Carnivàle

2003

Seasons & Episodes

  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
8.4| TV-MA| en| More Info
Released: 14 September 2003 Canceled
Producted By: 3 Arts Entertainment
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://hbo.com/carnivale/
Info

Carnivàle is an American television series set in the United States during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. In tracing the lives of two disparate groups of people, its overarching story depicts the battle between good and evil and the struggle between free will and destiny; the storyline mixes Christian theology with gnosticism and Masonic lore, particularly that of the Knights Templar.

Genre

Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Watch Online

Carnivàle (2003) is now streaming with subscription on Max

Director

Production Companies

3 Arts Entertainment

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.
Watch Now
Carnivàle Videos and Images
View All

Carnivàle Audience Reviews

Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism
Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film
Staci Frederick Blistering performances.
Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.
Leigh Neil Warning! This series is not for a typical TV watcher looking for easy, non-challenging entertainment. Carnivale is a bleak but utterly compelling show that portrays the very worst of the era, the places and the people; yet does it with an unexpected, sparse beauty.This is not a series that will make you laugh, but if you like to be challenged by unusual perspectives on right and wrong, the bizarre, the macabre and the downright weird, this series is an absolute must see! A depression-era carnival/freak-show is perfect for immediately establishing the setting as unusual and strange, and things get more and more 'out-there' as the series progresses.With its engrossing story-lines, superb acting by the large cast, unusual take on the conflict between good and evil, plus suitably dreary and almost colourless locations and cinematography, I rank it as the single best TV show I have seen in 50 years of enthusiastic television watching.
sam dack Carnivale represents HBO at their most ambitious moment. There has been nothing like it on Television, before or after it. Misunderstood at the time of it's original airing, it failed to gain a wide audience but, it is now a cult classic that is worth watching again and again. It is a true masterpiece of storytelling, direction, and cinematography. Very cinematic and epic in scope. It is one of the most original stories ever told on American television. It's Dust Bowl setting is something that has rarely been covered and never as well as it is here. Carnivale is on the surface, a good and evil story but underneath that, There are many complex and thought provoking undertones. Over the course of the series, The stories of each character come together in such a perfect way that it seems crazy that anyone ever questioned it. Carnivale is very much a slow burner for people that want complex stories that require full attention and commitment. The characters are all complex and engaging, The actors all fit perfectly into their roles and do a great job, and every aspect of production is handled perfectly. Way ahead of it's time, If Carnivale were to come along in today's age of TV, It would certainly be more welcomed and seen for what it is. That the show was tragically cut short of it's intended six season plan, Is nothing short of devastating. Even still, It is very much worth watching. By the end of season 2, It does a good job of closing up a lot of the loose ends while opening a few doors for future seasons that sadly never came. I don't know that there has ever been a better looking show either. It is beautiful to look at and hasn't aged a day since it aired. Anyone that enjoys committing to an original concept that requires patience, but also rewards it, Carnivale is the perfect show.
PatriciaSofiaMaduro I think it's time to create a 3rd season. I finished seeing this show today and it ends literally in the half of the main story! This show really made me watch the episodes one after another, it's addictive! Ben killed Justin but now his daughter Sofie got powers. We need to know how it ends. I really hope the director remembers to create the next season. And Lodz said to Lila that he was going to appear in flesh. Iris is alive, since the wheel of the carnivale we never saw her again. What happened to Jonesy? Is he really dead?! OMG! I need the rest of it! This is a drug to me and it stopped in the climax! To finish I can for sure say that everyone wants the same has I do. If the director can see this PLEASEEEEEEE make another season!
Artimidor Federkiel Ah yes, only the good die young. Whether it's James Dean or a multiple award winning HBO show, the wisdom applies in both cases - the demise of the latter of course thanks to the lack of paying viewers, and what doesn't make considerable profit is canceled regardless of quality. Thus Daniel Knauf's exquisitely conceived and meticulously prepared mystery show "Carnivàle" ended already after two out of the planned six seasons - but posthumously it has gained the nimbus of immortality among the fans, just like good old Jimmy. Maybe it's a good thing, as "Carnivàle" ended on a very high note, which seems difficult to top. And while there are also cliffhangers and some open questions when it is all over the main storyline of what Knauf referred to as "the first book" is concluded and key answers are given. Knauf also provided documents on character backstories and hinted on what might have happened in further seasons, so the interested fan will at least find a bit of satisfaction by searching the internet.So what is the fuss all about? In a way "Carnivàle" can be described as John Steinbeck's realistic "Grapes of Wrath" meets Stephen King's fantasy/horror hybrid "The Stand". Yet while the series has many elements of both great epics, reducing it to these elements doesn't do its ingenuity justice. Yes, there's the American dust bowl of the 1930s featuring prominently and there's an apocalyptic confrontation with supernatural elements taking place, but in between and at the heart of it all lies a portrayal of a historic carnival with its superbly developed characters rarely seen in this intensity on the TV screen. Don't look for superheroes though, fast action or a firework of effects. Powers and dilemmas of the chosen are only revealed and understood bit by bit. The show actually excels in a beautifully slow paced exploration of mystery themes with breathtaking cinematography and intensely atmospheric musical pieces, there's a small shocking dose of horror added, all woven into an intricate mythical tapestry that provides the necessary depth. All those things are to be enjoyed even more the second time around. As for the casting: With "Management" the show has one of the most fascinating mystery "characters" (well, that's all you need to know for now), the legendary "Twin Peaks" dwarf Michael J. Anderson gets his starring role here and fully delivers, then there's the always impressive Clancy Brown, Nick Stahl in his best role and Patrick Bauchau plays the enigmatic Professor Lodz and partly even steals the show. If you have time for character development and want to take in a whole magical world, then "Carnivàle" it has to be. Enjoy it, learn to appreciate what a wondrous feat Daniel Knauf accomplished with these 24 episodes. And shed a tear for that day when HBO traded away wonder for reason - and called it quits.