A FAMILY FACES THE FUTURE ON ‘YEARS AND YEARS’

— People who fear they are living in a waking nightmare have only to watch "Years and Years" (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA). Smart, challenging, terrifying and more than occasionally funny, the six-episode series "Years" follows an extended family from 2019 forward, over 15 years of disruptive technological change, global unrest and the increasing alienation of citizens from a political process that has become grim entertainment.

As speculative and spooky as a good episode of "Black Mirror," this series is grounded in family dynamics without ever descending into the mawkish melodrama of "This Is Us."

Emma Thompson stars as a Vivienne Rook, a businesswoman-turned-politician who shocks viewers/voters with her blunt indifference to complicated issues. When she blurts out that she doesn’t give an (expletive) about Israel and Palestine and only yearns for a simpler past, she becomes a polarizing national sensation.

"Years" advances in fits and starts, from the birth of a new baby in 2019, to the 2020 re-election of Donald Trump, a huge new influx of migrants into a post-Brexit Britain and a U.S. clash with China in the waning days of Trump’s second term. And that’s just in the first hour!

Over that time, children grow, a teenage daughter withdraws completely into virtual reality, a couple grows estranged and a single sibling dates a man with a disturbing use for his child’s robot companion.

"Years" does a remarkable job of contrasting an increasingly bizarre world with the routine of day-to-day living while at the same time exploring those who exploit people’s increasing discomfort and desire to withdraw.

Is this "feel-good" viewing? Hardly. But as an intelligently fashioned reflection of our fractured times, "Years and Years" should not be missed.

— Beautiful and baffling, "Legion" (10 p.m., FX, TV-MA) enters its third season. In a world awash with comic book adaptations and Marvel-based franchises, "Legion" is perhaps the only effort to equal and perhaps surpass the graphic impact of a comic book’s paper and ink.

— Spectrum Originals, available on demand only to Spectrum subscribers, presents "Curfew," a speculative sci-fi series set in a future world ravaged by a pandemic. Look for Sean Bean ("Game of Thrones"), Adam Brody ("The O.C."), Adrian Lester ("Trauma"), Miranda Richardson ("Good Omens") and Billy Zane ("Titanic").

— "Smithsonian Time Capsule: Beyond Stonewall" (8 p.m., Smithsonian) recalls the moment on June 28, 1969, when patrons at a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village stood up to a routine police crackdown and declared that they would no longer be exploited as a marginalized group. "Beyond" glances back at 150 years of LGBTQ American history and interviews people affected by the Stonewall uprising.

— The "POV" (10 p.m., PBS, TV-MA, check local listings) documentary "The Gospel of Eureka" explores the culture clash between Evangelical Christians and an LGBTQ community increasingly inclined to assert its rights.

— Acorn begins streaming "Martin Clunes’ Islands of America," a travelogue hosted by the star of "Doc Martin."

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

— Jamie Foxx hosts "Beat Shazam" (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG).

— The kids find themselves adrift on a cruise ship on "Raven’s Home" (8 p.m., Disney, TV-G).

— "O.J.: Made in America" (8 p.m., ESPN2, TV-14) recalls the celebrity at the center of a sensational murder investigation and trial that began 25 years ago this month.

— Miles’ podcast has a breakthrough moment on "God Friended Me" (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG).

— Auditions continue on "So You Think You Can Dance" (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14).

— Key evidence may be protected by a priest’s confession on "Bull" (10 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14).

— Danny’s identity is exposed on "Grand Hotel" (10 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).

CULT CHOICE

— Margaret Dumont joins the Marx Brothers in the 1939 comedy "At the Circus" (9 p.m., TCM). Groucho sings "Lydia the Tattooed Lady," and Eve Arden appears as well!

SERIES NOTES

On two helpings of "The Neighborhood" (CBS, r, TV-PG), Gemma faces a faculty firestorm (8 p.m.), Calvin loses a refuge (8:30 p.m.) … Obstacles abound on "American Ninja Warrior" (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Taking the plunge on "The Bachelorette" (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Illusionists audition on "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG).

Tinashe appears on a new episode of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (9 p.m. CW, TV-14), followed by a repeat with Gary Anthony Williams (9:30) … "Dateline" (10 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).

LATE NIGHT

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Sam Morril appear on "Conan" (11 p.m., TBS, r) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Chrissy Teigen and Aldous Harding on "The Tonight Show" (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Olivia Munn, Ramy Youssef, Matt Maeson and Jon Wurster visit "Late Night With Seth Meyers" (12:35 a.m., NBC).