You have to love HBO; even its failures are masterpieces. Carnviale is one of those failures, though that's really only on the viewership side of things. The series was one of the most creative and original to hit the small screen when it premiered in 2003, and it remains such today. It took a cliched story device, a freakshow circus, and turned it into the setting for an epic battle of good and evil that is worth a couple of watches.
The cast has some very familiar faces. You know Nick Stahl, who plays the protagonist Ben Hawkins, from his role as John Connor in Terminator 3. White Collar's Tim DeKay plays Jonesy, and Amy Madigan (Iris Crowe) will be appearing in a stint on Fringe next year. And let us not forget the omnipresent Clancy Brown, who has had roles in LOST, The Shawshank Redemption, and, bizarrely enough, provides the voice of Mr. Krabs on the children's program Spongebob Squarepants. Finally, there's Robert Knepper (Prison Break, Heroes), who is brilliantly cast against type as a manipulative newsman. There's nothing creepy about his performance (which is different for Knepper), but it's still brilliantly dark.
The story is complex and has a mythology that is, dare I say it, just as complex as LOST's. It's ultimately a story of good and evil, and features mysterious unseen characters, terrifying flashbacks, and idealogical battles, all in the sepia-toned era of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.
The story unfortunately never got a chance to finish, and the ending of the second season (and series) finale ultimately leaves you wanting more. Sure, at the end, you might become angry about the fact that HBO didn't renew the show for a third season (viewed by many as a travesty among the ranks of Firefly's axe). But that doesn't mean you shouldn't watch it. The show is an ultimately enjoyable experience that does have an at least partially satisfying conclusion. Not all the mysteries are answered, and many character fates are left uncertain at the end. One can always argue, however, that you can draw your own conclusions from the ambiguous finale. That's what many, including myself, have been forced to do. But in the end, when I look back at Carnivale, I don't look back at the ending. I look back at the damn good ride that took me there.
You can order the show on Amazon:
I loved that show. Plus, the opening was beautiful.
I just finished watching it. Dark, gritty, brutal I loved it. The music was haunting, the characters were easy to love (Jonesy) and easy to hate( Lodz ect) Great series wish it hadn't been canceled. :(