With Halloween just around the corner, HBO Max's film library might be getting into the spooky mindset -- but its television library is taking a different approach. HBO Max's October slate is filled with reality television, acclaimed drama series and just a few horror series here and there.
Hot off multiple wins at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, The White Lotus returns for a second season with an entirely new cast and more shenanigans at a different resort. Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman's Butler is premiering its third season that will give Batman's right-hand man Alfred more backstory. For fans of horror, the anthology series Folklore will feature superstitious stories for a second season. With all this and more on offer, here are the shows HBO Max subscribers should add to their watchlist in October.
Pennyworth Season 3 Is a New Age of Heroes and Villains
Before there was Batman, there was Alfred Pennyworth. But Pennyworth aims to show that he's more than just a butler: he's a former soldier of the Special Air Service and an ambitious entrepreneur himself. Season 3 is set five years after the Season 2 finale and sees Alfred, Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne attempting to take down a group that's using a psycho-kinetic drug called the Lullaby State. With its clunky new subtitle "The Origin of Batman's Butler," fans are wondering if the series is starting to capitalize too much on its connection to Batman despite Bruce Wayne having not been born yet. But since Bruce's parents are still a huge part of the narrative, the show will always appeal to Bat-fans.
Pennyworth Season 3 premieres Oct. 6.
Folklore Season 2 Officially Begins the Halloween Season
Unrelated to the Taylor Swift album of the same name, Folklore is back with a second season to keep viewers awake at night. Season 2 will feature six different episodes set in different Asian countries, all directed by a local director. The stories aren't just typical horror stories; they target viewers' deepest fears to trigger emotional reactions. Following the first season's template, the myths and beliefs of Asia will make up the superstitions featured this season. The plots include a horrifying ritual involving a dead body, a schoolgirl's crush meeting a devastating end and newlyweds partying next door to a purification ritual.
Folklore Season 2 premieres Oct. 6.
There's More Mark Wahlberg In Wahl Street Season 2
In case people didn't know enough about Mark Wahlberg, HBO renewed his docuseries Wahl Street for a second season to dive deeper into his life and business. The series follows Wahlberg as he attempts to balance his family life, movie career and business empire during the pandemic. At times, the series feels quite shallow with a dead-serious Wahlberg talking to an interviewer and not much insight given into the mind of the movie star. But for Mark Wahlberg fans, it's more of what they want, and a second season means there are a lot of people who want to see what he does next.
Wahl Street Season 2 premieres Oct. 6.
Avenue 5 Season 2 Ruins the Idea of Space Tourism
Avenue 5 brought cruises to space... and made them a disaster. The first season was hilarious and brilliant, but the characters were faced with a conundrum when the cruise ship began to fail and supplies ran out. Where does that leave the passengers in Season 2? Nothing will go according to plan and the captain still has to tell the impatient passengers that they can't return to Earth for eight years -- when they believe it will only take eight weeks. To make matters worse, the ship might be colliding with the sun. Season 2 will either see the characters making things right in space... or screwing them up even further.
Avenue 5 Season 2 premieres Oct. 10.
The Vow Season 2 Continues the True Crime Story of NXIVM
Those who got hooked on The Vow nearly two years ago will be happy to know that HBO's true-crime docuseries is back in October. The previous season ended on a haunting image of filmmakers Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer sitting down with NXIVM co-founder Nancy Salzman. Now viewers can watch their conversation when the second season premieres. This season has more story to tell after the arrests of many NXIVM officials, including Smallville star Allison Mack. With a focus on Keith Raniere's trial, there will also be an exclusive interview with Raniere himself from prison.
The Vow Season 2 premieres Oct. 17.
The White Lotus Travels to Sicily in Season 2
The White Lotus was intended as a six-part limited series, but after praise from both critics and fans, the series was renewed for a second season as an anthology series. Each season follows guests as they arrive at the fictional White Lotus resort in different countries. Season 1 ttook place in Hawaii, while Season 2 heads to Sicily. While most of the cast is new, there are some familiar faces returning, too.
Jennifer Coolidge will reprise her role as Tanya after winning an Emmy. Tanya is back and married to Greg, whom viewers met in Season 1 as her former neighbor at the Hawaii hotel. Tagging along for the ride is her assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson), whom Greg isn't too thrilled about. Joining them will be F. Murray Abraham, Michael Imperioli, Theo James and Aubrey Plaza. With a stacked cast and a pretty ominous plot, this season is expected to be as wild and ambitious as the last.
The White Lotus Season 2 premieres Oct. 30.