The last time we saw Rick and company, they were shut up in a train car at a supposed safe-haven called Terminus, whose true purpose was only too obvious. In tonight’s return of “The Walking Dead” (AMC, 9 p.m.) all that becomes more gruesomely clear as they try to fight their way out. And while it makes the drama seem like it’s turned to human vs. human with nary a zombie in sight, suddenly there’s a deluge requiring all manner of blows to the skull. The good news is that the action, after slowing to a lull every time the troupe stops to regroup, at a farm and then a prison, is on the move again and there’s a stated secret about what started the zombie takeover in the first place and what can stop it.
They’ll be effusive about it when “Talking Dead” (AMC, 10 p.m.) returns as well.
One expects big things to happen on the final season of “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO, 9 p.m.). So after one shocking happening last week there are a couple more tonight.
“America’s Funniest Home Videos” (ABC, 7 p.m.) is back for its 25th season and will continue to be so, as long as people fall down and there are family members to videotape it.
Sunday Night Football has Giants at Eagles (NBC, 8:20 p.m.). Earlier NFL action includes Green Bay at Miami (Fox, 2 p.m.), Baltimore at Tampa Bay (CBS, 1 p.m) and Washington at Arizona (Fox, 4:25 p.m.).
The murder of an American classics student at Oxford is investigated on the latest Inspector Lewis caper on “Masterpiece Mystery!” (PBS, 9 p.m., check local listings).
People are freezing on “Once Upon a Time” (ABC, 8 p.m.), ever since they introduced the “Frozen” characters.
Elizabeth seeks peace in China and home on “Madam Secretary” (CBS, 8 p.m.), which has quickly established its knack of trivializing world events by conflating them with domestic problems.
Carrie Matheson, by contrast has abandoned her domestic duties on “Homeland” (Showtime, 9 p.m., returning to Islamabad where she tries to assert some authority and try and find what made an agent trade information. Last week’s first couple of episodes replays at 7.
Alicia is still toying with the idea of running for state’s attorney on “The Good Wife” (CBS, 9 p.m.). Having Alan Cumming and Steven Pasquale’s characters on board helps.
Marge opens a sandwich store on a new episode of “The Simpsons” (Fox, 8 p.m.).
They do office olympics games on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox, 9:30 p.m.).
A drunk sledder is confronted on “North Woods Law” (Animal Planet, 8 p.m.).
“Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown” (CNN, 9 p.m.) travels to Paraguay.
The holiday has become a competition in “Halloween Wars” (Food Channel, 9 p.m.).
A brawl breaks out during a “Bar Rescue” (Spike, 9 p.m.) at a New York sports bar.
The “Long Island Medium” (TLC, 9 p.m.) visits Washington, D.C.
A couple of films starring Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright are on tonight, “Shadow of a Doubt” (TCM, 8 p.m.) and “The Steel Trap” (TCM, 10 p.m.).
In the baseball’s National League Champion Series, it’s San Francisco at St. Louis (Fox Sports 1, 8 p.m.).
Hockey includes Toronto at Rangers (NHL, 7 p.m.).
Preseason basketball includes Golden State at Lakers (NBA, 9:30 p.m.).
Sunday Talk
ABC: Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, Rep. Mike Rogers, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Director of the department of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro. CBS: former CIA director Leon Panetta, Rep. Michael McCaul, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionDr. Tom Frieden. NBC: National Security Adviser Susan Rice, former secretaries of state Henry Kissinger and James Baker. CNN: Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus, Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Fox News: Former Soliciter General Ted Olson, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins.