Can’t they all get along? Not by a long shot.

Now some of history’s toughest characters are mixing it up on the History Channel for “Barbarians Week,” a return to the dark forces of tribal expansion as they tear away at the established civilisations of their day.

This follow-up to a similar programming event a few years ago includes four one-hour premieres: on Monday, “The Vandals” and “The Saxons” (beginning at 9 p.m.), then, on Tuesday, “The Franks” and “The Lombards” (same starting time).

The Vandals (whose name lives on as a term for wanton destruction) arrived in the fifth century to ravage the Roman Empire just as it began to crumble, then seized a new homeland cut from the heart of Rome. The Saxons swept across Britain, facing Christians and their own barbarian brothers in a bloody rivalry for power and territory.

In “The Franks”, Merovius — a leader said to be half-man, half-monster — descends upon Gaul, setting the stage for his son’s savage conquest over Roman and Visigoth armies. And in “The Lombards”, Alboin breaks through the Roman defence in Italy in the sixth century and surrounds Rome. He also forces his wife to drink from her murdered father’s skull.

“Barbarians Week” continues with encore programs.

Wednesday beginning at 9 p.m.: “Huns,” “Goths” and “Modern Marvels: Barbarian Tech.”

Thursday at 8 p.m.: “Vikings”, “Mongols,” and “Modern Marvels: Swords and Knives”.

Friday at 9 p.m.: “The Dark Ages.”

Other shows this week to look out for:

[bul] National Geographic Channel’s “Explorer” series invites you to enter two vastly different secret societies that few outsiders have penetrated. Tomorrow at 9 p.m., “Aryan Brotherhood,” goes inside the walls of maximum-security prisons to meet a criminal gang that began inside California’s penitentiaries and expanded into dozens of state and federal prisons across the nation. Outwardly a white power group, its real interest is in controlling drug and extortion rackets.

Then on Monday at 10 p.m., “Inside North Korea” crosses into one of the world’s most secretive nations for a rare glimpse of the country and its dictator Kim Jong Il, who, known as the “Dear Leader,” rules as a god-king. Correspondent Lisa Ling quickly discovers the country’s severe restrictions on freedom: permits are required for any travel within the country; there is no access to the Internet; and all cell phones are seized. The group penetrates North Korea’s border by travelling undercover with a Nepalese eye surgeon on a humanitarian mission: Dr. Sanduk Ruit plans to perform cataract surgeries while the “Explorer” camera crew posing as part of his medical team documents his work. The ultimate goal: to give the world a peek at what life is like inside this strange land.

[bul] “Battlestar Galactica” begins a four-episode story arc to conclude the third season of this Sci Fi Channel series. Sunday at 11 p.m., the fleet is refueling in a planet’s stormy atmosphere when Kara (Katee Sackhoff) spots a Cylon heavy raider lurking in the dense clouds and gives chase. But on her return to Galactica after a hair-raising dogfight during which her craft took hits, Kara can find no evidence of damage. Is she cracking up? Lee (Jamie Bamber) sends her for a full medical and psych evaluation. She needs it. The tightrope she’s walking between the present and haunting memories from her past seems likely to snap. Other stars of the Peabody Award-winning series include Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Aaron Douglas and Grace Park.

[bul] What about ABC’s romantic drama about attractive close-knit friends in Los Angeles? On this week’s “What About Brian,” consummate bachelor Brian (Barry Watson) wonders if his relationship with Bridget (Krista Allen) is the right thing for him. Favouritism for Brian as demonstrated by Natasha (Tiffani Thiessen) becomes evident when she asks him — and not Dave (Rick Gomez) — to coordinate a major presentation for a Japanese client. And after Nicole (Rosanna Arquette) shares a kiss with Jamie (Tom Parker), her child’s handsome, strapping “manny,” she no longer believes Jamie is gay. “What About Brian” airs Monday at 11 p.m. on ABC.Frazier Moore is a national television columnist for The Associated Press. He can be reached at fmoore[AT]ap.org