Series Snapshot ~ 10/15/2026

By: [email protected] on Thu, 10/15/2026 - 13:10

Welcome to the Series Snapshot, a weekly deep dive into the shows topping the streaming charts.

This week Netflix’s top series is new limited thriller Below, as East of Eden moves south on the charts. Below is a six-episode creature-horror miniseries from creator Jesse McKeown, and recently broke the record for most viewed debut for a Canadian Netflix original. Set in Newfoundland, Below sees the fictional fishing town of Snook’s Arm face a government buyout and relocation. If that weren’t enough, a terrifying ancient sea creature emerges from the depths- sinking ships and causing disappearances, forcing the locals to band together for survival. Critical reception has been generally positive, with praise for Below’s slow-burn dread, practical effects, and impressive cinematography, but the series loses a few points for uneven pacing and occasionally inconsistent accents. Below was shot on location throughout Newfoundland’s coastal towns, and stars Josh Hartnett, Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton, Natasha Henstridge, and Willow Kean.

American Horror Story: 13 clinches a third straight week as Hulu’s top show, ahead of Chad Powers and The Drop: A Snowfall Saga. Well timed with the Halloween season, Horror Story is moving quickly, beginning with an accelerated three weekly episodes before switching to two, and just five episodes remain with the finale set for October 29th. Season thirteen has been a curtain call of rotating AHS legends as they make appearances at The Apollyon a portal-to-hell disguised as a New York residential building. But as new episodes are released, critical reception remains highly polarized. One popular perspective is that 13 is a fun, self-aware romp that serves as a reunion tour of AHS all-stars, but some feel the rapid-fire reveals are cheap and incoherent, undercutting the horror elements with lazy “fanbait” writing. American Horror Story: 13 stars Emma Roberts, Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, Joey Pollari and Fedor Steer, and was created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.

HBO’s smash hit Lanterns celebrates a victory lap after concluding its first season, making it the platform’s top show for the last nine weeks straight. Despite its phenomenal run, official news on a second season is up in the air as Warner Brothers Discovery and Paramount Skydance begin the arduous merger process. However, there’s word that season two is in early development, and thanks to its numbers and upcoming film tie-in with 2027’s Man of Tomorrow, it’s not a question of “if” but “when”. Lanterns put a fresh spin on the exhausted superhero genre, presenting a bleak, true-crime thriller aesthetic. Audiences praised series leads Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler for their performances as John Stewart and Hal Jordan, and critics appreciate cleverly applied limitations to their powers that kept the series grounded with high-stakes. Lanterns also stars Nathan Fillion, Kelly MacDonald and Garrett Dillahunt, and was developed by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King.

Over at Amazon Prime Video, a new Carrie adaptation beats Reacher spinoff Neagley. Released as a binge drop on October 7th, Carrie modernizes Stephen King’s 1974 novel into the digital age, complete with smartphones and social media. Reception has been fantastic, and the present-day setting has been immediately embraced as a brilliant and seamless update. Fans of the original 1976 film comment that the new version stands on its own fifty years later, and Summer H. Howell’s performance as Carrie White is seen as a break-out success; the young actor delivers an emotionally heartbreaking take on the role, with occasional nods to Sissy Spacek. The only major point of contention is a divisive finale episode that introduces a crossover to the wider Stephen King universe. Carrie also stars Samantha Sloyan, Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Matthew Lillard, and Amber Midthunder, and was created and developed by Mike Flanagan.

After airing its season four finale last week, Ted Lasso keeps a firm lead over Slow Horses and Silo. After three successful seasons, The uplifting soccer-comedy headed in new directions with a few major changes, primarily Ted’s adjustment to coaching women’s soccer, a fresh roster of characters, and on a technical level, shorter episode runtimes that kept pacing tight. The recent finale episode was particularly well received- fans feel satisfied with how things wrapped up for Ted and his friends, and the episode was open-ended enough for more storylines without relying on cheap dramatic cliffhangers. There’s still no official confirmation from Apple as to whether Ted Lasso will get a fifth season, but the creators remain optimistic about renewal. Season four was originally planned to be the first of a three-season arc, and discussions are ongoing. Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Annette Badland, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, and Jeremy Swift, and was created by Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly.

Disney’s new Coven Academy series takes a second consecutive win as the most watched show this week, releasing its entire first season on October 2nd. The supernatural teen drama follows a group of modern-day witches as they navigate the social hierarchies and mysteries within the elite boarding school, Crescent Veil Academy. Friends Briar, Sasha, and Tiegan must develop their powers as they uncover the school’s dangerous secrets, fending off vampires and rogue warlocks. Critics continue to heavily praise the show for its fresh takes on fantasy tropes, sharp writing, a strong ensemble, and impressive visuals. Disney still hasn’t announced a renewal for Coven Academy’s second season, but creator Tim Federle has expressed intentions for a multiple season story. Coven Academy stars Malina Weissman, Jordan Leftwich, Ora Duplass, Tiffani Thiessen and Devon Sawa.