Like many of the shows featured on CliqueClack Flashback, HBO’s Carnivàle had — and I daresay still has — quite a cult following. I’ve heard many people compare the show to Twin Peaks, and since I’ve never seen Twin Peaks beyond the movie, I can’t quite attest to that. Both were definitely otherwordly bizarre and shared one familiar actor: Michael J. Anderson, who starred as carny head man, Samson.
The story of Carnivàle starts in the Depression-era dust-bowl of the U.S. in the mid ’30s, with the main protagonist Ben Hawkins hopping a ride with the traveling carnival, as he slowly discovers and eventually reveals to others his mysterious ability to heal others. In some ways his healing ability reminds me of that on Pushing Daisies, since another life must be sacrificed in order for him to make use of his powers.
At the same time, we follow a separate plotlike that eventually meets the other, with Clancy Brown‘s Brother Justin and his sister Iris. Brother Justin seems a very righteous man at first, though as he comes to discover that he has abilities of his own — those which are of a much more sinister form than Ben’s — he comes to believe the evil he’s doing is God’s work.
Ben eventually learns, throughout the different towns that the carnival visits, that he is destined to seek out and destroy Brother Justin, or else the horrific visions he’d been experiencing would no doubt come true, including the destruction of the world.
HBO aired Carnivàle between 2003 and 2005, for two seasons. The show did an incredible job of capturing the feel of the 1930s era. There are constant references to World War I, for example. The wardrobe is torn right from an old photograph of the times, and the locales and mannerisms of the characters suck you right into the time period. It’s a brilliant mix of science fiction, fantasy and macabre with a time period most wouldn’t associate with it.
Usually with a gripping main plot to follow, the stories of the secondary characters in a show would take a far back seat. Not so with Carnivàle, as each small story within it was interesting and engaging and, ultimately, made sense within the rest of the story. You can’t ask for a more diverse set of characters, too, from the blind psychic Lotz to the “cooch show” Dreifuss girls.
The opening sequence was incredibly well done, both grabbing the look and feel of the time period along with the weirdness of what pulls into town when the carnival wagons wheel in.
There are just too many oddities throughout each episode to list here in one post without making those who haven’t seen the show scratch their heads and wonder what the hell I’m talking about (if you’re not already). Blue blood, avatars, the Tattooed Man, Alpha and Omega … there’s so much more. In fact, I warn you that, in taking on this series, you could spend days sifting through forums and web pages dedicated to Carnivàle lore and theories — I know I spent my fair share doing it. Luckily, though, creator Daniel Knauf has helped answer some of the dangling questions since the show’s second season was through, including a Carnivàle season one pitch document that was reportedly what he showed to HBO.
As for the show’s untimely fate, in one way you could call it complete. Knauf has said that he envisioned Carnivàle as being three “books,” with each book consisting of two seasons. Keeping that in mind, the two seasons we were handed did feel very much like a complete story, though one that could continue on, should there be the means to do so. The first season ended in a way that demanded a second season, though season two gave us what we’d been waiting for, and more.
Fans continue to cling on to hopes that the show will come back, though with every passing year it seems very unlikely. Knauf has said he has the entire story laid out, though he continued to refuse to release it to the public. I’d say fans would be happy even for a written continuation to the story, though since this show was so beautifully filmed, I wonder if we’d actually be missing out.
Clacked by Keith McDuffee 
on Feb 18, 2009 @ 16:00 EST5EDT
Loved, loved, loved the show! The end of season 2, that last scene was so asking for a continuation, it was just painful to hear the show wasn’t coming back.
Loved your blog! Thanks for writing it…always happy to see people continuing to ponder this show. Just one small comment in response to what you said, “Knauf has said he has the entire story laid out, though he continued to refuse to release it to the public.” The fact is, Daniel Knauf would LOVE to give us the rest of the story, but unfortunately, HBO owns all rights to the show right now and, until that changes or HBO agrees to sell or hand over rights back to Knauf, there’s absolutely nothing he can do. Otherwise, I’m sure he would have shopped the show around to other networks or at the very least, continued the story in another form such as books or graphic novels. I still cling to the hope that we will someday get the rest of the story, but right now, anyway, HBO holds all the cards. ;-)
@Rachel: I agree – I’d seen something to that effect, too. That Knauf wanted to do more but HBO didn’t. :(
Carnivàle was something I didn’t really expect. I mean, I saw the trailers and thought, eh, OK, it looks quirky and I’ll give it a view for an episode and see what happens. Damn, but it quickly sucked me in. I was pissed that they killed it off after 2 seasons – I definitely wanted more! Clancy Brown has incredible range as an actor; he definitely raised the quality of this show IMHO.