1) “Prodigal Son,” 9 p.m., Fox. Last week, a jailbreak set three people free – including Malcolm’s dad, who is both a charming surgeon and a serial killer. Now the search begins, as Malcolm works with a federal marshal (shown here, left), his sister, their mother and the prison doctor (Catherine Zeta-Jones). It’s an intense hour that delivers some surprises – then pushes things ahead to next week.
2) “Mayans M.C.,” 10 p.m., FX. Here is a potent and pivotal episode, feeling like a show preparing for its farewell. We start with everyone in a tailspin, especially EZ. Enraged by bigots who mocked his girlfriend, he beat them brutally and accidentally hit her. Meanwhile, Coco nearly died of an overdose … Galindo nearly murdered his wife … others sank. Now this hour – beautifully crafted, as always – start with a general malaise and ends with moments that are fierce and, for EZ, maybe life-changing.
3) “Cruel Summer” (Freeform) or “Big Sky” (ABC), 10 p.m. This has become the hour for serious dramas. On ABC, the David E. Kelley series finds both cases (Kleinsasser and Ronald) faltering and the motel reduced to rubble. “Cruel Summer” bounces between three years, planting doubts. Kate says Jeanette knew she was held hostage and did nothing; now Jeanette has struck back with a lawsuit.
4) “NCIS,” 8 p.m., CBS. This hour diverts partly into white-collar crime: While the team investigates a hit-and-run accident, Gibbs prepares to testify against a financial advisor who cheated Navy people.
5) “Frontline: Escaping Eritea,” 10 p.m., PBS. In the 28 years since it independence from Ethiopia, Eritea has had one president and no elections. Mandatory military service averages more than six years and has been compared to slavery. The United Nations did a scathing report in 2017, but there’s been little word since … partly because of press restrictions. It took five years to create this jolting report, with secret footage of prisons for people (500 packed into a room) who tried to flee the country.