Carnivale: Season 1

"Carnivàle" is part of small but growing number of quality television shows that are committed to the sort of lengthy and complex story arc that was once the province of the mini-series. But shows like "Wiseguy" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in the past and current offerings such as "24" and "Lost" have paved the way for television shows that emphasize the big picture rather than the more traditional episodic approach. As such, "Carnivàle" is most similar to "Lost," in that we are pretty sure we know what will happen at the end of the journey, but we have no idea how many seasons down the road that end game will be played out. Does creator Daniel Knauf ("Wolf Lake") have an ambitious five-year plan similar to what J. Michael Straczynski had in mind from the start for "Babylon 5"? We will have to wait and see.With a show like "Carnivàle" it is easy (and fun) to play with various antecedents that explain the series in simple but readily understood terms. From the start I was thinking of the show as a cross between John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath," Tod Browning's "Freaks," and Stephen King's "The Stand," all of which I consider to be classics in their respective genres. But there are other options as well (with Michael J. Anderson in the cast "Twin Peaks" becomes an obvious choice), which simply speaks to the potential of "Carnivàle" to resonate with its viewers.The premise of the show is provided as the opening narration: "Before the beginning, after the great war between Heaven and Hell, God created the Earth and gave dominion over it to the crafty ape he called man. And to each generation was born a creature of light and a creature of darkness. And great armies clashed by night in the ancient war between good and evil. There was magic then, nobility, and unimaginable cruelty. And so it was until the day that a false sun exploded over Trinity, and man forever traded away wonder for reason." The words are spoken by Samson (Anderson), who runs the traveling circus called Carnivàle, but answers to the unseen "Management" figure (voiced by an uncredited Linda Hunt).While traveling across the Oklahoma Dust Bowl in 1934, the Carnivàle comes across Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl), who has escaped from prison and returned home in time to watch his mother (Lucinda Jenney) die and bury here before the tractors level their shack. Management wants Ben to join the caravan and given his predicament with the law, he agrees. As the Carnivàle travels down to Texas we learn that Ben is plagued by strange visions of the trenches in the Great War and that he has the power to heal. Meanwhile, in the California town of Mintern a minister named Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown) believes that God is telling him what to minister to the growing number of Okies and other migrant workers streaming west, fleeing the Dust Bowl. Those who oppose Brother Justin's plans find themselves punished for standing in the way.Ben Hawkins and Brother Justin are the creatures of light and darkness foretold, and while their visions contain glimpses of each other, they are not going to meet during this first season of "Carnivàle." Their meeting is inevitable and clearly will constitute the apocalyptic conclusion of this series, but at this point they are still coming to terms with their places in this strange universe. Each man is trying to find out about their mysterious past, where they came from, and what they can do with their powers. Eventually they will have to decide what they should do with those powers and at the end of the first season they face what will certainly be the first of several escelating crucibles.While the focus is primarily on Ben Hawkins getting used to his power and Brother Justin doing his work with his older sister, Iris (Amy Madigan), there is also life in the travelling circus during the Great Depression. Ben is of interest to Lodz (Patrick Bachauh), a mentalist who takes an active interest in the young man's powers and who is involved with Lila (Debra Christofferson), the bearded lady. Meanwhile, Ben has taken an interest in Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau), the snake charmer who is also the mother of the strong man, Gabriel (Brian Turk). The person interested in Ben romantically appears to be Sophie (Clea DuVall), the tarot card reader who is also the medium for her comatose mother, Apollonia (Diane Salinger), who is pyschic. Jonesy (Tim Dekay), the manger of the rousties, is in love with Sophie, but he gets involved with the Dreifuss family that runs the Cootch Show, Stumpy (Toby Huss), the father who is the emcee, mother Rita Sue (Cynthia Ettinger), and daughters Dora Mae (Amanda Aday) and Libby (Carla Gallo).One of the strengths of "Carnivàle" is that what is going on in that travelling circus is fairly interesting even without throwing young Ben Hawkins into the mix. There is something intrinsically fascinating about how carny folk milk the marks for money, and there is a sense of personal pride in their professionalism that gives them a certain level of dignity. In the short term, I do not know if I like the idea that not all of them are going to be alive next season. Then, of course, there is the whole look of the show. Suffice it to say "Carnivàle" won Emmys for Outstanding Art Direction and Cinematography for a One-Camera Series, along with those for Costumes, Hairstyling, and Main Title Design (you could do a pretty good master's thesis just decoding that last one).The DVD series for the first season comes with three audio commentaries, a really short featurette on the making of the series, and a giant group discussion with the cast. The commentary for "Milfay," the pilot episode, is the most important one, and twice as good as the other two put together. It has Knauf, director Rodrigo Garcia, and executive producer Howard Klein on it, with the creator/writer and director doing most of the talking, who focus on how they cast the show and how the first episode evolved. We also get the "Previously On" and "Next On" bits that HBO created for each episode.I recognize that "Carnivàle" is going to be a very maddening show to those who want things to move along at a brisk pace, and there will be those who will abandon the show long before it gets to the promised land (when the circus gets to California, probably in a couple of seasons). But for those of us who remember how "Twin Peaks" fell apart when the hook of "Who killed Laura Palmer?" became the line and (literal) sinker, or who felt "The X-Files" was adding to its mythology without getting any closer to a big finish, the idea that "Carnivàle" has been created with a definitive end point in mind provide some measure of comfort. This first season provides an initial level of confidence and the potential for more, but in the end how good this series is with come down to the quality of the final "blow off." Given that the origin of "carnival" goes back to the Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia where there was a temporary subversion of civil order and that the term now refers to the holiday period of the two weeks before Lent, it could be something pretty good. Besides, it is not on television: it is on HBO.

