The leaves are falling, the nights are getting longer, and the TV schedule is finally getting crowded again—fall TV is officially here!
Welcome back to TV Corner Notes! There’s something about this time of year that makes me especially excited to be a TV fan. The weather is changing, the leaves are falling, and suddenly my watchlist is going from “I’ll get to it eventually” to “How am I supposed to watch all of this?”
With FBI, One Chicago, Law & Order, NCIS, Grey’s Anatomy, CIA, and plenty of new streaming releases returning over the next couple of weeks, there’s no shortage of television to keep up with. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So, before the schedule completely takes over, let’s take a look at what I watched this week, what caught my attention, and what deserves a spot on your watchlist.
Fall TV Is Finally Back—and It Couldn’t Come Soon Enough
The weather is changing, the leaves are starting to fall, and the sun is setting earlier. You know what that means: fall TV is officially back.
And honestly, can you feel it? After a summer of lighter schedules, streaming binges, and impatiently waiting for our favorite shows to return, the television calendar suddenly feels alive again. Over the next two weeks, we’re getting a little bit of everything—highly anticipated returning favorites, brand-new series, major streaming premieres, finales, movies, Halloween programming, and more shows than anyone can reasonably keep up with. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is easily one of my favorite times of year as a TV fan. Seeing FBI, One Chicago, Law & Order, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, CIA, and so many other familiar names pop back onto the schedule makes television feel fully awake again. Streaming services are piling on with premieres of their own, and while my watchlist absolutely does not need more competition, I’m going to keep adding to it anyway.
The next couple of weeks are going to be packed, and I mean that in the best possible way. This is the kind of television overload I’ve been waiting for.
There are returning favorites I’ve waited months to see, promising new shows that could become our next collective obsession, and a few wild cards I can’t resist checking out. Some will earn a lasting place on my watchlist; others will probably lose me after an episode or two. That unpredictability is part of what makes fall TV so much fun. The season is back, the schedule is crowded, and I’m more than ready to dive in.
What I Watched This Week
Another week, another round of television—and this week had a little bit of everything. I checked out a new HBO legal drama, took a chance on a stylish AMC+ action thriller, and, of course, started getting ready for the return of fall TV.
Some shows immediately grabbed my attention, while others left me a little more cautiously optimistic. That’s part of the fun, though. Not everything has to be a 10/10 to earn a spot on the watchlist. Sometimes a show just needs an interesting premise, a great performance, or enough unanswered questions to make me want to come back next week.
Here’s what I watched this week and what I thought.
HBO’s War Kicks Off a High-Stakes Divorce Battle
HBO’s new legal drama War gets off to an intriguing start with a marriage that’s pretty much dead in the water. Dominic West and Sienna Miller star as Morgan Henderson, a powerful tech billionaire, and Carla Duval, an international film star, whose impending divorce looks destined to get ugly. What makes the setup interesting is that this isn’t just about a couple falling out of love—it’s about money, power, reputation, and two legal teams trying to turn every mistake into an advantage.
The premiere works best when it treats the divorce like a chess match. Morgan and Carla both try to control the narrative, while the rival law firms constantly look for ways to strike first. The episode can feel a little too focused on setting up the pieces rather than digging into the emotional side of the marriage, but Dominic West and Sienna Miller give the conflict enough weight to keep it interesting. Archie Renaux also stands out as Johnny Warren, whose struggle to break into London’s elite legal world gives the series a more grounded perspective on all the wealth and privilege surrounding him.
There’s definitely potential here, especially if War can balance the flashy legal maneuvering with stronger character development. The premiere doesn't fully pull me in yet, but the divorce battle, competing law firms, and several unanswered questions have me curious about where the story goes next. Overall Grade: 8/10.
Check out my review of War Season 1, Episode 1!
TV Corner Notes: Kill Jackie Brings the Action in a Wild Premiere
AMC+’s new revenge thriller Kill Jackie gets off to a fun, action-packed start. The concept isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel—a retired criminal with a dangerous past is forced back into the game—but it’s familiar enough that I enjoyed the ride. Catherine Zeta-Jones is clearly having a blast as Jackie Price, a former international cocaine queenpin who has spent 20 years hiding in plain sight as a successful art dealer.
