‘MYSTERY ROAD’ RETURNS ON ACORN

Fans of old-fashioned Westerns might enjoy “Mystery Road,” streaming its second season on Acorn. Shot against the austere and dramatic scenery of Australia’s wide-open spaces, it stars Aaron Pedersen as Jay Swan, a laconic homicide detective who has to navigate the racism and resistance of locals who can’t quite see beyond his indigenous background. Pedersen (“Jack Irish”) may be familiar to fans of “A Place to Call Home,” another Australian favorite available on Acorn.

Global warming has been part of the conversation for decades. Too often, it has been discussed in the abstract. But the frequency of wildfires and extreme weather events has brought it home to millions. “The Last Ice” (9 p.m., Nat Geo Wild) follows the impact of rising temperatures on Inuit communities whose very culture and livelihood depend on their use of Arctic ice as a hunting ground. How does a community and a society react when they see their very home melting away?

“Ice” was shot over the course of four years. It began as a scientific look at an environmental change, but soon became a very “human” story.

— American television offers endless takes on politics, but very few chances to see how elections are run in other countries. The “POV” (10 p.m., PBS, TV-MA, check local listings) documentary “Softie” follows an idealistic candidate standing up for his community and his values against a Kenyan establishment seen by most as thoroughly corrupt.

The film follows political activist Boniface Mwangi, who was given the nickname “Softie” by his friends. What began as a short campaign film for Nairobi-based director Sam Soko became a multiyear project as he saw in “Softie” a fascinating profile of a complex man wrestling with his idealism and his commitments to both country and family.

— There are more than two months left in 2020, but the prequel “Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island” (8 p.m., Starz) has already made some critics’ “worst movies of the year” lists. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone pulled no punches when he wrote, “If crimes against cinema merited prosecution, ‘Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island’ would go directly to death row.”

— Having just added “The Fall” starring Gillian Anderson to its lineup of mysteries, Ovation will begin airing episodes of “Luther” (7 p.m., TV-14), starring Idris Elba.

TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

— “Dancing With the Stars” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) moves to the music of the 1980s.

— The New Orleans Saints host the Los Angeles Chargers in NFL Football (8 p.m., ESPN).

— Helen reveals the motive for her trip to Osea on “The Third Day” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).

— “Enslaved” (9 p.m., Epix, TV-MA) explores the Underground Railroad as divers look for the preserved wreckage of a schooner that ferried escaped slaves to Canada and freedom.

— A construction worker is tortured by memories that may not be his own in the speculative 1990 science fiction drama “Total Recall” (9 p.m., Sundance, TV-14), directed by Paul Verhoeven.

— Richard tries to clear his name on “Manhunt: Deadly Games” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).

— A woman flees her abusive husband on “Emergency Call” (10 p.m., ABC).

— A man (David Costabile, “Billions”) disrupts his life to be with a woman (Sonya Cassidy, “Lodge 49”) who may not be what she seems on the second helping of the anthology series “Soulmates” (10 p.m., AMC, TV-14).

— Power struggles on “We Are Who We Are” (10 p.m., HBO, TV-MA).

— “Fringe Nation” (10 p.m., Vice) explores how extreme positions and voices have become increasingly accepted as a polarized society adjusts to demographic changes and a fractured media landscape.

CULT CHOICE

Peter Cushing stars in an early outing for a cult franchise, the 1965 fantasy “Doctor Who and the Daleks” (9:30 p.m., TCM, TV-G).

SERIES NOTES

Julie Chen Moonves hosts “Big Brother” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … “American Ninja Warrior” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG) … Beautiful buddy cops crack wise on “L.A.’s Finest” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … Improvisations on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (8 p.m., CW, TV-14), followed by a repeat episode (8:30 p.m.).

On two helpings of “One Day at a Time” (CBS, r, TV-PG): birds and bees (9 p.m.); tricks or treats (9:30 p.m.) … Kim Cattrall plays a scheming televangelist on the preposterous melodrama “Filthy Rich” (9 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … Illusionists audition on “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” (9 p.m., CW, TV-14) … “Dateline” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).

LATE NIGHT

Kevin Nealon appears on “Conan” (11 p.m., TBS, r) … Cynthia Nixon, Michael Stipe and Larry Wilmore visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers (12:35 a.m., NBC, r).