An amazing tape with awesome content.

Quite unique. Really good.

This is a highly entertaining series with a pronounced focus on basic Judeo-Christian themes which are incorporated within a complex subtext of occultism and a documentary styled scrutinization of a variety of societal issues; all of which serve to establish the foundation upon which the storyline is conveyed.In this finely tuned variation of the all too familiar theme of good vs evil, Christ vs anti-Christ, dwells a cornucopia of riveting interactive stories regarding each of the characters, which is crucial to underscoring this much debated theological supposition.The plot tackles the ideas of damnation, redemption and the catalytic nature of presumptive actions taken by the various members of a group of societal outcasts who are the backbone of a wandering carnival.The supporting cast also serve an important function as the voices of a classical Greek Chorus by default; even the stage name assigned to one of the female characters is Apollonia, who is a mute clairvoyant; a type of Delphic oracular figure who is incapable of speech and communicates telepathically with two other members of the cast; they being the symbolic embodiment of the 3 Fates.In one episode, the troupe travels to a small town that is aptly named “Babylon”, and in the ensuing cascade of events that culminate in the death of one of the troupe members, it is decided that a trial must take place and a convenient “sacrificial lamb” is chosen to receive judgement.Nobody in the troupe claim to understand the archaic ritual that precedes the trial which is to first circle the accused 3 times by a wagon; the symbolic nature of which speaks for itself. Then there is an enactment of Russian Roulette that is supposed to determine the ultimate fate of the accused.The accused man is an individual who is incapable of crossing the borders of Babylon as though he’s caught in a web spun by the fates.Interestingly enough, and in the grand tradition of Greek Tragedy, a leading member of the carnival troupe takes matters into his own hands and executes the accused who, metaphorically, “dodged the bullet” at the trial, but is ultimately killed and thus satisfies all the defining elements of the proverbial self fulfilling prophecy. We see however that even through physical death he is still unable to escape the boundaries of this Hell cursed town.Overall, the acting is nothing short of superlative and the circumstances that are in place to stage the ongoing events is genius. No really noteworthy story, whether it be literary, operatic or cinematic ever succeeded in a dull setting of sugar coated complacency; in this case it is the Great Depression set against the backdrop of the disastrous Dust Bowl.Unfortunately the ending is left as either an unnecessary or unintended cliff hanger which was disappointing to say the least. It’s like a dressmaker creating a sumptuous gown and ignoring the hems; a flawed beauty with unfinished, ragged edges.Taking all this into account I would not recommend this production to those persons with very delicate and/or puritanical sensibilities, nor is this suitable for very young children. Although there is nothing overtly pornographic, the dialogue and depictions of acts of violence are conveyed in a decidedly no-holds barred, no punches pulled manner; in this sense, it should receive an adults only rating. Not even accompanied by an adult is advisable. Most parents don't enjoy answering awkward and embarrassing questions posed to them by their juvenile, prepubescent offspring, and they'll either have to blindfold the kids or spend a lot of time cupping their hands over the kids eyes and ears; which seems to me an awful nuisance and you'll miss a lot of important scenes.

Bought as a gift, they liked it.

I had heard good things about this series so got it when it was on sale. Strangely addicting, its a dark story about good and evil in a really dark time in history. I couldn't wait to get to the next and the next disc and started season two shortly after the first. I have one disc left to watch in season two and I am disappointed that there are no more seasons after number two. It was originally meant to run for six seasons and was abruptly cancelled after only two so I have a feeling many questions will go unanswered. Love love this show! Love Nick Stahl as Ben and a top rate cast of actors! How could they cancel this series!?!? Highly recommended!

Good show, different but good...dvds were perfect condition. Came quickly very happy with it

Série dramatico-fantastique,se déroulent dans les années trente,lor de la grande dépression.Décors éxterieurs somptueux.Acteurs sublimes tels "Mickael j Anderson" (le petit homme)vu dans "twin peaks"." Nick Stahl" vu dans" Terminator 3" "Cléa Duval",patrick bauchau,Clancy Brown,Adrienne Barbeau (New york 1999)et John Savage.Que du beau monde pour une tres belle serie,déja culte.l'histoire d'un jeune homme à qui on laisse à peine le temps de mettre sa mere en terre.Ceci fait le bull dozer raze leur maison.Un convois de forains passant par là décide d'embarquer le jeune homme par compassion.C'est une troupe de foire itinnérente qui donne leur petit spectacle,là où on veut bien les recevoires.Par la suite l'on va découvrire que le jeune Ben Hawkins(Nick Stahl)possede des pouvoirs de guérisons.Celui-ci est également à la recherche de son pere,qui les a abandonnées sa mere et lui,et qui aurait fait partie de la troupe de forains,il y quelques années au par avant.Le jeune hawkins a également des visions d'un pasteur,le frereJUSTIN.Le destin de se dernier et du jeune Ben HAWKINS sont liés,par le BIEN et le MAL.(Certaines séries sont déceventes ou moyennes).Cette série vous émmerveilles,vous surprend,ne vous laisse aucun répis et si vous l'aprecierez comme moi,et je n'en doute point.Vous regarderez les douze épisodes d'une traite.Stupéfiante série.Un grand BRAVO au réalisateur.Un ravissement. Vraiment sublime.

I bought "Carnivale: The Complete First Season" as a gift for a friend in Vancouver. The estimated shipment dates were bleak, however the item was delivered quite quickly -- within three weeks of the purchase date. I'm incredibly pleased with how fast everything shipped out, the price of the item, and the updates I received from Amazon along the way. My friend was also incredibly pleased -- the items arrived in good condition, and she can't wait to start watching! Or, I should say, "re-watching", as Carnivale is one of her favorite shows. From what I've seen, I can't blame her!