‘A Star Brighter Than the Sun’ and All the Other TV Shows Coming to Amazon Prime This Week

A busy start to October brings a mix of kids’ animation, fantasy, conspiracy thrillers, classic cartoons, sports docuseries, world cinema, and a sweeping biblical drama. Below you’ll find quick, useful rundowns of each project—who made them, who’s in them, and what they’re about—so you can zero in on what to queue up first.

Dates below reflect this week’s arrivals: Wednesday, October 1; Thursday, October 2; Friday, October 3; and Sunday, October 5. For every title, we’ve included core plot points plus notable cast and creative credits.

‘Curious George’ (2006–2022)

The long-running animated series based on H. A. and Margret Rey’s picture books follows the inquisitive monkey George and the Man with the Yellow Hat across two 11-minute adventures per episode; it arrives Wednesday, October 1. The show was developed by Joe Fallon, with Frank Welker providing George’s vocal effects and Jeff Bennett voicing the Man with the Yellow Hat; William H. Macy narrated Season 1 and Rino Romano narrated subsequent seasons. Executive producers include Ron Howard and Brian Grazer through Imagine Entertainment alongside WGBH Boston and Universal Animation Studios.

Episodes blend simple narratives with STEM-themed problem solving set in the “Big City” and the countryside. Recurring characters include Professor Wiseman (Rolonda Watts), Chef Pisghetti (Jim Cummings), and building Doorman Hundley’s owner (Lex Lang/Bill Chott). Across 15 seasons and 198 episodes, the series used live-action science shorts in early years before fully focusing on animation in later seasons; it returns here on Wednesday, October 1.

‘The Magicians’ (2015–2020)

Landing Wednesday, October 1, the fantasy series adapts Lev Grossman’s novel trilogy and centers on Quentin Coldwater, who enrolls at Brakebills University and discovers the dangers of real magic. Created for television by Sera Gamble and John McNamara, it stars Jason Ralph (Quentin), Stella Maeve (Julia), Olivia Taylor Dudley (Alice), Hale Appleman (Eliot), Arjun Gupta (Penny), and Summer Bishil (Margo). Executive producers include Michael London, John McNamara, and Sera Gamble; Universal Content Productions produced the show for Syfy.

Storylines track Quentin’s cohort through spellcraft, alternate timelines, and the parallel realm of Fillory, while Julia’s arc explores “hedge witch” communities after she’s denied entry to Brakebills. The series spans five seasons and 65 episodes, with production based in Vancouver and a pilot shot in New Orleans; it becomes available here on Wednesday, October 1.

‘The Capture’ (2019– )

The techno-thriller arrives Wednesday, October 1, beginning with the case of ex-soldier Shaun Emery and detective Rachel Carey, whose inquiry into seemingly damning CCTV footage opens a conspiracy about manipulated video and surveillance. Created, written, and initially directed by Ben Chanan, the series stars Holliday Grainger, Callum Turner, Ben Miles, Laura Haddock, Lia Williams, Barry Ward, Ralph Ineson, and Ron Perlman. Production companies include Heyday Television and NBCUniversal International Studios; the original UK broadcaster is BBC One.

Subsequent storylines widen to elections, deepfakes, and AI-driven facial recognition, keeping DI Carey at the center of the investigation. Two seasons have aired with a third commissioned in April 2025; episodes typically run 40–50 minutes. It’s part of Wednesday, October 1’s arrivals.

‘The Pink Panther Show’ (1969)

Dropping Wednesday, October 1, this is the classic television package that brought DePatie–Freleng’s theatrical ‘The Pink Panther’ shorts (and companion series like ‘The Inspector’ and ‘The Ant and the Aardvark’) to TV. Launched on NBC in 1969 as ‘The Pink Panther Show,’ the half-hour block used new bumper sequences and featured announcer Marvin Miller; over the 1970s the franchise cycled through multiple network and format titles. Voice talent across segments included John Byner (Ant/Aardvark), Pat Harrington Jr. (The Inspector), and Paul Frees (narrator/Commissioner).

Early seasons typically sandwiched an ‘Inspector’ short between two ‘Pink Panther’ entries, with later years adding made-for-TV material (e.g., ‘Crazylegs Crane’). The TV run spanned NBC and ABC before syndicated versions circulated in the 1980s; this week’s availability begins Wednesday, October 1.

‘A Star Brighter Than the Sun’ (2025)

Arriving Thursday, October 2, this new anime adapts Kazune Kawahara’s shōjo manga about Sae, a tall, self-conscious high-schooler, and her childhood friend Kōki as their relationship shifts from friendship to first love. The TV adaptation is produced by Studio Kai and directed by Aya Kobayashi, with series composition by Yasuhiro Nakanishi; character designs are by Jinfeng Zeng, and the score is by Natsumi Tabuchi and Miki Sakurai. Voice cast includes Minori Fujidera (Sae) and Yūki Ono (Kōki).

The series premieres in Japan on October 2 on TBS/JNN, with opening theme “Stellar Days” by Motohiro Hata and ending theme “Saishin-wa” by Wanuka. The manga began serialization in 2021 in Shueisha’s ‘Bessatsu Margaret’ and has 12 collected volumes as of August 2025. It joins this week’s lineup on Thursday, October 2.

‘Sanda’ (1990)

Opening Friday, October 3, this Romanian drama—credited to directors Cristiana Nicolae and Nicu Gheorghe—follows Sanda, a factory worker juggling two small children and an indifferent husband whose chance encounter with another man hints at escape from stifling routine. Cast includes Florentina (Florentine) Mocanu in the title role, with Marian Rîlea and Emilia Popescu among the ensemble; Nicolae is credited as writer.

The film’s synopsis foregrounds domestic labor and emotional isolation in late-period socialist Romania, with listings and databases consistently summarizing the same plot. Additional credits round out with Iarina Demian and Ana Ciontea. It becomes available Friday, October 3.

‘House of David’ (2025– )

The biblical historical drama returns Sunday, October 5, continuing the story of David after his victory over Goliath as he navigates palace politics, family rivalries, and a path toward kingship. Created by Jon Erwin, the series stars Michael Iskander (David), Ali Suliman (King Saul), Ayelet Zurer (Queen Ahinoam), Stephen Lang (Samuel), Indy Lewis (Mychal), Ethan Kai (Jonathan), and Martyn Ford (Goliath). Directors across the series include Jon Erwin, Jon Gunn, Alexandra La Roche, and Michael Nankin, with writing by Erwin, Gunn, N. D. Wilson, Bekah Hubbell, Laura Kenar, and Jonathan Lloyd Walker.

Season 1 premiered in February 2025; promotional materials and recent coverage confirm new episodes dated for Sunday, October 5, with the narrative focusing on David’s rise and Saul’s decline. The score is by Kevin, Sean, and Deana Kiner, whose prior work includes ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ and ‘Narcos: Mexico.’

Share what you’re planning to watch this week in the comments!