(Season 2, Episodes 2-3)
Season two continues to march on, and Carnivale continues to be interesting and compelling. The relationship drama that had me a little bored toward the end of season one seems to have cooled off, but the character development remains, which is nice.
I’m really enjoying the play between Brother Justin and Tommy Dolan. Dolan is an interesting character. It’s clear that he knows that Justin is somewhat dangerous and that he probably shouldn’t be getting involved with him. At the same time, however, the overly ambitious reporter just can’t help himself. As I watch this show and Heroes, I’m amazed at how different Robert Knepper looks and sounds in the two roles.
“Alamogordo, NM”
I mentioned in my previous entry that it seemed like, perhaps, Ben’s vision of a nuclear explosion could be somehow tied to the Manhattan Project. Is it just a coincidence that the title of this episode is also a town that housed a research facility for the nuclear research program that oversaw the first test explosion? I think not.
Why does Brother Justin get a creepy underling to do all his dirty work and Ben has to do it all by himself? That hardly seems fair, but it’s been fun watching Varlyn Stroud wandering free. Brother Justin was busy in this episode breaking ground on his new temple.
There more visions of the tatooed man, or “the usher” in this episode, with one of them ending up being Sophie. Is she somehow tied into all of this good vs. evil stuff? Management certainly seemed rattled when Ben informed him that he had seen the usher in visions.
“Ingram, TX”
It’s certainly been an interesting start of the season for Sofie. After losing her mom, she’s trying to find where she fits into the carnival. I don’t quite understand why she can’t read the cards without her mother. Certainly the readings wouldn’t be as accurate without her mother’s visions of the future, but doesn’t she still know how to read the cards? I guess it’s just too painful for her.
I think my favorite moment in this episode came during Brother Justin’s radio address. His “notes” for the sermon actually consisted of twisted and dirty doodles. It was a disturbing reminder that Justin seems to be sinking deeper into madness. Iris caught sight of this and closed the notebook to protect her freaky brother.
Poor Balthus is now being “cared” for by Brother Justin. That must be absolutely terrifying for the poor, crippled old man. I’m guessing that he wishes he had the courage to bash in Justin’s head when he had the chance.
It seems like a lot of interesting things were happening at the end of the episode, too. Ben was captured by hillbillies (which remains a completely terrifying scenario. See: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. See: Deliverance. See: The Hills Have Eyes. Hillbillies are freaky), Ruthie is being haunted by Lodz, and Sofie is hearing Brother Justin’s message. That can’t be good.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Nov 18, 2009 @ 10:03 EST5EDT
Robert Knepper is such a great actor. I first saw him as a regular on “Prison Break” as this ruthless sex offender that manipulates everyone he comes into contact. He made me want one of the brothers to shoot him in the head, but that is the way Knepper portrayed the character. You compared Knepper’s characters from Carnivale and Heroes, but he brings out a great character in Theodore “T-Bags” Bagwell in “Prison Break,” as well. He’s becoming one of my favorite character actors this side of Johnny Depp.
It is funny how Brother Justin gets all those helpers while Ben has to run around doing all of his own work. I chalk it up to Evil not wanting to get his hands dirty. He has this huge ego, power trip thing going on that he doesn’t need to work for it; he can just sit back and relax while he “influences” everyone into doing “his work.” Good, on the other hand, has to work for his goals because “nothing good comes easy.”
You are absolutely right: hillbillies are freaky. Look at the Beverly Hillbillies, with their . . . bubblin’ crude, and their . . . Texas Tea. Gives me the willies.