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Carnivàle Series Review

“Pain is an unavoidable side effect.” - Brother Justin Crowe
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Carnivàle is an HBO original series that ran from 2003 to 2005.  The show was created by Daniel Knauf, and stars Nick Stahl, Clancy Brown, Clea DuVall, Michael J. Anderson, and Tim DeKay.  Set in 1934 during the Dust Bowl, the story follows Ben Hawkins, a young man gifted with extraordinary healing powers, but tortured by horrific visions and dreams.  After the death of his mother, he is picked up by a traveling carnival led by a little person named Samson.  Meanwhile, in a different part of the country, a pious minister named Brother Justin Crowe is building a vast following of churchgoers with the help of his sister Iris.  However, Brother Justin also suffers from terrible visions, and possesses mystical powers of his own.  Connected through their powers, Ben and Brother Justin realize that Armageddon is on the rise, and that everything is building up to one final battle between good and evil.
This is a show that not many people know about, however it does have a small and extremely loyal cult following.  Although there were originally six seasons planned, the series only ran for two seasons due to budgetary issues, and a lack of viewers.  That being said, you can imagine how loyal followers of the show felt when it got canceled.  It’s a shame that we never got a third season, because Carnivàle is one of the coolest, most original fantasy themed shows I’ve seen.  
Although the motif of good versus evil is something we’ve seen before, the way it’s presented in this show is wildly original.  It amazes me that our hero and our villain never meet until the twenty-fourth and final episode, but yet the tension never suffers.  Never once does it seem like there is no danger building.  There always manages to be a conflict of some sort, which is very impressive considering how little our protagonist and antagonist come into contact.
Generally speaking, the acting is incredible.  Nick Stahl is brilliant, and for the most part, so is everyone else.  But the real standout is Clancy Brown as the evil Brother Justin Crowe.  The character of Brother Justin is very complex and layered, which is why Clancy Brown is the perfect choice for this role.  Brown has always been good at playing characters that are terrible people, but also have relatable qualities.  Take for example his role as Byron Hadley in The Shawshank Redemption, or even his voice work as Eugene Krabs from SpongeBob SquarePants.  Both of those characters are slimy individuals, but they both have very relatable qualities.  The same goes for Brother Justin.
The music in this show is consistently beautiful.  The theme song is atmospheric and catchy, and the score of each episode is haunting and pretty.  Certain themes are reused multiple times throughout the series, which I might normally find annoying.  In this show however, it worked like a charm.  The score reminds me of Thomas Newman’s original score from The Green Mile.  It has a Southern sound to it, and it always fits with the tone of the show.
The camerawork is very unique here.  The camera captures wide, sprawling prairies and deserts that are really nice to look at, and the shot composition is careful, while also maintaining a very cool style.  There are also some really interesting editing choices that are jarring, unexpected, and oddly enticing.  It’s worth mentioning that the costume design is wonderful too.
As far as flaws go, the first episode was a little rocky, but from the second episode on, the show becomes incredibly fascinating.  There are some moments here and there where the acting could’ve been better, but there aren’t too many of those moments.  It’s also a shame that the series ends with so many unanswered questions.  If there ever comes a day when all of our burning Carnivàle questions are answered, I will be a happy man.  
Carnivàle is a series that is perfect for anyone looking for a fresh, innovative, intelligent fantasy series.  It’s full of awesome, sometimes creepy moments, and it’s packed to the brim with religious symbolism, and prophecies on a biblical scale.  It’s a series that I honestly wish more people would talk about.  Definitely check it out if you get the chance.
Rating: TV-MA
Grade: A-

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