The Rings of Power's cast already know The Stranger's true identity and which of them is actually playing Sauron.
Speaking exclusively to TechRadar after The Rings of Power episode 6 aired, Morfydd Clark – who plays Galadriel – hinted that the Prime Video show's cast know the answers to the high fantasy series' two biggest mysteries. Unsurprisingly, though, Clark wasn't forthcoming with further clues as to which character Sauron is masquerading as, or who Daniel Weyman's powerful Stranger really is.
Asked if any members of the cast knows the answers about The Rings of Power's biggest secrets, a wry smiling Clark teased: "Maybe. The interesting thing about Sauron is he's kind of everywhere. He can creep into anyone's mind, because he is despair and doubt."
Some fans have suggested that Adar is Sauron in disguise.(Image credit: Prime Video)
Ever since The Rings of Power's first teaser dropped online in February, diehard Lord of the Rings fans and more casual viewers have posited theories about The Stranger's true identity. Additionally, many have pondered which of the series' 22 main characters is Sauron in disguise.
Weyman's Stranger, who crash landed on Middle-earth in a meteor in the Prime Video show's opening episode, has displayed magical and dangerous abilities throughout The Rings of Power season 1. Subsequently, many fans have suggested that The Stranger must be a wizard, with the most likely option being that he's Gandalf. That's down to his burgeoning relationship with the Harfoots, one of three precursor Hobbit races.
It's the identity of Sauron, though, that's kept the rumor mill going in recent weeks. Fans have suggested that anyone from Joseph Mawle's Adar, who finally debuted in The Rings of Power episode 3, to Charlie Vickers' Halbrand, and even The Stranger himself as the individual that Sauron is masquerading as.
Curiously, it isn't just those watching Amazon's Lord of the Rings TV show who discussed which cast member was really playing Sauron. Tyroe Muhafidin, who portrays Theo, exclusively told TechRadar that the show's cast also tried to get to the bottom of the Sauron mystery before they started receiving official scripts.
"Back in January 2020, when we'd only been given the first two scripts, Markella [Kavenagh], Nazanin [Boniadi] and I got together for dinner and to play some Monopoly," Muhafidin said. "About halfway through playing, we just stopped the game and started coming up with crazy theories. Markella said 'Oh, what if Charlie is Sauron? What if Theo is Sauron?', so I jokingly replied 'What if Nori is Sauron?'.
"Every time we got a new script, we read through to find out who it was. So we went through what the fans are currently going through, just a year or two before. Now we're getting to see the fans have the same theories and it's been really interesting to watch."
don't trust your classmate. don't even trust your mom. don't even trust me. anyone could be sauron right now.September 30, 2022
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With just two more episodes of The Rings of Power's first season left, audiences will be hoping that one of these two mysteries is resolved. If either are, it'll be a long wait for potential answers in season 2. Amazon Studios has renewed the TV show for another outing and, as Robert Aaramyo – who plays Elrond – told TechRadar in September, filming is expected to begin sometime in the next month or two.
"We will be filming very soon," Clark confirmed when TechRadar asked for an update on when principal photography would start. "I'm really excited about that because it's going be so nice to get back with the cast and to get to know a new crew."
In September 2022, both LG and Samsung showed off 100-inch(ish) versions of their flagship 4K TVs. LG revealed its first-ever 97-inch OLED TV as part of the LG G2 line-up at IFA 2022. Meanwhile, Samsung also quietly unveiled a new 98-inch model in its Neo QLED line-up, called the Samsung QN100B.
At the CEDIA 2022 tech show later in September, both models got prices for the first time, and while they're both very damn expensive, it turns out the the OLED option unexpectedly has the price edge.
The 97-inch LG G2 will launch with an MSRP of $25,000 according to FlatpanelsHD, while the Samsung QN100B has a price 45,000,000 South Korean won according to What Hi-Fi?, which translates to a little over $31,000 at the time of writing.
