For once, the History Channel complicates the American past instead of oversimplifying it, and as a result, much of what’s been glossed over in our high-school history textbooks—class war, race hate, labor violence—comes rushing onscreen as if from smoking ruins and unmarked graves.

Avenger
TNT. Premieres Sunday, April 9, 8 p.m.

10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America
The History Channel. April 9 to 13, 9 p.m.

Related:

• Archive: “Television”
• Articles by John Leonard
• Table of Contents: April 10, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!