It feels like it’s taken way too long, but fall TV is almost back in order. CBS will be the last to bring its fall shows back to our screens, and it leaves a lot for us to look forward to throughout the month.
October is back with fun and twisty crime dramas, and they’re not all going to be on broadcast. Whether you want a short season that brings a thrilling and gritty case, or you want something that’s more of the traditional length, then you’ll want to make sure you tune in.
We have our list of must-watch crime dramas this month. This is in order of release date, because, to be quite honest, you can’t compare the different levels of darkness in the crime genre.
Karen Pirie
The second season of Karen Pirie arrives on BritBox in October, and it cannot be missed. This season continues the story in two timelines, telling us the case of the past and the work that Karen and her team will need to do to get to the answers.
After the success of the first case, Karen is now promoted, and she needs to run her own task force to get answers. Of course, she still wants to do things her way, and that could lead her to getting into some trouble, especially when there’s someone out there who wants to prevent the truth from coming out.
Karen Pirie premieres on Thursday, Oct. 2 on BritBox.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story
For those who love the Monster anthology series, the third season is coming out. Charlie Hunam may be best known for Sons of Anarchy, but he is taking on the scary character of Ed Gein. This is the serial killer who became a man of legends, developing into stories such as Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
The Ryan Murphy series will dramatize the story, which is where it gets mixed reviews. After all, there are families of victims out there still living with the loss and horrors of what the man did. However, if you’re ready for a third season, you’ll want to check it out this month.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story drops in full on Friday, Oct. 3 on Netflix.
The Last Frontier
If you want something set out in the wilderness, then The Last Frontier is the series to follow. It is set in the rugged barrens of Alaska, and follows a transport plane full of violent inmates that crash-lands. With the inmates now out in the wilderness, U.S. Marshal Remnick will need to do what he can to protect his people.
Of course, there is something bigger at play. The crash likely wasn’t an accident, and he’ll need to get to the bottom of the conspiracy if he wants to find the inmates and save the day.
The Last Frontier premieres on Friday, Oct. 10 on Apple TV+.
Matlock
Hands up if you’re ready for a legal/crime drama mixture. Matlock is back, with Kathy Bates ready to show us once more everything that she can do. This season is set to see her on the back foot now and then, as it turns out that Olympia will have information that puts her in control.
Olympia had a huge decision to make at the end of Matlock season 1, and we know it’s not going to be the decision we want. She wants to protect the father of her children, but she’s likely to do it with a long game in mind, and for that, she’ll need Matty.
Matlock season 2 premieres on Sunday, Oct. 12 before moving to Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.
NCIS
After 22 seasons, NCIS is still going strong. It’s entering its 23rd season, and we’ll get one that may or may not have put Alden Parker in jail. It’s not like he’s not used to breaking some rules and laws, but this time he may have crossed the line as he looks for revenge over the death of his father.
This season is set to bring a crossover event as well, but not with a show you’d expect. It’ll cross over with the prequel series, NCIS: Origins, which is set to create a cold case that needs reopening.
NCIS season 23 premieres on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 8/7c on CBS.
Murdaugh: Death in the Family
If you love true crime drama, then Hulu continues to have us covered. While The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox has come to an end, Murdaugh: Death in the Family is just getting started. It’s inspired by the Murdaugh Murders Podcast, which follows the family that’s connected to a series of mysterious deaths.
Maggie and Alex enjoy the lavishes of life in South Carolina, but their lives are thrown upside down when their son, Paul, is involved in a deadly boat crash. As more of the details come out, secrets the family has held dear start to be uncovered, and everything Maggie and Alex once held dear may be destroyed.
Murdaugh: Death in the Family premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 15 on Hulu.
Harlan Coben’s Lazarus
If you’re a fan of Harlan Coben, then you’ll be excited to hear there’s another miniseries based on one of his books coming out. Rather than Netflix getting it, Prime Video is, and this time, it’s called Lazarus.
The series follows Joel Lazarus, who returns home after his father, Dr. Jonathan Lazarus, has taken his own life. While home, he starts to suffer from disturbing experiences that are linked to cold case murders. Is it possible that all of this is linked to both his father’s suicide and his sister’s muder 25 years earlier?
Lazarus premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 22 on Prime Video.