Normally, the best OLED TVs command a price premium over LCD-based rivals, but Samsung is really pushing things with the QN100B – especially when it comes to HDR brightness.
Samsung is saying that the QN100B can reach 5,000 nits of brightness in HDR peaks, which would make it the brightest consumer TV so far. The Samsung QN900B 8K TV high-end TV was rated for 4,000 nits, we're talking a 25% leap over Samsung's best brightness so far… in theory.
In the real world, the QN900B delivers a little over 2,000 nits of brightness, which is astoundingly bright, to be fair. If the QN100B manages 2,500 nits or so, it will still provide some of the most astoundingly vibrant images ever delivered by a pack of pixels.
(Image credit: Samsung)
The QN100B also has Samsung's most elaborate sound system to date, with a 6.4.4 setup, compared to 6.2.2 on the QN900B, which means more power overall, more bass and more upfiring drivers for Dolby Atmos height.
In comparison to all this, the LG G2 97-inch is effectively the same as a regular LG G2 – there may be minor differences that a full review would reveal, but nothing big like the Samsung.
Elite 98-inch for less
You can get a 98-inch 4K picture for less than this right now, by the way – and without digging into the best 4K projectors.
The Samsung QN90A is still around, at the time of writing was available for just £7,999 at Amazon UK, and $14,999 at Amazon US. Obviously, that's a big pile of money in both cases, but compared to $30,000+ for the QN100B… well, "bargain" might be a strong word, but it's a good home theater deal overall if you want a big big screen.
Check out our guides to the best 75-inch TVs and best 85-inch TVs if you want more huge-screen thrills that are a little more reasonable in both size and price, though.
Windows 11 finally brings back the ability to right-click on the Taskbar to enable Task Manager, without having to press CTRL + ALT + DELETE, alongside some widget improvements that had been announced previously.
This is part of the Insider Program, where users can sign up to try out new features that could arrive in an upcoming Windows 11 release on a PC. Build 25211 brings both of these improvements to users signed up to this, alongside the ability for Snipping Tool to automatically save screenshots.
For widgets, a new setting can switch off the gesture to hover over the side of a display to make the widget pane appear, alongside two separate icons where you can make the widget pane full-screen, or add any new widgets to it.
While the first major update to Windows 11 is available for users to download, Microsoft is still listening to feedback from its users. Yet it does ask the question of why this small but useful feature for Task Manager was removed in the first place.
Was its removal even warranted?
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Since its release in October 2021, if you needed to forcibly close an app, you could access Task Manager by solely pressing CTRL + ALT + DELETE, and you would see the above menu. Yet in Windows 10 and previous releases, right-clicking on the Taskbar to enable Task Manager was available.
This lone method has always felt cumbersome to me, and a relic of the look from Windows 8 as well. From the full-screen look to the thick borders, it's never made sense why this menu, and method, was still around in Windows 11.
While this menu is still present in this insider build, the function to right-click on the Taskbar to make the Task Manager appear is very welcome, as it makes it much simpler and quicker to close an app that may be freezing up for you.
It's another effort by Microsoft to make the Taskbar more manageable for users, especially as it's had a mixed reception since it debuted alongside Windows 11 in 2021. However, this, combined with widget and Snipping Tool improvements could see an appearance in the upcoming 'Moments' update, and for Task Manager, it can't come soon enough.
Chromecast prices are falling further than ever these days, now that some of the best models have spent some decent time on the shelves. Not only are these devices primed for discounts themselves, but the market for streaming devices has been flooded with budget alternatives since the Chromecast first appeared. That makes for some particularly competitive Chromecast deals as well.
Why the Chromecast over the competition? Google's streamer manages to break ahead with a wide array of excellent features and excellent support from Google Assistant and the best Chromecast apps.
With prices already pretty cheap, there's no need to hang on for specific Chromecast sales. If you're in the UK or US and would prefer to stream content from a standalone box, you should take a look at the latest Roku deals. Otherwise, there's a strong selection of streaming devices over on our Amazon Fire TV Stick prices and deals page.
