Autumn TV Picks

Autumn is the cosy season of the year it's the perfect time to come home after a long country walk and snuggle up with a mug of a hot drink and a blanket and stick on the box. who isn't guilty of this in the autumn months?

A Discovery of Witches

Let's Kick off this list with something on the supernatural side of life, A Discovery of Witches is based on a best-selling trilogy of novels by author Deborah Harkness. We finished this series just last week, whilst some episodes felt a little long there was action, mystery, and intrigue within each episode. Don't be put off by the fantasy genre of the show, unlike many other cheesy, romantic and sometimes over the top shows, this series is a more mature, modern take on the mystical world. Set in Idyllic scenery from the academic city of Oxford, Venice, American country house, and a French chateau. Dr. Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer) a Witch who refuses to use her powers finds 'the book of life' (Ashmole 782), whilst doing Alchemy research. This small part of Diana's day launches a series of events which leads her to discover more about not only herself, her family but the three supernatural species, witches, vampires, and demons. It wouldn't be a supernatural drama without a forbidden romance, and this series also ticks that box with the charming and mysterious Dr Matthew De Clairemont (Matthew Goode) a devilishly handsome centuries-old vampire. Someone close to me is a big fan of the books, and whilst specific details have been missed in the series overall they are very pleased with the adaptation.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Forget everything you know about Sabrina: The wholesome series 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' released in 1996 staring Melissa Joan Hart and the comic series (1999). The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is very dark, with satanic symbolism, the 'dark baptism' into the 'Church of the Night', creatures, necromancy, exorcisms, murder and more. I have to admit I was a little scared and surprised at how dark this teen drama series went, be warned before you watch. This being said I did enjoy a lot of the dark humour, the fantastical side of the series, the effects, scenery, Salem (Sabrina's familiar aka the cat), the introduction to the witching world and getting to know new and secondary characters such as Ambrose and Prudence.
The only things I wasn't happy about this show is that Salem only spoke when in goblin form, and Sabrina's friends in the mortal world (that's normal to us) didn't have much character development until the very end of the series. I think this series will make you very uncomfortable if you are very religious, and I wouldn't recommend small children watch it.
This show has created in the same universe as Riverdale, there are multiple mentions of Riverdale and there has been a cameo crossover in this series, with multiple crossovers in the comics, including Sabrina attending Riverdale High, we should probably expect a future crossover.

Maniac

Maniac is an American psychological dark comedy-drama series based on a Norwegian show of the same name (2014). In the Norwegian show concentrated on a man who preferred to live wild adventures in his mind than face the realities of the psych ward he lives on, whereas in the American series two strangers meet after signing up for a pharmaceutical drug trial. Starring Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, Justine Theroux, Sonoya Mizuno Gabriel Byrne, and Sally Field, Maniac has been praised by critics and viewers alike. The show set in a futuristic America follows two strangers, (Owen Milgrim and Annie Landsberg) who enroll in a pharmaceutical drug trial, manipulated by GRTA an AI supercomputer. The fictional world draws many parallels with our own and the imagery and visualization of particular mental illnesses and subconscious thought patterns are intriguing. 

Killing Eve

Love this Series! If you have not seen Killing Eve it should go to the top of your Watch List. Eve Polastri (Sandro Oh, also known as Dr Cristina Yang in Grey's Anatomy)  is a security operative who is searching for international female assassin Villanelle aka Oksana (Jodie Comer, also known as Kate in Dr Foster). If you like mystery, suspense, plot twists, dark humour and kick-ass women this series is for you. Based on the 'Codename Villanelle' e-book novellas by Luke Jennings, this spy action-thriller will have you intrigued, laughing one minute and filled with suspense the next, it will leave you both satisfied and wanting to know what happens next. I'm very happy that the second series has already been commissioned and look forward to its release date. Are you more of an Eve or Villanelle?

The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang theory is a bit like marmite, you either love it and laugh through the episodes or you hate it, cannot stand the pop-culture references and Science puns. As it's on the list you can probably guess that we like it. The introduction of new characters and character development over the previous eleven series have kept me watching. Series 12 is the last series and so far is off to a good start, from episode one you can start to see how our favourite characters stories are coming to a happy ending, I feel like they will wrap the show up nicely leaving no loose ends, we might even find out penny's last name (maiden name). Even if you gave up on the show after a few seasons it might be worth watching the last one see how the characters have progressed.

