Carnivale Is Back!

[livius drusus]

It's on HBO right now. I knew season 2 was starting soon but I didn't realize it was today. :woohoo:

God I love those opening credits with the tarot pictures and Depression era documentary footage.

[LadyShea]

Huh? I thought the ads said the end of the month. Dammit now I have to wait as I missed part of it.

[livius drusus]

Well, if it's any consolation, it remains as utterly perplexing as ever. :)

[CARLA]

:popcorn: livius drusus,

:popcorn: WOOO HOO..!! Love this show..!! :bow: Thanks for the heads up..!!

HBO.. has it all, love 6 feet under as well...!! :D

[viscousmemories]

I saw one or two episodes of that and didn't get it at all. Nice cinematography, though.

[livius drusus]

I love HBO Sundays too, Carla. It's great programming all around. :weirdtv:

[livius drusus]

Oh my sweet gagging God. :shock:

[CARLA]

:weirdtv: It doesn't come on for another hour here on the WEST COAST..!! :popcorn: Looking forward to it..!!

:cool: I miss OZ...!! :eek: I even got into DOGWOOD, OR IS THAT DAGWOOD THIS SEASON..!! :yup:

The comedy HBO channel has my vote as well...!! :giggle:

Holly shit, I just remembered that DESPERATE HOUSESWIFES IS ON TONIGHT..!! I will have to tape CARNEVALE...!! :weirdtv:

[pzmyers]

Oh, crap. I have something in common with VM: I saw Carnivale a few times, and simply didn't see the point. It's all style with no guts, larded with dwarfs making pretentious pronouncements.

One interesting thing about TV, though: on our recent trip to New York and Philadelphia, we found ourselves seeing the whole area through the lens of Law and Order and The Sopranos. Driving on 95 or walking through Central Park became an odd game of looking for bodies.

[livius drusus]

Oh, crap. I have something in common with VM: I saw Carnivale a few times, and simply didn't see the point. It's all style with no guts, larded with dwarfs making pretentious pronouncements.

You know, I don't disagree, but I sure do like that style.

One interesting thing about TV, though: on our recent trip to New York and Philadelphia, we found ourselves seeing the whole area through the lens of Law and Order and The Sopranos. Driving on 95 or walking through Central Park became an odd game of looking for bodies.

I assume you didn't find any or you would have boasted about it already.

[Blake]

Oh, crap. I have something in common with VM: I saw Carnivale a few times, and simply didn't see the point. It's all style with no guts, larded with dwarfs making pretentious pronouncements.
You know, I have to disagree. It's certainly heavier in its emphasis on style than other HBO shows, but I find the characters very compelling, and I'm hooked by the mystery of trying to decipher whatever very idiosyncratic cosmology underlies it. See, it's a dwarf [sic], he only makes one pronouncement per season (so far, anyhow), and it's crucial information to said cosmology, so I don't find it pretentious.

[Adora]

WOOHOO! That means after this season there's even more to look forward to!

*dances the dance of the happy fangirl*

[LadyShea]

Okay so only three episodes left and it sure looks like they are gonna meet and have a showdown this season. Will there be a third season after that or will they drag everything out yet another 10 episodes?

[livius drusus]

I've been wondering that myself, Shea. I would hope not -- I don't think the story can stand to be dragged out for another season -- but you never can tell.

So far I like this season better than first. We're finally seeing some answers, dammit, and I loved

Ben healing Jonesy from the hideous monstrosity of the tarring and feathering with the knee as a big bonus. It made me happy.

[LadyShea]

A purposeful two season series seems odd though doesn't it? You're right though, this storyline cannot last. I must say, confounding as the first season was, I love the show. It is visually mesmerising and I like the twist on the classic good an evil clash....brilliant making a preacher the devil, IMO.

I learned something that episode. Call me stupid but "tar and feather" has always been used so carelessly I thought of it as a non-deadly prank. Of course had I thought about it for 5 seconds I could have realized it was a serious business. That was graphic and horrifying and I was happy to see him healed as well.

[LadyShea]

I guess it's just me and livius watching this huh?

liv, what do you think "Sofie is the Omega" portends for the finale?

[livius drusus]

Oh man, I have no idea whatall they're talking about. Maybe she'll be the bloody end of Justin or a happy ending for Ben. Maybe she's Mary and mystical pregnancy is involved. I bet her freaky mom puts in some kind of an appearance.

I'm digging how this is all coming together now. What do you think Lodtz is up to? He was Management's bitch, but he's clearly not on the side of the angels. Or is he?

[LadyShea]

Okay, I can't tell who is on what side.

Management was "The Usher's" father. Was Management good or evil?

Scudder was "The Prophet" and the father of Ben who is a healer. Was he good or evil (remember he had the black demon eyes right before he died)?

Ben can heal but something has to die for him to do so. Is his power good or evil?

Lodtz is I dunno what the fuck.

[livius drusus]

Okay wtf? This totally sucks, man. That's not the kind of omega I had in mind.

[LadyShea]

The phone rang at the most inopportune time. What did the demon Mother/Sofie say to the good Sofie?

And Justin's death was very undramatic.

Guess there will be a third season, huh?

[livius drusus]

"This is your house." But when she lifted her veil, the face wasn't her mom's. It was Sofie with big black demon eyes. I'm guessing she brought Justin back to life by killing all the corn, so yeah, definitely a third season.

[LadyShea]

What the hell does "This is your house" mean? It was the only part of the hour I missed so I assumed it was the all important, explanatory part.

Dammit. They can't end on any kind of understanding can they? Oh well, still pretty to watch.

[livius drusus]

I figured it was a I am your father, Luke moment. Embrace your real identity, come to daddy: that kind of thing.

[Bella]

I saw the ads on TV on Sunday, and they intrigued me. I don't have HBO (sob) but I have a friend with TiVo and perhaps she could help me out by recording some episodes for me.

That being said, could you give me the premise of the show?

[LadyShea]

I saw the ads on TV on Sunday, and they intrigued me. I don't have HBO (sob) but I have a friend with TiVo and perhaps she could help me out by recording some episodes for me.

That being said, could you give me the premise of the show?

You would really need to watch it from the beginning, it is very nuanced with many chracters. If you know anyone with HBO on Demand, start from season 1. Maybe they'll release it on DVD.

Basic premise

Young man in the Oklahoma dustbowl is burying his mother when a traveling carnival pulls up to help him, and takes him with them. He has the power to heal, but something/someone else must die...he transfers life. The myterious and never seen carnivale manager, known only as "Management", has said this young man, Ben, was some kind of destiny for the carnival. The carnival has many other people and they all have their own stories.

Scenes of Ben and the carnival are interpersed with scenes of Brother Justin, a preacher who lives with his sister and has a crisis of faith.

Season 1 is devoted to laying out the stories of these two, and the peripheral characters, who are discovering their destinies. There are ancient prophecies, a psychic invalid and her daughter, freaks of all kinds, some hootchie dancers, tent revivals, demons, ghosts. The whole depression era country is a character, even, in a way I can't explain.

The Carnivale website (http://www.hbo.com/carnivale/) has episode guides, should you want to read it all and catch up. I am sure they will rerun all of season two if your TiVo friend will record them for you. Also, it does appear they are selling season one on DVD.

[livius drusus]

Cancelled! (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=televisionNews&storyID=8455148) Now that ain't right. :deepsigh:

[LadyShea]

Oh goddammit I wanted to know what happens next.

[livius drusus]

Me too, Shea. I think it's politics more than anything: the producer signing on to do a Showtime series was far more of a factor that the ratings even. HBO keeps ratings dogs going for years sometimes. Remember Arliss? No? Lucky.