The cheapest Chromecast 3 prices
The newest version of the standard (non-4K) Chromecast is this 3rd-gen iteration. Generally, you'll find it for the same prices as the previous model. It's phasing out stock of the older model, although if you spot the older one for a decent amount less, you're not missing much at all by skipping the new one.
The only real improvement is a modest boost to the speed it'll load up videos and start running them in full HD. The actual dongle looks a bit different too (see images), but other than the speed boost, that's all your getting for the Chromecast 3. At least now we know why Google basically launched this without really letting anyone know.
The cheapest Chromecast Ultra prices
The 4K Chromecast Ultra is a high-spec streamer that's since been outshone by the Google TV model above. The specs are pretty similar aside from the interface difference – the Ultra using Android TV instead – but you won't get a remote with this model.
Chromecast Ultra deals are usually around £69/US$69/AU$95, so anything cheaper is an added bonus. It's worth noting though that the 4K-ready Amazon Fire TV Stick prices are cheaper nowadays though and that device also comes with a remote.
(Image credit: Google)
The cheapest Chromecast with Google TV prices
The Chromecast with Google TV is the newest member of the Chromecast family – with 4K HDR streaming, a bundled remote, and an improved Google TV interface. If you have a 4K TV or are planning on getting one, it's certainly worth picking one of these up. Chromecast with Google TV deals are usually around $49.99 / £59.99 / AU$99 – and as the latest model, it's well worth keeping an eye out for deals.
The cheapest Chromecast 2 prices
The Chromecast 2 is very similar to the now-discontinued 2013 Chromecast. Sure, it looks a little different. And it's got slightly faster network performance and a few other tweaks such as coming with a dangly cable instead of as a rigid stick. But essentially the same product in a different shape - that's why the prices were basically the same. There's a newer version out now, although it's only moderately faster.
With hybridworking on the rise and data mismanagement continuing to make headlines, you’d be forgiven for thinking that even the most unsuspecting users would be interested in securing their online privacy.
However, new data provided to TechRadar Pro by digital intelligence platform SimilarWeb indicates that the growth of veteran privacy-focused browsersMozilla Firefox and Opera is stalling.
A rough estimate of Opera’s user acquisition rate (based on traffic to the browser installation page) suggests June was an especially low point, marking a 23.1% decrease in pace of growth since the start of the year. There have been minor gains since then, but Opera appears to be becoming less and less attractive to new users.
Meanwhile, Firefox has fared even worse, perhaps as a consequence of the decision to focus on Mozilla VPN and other privacy products. In August, visits to the browser’s install page were down 7% on January, and its market share (which once sat at 30%) has fallen to just 3.35%.
The raw data shows that Firefox currently attracts only a few hundred thousand new users each month, while Opera is drawing in circa two million. Market leader Google Chrome, however, is thought to be used by more than 3.1 billion people.
The rise of the “big default browser”
The release of the figures by SimilarWeb coincided with a report published by Mozilla in late September 2022 that accused Google, Microsoft and Apple of “abusing their privileged position” to make it “difficult or impossible” for users to change the browsers set as default by the operating system.
Battle lines have already been drawn this year with the European Union’s antitrust legislation targeting Google, Apple and Meta’s stranglehold in browsers, search engines and other markets. Google also recently failed to overturn a €4.34 billion antitrust fine relating to restrictions on manufacturers of Android devices designed to “consolidate the dominant position of its search engine”, according to a spokesperson for the EU’s General Court.
Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are both overwhelmingly popular defaults that trade almost entirely on brand recognition and their status as default options across multiple operating systems (Chrome on Chrome OS and Android, and Edge on Windows 11). Other “big defaults” include the macOS and iOS versions of Safari.
