Happy Spooky Season Everyone! For the past two years I've made posts talking about Christmas episodes and specials that you need to add into your holiday viewing rotation and I thought, why not do it for Halloween too! I'm not a big horror film person, and literally the only horror films I'll watch like clockwork every Halloween is the Saw series, so I can hardly recommend many horror films to binge this month. But, there are plenty of TV series that have made Halloween episodes that are perfect viewing for those who like Halloween but aren't into the scary stuff! So, just because you don't want to delve into the world of horror for Halloween, doesn't mean you need to miss out on consuming Halloween content during October! Let's start in Australia, which is super weird as we don't really celebrate Halloween. It's certainly becoming a little more mainstream, but not something that is prevalent in our TV series. In saying that, the Neighbours Halloween episodes are actually a webisode spin-off series, Neighbours vs. Zombies (2014). The five-part series sees dead Ramsay Street residents come back to life and return to the street, but it's not all fun and games as more and more people come back from the dead, some of whom want to seek revenge. As a massive Neighbours fan, this was such a fun spin-off that brought back some of my favourite characters that I wish hadn't died. If you're keen for more alternate Neighbours timelines, there's also another series, Neighbours vs. Time Travel (2017), that you can follow up with. While not totally Halloween-themed, it still makes for great viewing! And while prior knowledge of the show probably helps your enjoyment, the two series lie outside the show's continuity, so it's still pretty easy to enjoy if you know nothing about the likes of Paul Robinson. Stepping back into my childhood, I couldn't not include this episode on the list, and that's Horse Play (The Saddle Club: season 1 episode 23). I was OBSESSED with The Saddle Club as a kid, and even today still love rewatching the episodes (season 1 and 2 is where it's at, we don't talk about season 3). While not specifically a Halloween episode, the episode centres around Pine Hollow organising a 100th anniversary party, with the theme becoming a 'fright night' after Lisa learns that the day also marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Max's great great uncle, who was apparently decapitated. Meanwhile, Stevie is stirring up mischief left right and center by pulling practical jokes on everyone. Soon, the legend proves to be real as the headless horseman begins haunting the stables. It's such a fun episode with some really iconic moments and quotes, and all the major and minor characters get in on the action. Revisiting this episode just makes me want to rewatch it all! Now heading across the Pacific to the Halloween masters! Starting off with some magical reality in the form of Halloween (Criss Angel Mindfreak: season 1, episode 16). Criss Angel is by far my favourite magician and illusionist, and no matter how many times I've seen his tricks/illusions, I still love rewatching the episodes. The Halloween special is a great episode and actually features one of my all-time favourite escapes - the woodchipper. The episode alternates between The Magic Castle in California and back in Criss's Long Island home, with many up-close illusions taking place throughout, with some appearances by other well-known illusionists. Plus, Criss actually shares the mechanics of a really simple trick that viewers can try at home. Criss also talks about what Halloween has meant to him growing up and the connection he has with Harry Houdini, who actually passed away on Halloween in 1926. If you've never seen any of Criss's work, this is certainly a great introduction to this master magician. Surprisingly, one of my FAVOURITE supernatural series only has TWO Halloween episodes, although the series itself makes for great Halloween watching in general. Of the two Halloween episodes, one is certainly more iconic than the other, so I'm just going to be focusing on All Halliwell's Eve (Charmed; season 3, episode 4). For a show that centres around witchcraft, this episode takes us back to the roots of modern witchcraft, not just in terms of the Halliwell's origins, but real-world magic too. Transported back to the 1600s and the time of the witch trials, the sisters must save a pregnant witch named Charlotte, who's be captured by dark magic, all without the help of their modern powers. Instead, they learn the origins of magic and how to utilise the powers that have long since been forgotten. Meanwhile, back in present time, Leo and Daryl try to fight off two Grimlocks, who've used the power of Halloween to return from the dead. This episode is certainly one of my favourite from the entire series and makes for some great viewing this time of year. Continuing the nostalgia train to something a little more light-hearted is Halloween (7th Heaven: season 1, episode 6). Just like when I mentioned their Christmas episode in December, I'm surprised that a show that ran for 11 seasons only had ONE Halloween episode. But, it is a good one that is wrapped up in some nice learning moments, as are most episodes of this series. Ruthie doesn't know what she wants to be for Halloween, despite Annie saying she can be literally anything. Simon, in his usual competitiveness, is entering the church's pumpkin carving competition to secure a three-time back-to-back win. Lucy is working to uncover the truth behind the mysterious 'Mike the Mutant', a recluse surrounded by a world of horrible rumours. Mary is growing tired of never being able to get a moment alone in a house of seven people. Matt calls out the double-standards of his date to the school dance. And Eric comes to realise the root of his dislike for the holiday. In