Dark (Netflix)
Full of complex characters and unique dystopian horrors, Dark is a decades-long saga surrounding the mysterious German town of Winden, featuring four unique families who have more in common than they realize. It’s an addictive mix of Stranger Things and Twin Peaks that will run you ragged with its awesome and dense time-travel narrative.
PENI5 (Hulu)
Created by, and starring, comedians Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, PEN15 is a bubbling cauldron of middle-school awkwardness and hilarity. Especially when you consider that Erskine and Konkle, who are both in their 30s, are playing themselves at 13 while all their schoolmate co-stars are actually 13. This Lonely Island-produced comedy is equal parts charm and cringe.
No Activity (CBS All Access)
Over on CBS All Access, which most folks subscribe to for its exclusive Star Trek content, there’s a quirky Will Ferrell/Adam McKay-produced series called No Activity. It stars Tim Meadows and Patrick Brammall as two lowly cops who have to spend way too much time together in a car, as well as other characters who largely remain on the outside of all the action as a major drug bust goes down. Other players include Sunita Mani, Jason Mantzoukas, and Jesse Plemons – with guest stars Will Ferrell and Bob Odenkirk.
Creepshow (Shudder)
Horror anthology franchise Creepshow returned as a streaming series this Fall over on Shudder, and It fast became the site’s biggest show to date. It’s already been picked up for Season 2.
Ushered in by The Walking Dead’s Greg Nicotero, the sinister spookfest brought us horror shorts based on the works of Stephen King, Joe Hill, and more while starring the likes of Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Tobin Bell (Saw), David Arquette (Scream), and Tricia Helfer (BSG).
Love, Death & Robots (Netflix)
Executive produced by Deadpool’s Tim Miller and David Fincher, Love, Death & Robots is a sci-fi smorgasbord. An anthology series comprised of 18 animated shorts, varying in both theme, length, and animation style. It’s an ambitious, dazzling fever-dream that is equally likely to disgust or delight you.
Sorry For Your Loss (Facebook Watch)
Facebook Watch certainly doesn’t have the cultural cache of Netflix or Amazon, but that doesn’t mean there’s not quality content to be found on the social network’s streaming channel.Starring the MCU’s Elizabeth Olsen and The Last Jedi’s Kelly Marie Tran, Sorry For Your Loss is an insightful, honest, and wrenching drama showcasing a young widow’s grief, anger, and confusion following the death of her husband (and the ripple effects it has on her family), as well as her faltering attempts to move on with her life. It sounds like a downer, but there’s actually a lot of humor and grace to be found in its sensitive exploration of one woman’s very personal grieving process.
Limetown (Facebook Watch)
New to Facebook Watch this fall is Limetown, starring Jessica Biel and Stanley Tucci. Based on the podcast of the same name, Limetown follows Lia Haddock, a journalist for American Public Radio who digs into the mystery of over 300 people disappearing at a neuroscience research facility in Tennessee. It’s a great performance by Biel accompanied by a stunningly creepy case filled with plenty of twists and turns.
This British series, based on the All Souls trilogy by Deborah Harkness, eventually aired in the States on both AMC and BBC America, but months before that it was available for streaming on Sundance Now, Shudder, and AMC Premiere (where it was a huge online success).
Starring Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode, A Discovery of Witches is a smart, authentic occult adventure featuring mesmerizing performances and gorgeous visuals. Production on its second season is already underway.
Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.