The premiere wastes little time showing us that Jackie’s quiet life is mostly an illusion. When assassins come after her, she reveals just how prepared she is, turning her home into a heavily armed death trap. The introduction of the Seven Demons also gives the series an easy hook, as Jackie decides to stop running and start hunting the people coming after her. The story may be familiar, but the combination of stylish action, a larger-than-life lead, and the mystery surrounding Jackie’s past gives it enough personality to stand out.
Is Kill Jackie doing anything we haven’t seen before? Not really. But sometimes you just want a fun action thriller that knows exactly what it is, and this premiere delivers that. Catherine Zeta-Jones is having a great time with Jackie, and I’m definitely curious to see what happens when she starts hunting down the Seven Demons. Overall Grade: 7.5/10.
If you’re looking for something fun and action-packed, Kill Jackie might be worth adding to your watchlist. Have you checked it out yet? Let me know what you think!
What to Watch This Week — Premiere Week Is Here!
Fall TV is officially kicking into high gear, and the next two weeks are about to be very busy. FBI, One Chicago, Law & Order, NCIS, CIA, and a whole lot more are returning with new seasons, while streaming services are rolling out several big premieres of their own. Basically, if you've been waiting for your fall TV schedule to fill up, this is the week it starts happening.
There’s far too much to track without a plan, so I’m breaking down the premieres, finales, returning favorites, movies, and streaming releases that deserve your attention. From Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. to new mysteries, thrillers, comedies, and plenty of Halloween programming, these are the titles I think are most worth considering for your watchlist.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5
“Family Guy: Happy Hell-o-ween” (Hulu exclusive episode)
“Signora Volpe” Season 3 (Acorn TV)
8/7c: “Below Deck Mediterranean” Season 11 finale (Bravo)
8/7c “FBI” Season 9 (CBS)
8/7c “Private Eyes West Coast” (The CW): Matt Shade (Jason Priestley) and Angie Everett (Cindy Sampson) have left behind their P.I. firm and settled into a new life on the West Coast—but their quiet new routine is shaken when a night out puts them at the scene of a murder.
9/8c “CIA” Season 2 (CBS)
9/8c “Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent” Season 2 (The CW)
10/9c “Harlan Coben’s Final Twist” Season 2 (CBS)
10/9c“Sweet Deceit: Trick or Treat” (Food Network): A two-episode premiere sends teams of three hunting for hyper-realistic sweets hiding in plain sight. Josh Peck hosts.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
“Reasonable Doubt” Season 4 (Hulu, three-episode premiere)
8/7c“NCIS” Season 24 (CBS)
9/8c “NCIS: New York” (CBS): Senior Special Agent Sam Hanna (LL COOL J) returns to his hometown and partners with a roguish special agent (Scott Caan).
10/9c “NCIS: Origins” Season 3 (CBS)
“Mojo Brookzz: I Know You Lying” (Netflix comedy special)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7
“Carrie” (Prime Video, eight-episode binge): Mike Flanagan’s contemporary reimagining of the Stephen King classic stars Summer H. Howell as the sheltered teenager at the center of the story, with Samantha Sloyan as her fiercely protective mother.
"Ted Lasso” Season 4 finale (Apple TV)
“Last Seen” Season 1 finale (Apple TV)
“Small Prophets” (Apple TV): A man (Pearce Quigley) tries to create magical spirits that can predict the future, hoping to discover whether he’ll ever see his long-missing partner again.
8/7c “Chicago Med” Season 12 (NBC)
8/7c “Pawn Stars” Season 25 (History)
8:30/7:30c “Abbott Elementary” Season 6 (ABC)
9/8c “Chicago Fire” Season 15 (NBC)
9/8c “Sin City Rehab” Season 2 (HGTV)
9/8c “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” returns (BET)
9/8c “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” returns (ABC)
10/9c “Chicago P.D.” Season 14 (NBC)
“Jamie Foxx: Take Care of Yourself” (Hulu comedy special)
“Who Is Martin Mull?” (Netflix documentary): The documentary explores Mull’s life and career, from music and comedy to acting and painting, featuring interviews with friends including Steve Martin, Tom Waits, and David Alan Grier.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
“Below” (Netflix, six-episode binge): When a mysterious sea creature terrorizes a remote Newfoundland town, a hard-bitten fisherman (Josh Hartnett) fights to protect his family, his community, and his vanishing way of life. Mackenzie Davis and Charlie Heaton co-star.
