Aurora Burghart
Viv Allen
Overview
Monster hunters Fred and Deloris Allen tangle with evil ... and family drama with their teenage twins. From the comics by Steve Niles and Damien Worm.
Seasons
- Status
- Canceled
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 10 episodes
- First aired
- Jan 23, 2020
Cast
8 people
Reviews
6 min readThe Monster in the Mirror
I keep thinking about the moment in October Faction when Geoff Allen stands on the edge of a rooftop, talking his classmate Philip back from the ledge. It’s one of the few scenes in the series that feels genuinely alive—two teenagers, one gay and Black, the other suicidal and closeted, sharing a raw, unscripted vulnerability. Then the show ruins it.
Geoff, in a sudden burst of supernatural insight, claims he’s channeling Philip’s dead friend’s ghost. A kiss follows. Then Geoff pressures Philip to come out to his parents.
The whole thing collapses under its own weight, like a house of cards in a stiff breeze. It’s a microcosm of what October Faction does wrong—and, occasionally, right.
Damian Kindler’s Netflix adaptation of Steve Niles and Damien Worm’s comic series is a show caught between two impulses: the desire to be a grounded family drama and the pull of supernatural spectacle. The result is a tonal whiplash that never quite resolves. On one hand, you have Fred and Deloris Allen (J.C.
MacKenzie and Tamara Taylor), a pair of retired monster hunters trying to live normal lives in Fred’s sleepy hometown. On the other, you have their teenage twins, Viv and Geoff (Aurora Burghart and Gabriel Darku), who are discovering their own supernatural abilities while navigating the minefield of small-town high school life. The show wants to be The X-Files meets This Is Us, but it often feels like Riverdale with a body count—less a cohesive vision than a series of ideas competing for dominance.
The opening sequence of the pilot is a masterclass in how to set up a show’s central tension. We begin with Fred and Deloris in bed, sharing a quiet, intimate moment. The camera lingers on their faces, the warmth of their connection palpable.
Then, without warning, Deloris reaches under the bed and pulls out a shotgun. Cut to: the couple standing over the corpse of a monster, their domestic bliss shattered by the violence of their past. It’s a brilliant juxtaposition—domesticity and horror, love and bloodshed—and for a moment, you think October Faction might actually pull off the balancing act it’s attempting.
But the show never quite recaptures that energy. Instead, it lurches from one plot thread to another, as if unsure whether it wants to be a family drama, a monster-of-the-week procedural, or a teen supernatural thriller.
The family at the center of the story is both the show’s greatest strength and its most frustrating weakness. MacKenzie and Taylor have an undeniable chemistry, their performances grounding the more outlandish elements of the plot. Fred is a man haunted by his past—literally, as it turns out—and MacKenzie plays him with a world-weariness that makes his moral ambiguity compelling.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
"A Netflix supernatural drama with comic roots that drew Season 1 review attention; a sampler for genre fans."
October Faction premiered on Netflix on January 23, 2020 as an American supernatural drama based on the comic series of the same name by Steve Niles and Damien Worm. latestnetflix.com's take is that Season 1 circulated with its trailer and prompted review videos and audience review discussion, with viewers coming for the supernatural family premise and comic connection.
What viewers praise
- Supernatural drama premise Positioned as an American supernatural drama on Netflix, an easy fit for fans of fantasy and horror series.
- Comic-based world Based on the comic series of the same name, giving the show established characters and lore to explore.
- Season 1 discovery path Trailer and review coverage around Season 1 gave viewers a clear way to preview and decide to watch.
Common complaints
- Uneven first impression Season 1 review discussion suggests the tone and style did not land the same way for every viewer.
- Commitment hesitation As a serialized supernatural story, it asks viewers to invest past the opening before the larger arc opens up.
Recommended for
Fans of supernatural drama series Viewers who enjoy comic-based shows
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s October Faction: The Supernatural Drama That Flipped the Script on Family Secrets
The 2020 Netflix series October Faction arrived with a pedigree: a star-studded cast, a premise rooted in comic-book lore, and a promise of eerie, small-town intrigue. latestnetflix.com's take is that but behind the scenes, the show’s blend of sci-fi, horror, and family drama came with its own share of surprises—particularly in how it handled representation and its connection to the source material.