Doctor Who

From the first episode, you can tell that Jodie Whitaker suits the role of the Doctor. Bringing her own charm, wit and interpretation of the Doctor to the table, I feel like there's also a flicker of David Tennant's and Matt Smith's characteristics. I'm also loving and appreciating the level of diversity in the casting of the "Team T.A.R.D.I.S" (although I'm not keen on their self-appointed name)  the group of 'assistants' that travel with the Doctor on her adventures. I'm not completely caught up with the series, from what I've seen so far the storylines seem to have some substance, there's character development from the get-go and it seems to be transitioning back from a children's show to family entertainment. If you've drifted apart from the Doctor during a previous series, you may want to rekindle space-time viewing and travel to planets far and wide whilst relaxing on the sofa post-Sunday roast. 

The Great British Bake Off

A classic British favourite. This series of The Great British Bake Off had more diversity than any other reality or tv show I can think of. Paul and Pru had some very difficult technicals up there sleeves to test the contestants. Noel and Sandi's jokes and mini comedy sketches, and flamboyant shirts all made a welcome return to our screens. The usual tears, tantrums and innuendos, were also met with the lovable personalities of the contestants, from Rahul's anxiety and self-doubt (that all of us can relate to) to Manon bringing a French flair to her bakes, Kim Joy's animal and manga influences and more. If you missed this series it's certainly worth a watch, remember that heatwave over the summer? Well, the bakers had to deal with the heat, melting their decorations, toppling their cakes, and actually breaking parts of the sets (the glass jars actually smashed due to the heat) If you're looking for a wholesome competition that'll make you salivate this show is for you.

The Circle

The reality show with a difference, six people living in close proximity without meeting until the show ends, how will this work you ask? They communicate through the Circle social network. Social psychological experiment: The Circle brought a twist to the usual reality TV format and I was intrigued to see how people would play the game and if anyone would catfish. After the first two episodes, I was hooked and already had my favourites.  The contestants were given the chance to get to know each other via direct or group messages, they could choose to be themselves or a catfish, and had to compete in a series of mini-competitions or tasks. At the end of the day it's still a competition to win £50,000 no less, and after voting for their favourite personalities on a 5-star scale the cirle members with the highest rating became "influencers" and chose which contestant should leave the Circle (and consequently the show). Friendships formed and fell in the Circle on a daily basis, with only text messages to go off could you tell who was genuine and who was a catfish?

Gilmore Girls

Is there anything more autumnal than Gilmore Girls?  I am asking you to find me a show that screams autumn more than this one. Go on try. Listening to the theme song instantly makes me feel cosy. Every Autumn (without fail, it's become a tradition) I will go revisit my favourite American small town of Stars Hollow, and it's charismatic residence Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel). Film quotes, pop-culture references and coffee are the languages that Lorelai and Rory speak, they face their small town drama's, upper-class society and Romance woes together. Lorelai's parents and Rory's grandparents come back into their lives as they pay for Rory's education in exchange for Friday night dinner, the family dynamic is theatrical, comedic and at times rather heart-warming. The rest of the town, their friends, enemies and frenemies are also major personalities, all with little quirks, characteristics. It's the Secondary characters like Sookie (Melissa McCarthy), Michel, Lane and Luke, who also go through their own sub-storylines and character development. If you're looking for a wholesome TV show to curl up on the sofa with or have in the background whilst you're busy studying, this little cup of Autumn is worth a go. 

Mad Men

I'm very late to the game with this one but thanks to my little Netflix subscription I've started watching Mad Men. I'll be honest the thing that led me to this show was Christina Hendrix (who plays Joan Holloway) and her fabulous style and outfits. The show takes you back to the sixties and to the hub of one of New York's prestigious Marketing Companies, creating campaigns for big brands such as Lucky Strike Cigarettes. We Follow the life of executive Donald Draper (Jon Hamm), as well as Junior exec. Pete (Vincent Kartheiser), Senior exec. Roger Sterling (John Slattery), Secretary Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) and of course Joan (Christina Hendrix), along with other secondary cast members. I'll admit there's no cosy cup of autumn here, but a power struggle, comedy-drama set in the 60's. With cheating womanizers, savvy women, and a career ladder to climb, you'll find it an enticing watch, from sexy scandals to tragic moments this show has it all.

Have I been watching youtube clips, interviews with cast members and fan theories about each of the shows instead of writing this post? Yes, I may have gone down a few fandom rabbit holes, it's only made me love these shows more. Have you watched any of the series mentioned? Are there any shows that you have been in love with this autumn? please comment your views and recommendations below (without posting spoilers please). 

Thanks For Reading