Unveiling thirteen chilling episodes hailing primarily from generally non-thrilling television series
TV series often pull out all the stops during Halloween, with shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Bob's Burgers, How I Met Your Mother, The Goldbergs, Modern Family, The Office, and more, regularly featuring Halloween episodes filled with costumes and spooky antics. Some shows go beyond the norm, abandoning traditional storylines in favor of wild detours. Take, for example, The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror" episodes, where logic takes a back seat to an anthology format that allows for anything to happen, often resulting in gruesome scenes.
When it comes to Halloween-themed TV episodes, we're focusing on shows that aim for real scares rather than typical Halloween fare. Sometimes, these episodes bend reality for a week, while others imply that the whole ordeal was just a bad dream. Some even manage to squeeze horrific events into the continuity of shows that aren't often associated with horror.
"And Then There Was Shawn," Boy Meets World
Season 5, Episode 17
This infamous episode from Boy Meets World gave many '90s kids nightmares. Recently separated, Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) get into a heated argument that lands them in after-hours detention. An eerie janitor locks them in, and the words "No one gets out alive" are written in blood on the chalkboard. Eventually, they escape only to find out that the building is sealed shut. One by one, they start to meet their maker—a pencil to the head, scissors to the back, a pile of books to the skull. As suspects are eliminated, the remaining members of the gang begin to suspect that one of them might be the murderer. This twisted take on slasher movies is both creepy and funny, poking fun at the genre while paying homage to 1998's popular Scream movies.
Streaming Link: Disney
"The Empty Child," Doctor Who
Season 1, Episode 9
Doctor Who has a long history of scaring the living daylights out of children, and "The Empty Child" is no exception. Set during the London Blitz, The Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and companion Rose (Billie Piper) are swept up in a terrifying ordeal. A child in a gas mask wanders the streets, asking everyone he encounters if they're his mother. The chilling atmosphere is only intensified by the backdrop of the Blitz. This two-part story is both terrifying and emotional, sending shivers down your spine and tugging at your heartstrings.
Streaming Link: Max
"Seven Little Indians," The Facts of Life
Season 8, Episode 12
As the series nears its end, Mrs. Garrett has been replaced by Beverly Ann, who runs a novelty store with the help of the girls. As an homage to The Twilight Zone, the gang is stalked by a killer on a stormy night, using novelty dice and inflatables as incongruous weapons. After each death, the survivors grow closer to the truth, only to realize that they've all been complicit in one way or another. This episode is goofy and fun, never taking itself too seriously, and is perfect for fans who want something that's both scary and harmless.
Streaming Link: Tubi
"Rabbit Ears," American Dad
Season 14, Episode 4
After discovering an old TV in the garbage, Stan becomes obsessed with a long-forgotten series. Despite not being able to find any information about it, Stan watches the same episode over and over again, only to find that it seems to change slightly each time. When a missing friend is spotted in a background scene, Stan begins to suspect that something sinister is at work. Combining humor and a touch of paranoia, this episode is a thrilling homage to Black Mirror and other dystopian TV shows.
Streaming Link: Hulu
"The Changeling," The Waltons
Season 7, Episode 5
A young, unattached girl moves into the neighboring farmhouse. Initially seen as a sweet, shy girl, she quickly becomes more and more withdrawn and strange. When Olivia's little brother goes missing, tensions mount, and it becomes clear that something sinister is lurking in the shadows. As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that the girl is not what she seems, and the truth entirely changes the way the gang perceives the world. With strong performances from both the actors and the writers, this episode is a heart-stopping masterpiece of suspense and tension.
Streaming Link: Hulu
In this peculiar series, with a cottagecore vibe, there were occasionally bizarre occurrences on Walton's Mountain. A prior episode depicted the family trying out seances, but this one took it to another level. Elizabeth, the youngest Walton daughter, was on the brink of adolescence, wrestling with her maturing feelings while still clinging to her childhood. This internal turmoil was all it took to summon a poltergeist. Sudden gusts of wind blowing everyone's hair around, shattered vases, radios that failed to function and phones that rang without reason. The real-world Enfield Poltergeist had been buzzing in the news, and Carrie had enjoyed significant success; it's easy to spot influences from both. Most episodes in this list featured supernatural events that turned out to be dreams, fantasies, or easily explained misinterpretations. Not this one. The family experienced every event in its full horror reality, all part of the show's lore.
