October brings a new dramedy series, the new season of a hit reality series, and the post-theatrical premiere of an international historical drama film.
For updates about shows from Australia and New Zealand added to US linear TV and streaming channels throughout the month, see the Down Under TV Viewing Guide.
(For details about the premieres of shows from the UK, Canada, Ireland, and countries in Europe and elsewhere, visit The British TV Place, The Euro TV Place, and The Global TV Place.)
Programs and dates are subject to change without prior notice.
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NATIONAL PREMIERES
Kid Sister: Season 1 (NZ)
This dramedy series follows Lulu (Simone Nathan, Our Flag Means Death, We Might Regret This), a 29-year-old single woman navigating love, identity, and family while living with her Jewish family in Auckland, New Zealand. Interestingly, more people are registered as Jedi than there are Jews here.
With her 30th birthday looming, Lulu is on the brink of being considered a spinster. As such, her family continues to pressure her to marry a nice Jewish boy so she can keep their traditions alive. But Lulu is secretly still in a relationship with her on-again, off-again, very non-Jewish boyfriend, Ollie (Paul Williams, Our Flag Means Death). To make matters even more complicated, she’s just found out that she’s pregnant with Ollie’s child. As Lulu digs herself deeper and deeper into a “shituation,” she is forced to face the question she’s been avoiding her entire adult life: How can she do what she wants while also making everyone else happy?
Costarring Amanda Billing (Under the Vines), Jeff Szusterman (The Gulf), Joseph Nathan (Mystic), Kira Josephson (M3GAN), Peter Hayden (The Brokenwood Mysteries), and Roxie Mohebbi (My Life Is Murder), Kid Sister: Season 1 premieres in the US on Sunday, October 11, exclusively on ChaiFlicks. New episodes will drop weekly through November 8.
Tenzing (UK-AU-US)
Based on true events, this biopic-historical drama chronicles the little-known story of Tenzing Norgay (Genden Phuntsok, Snow Leopard, Wind), a gifted Himalayan climber who, alongside New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary (Tom Hiddleston, Thor, The Avengers), became the first to summit Mount Everest. Encouraged by his wife, Dawa (Thinley Lhamo, Shambhala, Hari), Tenzing finds an ally in expedition secretary Jill Henderson (Caitríona Balfe, Outlander, Belfast). Together, they persuade Colonel John Hunt (Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate, The Florida Project) that Tenzing belongs on the British climbing team, rather than merely serving it.
Where Western climbers see Everest as something to be conquered, Tenzing reveres this mountain, called Chomolungma in Tibetan, as the sacred mother goddess. What follows is an ascent defined as much by the tensions between backgrounds, classes, and competing ambitions as by the perils of the mountain itself. But high above the world, empire, rank and aspiration fall away, leaving two outsiders bound by mutual respect and trust, and for Tenzing, the fulfillment of both a lifelong dream and a spiritual calling.
Following the film’s theatrical release in select cinemas on October 9, Tenzing, an Apple Original Film, premieres globally on Friday, October 16, exclusively on Apple TV and its digital channels, including Apple TV on Prime Channels (where you can add it to your watchlist now).
Love Island Australia: Season 8 (AU)
This reality series returns with another season in which sexy Aussies couple up in a luxury villa in search of the ultimate vacay of lust, romance, and love. It’s all fun and games and then some, as the Love Island couples must stay together and resist temptation when attractive new singles come on the island. But wait, there’s more! The winning couple gets moolah to start their new lives together… except there’s a catch (of course there is): One is given the chance to share the money or walk away with all of it for themself. Love Island Australia: Season 8 premieres in the US on Thursday, October 29, on Hulu.
