TV TOP PICKS

8 p.m. on PBS Wonders of Mexico

It’s hard to be any more explanatory about this new three-part series than its title is. The opening episode, “Forests of the Maya,” ventures to the Yucatan peninsula to survey the variety of wildlife sheltered there — and the monkeys, jaguars and other creatures have developed unique takes on survival that also can be applied elsewhere.

8 p.m. on CW The Originals

The spinoff of The Vampire Diaries ends its five-season run with “When the Saints Go Marching In,” destined to wrap up the saga of Klaus (Joseph Morgan), Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and their loved ones in a way that also indicates what their futures will be. The final chapter revolves primarily around saving Hope (Danielle Rose Russell, pictured). Charles Michael Davis, Riley Voelkel and Yusuf Gatewood also star.

8:01 p.m. on USA The Sinner

Jessica Biel, who scored an Emmy nod and a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in Season 1 of this mystery drama, continues as one of the show’s executive producers, but a new story line shifts the action to mostly new characters as the second season begins. Bill Pullman returns as Detective Harry Ambrose, who is drawn back to his rural New York hometown to investigate an 11-year-old boy’s (Elisha Henig) murder of his parents.

8:31 p.m. on ABC American Housewife

“It’s Hard to Say Goodbye” is the fitting title of a funny but also touching episode that finds parents Katie and Greg (Katy Mixon, Diedrich Bader) struggling to help the Otto kids learn to accept loss as a part of life after a family friend unexpectedly dies. It’s also time for porcine pet Hans Gruber to be returned to his natural habitat, which poses more possible heartache for young Anna-Kat (Julia Butters).

9 p.m. on PBS NOVA

Ever wonder how the continent you live on was created? Wonder no more:

Making North America is a three-part miniseries that goes back three billion years to trace how it came to be, appropriately starting with “Origins.” Palm trees normally aren’t associated with Alaska, but the hour shows that combination was indeed a fact at an early point in time. Also considered are forces of nature that all but destroyed America’s Midwest.