“The Kardashians” Season 8 (Hulu)
8/7c “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” Season 3 (CBS)
8:30/7:30c “Eternally Yours” (CBS): An eternal love story about two vampires married for 500 years who struggle to accept the human dating their daughter.
9/8c “Elsbeth” Season 4 (CBS)
9/8c “Law & Order: SVU” Season 28 (NBC)
10/9c “Cupertino” (CBS): A wronged lawyer (Mike Colter) teams up with a promising young attorney (Rachel Keller) to take on Silicon Valley's giants in a David vs. Goliath battle.
10/9c “Law & Order” Season 26 (NBC)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
“Avatar: Seven Havens” (Paramount+, three-episode premiere): Set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the sequel follows a young Earthbender who discovers she is the new Avatar after Korra in a world shattered by a devastating cataclysm.
“Haunted Hotel” Season 2 (Netflix, eight-episode binge)
“Is It Cake? Halloween” Season 2 (Netflix, three-episode binge)
8/7c “JAĊ¸-Z IN 8” docuseries finale (HBO, two episodes)
8/7c “Sheriff Country” Season 2 (CBS)
9/8c “Fire Country” Season 5 (CBS)
10/9c “Anna Pigeon” Season 1 finale (USA Network)
10/9c “Boston Blue” Season 2 (CBS)
“Animals” (Netflix movie): When their son is kidnapped, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate (Ben Affleck) and his wife (Kerry Washington) become caught in a web of deception.
“Disclosure Day” (Peacock)
“Matchbox The Movie” (Apple TV): A group of childhood friends has their lives upended when their long-absent former leader (John Cena), now an undercover CIA agent, returns to their small town and accidentally pulls them into an international pursuit to save the world.
“Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger” (Hulu documentary): The film features a joint interview with Liam and Noel Gallagher, along with performances of several of Oasis’ biggest songs.
“R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2” (Tubi): Sam (Bean Reid) and Becka (Adeline Lo) race to stop a new Pumpkinhead curse from claiming the town of Redhaven.
8/7c “Dancing With the Devil” (LMN): An injured ballerina falls for her physical therapist, only to discover that he caused her injury.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
6/5c WWE Money in the Bank (ESPN app)
8/7c Banana Ball World Tour: The Banana Bowl (Disney+)
10/9c “48 Hours” Season 39 (CBS)
“Hokum” (Hulu)
8/7c “The Monster She Married” (Lifetime): A woman who was groomed as a teenager confronts the truth about her abusive husband and former pediatrician after one of his teenage patients is murdered.
8/7c “A Second Chance Christmas” (Great American Family): After five years, divorced parents Anna and James reunite with their adult children for Christmas, only to find an unexpected ice storm may give their love story another chance. Candace Cameron Bure and Jonathan Scarfe star.
8/7c “The Spirit of Halloween” (Hallmark Channel): Meghan Ory plays a bridal designer visited by three spirits on Halloween who force her to confront her past, present, and future. Kevin McGarry and Lachlan Quarmby co-star.
My Picks This Week: The schedule is crowded, but Wednesday’s One Chicago return sits near the top of my list, alongside FBI, NCIS, and the Law & Order shows. Streaming has some strong contenders too, particularly Carrie, Below, and Avatar: Seven Havens. If I had to narrow the week down, those are the titles I’d prioritize.
And this is only the beginning. Even more premieres arrive next week, but this lineup already makes one thing clear: fall television is back in a big way. The schedule may be overwhelming, but after a quiet summer, that feels like a very good problem to have. What are you watching this week? Let me know which shows made your list.
And that’s a wrap for this week’s TV Corner Notes. With so many returning favorites and new shows arriving over the next couple of weeks, there’s officially no shortage of things to watch.
My watchlist is already getting out of control, but honestly, that feels like a pretty good problem to have. I’ll be back next week with more reviews, recommendations, and everything else worth watching.
What are you watching this week? Is there a premiere you’ve been waiting months for, or a new show you’re especially curious about? Let me know in the comments!
No comments:
Post a Comment