5 New Series to Watch in October

10.03.2024

© Le Monde n’existe pas, Sarah Alcalaya, Arte Image & Compagnie - Monsters, 2024 Netflix, Inc - Une amie dévouée, Rémy Grandroques.

The return of chess games in a series, a murder investigation in a village of eccentrics, the new true crime creation from Netflix, an adaptation of the novel about the con artist from Bataclan, and a docuseries about the biggest DJ of French Touch: what are the best series in October? Here’s our short list.

The world does not exist

For whom? Fans of psychological thrillers that will keep you up at night.

The pitch. Adam Vollmann (Niels Schneider) is in his forties, a journalist in Paris for a major national newspaper. One morning, the portrait of Axel Challe, the main suspect in a murder case in the backwater village of Guerches-sur-Isoire, appears on his television screen. He insists on covering the story. Why? Because Adam grew up in this place, and the incident strikes a personal chord.

What he doesn't disclose is that he knows Axel Challe well: he was his friend and even his childhood crush who took him under his wing. And he doesn’t believe for a second that Axel is guilty. But returning to his childhood hometown also means facing the harsh reality that shaped his youth: bullying, a dysfunctional family, and a closed-off village.

Why you will love it. Still as charming, the César winner Niels Schneider proves to be completely magnetic in the role of a journalist based on the character from the novel by Fabrice Humbert (Prix Renaudot 2010). You’ll need to concentrate: we follow alternately his attempts to progress in his investigation and flashbacks of his childhood. Gradually, the truly bizarre dynamics among the residents of Guerches become clear. Be careful not to overheat your brain: you genuinely want to investigate alongside Adam Vollmann, even when the wackiest elements come into play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEXI9u2DMpk

Le monde n’existe pas, disponible sur Arte.tv

© Le Monde n’existe pas, Sarah Alcalaya, Arte Image & Compagnie.

A devoted friend

For whom? Those who love scam stories like Inventing Anna.

The pitch. On the night of November 13, 2015, France is in shock. Christelle, a fan of Eagles of Death Metal who usually never misses a concert, missed this one. Lucky for her, you might say. But here’s the twist. Unhappy, single, without passion, and living with her mother (the ultimate combo of loserdom), she decides to reach out to several victims to offer her support. Quickly, Chris finds companionship among these survivors who brighten her dull life. Even better: she now has a purpose.

When the idea of creating a support association for victims takes shape, she positions herself as an essential element, crafting her version of the Bataclan escape from the confessions of her new friends. But as her influence within the organization grows, inconsistencies in her story raise suspicions. Genuine lies for a false victim—how far is Chris willing to go to feel alive?

Why you will love it. This psychological thriller is loosely adapted from the book La Mythomane du Bataclan by Alexandre Kauffmann, recounting the true story of a woman who posed as a victim and was convicted of fraud. Une amie dévouée plunges us into the downward spiral of a young woman living a frankly flavorless life, clinging to her newfound importance as a lifeline. Laure Calamy masterfully plays the role of a young woman with nothing to her name who discovers a new purpose in life and a sense of community she desperately needed. It’s worth noting that roles of slightly unhinged young women suit her superbly, from the boss's mistress in Dix pour Cent to the touching prostitute in Une femme du monde and the lover in Iris et les hommes. By the end of four episodes, you might even develop empathy for her abhorrent actions and lies, thanks to Calamy's incredible performance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEvYKk7T1Zo

Une amie dévouée, disponible le 11 octobre sur HBO Max

© Une amie dévouée, Carole Bethuel.

Rematch

For whom? Those who devoured Le Jeu de la Dame and anyone for whom Chat GPT has become a second brain.

The pitch. In 1997, one year after defeating the supercomputer Deep Blue, IBM convinces world chess champion Garry Kasparov to play a rematch. This time, significantly more resources are deployed to enhance the machine's performance, putting the Grand Master’s chess skills to the test. How do you beat a machine created by man that calculates nearly 200 million probabilities per second? It’s a true duel between man and the early forms of artificial intelligence, already predicted to change the world.

Why you will love it. Whether you know how to play chess or not, Rematch will immerse you 100% in its games. Christian Cooke (Robin des Bois, Love, Rosie) plays a hyper-focused Kasparov during his matches. He begins this man-machine challenge with curiosity but quickly descends into doubt and fear. Imagine being outmatched by a machine made of wires! More than just a sequence of chess games, Rematch is also a political commentary on the arrival of computers, artificial intelligence, and the internet in all areas of life. At this time, machine superiority is still merely science fiction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JikwPpB04KU

Rematch, disponible sur Arte.tv

© Rematch, Arte, Disney et HBO Europe.

Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez

For whom? True crime enthusiasts who get chills!

The pitch. Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez tells the case of the Menendez brothers, convicted of murder in 1996. But these two young men, then 18 and 21, didn’t just kill anyone; they shot their parents 15 times in their Beverly Hills villa. Psychologically fragile, Erik (Cooper Koch) confesses to his therapist, which derails the perfect crime of the two brothers.

While the prosecution believes they’re seeking to inherit the family fortune (nearly $15 million, just like that), Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik claim their actions were driven by fear stemming from a life of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. How do you prove such abuse from prominent members of the wealthy Los Angeles community?

Why you will love it. For everyone who enjoys snuggling in bed and watching documentaries about the most morbid crimes, the second season of the anthology Monsters by Ryan Murphy (whose first season Dahmer captivated audiences) is a surefire hit! You’ll be glued to your screen as you follow Erik, the fragile and sensitive brother, and Lyle, more aggressive and resentful, as they descend into madness. The abusive father, played by a totally chilling Javier Bardem, will definitely give you the creeps. A must-watch this Halloween month!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by4Hz7FDAR8

Monsters : L'histoire de Lyle et Erik Menendez, disponible sur Netflix

DJ Mehdi: Made in France

For whom? Nostalgics of 90s rap.

The pitch. Immersed in Oriental music from his Tunisian family, young Mehdi, at 12 years old, dives into his father's vinyl collection from his apartment in the Gennevilliers housing project. Self-taught, he already composes in his bedroom on a sampler he rigs himself. Then he meets Kery James, who becomes his partner. Together, the two young men form Ideal J, a hip-hop group that marks the new era of French Touch.

This project propels them from a teenager's room to the forefront of French hip-hop. Ideal J must find its way, away from the spotlight, to impose its artistic vision: poetic stories about the daily realities of children in France’s suburbs. Not an easy task.

Why you will love it. Director Thibaut de Longeville traces the life of DJ Mehdi through archival footage, live performances, interviews, and even soundtracks by Kery James, Orelsan, and Demi Portion. Nostalgics of the 90s will be particularly pleased to hear some legendary rap tracks. An immersive and touching dive into the life of a key player in the French Touch, until his tragic death in 2011.