Mandatory Streamers: Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen Adaptation is Here

Welcome to Mandatory Streamers, our latest column covering the best new streaming content coming your way every week! For the week of October 14, Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen series based on the DC Comics graphic novel is finally arriving this Sunday on HBO, starring an ensemble cast led by Regina King, Jeremy Irons, and Don Johnson. Check out the best shows debuting and returning online this week as well as the latest renewal announcements below and be sure to visit our mother site Mandatory by clicking here!

HBO

Watchmen, Series Premiere: Set in an alternate history where “superheroes” are treated as outlaws, Watchmen embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel while attempting to break new ground of its own. Originally published as a 12-issue miniseries beginning in 1986, Watchmen quickly become one of sequential art’s most acclaimed stories. The original story centers on a murder-mystery before unfolding into a planet-altering conspiracy that ultimately asks where the fine line is drawn between heroes and villains. The series will begin streaming on Sunday, October 20.

Amazon Prime Video

Modern Love, Series Premiere: The romantic comedy anthology series featuring a star-studded cast led by Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, and Dev Patel explores love in all of its complicated and beautiful forms. Based on the popular New York Times column and weekly podcast, the series will begin streaming on Friday, October 18.

Hulu

Looking for Alaska, Series Premiere: Based on the best-selling John Green novel, this limited series is told through the eyes of teenager Miles “Pudge” Halter (Charlie Plummer), as he enrolls in boarding school to try to gain a deeper perspective on life. He falls in love with a girl, Alaska Young (Kristine Froseth), and after her unexpected death, he and his close friends attempt to uncover the truth behind her death and make sense of it. Looking for Alaska will launch on the streamer on Friday, October 18.

USA Network

The Purge, Season 2: Based on the hit movie franchise from Blumhouse Productions, the series revolves around a 12-hour period when all crime, including murder, is legal. Set in an altered America ruled by a totalitarian political party, the series follows several seemingly unrelated characters living in a small city. As the clock winds down, each character is forced to reckon with their past as they discover how far they will go to survive the night. The second season will highlight the brutal event’s long-term effects on the participants and survivors. The second season will premiere on Tuesday, October 15, and will be available to stream on the USA Network site and Amazon Prime. The first season is now streaming on Hulu.

Treadstone, Series Premiere: The series explores the origin story and present-day actions of a CIA black ops program known as Treadstone, a covert operation that uses behavior modification protocol to turn its agents into nearly unstoppable superhuman assassins. Jason Bourne, the central character in Universal Pictures’ Bourne film franchise, was a product of the program. The series follows new sleeper agents across the globe as they’re mysteriously “awakened” to resume their deadly missions. Treadstone will premiere on Tuesday, October 15, and will be able to stream on the USA Network site.

The CW

Arrow, Season 8 Premiere: The beginning of the end of The CW’s superhero series is here. After spending time at Slabside, Oliver Queen wanted to give back to the city that he loves. Since everyone knows his true identity, Team Arrow worked alongside SCPD as vigilantes to help protect the city at all costs. However, last season led to Oliver finding out about Emiko, the bow-wielding assassin and ring leader of the Ninth Circle who also happened to be his half-sister. The season 7 finale saw them fighting for their lives-both in the present and the future. So, what will the state of Team Arrow look like in the show’s eighth and final season? Season 8 will premiere on Tuesday, October 15, and will be available to stream on The CW app.

Renewals

Couples Therapy, Season 2: Showtime has renewed its documentary series Couples Therapy for a second season. The show brings viewers into the authentic and visceral experience of weekly therapy with four couples. Season 2 will also feature world-class therapist Dr. Orna Guralnik, who guides the couples through the minefield of honest confrontation with each other and themselves, revealing the real-life struggles — and extraordinary breakthroughs — typically hidden behind closed doors. The first season is available to stream on Showtime’s website.