“Default settings can create burdens for consumers who prefer to use a browser other than the default, but who are unable to or unaware how to change their default. We know from our research that some consumers adopt unnecessarily cumbersome workarounds to stick with their preference,” the Mozilla report claims.
Mozilla’s report offers some explanation as to why operating system providers pursue these kinds of strategies, stating that the developers of “big default” browsers stand to profit from user data.
“Although consumers don’t pay to use browsers, their browsing history is valuable data for platforms with advertising businesses like Meta, Amazon, Google and Microsoft. It is not coincidental that many of these companies have yet to implement robust anti-tracking technologies in their browsers or deprecate third-party cookies,” said Mozilla.
However, the firm also acknowledged that Big Tech’s motives extend beyond data collection: the operators of the “big default” browsers make significant sums through advertisements served to users locked into their proprietary search engines.
“Google Chrome is captive to Google Search (powered by Google advertising) and Microsoft Edge is captive to Bing search (powered by Microsoft advertising). Independent browsers are the only companies able to freely consider search defaults on behalf of their consumers. They are also among the few companies to encourage discovery, evaluation, adoption and innovation of alternative search and advertising experiences.”
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
Browser choice
Although the likes of Mozilla and Opera have struggled of late, an enduring demand for “alternative” web browsers is supported by separate data from SimilarWeb.
From January through August, privacy-focused Brave Browser saw its estimated monthly downloads surge 272%. Admittedly, Brave saw just 17,827 and 66,340 hits to its installation page during these months, respectively, but that’s a significant rate of growth nonetheless.
These numbers suggest the continued success of “big default” browsers likely isn’t just the result of the suppression of alternatives, but also a function of user apathy and brand recognition.
While Big Tech seeks pure profit, privacy-focused browsers may simply be fighting amongst themselves. The growth in installs Brave has seen this year suggests Mozilla Firefox and Opera are losing market share to newer options, such as Brave and DuckDuckGo’s new Privacy Browser (for which we don’t currently have any data).
Crucially, the statistics also suggest that the push for web browser privacy may be a small movement, but one that’s still capable of gaining traction.
As things stand, Mozilla may have made the mistake of assuming that every ”big default” browser user is a potential convert. User apathy will always play into the hands of large and powerful companies; even minus suppression tactics, “big default” browsers would still trounce independent alternatives in monthly growth.
With a solution like inviting users to choose their own default browser from a list of privacy-focused alternatives, alongside simple, reasoned arguments for doing so, that apathy could wane. It’s just that legislating for something like this seems unthinkable to most lawmakers outside the European Union.
Mozilla, DuckDuckGo, and eleven other companies did recently lobby the US Congress to table a data privacy bill that would address Big Tech monopolies, default browsers, and unfettered data collection, but the chances of the move leading anywhere are slim, thanks to Big Tech’s lobbying resources.
In addition, the lack of regulations surrounding “revolving doors” (whereby politicians leave office, often for corporate positions, and use their connections to curry favor with lawmakers) in territories such as the UK and Australia mean that legislating for web privacy and freedom of choice for anonymous browsers there may turn out to be an extremely slow process, if not a completely insurmountable problem.
Would privacy-focused browsers see more even growth if users were given the option to make an informed choice between them? The problem, right now, is that we might never get to find out.
Spooky season has arrived. That's right, the month of October has muscled September out of the way and, with it, comes a slew of Halloween-inspired content on the world's biggest streamers.
From new Netflix movies to highly anticipated Disney Plus shows, there's plenty to get excited about in October 2022. There's lots coming to other streamers, such as fascinating Prime Video shows and tantalizing HBO Max series, too, and we've gathered the best of the bunch in this handy 'what to stream in October' guide.
Understandably, our list has a largely Halloween-inspired slant to it, but there are a couple of entries that audiences of a non-spooky disposition will want to check out. We cater for everyone here at TechRadar, after all.
Without further ado, then, here are 14 of the newest and biggest movies and TV shows coming to Netflix, Prime Video, and more this October.
