Pope Francis in His Own Words, ‘Man vs. History,’ ‘Flash’ and ‘Have and Have Nots’ Finales

8/7c

A new mini-season gets underway of the biographical series that lets its subjects do most of the talking. First up: Pope Francis, aka former Argentinian cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who became the Roman Catholic Church’s 266th Pope in 2013 and almost immediately made history with his pronouncements on LGBTQ rights (“Who am I to judge?”) and other progressive issues. With archival footage and exclusive interviews with experts and Vatican officials, the special traces his journey from Buenos Aires to the Vatican and the world stage. (Future installments profile rock ’n’ roller Chuck Berry and Princess Diana.)

Series Premiere

10/9c

What becomes a legend most? Try some myth-busting, courtesy of host Bil Lepp, a professional storyteller and local historian who hosts a series that looks for the truth behind the tall tales of icons from the past. He starts with notorious outlaw Billy the Kid, grilling experts on the details of Billy’s escape from jail, then trying on a replicated pair of his shackles as provided by a blacksmith. The premiere also finds time to take on a few other larger-than-life Western figures, enlisting Olympic biathlete Lanny Barnes to test Annie Oakey’s sharpshooting antics.

Season Finale

8/7c

There’s no slowing down in the hit superhero series’ seventh-season finale, when Barry/The Flash (Grant Gustin) turns to his speedster allies, including wife Iris (Candice Patton) and his children from the future—Bart (Jordan Fisher) and Nora West-Allen (Jessica Parker Kennedy)—to battle the villainous Godspeed (Karan Oberoi). Way to keep it all in the family, Barry.

Series Finale

8/7c

After eight seasons and 196 episodes, Tyler Perry’s juicy Savannah-set soap brings its story to a close. In the series finale, ominously titled “Dark Intentions,” Veronica (Angela Robinson) “does whatever it takes to get what she wants.” Once the dust settles, the cast returns next Tuesday for a special retrospective.

10/9c

Not even the majestic bald eagle is immune from comical maltreatment in this mordant Western parody, which presents the roving settlers with a dilemma as they face their first challenge of fording a river. So they don’t all sink, who should be left behind? Selfless Rev. Ezekiel Brown (Daniel Radcliffe) is once again willing to take one for the team, which puzzles outlaw Benny the Teen (Steve Buscemi) no end. Pretty Little Liars’ Shay Mitchell guests as part of a drug-addled couple of ahead-of-their-time social influencers who somehow seem to have invented the hashtag.

Inside Tuesday TV:

• Space Launch LIVE: Blue Origin & Jeff Bezos Go to Space (8 am/ET, Discovery and Science Channels): Among other news outlets covering the Amazon mogul’s first flight to space, Discovery and Science team with the Bezos-owned The Washington Post for a live show. At 10/9c, Discovery airs the news special Jeff Bezos in Space: Blue Origin Takes Flight, with interviews and analysis.
• The Oval (9/8c, BET): Any Tyler Perry fans worrying about going into withdrawal by the end of The Have and Have Nots can take comfort that his White House melodrama is back from a two-month hiatus. And just in time, because President Hunter Franklin (Ed Quinn) and First Lady Victoria (Kron Moore) are caught up in a power struggle with a terrorist.
• Deadliest Catch: Bloodline (9/8c, Discovery): Josh Harris is still following his late dad Capt. Phil’s fishing charts to find success with a professional warm-water fishing business in Hawaii. Josh and business partner Casey McManus are hoping for a payday, amid lower prices and other fallout from COVID-19, with a fresh clue left by Phil.
• Frontline (10/9c, PBS, check local listings at pbs.org): The investigative news powerhouse explores the consequences of the U.S. military Leaving Afghanistan in a report from producer Najbullah Quraishi (Taliban Country). Amid fears of civil war and the resurgence of the Taliban, the country must also deal with the emerging threat of Iran’s growing influence. In a second segment, India’s Rape Scandal, journalist Ramita Navai looks into a rise of rape cases and alleged cover-ups in India.
• My House Is Full of Mirrors (streaming on MHz Choice): The legendary Sophia Loren takes on the role of a lifetime—playing her own mother, Romilda—in a two-part limited series based on a book by her sister, Maria Scicolone.