CORPORATE LINE: The stunningly creative cable-television series CARNIVALE stepped up the pace in round two of its mythic tale of good and evil set against the surreal backdrop of a Depression-era travelling circus. By the beginning of the second season, carnival roustie-cum-Christ-figure Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl) has grudgingly accepted his destiny as a “creature of light” while continuing to search for his godlike father, Henry Scudder (John Savage), in a Homeric odyssey that takes him from his demented backwoods clan to an eerily cloying maker of death masks. Meanwhile, Ben’s nemesis, the evil preacher Brother Justin (Clancy Brown), does his best to instigate an apocalyptic showdown via an increasingly powerful right-wing political campaign that invites obvious comparisons to Bush administration policies. When polar-opposite avatars Ben and Justin finally meet in the season’s final moments, the result is one of the most powerfully emotional, profound, and shocking climaxes in television history. Though it was unduly cancelled after this season (the show was conceived by creator Daniel Knauf as a six-season story arc), CARNIVALE is an ephemeral gem that will undoubtedly be considered as groundbreaking as that other benchmark of the dark and bizarre, TWIN PEAKS.
THE REVIEW: The first season set the stage for the second season. It’s as if they are two of the same entity. Both lead up to the ultimate end of the second season. The second season builds and builds until the ultimate clash of good and evil. Carnivale is easily the most bizarre and yet the most interesting series in years.
The cast of characters is what keeps every episode moving even when the end stays off in the distance. The character Ben Hawkins is good although his gang of carnies is far from godly while the evil Brother Justin Crowe surrounds himself with godliness—with the exception of his maniacal sister. Often its hard to distinguish the heroes from the villains and that is what draws viewers into everyone of these characters. The cast of characters in this second season are given a broader spectrum of personality.
Along the way we meet many different characters that aren’t part of the regular ensemble—and yet they add to the stories by complicating each character and allowing us into their lives. There are also different underlining narratives such as Clayton and Libby falling in love after Clayton has a fling with her mother. Brother Justin starts to grow stronger. Finally, Ben Hawkins father Henry Scudder is found.
The second season expands so much upon the first season that you could only wonder what would have come had there be a third season. The show grew in its beauty and emotional attachment. Watching Ben Hawkins heal others has a certain joy attached works viewers up to an indescribable level.
THE EXTRAS: First is a commentary by creator Daniel Knauf, executive producer Howard Klein, director Rodrigo Garcia, and cast members Clancy Brown and Clea Duvall on three episodes.
“Magic and Myth: The Meaning of Carnivale”: half-hour documentary exploring the apocalyptic writing and mythology behind the show.
“Creating the Scene” featurettes: Find out how Carnivale’s creators brought the Daily Brothers show–and its Scorpion Lady, He/She and Praying Mantis–to life.
The Museum of Television and Radio panel discussion with cast and crew is interesting and offers quite a bit of insight—however the fact that its put on tarot cards on screen and not full screen makes it extremely annoying—not to mention the quality is something you’d expect to see on a local cable show.
FRANKLY: It’s a sad state of affairs at HBO with Sopranos coming to an end; HBO has all but ignored two of their best shows Deadwood and Carnivale. These are two of the most original television series period. These are shows with endless entertainment that could have been harvested. There is no show that is as unique, surreal, and entertaining as Carnivale.
+ Charlie Craine
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