8 New TV Shows to Watch This Weekend: October 16–18

Streaming services have a strong weekend line-up, with superhero drama, horror, political intrigue, crime, adventure, documentary and reality television all represented.

Marvel’s VisionQuest arrives as a major conclusion to its streaming storyline, while Crystal Lake explores the origins of a famous horror family. There are also returning seasons of The Diplomat, The Lowdown, Tulsa King and Love Is Blind, alongside new series based on Treasure Island and the life of Mike Tyson.

For more screen and gaming coverage, visit the RETROCADE Arcade Blog, or browse the arcade videos while you decide what to watch.

1. VisionQuest

• Available on: Disney Plus
• Genre: Sci-fi
• Episodes: 8
• Cast: Paul Bettany, James Spader, Ruaridh Molica

VisionQuest follows the rebuilt White Vision, played by Paul Bettany, as he hides in Scotland and works in a pub. Inside his mind, he encounters artificial intelligence personas including J.A.R.V.I.S. and Ultron, voiced by James Spader. A bounty placed on Vision forces him to flee and reconnect with his long-lost son.

The series continues storylines from WandaVision and Agatha All Along, bringing several dangling threads together in an unexpected conclusion. Terry Matalas, known for Star Trek: Picard, serves as showrunner.

2. Crystal Lake

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• Available on: Peacock
• Genre: Horror
• Episodes: 8
• Cast: Linda Cardellini, William Catlett, Devin Kessler

This Friday the 13th prequel centres on Pamela Voorhees before the events of the original film. It begins with the death of her son Jason, whose drowning devastates Pamela and ultimately contributes to her transformation into a murderer.

The series shifts Jason’s death from 1957 to 1971. Young Jason is portrayed with prosthetics designed to resemble the disturbing appearance seen in the original film’s final scene, while the story examines the trauma that shaped Pamela.

3. The Diplomat

• Available on: Netflix
• Genre: Drama
• Episodes: 8
• Cast: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, Allison Janney

The fourth season follows US Ambassador Kate Wyler, played by Keri Russell, through another international crisis. Kate discovers that the US President and Vice President—who is also her husband—organised a covert operation to take a powerful weapon from Russia.

4. The Lowdown

• Available on: Hulu
• Genre: Drama
• Episodes: 8
• Cast: Ethan Hawke, Tommy Lee Jones, Ryan Kiera Armstrong

Ethan Hawke returns as Lee Raybon, a Tulsa journalist whose search for the truth repeatedly pulls him into local corruption, conspiracies and dangerous situations. The second season continues the character’s investigations and uneasy encounters.

5. Tulsa King

• Available on: Paramount Plus
• Genre: Drama
• Episodes: 10
• Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Frank Grillo, Andrea Savage

Sylvester Stallone plays Dwight Manfredi, a former mob boss sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after leaving prison. He begins building a new criminal organisation, mixing gang violence, turf disputes, shootouts and dark comedy into the crime drama.

In the fourth season, Dwight attempts to move into more legitimate businesses, but trouble follows him into his new plans.

6. Treasure Island

• Available on: Paramount Plus
• Genre: Adventure
• Episodes: 6
• Cast: Hayley Atwell, Tom Sweet, David Oyelowo

This new interpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic follows teenager Jim and his mother Bess after they discover a pirate map. Their search takes them aboard the Hispaniola, where they face pirates, treasure and a series of dangers at sea.

7. Tyson

• Available on: Netflix
• Genre: Documentary
• Episodes: 4
• Cast: Mike Tyson, Miguel Tyson, Morocco Tyson

Directed by Floyd Russ, Tyson charts Mike Tyson’s life and boxing career across four episodes. The documentary covers his difficult childhood, his rise to become one of America’s biggest sporting stars, and the controversies that have followed him.

8. Love Is Blind

• Available on: Netflix
• Genre: Reality
• Episodes: 13
• Cast: Nick and Vanessa Lachey

The 11th season of Love Is Blind begins its staggered release on October 14 and continues through the end of the month. The finale and reunion special are scheduled for November.

The dating series places singles in separate pods, allowing them to form relationships without seeing one another. Couples who become engaged then travel on honeymoon before deciding whether to marry or separate at the altar.

If your weekend plans also include building a home entertainment setup, the arcade machine buying guide can help you choose the right cabinet, while virtual pinball machines offer another way to turn the lounge room into a games area.