Pennyworth season 3 (HBO Max)
When to stream it: Thursday, October 6
After spending the past two seasons on cable network Epix, this Batman prequel series makes the jump to HBO Max for its third installment. To commemorate the occasion, Pennyworth gets a new title, too. For its HBO Max switch, it'll be called Pennyworth: The Origin of Batman's Butler.
Picking up five years after season two, Pennyworth's next season opens with the civil war having ended and a cultural revolution underway across the globe. This new age, though, sees a new batch of superheroes and villains emerge – an incident that begins to reshape the world and Alfred Pennyworth's role in it.
HBO Max subscribers can catch the first two seasons on the streamer, so now is the perfect time to catch up before season three is released.
The Midnight Club (Netflix)
When to stream it: Friday, October 7
From Mike Flanagan, the creative mind behind Netflix's The Haunting series and The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep, comes a brand-new horror-psychological thriller. The Midnight Club is a TV adaptation of Christopher Pike's 1994 novel and, based on the trailer above, it'll come packed with Flanagan's signature cinematic flair and penchant for suspense-riddled moments.
The Midnight Club tells the tale of seven terminally ill young adults who, under the supervision of Rotterdam Hospice's chief doctor, meet every night – on the stroke of 12 AM – to tell each other ghost stories. One night, the septuplet make a pact that, whichever of them dies first, will communicate with the others from beyond the grave. Unsurprisingly, when one of them eventually passes away, mysterious and scary occurrences start to go down, leading the group to fight to survive.
Fans of Flanagan's previous works, or horror-thrillers in general, will want to stick this one on their 'to watch' lists.
Werewolf by Night (Disney Plus)
When to stream it: Friday, October 7
The first of two TV specials debuting on Disney Plus in 2022, Werewolf by Night continues Marvel's exploration of the supernatural and borderline horror aspects of the MCU.
This MCU Phase 4 project stars Gael GarcÃa Bernal as Jack Russell, who joins a group of monster hunters at Bloodstone Manor following the death of their leader. There, the gang are tasked with searching for a mystical and powerful relic – all the while having to fend off (or potentially kill) a dangerous monster in their midst.
Michael Giacchino – composer on Lightyear and Spider-Man: No Way Home among many other hit films and shows – makes his directorial debut in this TV special that acts as an ode to monster movies of yesteryear. With its TV-14/14-plus rating, expect Werewolf by Night to contain some bloody violence and un-family friendly visuals in the vein of Moon Knight's TV series. Based on early press reactions, this'll be more than worth watching.
Let the Right One In (Paramount Plus)
When to stream it: Saturday, October 8
Inspired by the Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist's gothic-horror novel (and the 2008 film), Let the Right One In feels like a suitable Paramount Plus show for this time of year.
Oscar nominee Demián Bichir (A Better Life) stars as Mark, a father whose daughter Eleanor (Madison Taylor Baez) was turned into a vampire a decade earlier. Seemingly locked into her 12-year-old body, Eleanor lives a sheltered, night-based life, while Mark works to procure the human blood she needs to survive.
If the show is half as good as the film was, it'll be worth catching later this month. One to sink your teeth into (pun wholly intended) if you're of a vampire genre disposition. Just don't expect any sparkly, brooding Twilight-style bloodsuckers here.
The Watcher (Netflix)
When to stream it: Thursday, October 13
Helmed by American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy, The Watcher looks like a thrilling and tension-laden Netflix series. It's based on a real story, too, which is sure to pique the interest of fans of this type of narrative.
The limited series sees the Brannock family – led by parents Nora (Naomi Watts) and Dean (Bobby Cannavale) – move into their dream New Jersey home. However, they start receiving ominous letters from a mysterious individual who simply refers to himself as the titular Watcher, which leads to all manner of sinister secrets emerging and jump scare-laden moments playing out through the series' seven episodes.
