October offers up a diverse selection of comedy, drama and documentary series that you’ll love, with a dash of trans-Atlantic Nordic Noir thrown in.

New Girl seasons 1–7

Zooey Deschanel stars as awkward, upbeat Jess who, fresh from a breakup, moves in with three single guys. Intelligent and witty Nick (Jake Johnson) is working as a bartender while seeking the road to success. Schmidt (Max Greenfield) obsesses over his social standing and takes on Jess as a personal project. Winston (Lamorne Morris) is a competitive former athlete who moves in after realising he will never become a pro. Along with Jess’s best friend Cece (Hannah Simone), they bond to form an unlikely and dysfunctional family.

New Girl airs on weeknights at 6pm on SBS VICELAND from Monday 7 October. All episodes are also at SBS On Demand from Tuesday 1 October.

Harlots season 3

A period drama set in 18th century London, Harlots is all about the city’s most lucrative activity – sex. Season 3 sees Charlotte fight back at the Pinchers’ imposition on the city’s bawdy houses and Lucy join forces with Elizabeth and her son Fredo when they set up a molly-house in Golden Square. In Bedlam, Lydia continues to suffer her family’s abandonment and the experimental treatment of her doctors. Meanwhile, in her brother’s absence, Lady Fitz grows bolder, pushing the boundaries of property. Left to her own devices, Sophia’s eye starts wandering.

Season 3 of Harlots premieres at 9:20pm Fridays from 11 October, with double episodes weekly on SBS VICELAND. Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming at SBS On Demand now.

The Name of the Rose season 1

Based on Umberto Eco’s wildly successful novel, The Name of the Rose presents a week in the life of a secluded monastery in the Italian Alps. While it sounds peaceful, it’s anything but. It’s 1327, and new arrivals Franciscan monk William of Baskerville (John Turturro) and his novice Adso von Melk (Damian Hardung) bear witness to a series of mysterious murders. In their search for the killer, merciless inquisitor Bernard Gui (Rupert Everett) begins to hunt them between bouts of prosecuting anyone who criticises the Pope.

Season 1 of The Name of the Rose airs on Thursdays at 8:30pm on SBS and at SBS On Demand from 3 October. Watch the trailer here:

Medici: The Magnificent season 2

The name ‘Medici’ places us in early 15th century Florence. The story in season 1 focused on Cosimo de Medici (Richard Madden) who was forced to head up the family banking dynasty upon the death of his father Giovanni. Season 2 begins 20 years later, and this time round, we’re seeing drama unfold for Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo (Daniel Sharman). He is quickly put to the test when an attempt is made on his father Piero’s life (Piero is played by Julian Sands). New head of the bank, Lorenzo resolves to take a different approach to Piero, and Jacopo Pazzi (Sean Bean), the head of the rival bank, also presents him with challenges.

Season 2 of Medici: The Magnificent premieres at SBS On Demand on 24 October. Season 1 is streaming at SBS On Demand.

Wisting season 1

William Wisting (Sven Nordin) is a police detective and widower with a journalist daughter. Two mysterious deaths interrupt the Christmas season, and to catch the American serial killer, Wisting ends up collaborating with FBI Special Agent Maggie Griffin (Carrie-Anne Moss). Based on Norwegian author Jørn Lier Horst’s novels, the character-driven series effortlessly blends English and Norwegian. The tension ramps up quickly in this compelling series with a unique trans-Atlantic twist on Nordic Noir.

Wisting is streaming at SBS On Demand from 17 October. Watch the trailer here:

The X-Files seasons 1–5

The beloved TV duo are back. FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are assigned to investigate the X-Files: those mysterious cases the government hasn’t been able to explain. With the conspiracy theorist in Mulder and the sceptic in Scully, the pair’s conjectures surely clash, building tension and delivering fascinating storylines that make it crystal clear why this sci-fi series was such a huge and long-running success. Dive in: the truth is out there.

Seasons 1–5 of The X-Files are streaming at SBS On Demand from 24 October.

Letterkenny season 1

Canadian comedies are often weird and wonderful. Think Schitt’s Creek for one. Letterkenny is no exception. The name of a rural town in Ontario, residents of Letterkenny fall into three groups: the farmers, known as the Hicks, the drug addicts, known as the Skids, and the hockey players known as – well, that one’s obvious. The three clans are constantly feuding over ridiculously trivial matters, usually ending with someone getting their ass kicked. The comedy series is created by Jacob Tierney and Jared Keeso, who also stars as Wayne.

Double episodes of Letterkenny screen weekly at 9:25pm on SBS VICELAND. Season 1 is available as a box set at SBS On Demand, with new seasons dropping every month. :

Pros and Cons season 1

From Denmark comes this comedy drama series in which couple Nina and Erik (Lene Maria Christensen and Lars Ranthe) decide to spice up their marriage by returning to their former lives as con artists. The Danish name for this show is Friheden meaning freedom. While their family life is all very peaceful, they long for the excitement of their criminal past, and when a former co-conspirator makes them an offer, they can’t refuse it. The series is co-created by Thor Bjørn Krebs and Mikkel Serup.

Pros and Cons streams at SBS On Demand from 31 October. Watch the trailer here:

Public Enemy season 2

Belgian drama series Public Enemy returns. Season 1 saw convicted child serial killer Guy Béranger (Angelo Bison) released from prison and put under the watch of the monks at the abbey in the small town of Vielsart. The residents are mortified, and other than by compassionate Brother Lucas (Clément Manuel), he’s hardly accepted. When a young girl turns up dead, Béranger is quickly accused. Season 2 is set two years after the events of season 1’s final episode.

Seasons 1 and 2 of Public Enemy are now streaming at SBS On Demand.

Struggle Street season 3

Now into its third season, this show could not be more timely, with 13.2% of Australians living below the poverty line. Struggle Street season 3 focuses on the New South Wales Riverina. Residents of the town of Wagga Wagga and surrounds are struggling for various reasons, such as the ongoing drought, unemployment, inadequate access to health care and the effects of drugs and alcohol. Over four parts, meet these everyday Australians on Struggle Street.

Season 3 of Struggle Street premieres on Wednesday, 9 October at 8:30pm on SBS, and continues weekly. Catch up at SBS On Demand after episodes go to air.