Carnivale revisited: is this HBO's strangest show?

"Carnivale follows the exploits of its titular carnival as they travel across the American dust bowl in the 1930s. At the beginning of the series, these nomadic showpeople pick up Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl), an ex-con with a mysterious past (and inexplicable powers). Interwoven into the show is the contrasting story of Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown), a preacher who finds himself on the receiving end of nightmarish, foreboding visions which convince him he is God's messenger."

"Throughout much of the series, these two storylines never physically intersect, except within the confines of dreams shared by both Hawkins and Crowe. Their contrasting tales make tangible the existential, mythic battle between good and evil resting beneath Carnivale's literal narrative. It's reminiscent of the broad, pulpy scope of early Stephen King novels or, perhaps more relevant to Carnivale, Twin Peaks' surreal lore."

"What makes the show special is the way this otherworldly tone is welded on to what is, at its core, a very traditional ensemble piece. Screenwriter Ronald D Moore helmed much of Carnivale's first season before leaving to create Battlestar Galactica, and his sensibility—one deeply attuned to character, fascinated by human folly—informs much of the season's slow burn."

Carnivale premiered on HBO in 2003 and was cancelled after two seasons despite protests from 50,000 devoted fans. The show follows a traveling carnival across the American dust bowl during the 1930s. Ben Hawkins, an ex-con with mysterious powers, joins the carnival while Brother Justin Crowe, a preacher experiencing divine visions, follows a separate path. Their storylines rarely intersect physically but connect through shared dreams, representing an existential battle between good and evil. The show combines mythic, surreal storytelling reminiscent of Twin Peaks with character-driven ensemble drama. Screenwriter Ronald D Moore's influence emphasizes human complexity and the carnival's texture before he departed to create Battlestar Galactica.

Read at www.theguardian.com