The Watcher received its first trailer at Tudum 2022, Netflix's global fan event, and it looks like it'll make for unsettling and startling viewing.
Halloween Ends (Peacock)
When to stream it: Friday, October 14
The final installment in this horror movie franchise – at least, one involving Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and iconic adversary Michael Myers – finally lands this month. And, surprisingly it's getting a day and date release in theaters and on NBC's streaming service Peacock.
The slasher flick picks up four years after Halloween Kills, the second film in the revived horror franchise's new trilogy, and sees Laurie living with granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak). Myers hasn't been seen since his last rampage, allowing Laurie to finally live her life free of trauma, fear, and rage. When a young man is accused of murdering a boy he was babysitting, though, Laurie is forced to confront the evil she can't control, once and for all.
It's possible that more Halloween films will be greenlit in the future, but this marks the end of director David Gordon Green's and Curtis' involvement in the series. Here's hoping Halloween Ends gives the latter a particularly fitting send-off.
Rosaline (Hulu/Disney Plus)
When to stream it: Friday, October 14
Moving away from Halloween-based content – for one entry, anyway – this Disney Plus movie, which is also available on Hulu, will make for refreshing viewing amid the other terrifying content arriving this month.
Billed as a fresh and comedic take on William Shakespeare's legendary Romeo and Juliet tale, Rosaline stars Kaitlyn Dever (Dopesick, Unbelievable) as the titular character, the jilted ex-girlfriend of Romeo and cousin to Juliet. Heartbroken when Romeo breaks it off with Rosaline to pursue her relative, Rosaline schemes to win Romeo back.
The Hulu film is also based on Rebecca Serle's When You Were Mine novel, which was a New York Times bestseller. It'll be up to audiences, though, to determine whether Rosaline lives up to the reputation of Serle's young adult-oriented book.
The School for Good and Evil (Netflix)
When to stream it: Wednesday, October 19
Speaking of young adult (YA) fiction, this Netflix movie adaptation is another such production.
Based on Soman Chainani's 2013 fantasy novel, The School for Good and Evil comes packed with big name talent. Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Kit Young, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Yeoh, Ben Kingsley, and Peter Serafinowicz are just some of the A-list cast members. Meanwhile, Paul Feig (2016's Ghostbusters, Bridesmaids) is its director.
The film follows best friends Agatha (Sofia Wylie) and Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso), who purposefully get kidnapped and whisked off to the titular School for Good and Evil. There, they learn to master the powers they possess – but, it seems, to their detriment of their friendship as the duo begin to walk different paths towards the light and dark side. Expect this one to do well in its first couple of weeks before plummeting out of Netflix's Top 10 film list.
My Policeman (Prime Video)
When to stream it: Friday, October 21
Amazon's best offerings don't work their way onto its Prime Video streaming service until later this month. But, once they arrive, they'll absolutely be worth watching.
In fact, two drop on the same date – i.e. October 21. The first is My Policeman, a Harry Styles-starring drama, which is based on the 2012 novel by Bethan Roberts. Styles plays Tom Burgess, a gay officer in the 1950s who marries schoolteacher Marion Taylor (The Crown's Emma Corrin) while engaging in a secret romance with museum curator Patrick Hazlewood (David Dawson). Marion is aware of Tom and Patrick's affair but, due to the era, turns a blind eye for fear of being a societal outcast. Unfortunately, the secret the trio harbor could end up ruining them all.
This Prime Video movie has received mixed reviews during its film festival tour. With Styles at the helm, though, we expect it to be a big hit for Amazon.
The Peripheral (Prime Video)
When to stream it: Friday, October 21
For those of a sci-fi disposition, The Peripheral will be a Prime Video series that you're sure to enjoy.
