The TV-Jeebies: Spooky Watches for the run up to Halloweenw Buffy The Vampire Slayer There was no way Buffy wasn’t going to be on this list; it’s the ideal teen comedy-fantasy show for those looking for laughs and lighter spooks this time of year. It mostly follows the monster-of-the-week format made iconic by The X Files, and is known for coining the common TV term ‘the big bad’. Pay particular attention to the Halloween-themed or otherwise special episodes: season two’s imaginatively named ‘Halloween’, season four’s ‘Hush’ or its own Halloween special, or the famous musical episode in season six - ‘Once More, With Feeling!’ A powerhouse in female characterisation and witty dialogue, Buffy will always exist in the TV hall of fame, and, for Halloween especially, it’s definitely worth a watch.
Stranger Things The Netflix giant, which truly flourished in its third and most recent instalment, is the perfect sci-fi nostalgia blend if you’re looking for a blast from the past this Halloween. Visually stunning with a flourishing and talented young lead cast, the show especially comes into its own in the third season, and for any coming-of-age fans this show is the ideal mix of romance, comedy and creepy happenings to keep you going this October.
Black Mirror Despite running the risk of having a dangerously Netflix-oriented list, I decided to include Black Mirror. Not scary in the traditional sense, Black Mirror plays with the uncanny and the near-possible possibilities of technology in order to instil thrills and techno-paranoia in its viewers. Late last year, Netflix released ‘Bandersnatch’, an interactive thriller film, for which the audience made decisions for the protagonist to help shape the narrative. The experimental style perfectly sums up Black Mirror’s near-reality method of horror.
Being Human (seasons one to three) An important addendum to this recommendation is, of course, that I am referring to the U.K. series and, specifically, to the first three seasons before the narrative arc becomes messy, with a regrettable cast overall. The show blends fantasy drama with typical elements of the flatshare comedy, as John (Aidan Turner) the vampire, George (Russell Tovey) the werewolf and Annie the ghost (Lenora Crichlow) navigate the tribulations of living together. John and George, who have formed a close friendship despite their species’ ancient rivalry, attempt to fend off their respective predatory urges, while Annie seeks answers to her struggle to move onto the afterlife.
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