Stream it for free on: Freevee
"Fissures," Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 6, Episode 5
An alien abduction tale wouldn't be an ideal fit for TNG as horror. And yet, something bewildering was taking place with Lieutenant Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and a handful of other crew members. They exhibited signs of sleep deprivation, edginess, and inexplicable reactions to mundane items. Their collective recollection of a familiar room was triggered during a trip to the Holodeck. Doctor Crusher was alarmed to discover that Riker's arm had recently been severed and then surgically reattached—something he should've remembered. The atmosphere was filled with a sinister aura, even eclipsing The X-Files.
Stream it on: Paramount
"Epidemic," Community
Season 2, Episode 6
Perhaps it's best to avoid purchasing party snacks from army surplus stores. Just a suggestion. The annual Halloween party for the group included these questionable treats and a playlist dominated by ABBA songs. A zombie-like infection began to spread rapidly, and the only solution was to lower the building's temperature. But catching the infection required venturing into a dark, spooky basement teeming with a deranged feline.
Stream it on: Peacock
"The Pale Emperor," Atlanta
Season 2, Episode 6
If we're discussing Donald Glover productions, the surreal Atlanta veers off course when Lakeith Stanfield's Darius answers an ad for a free piano owned by a renowned musician. He finds himself in a mansion supervised by a very pale, odd character resembling Michael Jackson, who claimed to be the piano's owner's brother. Darius felt compelled to secure the piano, but couldn't seem to leave. Comedy and horror can be a potent mix, and this time the humor only heightened the unease.
Stream it on: Hulu
"The Four of Us Alone," The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse
Season 1, Episode 10
Donald and Daisy Duck were already weary, and one can understand why. Reminiscing about their adrenaline-pumping double dates with Mickey and Minnie, they simply wanted a quiet night at home, away from the excitement. However, their friends decided to pay them a visit to look after them due to theirclaims of sickness. The "quiet night in" outing took a chilling turn, complete with suspenseful music. It was an amusing take on horror movie cliches, especially for those who've longed for a peaceful evening at home.
Stream it on: Disney+
"Dolls in the Attic," Outlaw Star
Season 1, Episode 11
The anime series, Outlaw Star, was known for its diverse storytelling, alternating between dark, emotional episodes and humorous detours. "Dolls in the Attic" was one of the show's greatest balancing acts, blending a well-crafted Alien homage—with a mysterious creature stalking the crew, immobilizing them one after another—with a highly entertaining conclusion. The humor at the end provided a delightful contrast without detracting from the creepiness that preceded it.
Stream it on: Crunchyroll
The structure of Quantum Leap allows for a wide range of moods and narrative styles, although horror is seldom explored by the series. However, one of its most spine-chilling episodes happens to be among its most peculiar. In the Halloween-themed episode of 1964, the protagonist Sam, portrayed by Scott Bakula, takes on the identity of horror author Joshua Ray. Alongside his fiancee Mary and assistant Stevie (a distinctive reference to Stephen King), Joshua is planning to open a local haunted house attraction. Mysterious deaths begin to occur around Sam, and Al, the friendly holographic guide (played by Dean Stockwell), behaves strangely. Here's the twist: Al isn't really Al; instead, he's been replaced by none other than Satan himself. Before Sam can move on to his next jump, he must confront the Devil and emerge victorious.
Streaming Platform: Digital Rental
"Rustication," Torchwood
Season 1, Episode 5
This spin-off of Doctor Who mostly focuses on Torchwood, a secret government agency dealing with unusual alien encounters. This episode appears to follow a similar theme: 17 individuals vanish from a small Welsh village, causing concern among the locals as to the possible presence of a sinister outsider. However, the story takes an unexpected turn, revealing that human nature can be far more terrifying than any extraterrestrial threat.
Streaming Platform: Max
"The Humanz," Fringe
Season 3, Episode 8
Fringe, a smart sci-fi series that served as a worthy successor to the X-Files, often ventured into the eerie. This particular episode, however, stands out. The team is hunting for an individual (played by Mark Ivanir) who is harvesting human organs while allegedly keeping his victims alive. It transpires that he is attempting to revive a ballerina who took her own life, culminating in a genuinely unsettling climax that perfectly embodies the episode's title.
Streaming Platforms: Max, Freevee
These episodes bring chills and thrills to the world of entertainment, offering a unique blend of horror and humor. Here are two sentences that contain the given words:
- Streaming platforms like Disney, Max, and Hulu are now the best places to find some of the scariest TV episodes, such as "And Then There Was Shawn" from Boy Meets World.
- If you're looking for the best scary TV episodes, don't miss out on "Fissures" from Star Trek: The Next Generation and "Dolls in the Attic" from Outlaw Star, both available for streaming.