Taking its cues from William Gibson's book – yes, it's another novel to live-action adaptation for October 2022 – of the same name, The Peripheral stars Chloë Grace Moretz as Flynne Fisher, an individual who tries to hold the pieces of a fractured family together in a neo-futuristic America. One day, she's introduced to the titular Peripheral, a headset that allows its user to travel to the future. However, while Fisher believes this to be some virtual reality/metaverse-style videogame, it's anything but. And, as she traverses the city of London decades in the future inside this world, sinister forces start to emerge that threaten the present and future of Earth.
Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy executive produce the show, which is helmed by author-screenwriter Scott B. Smith (Siberia, A Simple Plan). Sci-fi lovers should stick this on their watch list immediately.
Raymond and Ray (Apple TV Plus)
When to stream it: Friday, October 21
Apple TV Plus doesn't come bearing many (if any) Halloween gifts. But we are getting a comedy-drama Apple TV Plus film with Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke in its lead roles, so that's worth celebrating.
McGregor and Hawke play half-brothers Raymond and Ray, who reunite at their father's funeral. The duo had bad relationships with their deceased dad and they see his demise as an opportunity to finally emerge from his overbearing shadow. Given the pair's sense of humor, their respective journeys of self-discovery come complete with all manner of hijinks, so expect plenty of embarrassing, moving, and hilarious moments throughout.
Raymond and Ray had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festifal (TIFF), and it's largely earned positive reviews. We don't think this one will surpass CODA as Apple's Oscar-winning crown jewel film-wise, but it should make for entertaining viewing nonetheless.
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (Netflix)
When to stream it: Tuesday, October 25
Acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro's name might be the most prominent attached to this horror-fuelled Netflix anthology series, but there are many talents behind Cabinet of Curiosities terror-evoking stories.
The eight-part series sees a different director attached to each tale, with the likes of Jennifer Kent (The Babadook), Vincenzo Natali (Splice), and Panos Costamos (Mandy) behind the camera. Equally intriguing is the series' stacked cast, with Shadow and Bone's Ben Barnes, The Walking Dead alumnus Andrew Lincoln, Harry Potter's Rupert Grint, The Rings of Power's Ismael Cruz Córdova, Atomic Blonde's Sofia Boutella, and Raising Hope's Kate Micucci among those starring in this production.
Two of the show's eight stories are penned by del Toro, with others based on works by H.P. Lovecraft and others. This is one that you'll have you hiding behind a cushion.
The Devil's Hour (Prime Video)
When to stream it: Friday, October 28
The Devil's Hour has gone under the radar somewhat since its trailer dropped. However, this Peter Capaldi-led thriller is sure to make for a compelling watch.
The Prime Video show comes from Stephen Moffat (ex-Doctor Who like Capaldi). It tells the story of Lucy (Jessica Raine), who wakes up every night at 3:33am – the so-called Devil's Hour – after suffering horrendous nightmares. Soon enough, Lucy's name becomes entangled in a series of brutal murders in the local area – and Capaldi's murderous nomad is installed as the prime suspect behind the killings.
As the pair's journeys become inexplicable entwined – incidents that compassionate detective Ravi Dhillon (Nikesh Patel) honorably tries to get to the bottom of – Capaldi's reclusive character and Raine's Lucy become locked in a captivating story where nothing and everything appears real. Altogether now: oooooooh.
The White Lotus season 2 (HBO Max)
The Emmy award-winning show returns for its second season.(Image credit: HBO Max)
Channeling the first season's premise, the show's second installment sees a brand-new cast of characters as they check into an exclusive Sicilian resort. The show will follow these eccentric individuals – and the employees who work at the hotel – over a seven-day period, though it's unclear what season 2's plot will actually entail.
Moon Knight's F. Murray Abraham, American Pie's Jennifer Coolidge, The Bold Type's Meghann Fahy, The King's Man's Tom Hollander, and Parks and Recreation's Aubrey Plaza are among its sizeable cast.
It's a curious time to release the comedy-drama anthology show's next entry, but maybe that's the point? Everyone will have had their fill of scary stories by then, so this might be the perfect palette cleanser before attentions start to turn to Christmas movies and Holiday-themed TV shows from November onwards.
