What to Watch: October 2021

Binge-worthy watches releasing this month, including The Rescue, Seinfeld, and Billie Eillish’s concert film.

A still from the movie Night Raiders of a women in a camel coloured long sleeve shirt, leaning on the railing of a balcony with a flock of birds flying in the sky

Night Raiders

Where: Theatres
What: Movie, 101 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Dystopian Sci-fi
Why you should watch: An incredibly poignant Indigenous thriller set in the not-so-distant future and heavily influenced by the past. In a military-occupied North America, a Cree mother fights to get her daughter back from a state-run school and joins forces with an underground vigilante group. It’s a powerful exploration of family and community.

Scene from Reservation Dogs of a girl looking at a boy who's not facing her

Reservation Dogs

Where: Disney +
What: Series, 8 episodes, new episodes every Weds. until Oct. 20, 29 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Dramedy
Why you should watch: A group of wannabe-badass Indigenous teens on an Oklahoma reservation are determined to fund a move to L.A. with petty crime. Funny and searingly authentic — which is no surprise with its almost all-Indigenous cast and crew. Oscar winner Taika Waititi (Best Adapted Screenplay, Jojo Rabbit) is a show creator, Canadian D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai stars. Second season just confirmed.

Scene from You with Penn Badgley and Victoria Pedretti holding a baby.

You

Where: Netflix
What: Series, Season 3, 10 episodes, 50 mins.
When: Fri, Oct. 15
Genre: Psychological thriller
Why you should watch: Back to conflict viewers between finding main characters Joe and Love (Hollywood charmers Penn Badgley and Victoria Pedretti) attractive and feeling utterly terrified of their lethal stalker tendencies, season three is all about love and marriage. Newlywed and new parents too, Joe and Love move into the Northern California suburbs to live the American dream. How they’ll survive each other is another question.

Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez standing in an elevator in the show Only Murders In This Building

Only Murders In The Building

Where: Disney +
What: Series, 11 episodes, 30 mins.
When: New episodes weekly until Sat., Oct. 16
Genre: Whodunit mystery
Why you should watch: Selena Gomez keeps veteran comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short relevant as the three quirky neighbours in a classy Upper West Side New York City apartment who get drawn into solving a murder in their building. Gomez is the edgy youth to the charming codgers on a show that cleverly taps into the true-crime podcast craze.

Issa Rae in an orange suit holding a mic, from TV show Insecure

Insecure

Where: Crave
What: Series, Season 5, 8 episodes, 30 mins.
When: Sun., Oct. 24
Genre: Comedy
Why you should watch: Issa Rae’s critically acclaimed comedy is back with its heavily anticipated final season. The show’s five-year run has been applauded for its honest, realistic portrayal of the lives of modern Black women and has consistently established itself as one of the funniest, realest shows on TV. And if you needed one more incentive to watch: this season will be directed by the phenomenal Kerry Washington!

Still from Star Wars: Vision of a character in a black robe wielding a glowing red sword

Star Wars: Visions

Where: Disney +
What: Limited series, 10 episodes, 12 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Anime
Why you should watch: Seven of Japan’s top anime studios are unleashed on the Star Wars universe, borrowing themes, characters, gadgets and more to create 10 gorgeous, self-contained episodes. And it’s as cool as it sounds as each studio takes its own inspired and often very different approach to the Star Wars universe — which originally borrowed from Japanese myths and culture.

A still from Seinfeld. Jerry's wearing a white blouse with ruffles and puffy sleeves. Kramer stands behind Jerry trying to figure out what he's wearing.

Seinfeld

Where: Netflix
What: Series, 9 seasons, 173 episodes, 22 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Sitcom
Why you should watch: Arguably the funniest — and most enduring — sitcom ever moves to Netflix just after another contender for the comedy crown, The Office, leaves. If you’ve somehow managed to miss Jerry and his pals, now’s your chance to understand the laughs behind: the yadda yadda, the Soup Nazi, mastering your own domain and more. And as fans know, you can happily watch these episodes over and over.

A woman at the water's edge, turning toward the camera

Mayday

Where: VOD
What: Movie, 100 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Fantasy Drama
Why you should watch: Leave logic at the door and immerse yourself in this gorgeously shot fantasy that follows a defeated female hotel worker who enters a parallel universe that’s initially presented as a safe haven for women. The so-called paradise quickly becomes a blood-soaked nightmare and the hotel worker wants out, but return tickets are hard to come by. It’s emotionally compelling, and the landscape montages alone are worth the price of admission.

Two female volleyball players from Team Japan at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics from the film The Witches Of The Orient.

The Witches Of The Orient

Where: VOD — iTunes, Vimeo
What: Movie, 100 mins.
When: Tues., Oct. 26
Genre: Documentary
Why you should watch: A gentle look at a remarkable women’s volleyball team that ends up being a source of national pride to post-war Japan, peaking with a gold medal win at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Features amazing archival action footage, anime simulations and interviews with surviving team members. Innovative, acrobatic play and relentless training helped the team amass 258 straight victories.

Close-up photo of a blonde Billie Eillish resting her chin on her hand

Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles

Where: Disney+
What: Movie, 65 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Concert film
Why you should watch: Versatile director Robert Rodriguez (Spy Kids, From Dusk till Dawn) lushly presents Billie Eilish and brother, recent NEXT cover boy, Finneas, performing her new album in an eerily empty Hollywood Bowl — at times with the L.A. Philharmonic. Animated Billie also appears in scenes around her favourite town, and while the film is a love letter to L.A., it’s also a love letter to the beautifully presented singer.

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