's grand plan. So is Ruby now a spy for Christina or will family win out in the end?

To make sense of this mystery, watch Lovecraft Country online.

What will Hippolyta's role be?

Is Leti pregnant?

When will Tic make progress?

Comment below.

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