October Picks: Editors' Picks

Inspired by the 1973 film, HBO's "Westworld" (created and written by Jonathan Nolan) looks to flip the focus of the original by focusing on the fates and experiences of the robots who inhabit a world where humans are promised "no judgments, no questions" and "complete discretion." This is a theme that has been explored deftly and thoughtfully on-screen in Ex Machina, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, "Humans," and many others, and I can't wait to see what "Westworld" brings to the table. — Vanessa

Premieres Sunday, Oct. 2, on HBO

"Law & Order" meets "Making a Murderer" in this new ABC legal drama. If you liked either of these shows, you are sure to like this new series about a young attorney who heads up NYC's new Conviction Integrity Unit. The newly formed unit investigates cases where people may have been wrongly convicted — a topic that is certainly timely. I suspect there will be some "ripped from the headlines" episodes in this first season. — Shara

Premieres Monday, Oct. 3, on ABC

Barry Allen is finally getting everything he always wanted, or is he? One of my favorite things about "The Flash" is seeing the alt-versions of the characters, from the Earth Two versions of the Flash gang, to the subtle shifts that happen when Barry tweaks the timeline. But this season we get to see what happens when Barry completely ignores all of the "You really shouldn't be changing history" warnings and reboots his life and the lives of everyone around him. This won't end badly, will it? #flashpoint — Vanessa

Premieres Tuesday, Oct. 4, on the CW

I have honestly been counting down the days until The Girl on the Train hits theaters. The story revolves around Rachel, played by Emily Blunt, as she becomes involved in a missing persons investigation. If the film is anything like the novel, you won't blink for 112 minutes. Seriously! — Akimi

In U.S. theaters starting Friday, Oct. 7

HBO just might have another hit on its hands! Issa Rae ("Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl" web series) and Larry Wilmore ("The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore") co-created the network's newest comedy series, "Insecure." The show looks hilarious, thoughtful, sexy, and super-relatable — and its star is definitely as girl crush-worthy as they come.

Rae sums up the show perfectly on her Twitter account: "I wanted to center a show around, like, weak black women and the uncertainty they feel on that journey to get to greatness. It's like the prequel to #BlackGirlMagic." — Chako

"Insecure" premieres Sunday, Oct. 9, on HBO and HBO NOW

I'm a huge "Sex and the City" fan. So, I'm thrilled that Sarah Jessica Parker is returning to HBO in another relationship-oriented comedy. As the title suggests, "Divorce" is about a couple going through a prolonged divorce. The trailer includes plenty of The War of the Roses-style nastiness, but there are also moments that suggest ending their marriage may save their relationship. The series is created by Sharon Horgan, who also co-created the hilarious romantic comedy "Catastrophe." I'm hoping that it will have as much to say about breaking up as "Sex and the City" did about falling in love. — Sara

Premieres Sunday, Oct. 9, on HBO

One thing to love about The Accountant's promotional campaign: You still can't tell exactly how everything is going to unfurl in what looks to be Ben Affleck's best role of the year (no disrespect to his two appearances as Batman). It's also a rebound opportunity for director Gavin O'Connor, who most recently took on the troubled Jane Got a Gun. — Arno

In U.S. theaters starting Friday, Oct. 14

Given all the reboots and live musicals on network TV these days, it should come as no surprise that the powers that be at FOX decided to dish up another serving of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' especially just in time for Halloween. Interestingly enough, a remake had been in the plans at the network since the early 2000s. Diehards of the original should take heart: Director Kenny Ortega has promised to remain faithful to the text and the score, and Tim Curry has joined the cast, though not as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. The enticingly engimatic talent portraying the lead character this time around? None other than Laverne Cox, who will have no problem filling some mighty considerable (high-heeled) shoes. — Bret

Premieres Thursday, Oct. 20, on FOX

This movie looks like it is going to give me nightmares. I have very vivid and specific memories about playing a Ouija board with my friends during a sleepover and being so scared that my mom had to come get me. It was frightening and embarrassing all at the same time. I would look at my ability to sit through this movie without calling my mom as a solid victory in my adult life. — Lance

In U.S. theaters starting Friday, Oct. 21

Years ago I fished Medicine for Melancholy out of a pile of indie movie screeners and was pulled into an alternate take on life in San Francisco from writer/director Barry Jenkins. Eight years later, Jenkins has returned with Moonlight, a character piece that has received raves for its nuanced take on the subject of gay masculinity. — Arno

In U.S. theaters starting Friday, Oct. 21

It has been more than three years since the last series of "Black Mirror," Charlie Brooker’s incredibly original, thought-provoking, and dark look at where technology could take us. So my anticipation is through the roof when you look at the pedigree of talent involved with its six new episodes from directors Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane), Joe Wright (Hanna) and James Watkins (The Woman In Black) to actors including Bryce Dallas Howard, "House of Cards" star Michael Kelly, and Kelly Macdonald from "Boardwalk Empire." — Mike

Premieres Friday, Oct. 21, on Netflix

You can count me as one of the overly anxious fans who's spent the last few months trying to determine who Negan's victim might be. When the Comic-Con trailer for "The Walking Dead" was released, I got so worked up my coworker said, "Pull it together!" I watched the Season 6 marathon searching for clues despite the fact that showrunner Scott M. Gimple said the show hadn't determined who would be killed at that time (and for the record, I don't believe him). No matter who meets their fate, I'm looking forward to this season, which I hope will take the show to a new level. #IfDarylDiesWeRiot! — Michelle

Premieres Sunday, Oct. 23, on AMC

While my U.S. colleagues won’t get to see Marvel’s dimension-bending superhero movie until Nov. 4, here in the U.K. (and across much of Europe) we’ll get to see Benedict Cumberbatch take his first steps as the Sorcerer Supreme from Oct. 25. It is said to be Marvel’s first psychedelic movie, and if that’s anything like the taste we were given near the end of Ant-Man (when Scott Lang went subatomic), it promises to be quite the trip. — Mike

In U.K. theaters beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25

As a recovering journalist who minored in history, this show really piques my interest. In my opinion, historical figures are too often talked about in a vacuum. In fact, history is a trail blazed by real people with real lives. This show seeks to tell the tale of pioneering women who have inspired generations of female journalists who came after them. Can't wait to see it. Truth be told, I’m into this one for the ‘60s fashion as much as I am for the fierce female characters. — Lance

Premieres Friday, Oct. 28, on Amazon Video

Everyone has a guilty pleasure, and one of mine, I admit, is a good old Dan Brown/Robert Langdon caper, where past and present intermingle to provide entertainingly plausible conspiracy theories for what lurks just beneath the day-to-day. Tom Hanks returns as Harvard symbologist Langdon, in this latest edition joined by Felicity Jones, as the pair traverse Italy in an attempt to stop a madman's plot to unleash a devastating virus upon the globe. With Ron Howard at the helm, Florence in the background, and a little Dante to boot, I'm expecting a fast-paced, visually stunning escape. — Bret

In U.S. theaters starting Friday, Oct. 28

The elevator pitch for this series is Inception meets "Lost." Three strangers are haunted by their dreams, which, over the course of the pilot episode, are revealed to be connected. The structurally complex script kept me questioning which scenes were real and which were fantasy. The performances were excellent, with David Ajala a standout as the suave Burton. The first episode poses a lot of questions. I'm going to keep watching because I want to know the answers. — Sara

Premieres Thursday, Oct. 13, on USA. The pilot is streaming now on USA's website.