From a groundbreaking find in Alexandria that could shed light on Cleopatra’s reign to the decoding of Mary, Queen of Scots’ lost encrypted letters, PBS offers the truth behind history’s deepest mysteries in six all-new episodes of “Secrets of the Dead,” which premiered Oct. 8.

The season kicks off with “Secrets of the Dead: The Rise & Fall of the Colosseum,” which illustrates how the spectacular arena showcasing ancient Rome’s wealth and power also contributed to the empire’s eventual downfall.

The Colosseum was the jewel of ancient Rome. It wowed crowds with extraordinary spectacles. It pushed the boundaries of technology. Rome’s vast wealth and power were on display.
   
Roman leaders spread the Colosseum’s design throughout the empire, and it helped them conquer the ancient world. But just as the structure embodied Rome’s power, so too did it contribute to the empire’s demise.

In the story of “Secrets of the Dead: Cleopatra’s Last Temple” just below the Mediterranean’s surface, in Alexandria’s harbor, lie the ruins of a mysterious ancient monument.
   
For more than 20 years, French explorer Franck Goddio has been hoping to confirm these remains are a temple belonging to Cleopatra. If true, this discovery could reveal vital new information about Cleopatra’s rule and her connection to the goddess Isis.
   
“Secrets of the Dead: Cracking the Queen’s Code” tells the tale of how in early 2003, three amateur codebreakers announced they had successfully decoded the secret correspondence of one of the most tragic characters in European history.
   
For Mary, Queen of Scots, the discovery of 57 encrypted letters details the exiled queen’s efforts to free herself from imprisonment and gain advantage over her rival, Queen Elizabeth. Now, after four centuries, Mary’s urgent pleas can be revealed.
   
“Secrets of the Dead: Chasing the Plague” follow scientists as they track down the earliest known bubonic plague victims in hopes of preventing future outbreaks, while historians and scholars explore the societal impact of the plague on medieval Europe. 
   
A question that is relevant given our own recent history: What happens when a third of a continent’s population is wiped out? Imagine the devastation if the COVID pandemic had reached such an unthinkable level.

“Secrets of the Dead: China’s Bronze Kingdom” probes a mysterious ancient city that lies hidden in the mountains of Sichuan — remnants of a kingdom consigned to oblivion for thousands of years, until the chance discovery of a jade artifact in 1986.
   
More than 10,000 unusual items have been found at the site which experts believe may be as archaeologically important as the Terracotta Army of Xi’an. Could this be the capital of the ancient Shu kingdom?
  
“Secrets of the Dead: Picturing Shakespeare” delves into the only two accepted representations of William Shakespeare that are considered “official.” But could a portrait that has been hanging over a family’s mantelpiece for the last 50 years be the third?
   
British window washer Steven Wadlow, whose father received the portrait in the 1960s, is on the hunt to prove the painting is genuine. If so, it could be worth as much as $200 million.
   
As one of PBS’s ongoing limited primetime series, “Secrets of the Dead” is a perennial favorite, routinely ranking among one of the most-watched series on public television. The series uses the latest scientific discoveries to challenge prevailing ideas and share fresh perspectives on historical events.

‘CANDY APPLE’ on Blu-ray

Terry “Texas” Trash, a notorious fixture in Tucson’s music community, is described as a punk rock hero who gained infamy when he was hit by a train, losing both his right arm and leg.

Fittingly, Terry’s band is Texas Trash and the Trainwrecks. Branching out into film, Terry Trash stars in the dark comedy “Candy Apple,” arriving on Blu-ray in October. 

The film, written, directed, and starring Dean Dempsey, follows a father and son duo — played by real-life father and son — hustling the streets of Manhattan in search of rent money and their elusive dreams.
   
Terry has put his country music on hold and moved to New York to support the filmmaking ambitions of his son Bobby (Dean Dempsey), which happened during the making of this film.
   
A double-amputee with a tattooed face, prosthetic limbs, and endless wild stories, Terry fits right in among the downtown dive-bar regulars. Meanwhile, Bobby obsessively films oddball moments around the neighborhood, including his dad tossing pizza off fire escapes.
   
Both father and son find themselves submerging into the underbelly of the city to make ends meet. Bobby resorts to turning tricks, while Terry delivers drugs by using a unique hiding spot for his stash.
  
Together, they spiral further into Manhattan’s shadows. Can they reclaim their creative spark, or will the unforgiving Big Apple consume them whole?

While “Candy Apple” may capture the vibe of New York City underground cinema in the tradition of Andy Warhol’s work from the ‘60s and ‘70s, one might point to 1969’s award-winning “Midnight Cowboy” as possible inspiration for a film steeped in the seedy side of hustlers in the Big Apple.    

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.