TV tonight
Penny Dreadful
John Logan’s lush Victorian monster mash returns for a second season with the new episode Fresh Hell, which finds Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) again beset by an occult assault, this one caused by the enigmatic Evelyn Poole (Helen McCrory). Following the violence at the Mariner’s End, Ethan Chandler (Josh Hartnett) decides to leave London, while Dr. Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway) tries to reanimate Brona (Billie Piper) as a mate for his petulant Creature (Rory Kinnear). (MC)
Secrets and Lies
In the season finale, The Lie, Ben (Ryan Phillippe) just wants to have a nice, belated Christmas — but that isn’t likely to happen as the murder investigation takes yet another unforeseen turn. Det. Cornell (Juliette Lewis) finally feels ready to make an arrest, with Tom Murphy’s killer about to be named. The story’s director, Timothy Busfield, is also a guest star. (ABC, CTV)
Mankind From Space
This provocative new two-hour special uses satellite data, cutting edge CGI technology and contributions from scientists at NASA and elsewhere to examine some of the groundbreaking innovations that have transformed the planet. Special focus is given to the ways in which invisible webs of creativity have come to connect far-flung parts of the globe to one another with startling intimacy. (Discovery)
Madam Secretary
An uncomfortable encounter with ex-friend Juliet (Nilaja Sun) causes Elizabeth (Téa Leoni) to flash back to the roots of her association with the president (Keith Carradine) — who led the CIA at that time — in the drama’s first-season finale, There but for the Grace of God. Stevie (Wallis Currie-Wood) becomes more than friends with the president’s son (guest star Jason Ralph). William Sadler and (as himself) journalist Martin Bashir guest star. (CBS, Global)
The Last Man on Earth
Phil and Carol (Will Forte, Kristen Schaal) patch things up in the show’s season finale, Screw the Moon — but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more potential for them to get into hot water. The series has been renewed for a second season, and since there are only a handful of characters, it’s virtually a necessity that more problems will arise among them to keep the program going. (Fox)