Halloween Weekend Streaming: 'Dexter' Returns, 'Gilded Age' Premieres, and New Crime Thrillers

Key points

• Paramount+ launches 'Dexter: Resurrection' Season 2 on October 30, featuring new antagonists played by Dan Stevens and Brian Cox.
• HBO Max premieres 'The Gilded Age' Season 4 on November 1, focusing on the political tensions surrounding President Grover Cleveland's visit to New York.
• Apple TV releases 'Nocturne' on October 30, a six-episode crime series starring Liev Schreiber and Stephen Graham, adapted from Lars Kepler's novels.
• Netflix debuts 'The One About Matthew Perry,' a three-part documentary exploring the actor's life and struggles with addiction, directed by Mary Robertson.
• Peacock releases 'Minions & Monsters,' an animated film set in 1920s Hollywood that pays homage to classic film musicals like 'Singin' in the Rain.'

Background

This weekend's slate follows a busy fall season for streaming services, which recently saw the release of 'The Invite' on HBO Max and 'Lupin' Season 4 on Netflix. The current releases continue the trend of reviving popular franchises, such as the multiple iterations of the 'Dexter' series, and expanding prestige period dramas like 'The Gilded Age,' which has been a consistent performer for HBO.

How outlets are covering it

Outlets generally agree on the significance of the 'Dexter' and 'Gilded Age' returns, but differ in their emphasis on other titles. SlashFilm highlights 'Minions & Monsters' as a surprisingly strong family film and praises the respectful tone of the Matthew Perry documentary. TV Insider provides detailed plot summaries for 'Nocturne' and 'Dexter: Resurrection,' noting specific new cast members like Bokeem Woodbine and Desmond Harrington. Decider focuses on the political drama in 'The Gilded Age' regarding President Cleveland, while Mashable offers a broader list of new releases, including 'Verity' and 'The Dog Stars,' though it notes mixed critical reception for the latter. All sources confirm the release dates and platforms for the major titles.

Why it matters

These releases represent a significant portion of the premium content available during the Halloween weekend, catering to diverse audience preferences from crime thrillers to period dramas and animated family films. The continued success of revivals like 'Dexter' and 'The Gilded Age' indicates strong audience demand for established franchises, while new series like 'Nocturne' and documentaries like 'The One About Matthew Perry' offer fresh content for viewers seeking variety. The variety of releases across platforms ensures that subscribers have ample options for weekend viewing.

What to watch

Viewers can expect weekly episodes of 'Dexter: Resurrection' and 'Nocturne' following their premieres. 'The Gilded Age' Season 4 will continue its run on HBO Max, with subsequent episodes likely to delve deeper into the social and political conflicts of the 1880s. Additional content from the weekend's slate, such as the SCTV documentary on Netflix and 'Dark Matter' Season 2 finale on Apple TV, will remain available for streaming in the coming weeks.