general, this is such an enjoyable series to watch, and this Halloween episode gives all characters their chance to shine the way they do best. Onto two more childhood favourites, from rival networks, that have very similar themes to their Halloween episodes. The first is Night of the Day of the Dead (Lizzie McGuire; season 1, episode 24), which sees Lizzie and the gang plot to humiliate and scare Kate at the school's Fright Night when she refuses to let Lizzie be the Dungeon Mistress, despite saying she could have the role if she cleaned the janitor's closet. The episode sees Miranda reference her Mexican heritage with the Day of the Dead, which, at the time the episode aired, provided a great little introduction to the sacred celebration. Similarly, in Haunted House (Zoey 101; season 2, episode 4), Zoey and Chase hijack Logan's haunted house to turn everything around and scare him, with the help of Dustin and his roommate Jack. Elsewhere, Michael is chased all over PCA by two French visitors who mistake his costume for him being injured and in need of the hospital. Both episodes really highlight everything we know and love about the main characters of both series, and if you've not watched these shows for a few years, they will definitely hit you right in the nostalgia. I couldn't not make this first Halloween episodes list without including the sitcom icon that is Friends. The series is more well-known for its Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years episodes, but there were two Halloween episodes featured near the end of the series that are worth rewatching this month. The first, The One With The Halloween Party (season 8, episode 6), is certainly the more Halloween-themed of the two. Chandler and Monica decide to host a last-minute Halloween party and everyone must dress up. The costumes are great and are honestly perfect for every single character. Phoebe meanwhile bumps into Ursula and finds out she's getting married, inviting her and her fiance to the party, only to learn that Ursula has been lying about everything to him. Monica and Joey also fuel an arm wrestle between Ross and Chandler. The second Halloween episode, The One With Phoebe's Birthday Dinner (season 9, episode 5), really only has the Halloween claim due to the dinner taking place on October 31. So while it's not really a fun Halloween episode, it is still a great episode of the series to check out if you're not overly fussed about the lack of Halloween-ness. Rounding out the nostalgic sitcom Halloween content is another 90s icon - The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The two Halloween episodes are really fun and contain everything we know and love about this series. Someday Your Prince Will Be In Effect (season 1, episode 8 & 9) is a two-part episode which predominently focuses on Carlton and Will trying be the first person to get a date for Hillary's Halloween party as both think they're the biggest chick magnet. The family heads to the mall to get their Halloween costumes, but get sidetracked, sharing some flashbacks to previous episodes. As Will and Carlton try to win over the final girl, they make up stories about themselves in which we see cameo appearances from Quincy Jones, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Kadeem Hardison, Bo Jackson, Heavy D and Al B Sure!. The second Halloween episode, Hex And The Single Guy (season 4, episode 7), is a super fun one with Hillary draging everyone to a seance she's organised to say goodbye to her dead fiance Trevor. Naturally, none of the family are interested but go along with it anyway, with Will joking about the entire time. Psychic Scorpious places a curse on Will, which seems to come to fruition as everyone begins experiencing bad luck. One of my favourite parts of this episode is Carlton's Macaulay Culkin's costume! Both these episodes are definite must-watch for Halloween and definitely add some great comedy to the spooky season! Finally, coming full circle back to a web series we have Buzzfeed Unsolved, and in particular, their Supernatural episodes. There's nothing like a believer and a skeptic teaming up to go ghost hunting and exploring some of the most haunted locations in America. Currently six seasons and 48 episode deep, Ryan and Shane dive into the haunting history of various locations, attempting to conclusively answer the question 'are ghosts real?' While I recommend just binging every single episode, some of my personal favourites are: The Haunted Halls of Waverly Hills Hospital, The Captive Spirits of Eastern State Penitentiary, The Horrors of Pennhurst Asylum, The Subterranean Terrors of the London Tombs, The Shadowy Spirits of Rolling Hills Asylum, The Phantom Prisoners of Ohio State Penitentiary, The Haunting of Hannah Williams, The Haunted Shadows of St. Augustine Lighthouse, and The Lost Souls of the USS Yorktown. Of course, the True Crime series is also a must-watch, but if you want more spooky content from Ryan and Shane, be sure to check out their Watcher channel and their series Are You Scared? and the current Halloween release Too Many Spirits. If you're into real-life spooky stuff, but don't necessarily want to be completely spooked, this is a great series to check out. There are, of course, SO many more TV series that have tackled a Halloween episode or two, so there's definitely enough fodder for another post next October (and a few more after that). If you've only been sticking to the more iconic and obvious Halloween episodes, like The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes, why not think about spicing things up with the episodes I've mentioned in this post, as it's certainly easy to forget that there are other really great Halloween episodes to check out during October.
Happy Spooktober! Victoria :) |
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