Buckle up for October, people, as Netflix revs up to drop a bunch of big returning shows on us, including new seasons of The Diplomat (October 15), Kristen Bell and Adam Brody’s Nobody Wants This (October 22), and a new Lupin(!) heist on October 23. There’s also a highly anticipated documentary from Judd Apatow about comedy great Norm Macdonald (October 16).
Ah, but you came here for something to watch now, didn’t you? Well, if you haven’t already been checking out Florence Pugh’s East of Eden, which is climbing the charts, U.S. subscribers have a stack of newly added series to tear through this weekend, with my top pick (on loan from Paramount+) landing on Monday. Let’s get to it.
4
The Great British Baking Show (Collection 14)
Nigella Lawson is in the tent, y’all!
Comedian Noel Fielding, famed for his work on The Mighty Boosh, remains a memorable presence as the frosting‑covered face of the Great British Baking Show. While he and co‑host Alison Hammond keep the tent lively, the real star of Collection 14 is Nigella Lawson, who steps in as a judge alongside Paul Hollywood.
The Great British Bake Off, as it’s called in the United Kingdom, challenges 12 contestants of all ages and backgrounds through themed weeks that spotlight a particular ingredient, technique, or historical period. Each episode features three tasks: a personal Signature bake, a Technical surprise created by the judges, and a Showstopper finale.
Fielding and presenter Alison Hammond keep the energy high, while Lawson and Hollywood move through the tent, offering encouragement. The themed weeks began with Cake Week on September 25 and continue with Biscuit Week on October 2, with fresh episodes arriving every Friday.
3
Doc
A brilliant doctor wakes up missing eight years of memory
Netflix premiered the second season of the Fox series on September 22, and it remains in the platform’s Top 10. The show is an adaptation of the Italian series Doc – Nelle tue mani, and it draws from the true story of a real physician. Molly Parker, known from House of Cards, portrays Dr. Amy Larsen, chief of internal medicine at a Minneapolis hospital, who suffers an eight‑year memory loss after a car accident.
Now forced to work as an intern, Larsen must rely on the medical knowledge she still possesses while confronting the gaps in her memory. Her personal life—her teenage daughter, ex‑husband Dr. Michael Hamda, and a boyfriend she can’t recall—also demands attention. With two seasons and 32 half‑hour episodes, the series offers a compact binge that may leave viewers needing a medical check‑up.
2
NCIS (Seasons 20-22)
Mark Harmon’s Gibbs is gone, but the team carries on
LL Cool J and Scott Caan, stars of the forthcoming NCIS: New York, quipped at the 2026 Emmys about the mystery surrounding the acronym NCIS. As Season 24 launches on CBS on October 6, fans are reminded that NCIS stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a franchise that started in 2003 as a spin‑off from JAG.
The franchise has expanded from Los Angeles to Sydney, even spawning a prequel centered on Mark Harmon’s beloved Gibbs. Meanwhile, Netflix now streams seasons 20‑22 of the original series, which continue after Gibbs’ departure in season 19. The new lead, ex‑FBI agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole), commands a team that includes Timothy McGee, Nick Torres, and Jessica Knight.
Each episode follows the team as they tackle high‑stakes cases—ranging from murder to espionage—spanning the Navy and Marine Corps. The straightforward, case‑of‑the‑week structure makes the series highly bingeable, especially the 10‑episode, strike‑shortened season 21.
1
Mayor of Kingstown (Season 1-4)
Don’t cross Jeremy Renner in his prison town
Mayor of Kingstown, a gritty Paramount+ series, now streams its four intense seasons on Netflix, with the first episodes arriving on Monday. Co‑created by Taylor Sheridan and Canadian rock‑star Hugh Dillon, the show is set in a fictional Michigan town where the prison system dominates the local economy.
Mitch McLusky, played by Kyle Chandler, serves as the town’s unofficial mayor, mediating between prison guards, police, gangs, and inmate factions. After his death, his brother Mike, portrayed by Jeremy Renner, assumes control, shouldering the town’s violent and complex power struggles. Renner delivers a commanding performance.
Renner’s return in season 3 follows his near‑fatal snowplow accident in 2023. Season 4 introduced Edie Falco, an Emmy‑winning actress from The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie, as the new prison warden Nina Hobbs, and the season achieved a flawless 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
A little taste of October before the storm comes
October promises to be a solid month for Netflix TV shows, offering a light dusting of flour, fast‑paced investigation drama, lives at stake in the hospital, and one of Paramount+’s best series on loan. Stay tuned to How‑To Geek’s streaming section for the best what‑to-watch recommendations this side of the internet.
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