A Comic-Book Twist on the Allen Family Saga
October Faction follows the Allens, a seemingly ordinary family with a dark secret: parents Fred and Deloris (played by J.C. MacKenzie and Tamara Taylor) are retired monster hunters, now trying to live quietly in upstate New York. Their twin teenagers, Geoff and Viv (Gabriel Darku and Aurora Burghart), are about to discover their parents’ past—and their own supernatural destinies.
The series is based on the IDW Publishing comic The October Faction by Steve Niles and Damien Worm, though the showrunners took creative liberties. While the comics lean heavily into gothic horror, the Netflix adaptation softened some edges, blending sci-fi and drama with a more grounded tone 
. The first comic volume, released in 2014, earned mixed reviews (a 5.9/10 on SensCritique), but the second volume in 2020 hinted at deeper lore that the show could have explored—had it gotten a second season .
Representation Took Center Stage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeY8ZY8f6Gs
One of the show’s standout elements was its portrayal of Geoff Allen, the out-and-proud gay twin whose sexuality wasn’t just a footnote—it was central to his character. Gabriel Darku, who played Geoff, spoke openly about the significance of his role, calling it a "dream" to portray a queer character whose identity wasn’t defined by tragedy or coming-out arcs . In a 2020 interview, Darku emphasized how rare it was to see a gay Black teen in a genre show without his sexuality being the sole focus of his storyline .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY00oGKPYs0
Aurora Burghart, who played Geoff’s twin sister Viv, also highlighted the show’s progressive approach. In a behind-the-scenes clip, she discussed the importance of Geoff’s visibility, noting that his confidence in his identity made the character feel authentic and relatable . The dynamic between the twins—one openly gay, the other navigating her own supernatural awakening—added a layer of modern family drama to the series’ supernatural stakes.
A Cast of Genre Veterans Brought the Drama
Beyond the younger cast, October Faction assembled a roster of seasoned actors. Tamara Taylor (Bones) and J.C. MacKenzie (The OA) anchored the show as the conflicted parents, while Megan Follows (Anne with an E) and Wendy Crewson (The Santa Clause) added gravitas as the enigmatic Prescott family. Stephen McHattie, a horror icon (300, The X-Files), rounded out the cast as the sinister Grandpa Samuel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RexcOKt3k9k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r_g1U-xRAU
The trailer teased a mix of family tension and supernatural threats, with eerie visuals and a moody score setting the tone . Behind the scenes, the cast seemed to embrace the show’s blend of genres. A 2020 Wizard World panel featured the actors discussing the challenges of balancing horror, sci-fi, and family drama, though specifics from the panel remain scarce .
The Mystery of Its Cancellation
Despite its intriguing premise and strong cast, October Faction was canceled after just one season. Netflix never released official viewership numbers, leaving fans to speculate about the reasons. The show’s 5/10 rating on SensCritique suggests it struggled to find a broad audience, though its niche appeal—particularly among LGBTQ+ viewers and comic-book fans—kept it alive in discussions .
Rumors swirled about potential behind-the-scenes tensions, but no concrete details emerged. Some fans pointed to the show’s pacing and tonal shifts as possible culprits, while others argued that Netflix’s rapid-fire cancellation culture played a role. Whatever the reason, October Faction joined the growing list of one-and-done genre shows that left audiences wanting more.
Legacy: A Cult Favorite in the Making?
Though short-lived, October Faction carved out a space for itself in the crowded supernatural drama landscape. Its commitment to LGBTQ+ representation, particularly in the character of Geoff Allen, earned it praise from critics and viewers alike. The show’s connection to the comics also gave it a built-in fanbase, even if the adaptation strayed from the source material in key ways.
For now, October Faction remains a what-if—a series with potential that was cut down too soon. But with its mix of family secrets, supernatural threats, and progressive storytelling, it’s the kind of show that could easily find new life in reruns or fan campaigns for revival.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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