We often see Roku sale prices falling well below MSRP, all thanks to the particularly competitive world of streaming sticks. Whether you're after a super simple HDMI plugin, or something designed to offer high quality 4K resolution and plenty of smart home features, you'll find all the best Roku deals right here.
Roku's Streaming sticks and boxes plug into your TV via an HDMI port, essentially turning any old HD/4K TV into a smart TV or boosting the number of apps on any modern smart TV that seems to be missing a few of your favorites. In a video streaming device world dominated by Amazon, Google, and Apple, Roku is the plucky underdog that continues to hold its own.
Generally, though, we've cut down the list to include the most relevant Roku streaming devices that are readily available and represent great value of money for you.
Picture quality: 1080p HD | Connectivity: Wireless | Remote: Standard | Headphone jack: No | Storage expansion: N/A
Dirt cheap
Faster than the old cheap models
No 4K Streaming
This is the cheapest streaming device in the Roku family. The Roku Express is newer and cheaper than the other standard Roku Streaming Stick and does all the same jobs. If you want to turn any HDMI TV into a Smart TV for as little as possible - this is for you.
However, we'd be tempted to keep an eye out for a good deal on the 4K version mentioned below just to avoid having to buy one once 4K content becomes the norm.
Roku Express 4K Plus 2021
Roku's latest 4K HDR streaming device
Picture quality: HD, 4K, HDR10+ | Connectivity: Wireless | Remote: Voice with TV power and volume controls | Headphone jack: No | Storage expansion: N/A
Affordable
4K HDR (and HDR10+) streaming
Voice remote
The Roku Express 4K Plus was released in April of this year and allows you to stream your favorite content in 4K Ultra HD resolution with support for HDR10+. The affordable streaming stick includes a Roku voice remote so you can launch movies, search for titles and adjust the volume completely hands-free.
The 4K streaming device launched in the US and UK with a starting price of $39.99/£39.99. Even though the Roku Express 4K is a new release, we've already seen slight discounts on the streaming device.
Roku Streaming Stick Plus deals
A tiny yet superb 4K streaming device
Picture quality: 1080p HD, 4K, HDR | Connectivity: Wireless | Remote: Voice with TV power and volume controls | Headphone jack: No | Storage expansion: N/A
Cheap 4K Streaming
Improved remote
Packed with apps
Roku continues to give rival streaming devices something to worry about as the new Roku Streaming Stick Plus is super modern, super small and, most importantly, super cheap. Not to mention, unlike many of the older models it's been released in the UK too. Now Brits can finally join the 4K Roku party like the US has been enjoying for years! You're even getting HDR content from supported apps too.
While Amazon's 4K Fire TV Sticks are similarly priced and have a more intuitive remote design, plus Alexa support, you might find the wider range of streaming services on the Roku more appealing.
Roku Ultra deals
The one with all the features
Picture quality: 1080p HD, 4K, HDR | Connectivity: Wireless or ethernet | Remote: Voice with TV power, volume and gaming controls | Headphone jack: Yes - on remote and box | Storage expansion: Micro SD and USB
Headphone jack on remote
Expandable storage
Gaming remote
More expensive
This Roku was not released in the UK. So don't expect many (if any) UK prices. The Roku Ultra is the most feature-packed of all the Roku media streamers. It has all the quality 4K and HDR streaming and ports of the Roku Premiere Plus. So what do you get for the extra cash? The remote control gets the most attention on the Ultra as it can be used for voice search, it has extra buttons to make it a handy game controller and there's even a little speaker to help you find it via a button on the console. There's also a USB storage slot and an optical out audio port. We're loving the option for private listening via the bundled-in JBL headphones headphones that you can plug into the remote too.
If you're not bothered about the extra audio ports, expandable storage and using the Roku for gaming, then you should opt for one of the Roku deals we mentioned earlier and save a big chunk of cash.
