Carnivale - The Complete Second Season (2003)

Must See

This is more then likely the best TV show I ever seen. The stories are fairly intense and you cannot miss a moment. But the production vaule is equal that of a movie. If anyone hasn't seen this yet, you MUST! August 25, 2008

Carnivale seasons one and two

I have just spent 3 full days in glued to my TV watching this amazing series. Each hour long program was riveting making me continue to the next hour then the next. Set in the dirty thirties with a travelling carnivale reminiscent of Barnum and Bailey but creepier. You get the feel for the times with the poverty in the dustbowl, I almost felt dusty after watching. The person who did the casting for this was great! The character of Ben is strange yet compelling, the parallels to prophets in many religions would ne more apparent to someone who knows the stories better than I (being interested in religious mythology be not enough to study the bible). Brother Justin is well crafted and seems conflicted as to whether he is good or evil, I think evil is winning with a push from his seemingly more evil sister (she may turn out to not be so evil if they make another season). My favorite character, Sophie, is horribly changed in the end of season two, Why is there no season three!!????? The battle needs to continue. It is hard to review giving details without ruining the show for any interested viewers. Any one interested in less than mainstream programming with a well crafted story that sucks you in and makes you feel like you are there, this is for you. Plan to watch when you have a lot of spare time as you can't watch just one at a time. August 16, 2008

carnivale

Excellent series-too bad HBO was too cheap to at least have one more season or more. Excellent service also. Thanks June 27, 2008

AMAZING!!!!

This easily has to be one of the greatest creations of all time. I've never been so engrossed in a show as I was with this one. I'm not really into the whole magic/freak show thing, but this show doesn't have anything to do with that. It is really hard to describe as it is a mix of fantasy/reality, love/hate, faith/satanism. You just have to try it.

I've never been so sad to see a series end. Please HBO, BRING THIS SHOW BACK! June 19, 2008

Disappointing Finale (Spoilers)

Like others, I thought the cinematograhpy was exceptional, the character development was commendable and the setting alluring. However, the second season left me quite disappointed. Not only did it become increasingly, gratuitiously gory, but the plot thinned considerably. And the final episode? How was Ben suddenly able to choose who he wanted to take life from? One of the biggest problems he faced throughout Season 1 and Season 2 was that he had trouble directing the siponing of energy to one specific person. Remember how he made Libby leave when he was taking energy from the vultures to save Jonsey? If he had the power to choose the vultures over Libby, then why did he make her leave?

Also, I felt like the writters decision to make Sofie evil at the end was a weak attempt at giving the final epoisode a clever twist. If she was at risk for becoming evil because her father was evil, then why wasn't Ben faced with the same challenge since his father was the "usher"? I resent having spent so many hours watching a show that destroys the most well-developed and likable characters at the end in an disjointed battle between good and evil where evil essentially prevails. June 13, 2008

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