The television season kicks into high gear this month, with dozens of premieres for new and returning shows each week. With such an onslaught of questionable new programming and a packed slate of returning gems all overlapping with each other, planning out your TV schedule can get overwhelming. So for the next few weeks, Flavorwire is here to help you out with the week’s best — and worst — bets by telling you which shows to watch, DVR, or just ignore.
Monday, October 6
Watch: The Originals (The CW, 8 PM) — This week belongs to The CW. The Originals is a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries that came into its own during Season 1. It returns tonight to pick up where it left off and if you’re into vampires, werewolves — and the attractive actors that play them — then maybe it’s time to tune in to The Originals.
DVR: Are You The One? (MTV, 10 PM) — Sure, you try to tell yourself that you’re over reality dating shows but then comes Are You The One?, in which 20 people live together and try to find the perfect match. If all of them correctly choose perfect matches, they all get $1 million because MTV just doesn’t care anymore. Tonight’s the Season 2 premiere.
Ignore: Supernatural‘s “A Very Special Supernatural Special” (The CW, 9 PM) — This retrospective of the past nine seasons will be fun for superfans but can be skipped by everyone else.
Tuesday, October 7
Watch: The Flash (The CW, 8 PM) — 2014 is the year that superheroes took over TV and we’re all lucky they did. The Flash races through setup and establishes itself quickly (see what I did there?) and manages to remain a fun, if occasionally silly, watch. I feel confident saying that it will only get better.
DVR: Supernatural (The CW, 9 PM) — Season 10! Supernatural is entering Season 10! Who saw that coming? The premiere episode follows Sam’s search for his brother but the season will still be full of all the demons and toxic relationships that you want.
DVR: Town of the Living Dead (Syfy, 10 PM) — This unscripted zombie series follows “a small Alabama town trying to complete their own independent zombie movie.” If they complete it, Syfy will air the full movie but then again, aren’t these people going to be famous anyway?
Ignore: Nail’d It (Oxygen, 9 PM) — Nail artists compete against each other to win $100,000. You always smudge your nails and don’t have $100,000.
Wednesday, October 8
Watch: American Horror Story: Freak Show (FX, 10 PM) — It’s American Horror Story, it takes place at a freak show, and Jessica Lange returns. I don’t even have to tell you to watch this.
DVR: Arrow (The CW, 8 PM) — Season 2 of Arrow was consistently good, much better than you would expect from a CW series. The modern retelling of Green Arrow is a surprisingly intelligent and highly satisfying series — let’s hope it stays that way in Season 3.
Ignore: Kingdom (Audience Network, 9 PM) — DirectTV is entering the world of scripted programming with Kingdom, a show that stars Nick Jonas and takes place in the world of MMA fighting. Pass.
Thursday, October 9
Watch: Regular Show (Cartoon Network, 7:30 PM) — Even if there were a handful of good premieres tonight, Regular Show would still be the top pick. It doesn’t enter the cultural conversation as much as Adventure Time does but it should, and you should watch the Season 6 premiere to see why.
Friday, October 10
Watch: Cristela (ABC, 8:30 PM) — You’d be forgiven if you write off Cristela because of the multi-camera format, but it’s actually a shining light in new fall sitcoms. Created by comedian Cristela Alonzo, the show follows a Mexican-American law school graduate and her family. Alonzo embraces the multi-camera format and the fun she’s having is infectious. It’s a funny pilot that’s shows a lot of promise.
Ignore: Chelsea Handler: Uganda Be Kidding Me (Netflix) — Handler recently ended her late-night show on E! and signed a deal with Netflix for her own series on the streaming site. Before that happens, Netflix will premiere her newest stand-up special titled Uganda Be Kidding Me, which basically screams “DON’T WATCH THIS!”
Sunday, October 12
Watch: The Affair (Showtime, 10 PM) — The Affair gets our vote for best drama pilot of the fall 2014 season. After just one episode, I’m dying to know more. You can already watch the episode here already, but you’ll always want to watch the unedited version on Showtime.
DVR: The Walking Dead (AMC, 10 PM) — It wouldn’t be October without a new season of The Walking Dead. The AMC zombie show begins its fifth season this weekend and — we’re just spitballing here — but I bet some zombies are going to get shot.