There's no better time than the crisp autumn months to curl up on the sofa and get stuck into a new TV series. And luckily, the small screen has a whole lot to offer right now, with a steady stream of brand new releases and returning old favourites to keep you hooked. From hit family psychodrama Succession to the disturbing yet addictive gory thriller Squid Game, these are the best TV shows to watch this autumn.
The best TV shows to stream now
Squid Game
Squid Game is a murderous dystopian thriller that has recently captivated audiences worldwide, quickly reaching the number-one spot on Netflix. The nine-episode series centres on a group of desperately indebted people who sign up to compete in six games for the chance to win a cash prize of 45.6 billion won (around £28m). The only catch is, if you lose, you get killed. It's dark and bloody, but a riveting watch, with intricate backstories, well-developed characters and action that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Succession
It's been two years since we last caught up with the Roys, but TV's most loathed family is now finally returning to our screens, with the hotly-anticipated third season of Succession streaming in the UK from 17 October. After an explosive season two finale in which number-one-son Kendall attempted a take-down of his father Logan, you can expect plenty of backstabbing and bust-ups as the family's billionaire patriarch desperately tries to stay in control of his volatile empire.
Sex Education
The loveable students of Moordale High are back and hornier than ever in the third season of Sex Education. The main gang is all there, with a few exciting new additions – Girls actress Jemima Kirke plays Hope Haddon, the new headmistress with a controversial vision for the school, Jason Isaacs (aka Lucius Malfoy) plays Peter Groff, Mr Groff’s successful older brother who Mr Groff is forced to move in with, and recording artist and songwriter Dua Saleh joins as Cal, a nonbinary student who instantly clashes with Hope’s conservative ideas.
The Chair
The Chair is a new six-part Netflix series in which Sandra Oh plays Professor Ji-Yoon Kim, who has just been appointed the first female chair of the English department at the prestigious Pembroke University. With the department failing to attract new students, Professor Kim faces the challenge of persuading the university's elderly and antiquated staff to get with the times or else retire. The show tackles big issues like racism, sexism, intergenerational divides and cancel culture, but never moralistically. Instead, it offers up just the right amount of humour and tenderness.
The White Lotus
One of 2021's most talked about and in our opinion, best, TV shows, The White Lotus is a moreish miniseries about awful rich people doing awful rich people things. Set at a luxury Hawaiian resort, it charts the misadventures of affluent, mostly-white guests and the reluctant yet agreeable hotel staff. The story is a gripping whodunnit that works backwards to reveal an unfortunate murder victim (and their killer), but it also serves as a clever satire about inequality, privilege and wokeness.
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