It is officially the Halloween season, and the best treat of all has to be TV episodes to enjoy with your candy this year. There are so many by now, from seasoned classics to currently airing fright fests.
The best list has a mix of both, with room for laughter and fear in equal measure.
These episodes were chosen because they are entertaining and possibly even overlooked. With so much going on during the Halloween season, sometimes it can be easy to let a few episodes pass you by.
But now is the perfect time to take a break and catch up on all the Halloween festivities, celebrating with our favorite fictional characters from the past to make it the best spooky season yet.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina – “Chapter Two: The Dark Baptism”
Sabrina Spellman has all the luck with Halloween, not only because it is her birthday but also that it happened to be the day of her dark baptism. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is about the Halloween aesthetic all season long, and we are living for it. The episode is available to stream on Netflix.
Scream – “Halloween”
A show as underrated as Scream deserves the Halloween acknowledgment, if only because it is the perfect spooky season watch. The finale of the second season set up our characters in a And Then There Were None situation, letting our favorite holiday set the perfect scene. Stream the Halloween special on Netflix.
Scream Queens – “Haunted House”
Who could forget Chanel O Ween? Scream Queens is another hidden gem that let horror turn into satire, a fitting show to add to the list. Watch the episode now on Hulu.
Pretty Little Liars – “The First Secret”
Going all the way back to the beginning was somehow a nice break for Pretty Little Liars fans. Alison got to take us back to the Halloween before her disappearance, and it was truly sinister. Catch the episode on Hulu.
Stranger Things – “Chapter Two: Trick or Treat, Freak”
The entire second season of Stranger Things is a Halloween fans dream, but specifically, the night when all our favorite kids went trick or treating. It can never be that simple in Hawkins, but for one night everyone got even just a second of fun while Hopper investigated why the town was rotting. The episode is available to stream on Netflix.
Superstore – “Sal’s Dead”
A personal favorite, Superstore had a whole episode in the store with a dead body just hanging around without any customers noticing. Superstore is available to stream on Peacock.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine – “Halloween III”
Halloween is a tradition at the precinct, with Holt and Jake making their annual deal to see who is the best at pulling one over on the other. The third time around though, there was a surprise winner and she couldn’t be more deserving of the title. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is now streaming on Peacock.
Boy Meets World – “And Then There Was Shawn”
A fan favorite, Boy Meets World somehow managed to entertain and spook in the same episode. There was legitimate fear watching everyone get killed off even knowing that it wasn’t permanent. Boy Meets World is now streaming on Disney+.
The Office – “Here Comes Treble”
There is obviously that love for the original Halloween episodes of The Office, and yet Dwight putting a pumpkin on his head somehow wins for best episode. Not only was it hilarious, but it is also now a perfect meme and who doesn’t love those? The Office is available to stream on Peacock.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Fear, Itself”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer created its own spin on the Halloween episode, with Buffy joining Willow, Oz, and Xander at a fraternity party. Meanwhile, Giles tries to catch the holiday spirit. Buffy is now streaming on Hulu.
American Horror Story: Freak Show – “Edward Mordrake”
There is a case to be made that Murder House did it best, and yet Dandy was a ridiculous scene stealer that wouldn’t be happy if he didn’t get this honor. He also clearly knew the importance of having a good Halloween. American Horror Story streams on Hulu.
The Vampire Diaries – “Haunted”
Call it nostalgia, but even though there are plenty of Halloween themed episodes to choose from, there is something about the original. The show was at its prime and exploring what becoming a vampire meant for an unknowing human was fearful in its own ways. The Vampire Diaries streams on Netflix.
Bob’s Burgers – “Fort Night”
Sometimes the best Halloween scene is not about how scary it is, instead about how entertaining it can be. Bob’s Burgers is a nice distraction from the spooky and there’s nothing as fun as an adventure that goes awry. Bob’s Burgers is streaming on Hulu.
