Carnivale

Favorite
130
HBO (ended 2005)

USER EDITOR

walrus_8463

User Score: 153
Carnivale
8.8
out of 10
User Rating
2,422 votes
99

SHOW REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Episode Guide

S 2 :  Ep 12 Aired 3/27/05
go
HBO GO
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
VUDU
Buy
S 2 :  Ep 11 Aired 3/20/05
go
HBO GO
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
VUDU
Buy
S 2 :  Ep 10 Aired 3/13/05
go
HBO GO
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
VUDU
Buy
S 2 :  Ep 9 Aired 3/6/05
go
HBO GO
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
VUDU
Buy
S 2 :  Ep 8 Aired 2/27/05
go
HBO GO
Subscription
Amazon
Buy
iTunes
Buy
VUDU
Buy
See Full Episode Guide

Show Summary

Carnivale. The credits alone were the most costly and timely to make. The show does not lack in the quality that the credits bring. Set in the 1930s Dust Bowl, 18-year old Ben Hawkins finds himself all alone in this world when his mother passes on. But a travelling Carnivale takes him in. We also see the story of Brother Justin, a priest who is trying to find his way in the world. Little do Ben and Justin know, but they are to fight in a biblical battle. With help on the side (Ben with the carnie folk (Sofie, Libby, Apollonia, Ruthie, Samson, Lila, Lodz, Management) and Justin with his sister, Iris) they find out which side each are on and try to battle with the other for what they believe.moreless

Cast & Crew

Clea DuVall

Clea DuVall

Sofie
Toby Huss

Toby Huss

Felix Dreifuss
Patrick Bauchau

Patrick Bauchau

Professor Lodz
Clancy Brown

Clancy Brown

Brother Justin Crowe
Adrienne Barbeau

Adrienne Barbeau

Ruthie
Tim DeKay

Tim DeKay

Clayton Jones
See All Cast & Crew

Carnivale Listings

Full Listings
Monday
No results found.
Tuesday
No results found.
Wednesday
No results found.

Fan Reviews (99)

SUBMIT REVIEW

  • now they`ve duped US!

    8.0
    By dibspeacock1, Mar 26, 2013
    have enjoyed watching the great depth and mystery of the first series and am looking forward to watching the second BUT have had my enthusiasm dampened by what I have read on here .I am to be disappointed as were the rest of you. these people would have been lynched back in the DustBowl Era!!

    Worcestershire, .

  • Loved it but....

    10
    By FX, May 14, 2012
    There was really nothing to complain about this show when it played. My only complaint was that it didn't keep going.

  • Good vs evil and a touch of magic and a lot of dirt.

    10
    By hegehalvorsen, Jun 24, 2011
    This is by far the best show I have ever seen. I loved it from the start. I was hooked right away. I've just seen it for the second time on DVD and it was actually better the second time. When you know what is going to happen you pick up more of the details than the first time around. Still a bit upset it was only produced for 2 seasons. Would've been great to the the whole 6 that was planed. I am also impressed with the fantastic cast they put together. Everyone is so good in this. Clancy Brown is fantastic here. So creepy! If you haven't seen Carnivale do it now but make sure you have got plenty of time. You'd wanna watch the next episode right away...moreless

  • During the 1930s Ben Hawkins is picked up by a traveling canivale after his mother passes away. He travels with them only to find out that they know more about him and his healing ability then even he does.moreless

    10
    By xnightmar3x, Mar 22, 2011
    a great depiction of what the 1930s were like. i don't normally watch HBO or any of its shows but Im very much glad i have had the pleasure of watching this one. 2 different stories that slowly come together. i have seen many movies and TV shows, and in my opinion this is right at the top with the best of the best. i really liked the casting for the show as well the story. this show just draws you in and gets your attention with its strange atmosphere of the carnie world as well as the church. i highly recommend it.moreless

  • My friend lent me season 1 of this show, and I was quite reluctant to watch it. It sat in my living room for almost a month. Then one night I was bored and put in the first episode. Now, one week later, I have watched both full seasons!moreless

    10
    By paulbehin, Sep 16, 2010
    Carnivale may very well be the best television series I have EVER watched. As I said, I was quite ambivalent about throwing in the first episode, but after that, I was HOOKED! The sets, the casting, the performances, all top notch. What really captures you though, is the storyline. Hands down it is one of the most compelling, intense stories I have ever witnessed. The mythology, the battle betweeen good and evil, and the twists and turns you run into along the way are all thought provoking, brilliantly written, and addictive. Honestly, I've read a lot about how it was too "out of the box" for general audiences or that the story threads were "far too complex" for the average viewer. However, I would have to disagree with all of that, this show and it's plots are easily accessible to the "average viewer." This show had one downfall and one downfall ONLY, and it had nothing to do with ANYTHING in the production. The failure of this show was in the marketing. I'd heard of it for years and even remember seeing trailers on HBO for it. However, the advertising never even came close to making me want to watch the show. If anything, it made me write it off as something to be avoided. However, as soon as I began watching, I was hooked. As I said, I went through all the episodes in the span of a week, I just couldn't stop watching.

    That's the tragedy of this show. One of the greatest shows of all time in my opinion, fails to get an audience, and I truly do believe it was due to poor marketing. Anyone that's thinking of watching the two available seasons, I would highly recommend you do so. The only thing that will disappoint you about the series is that it didn't have a chance to continue and tell it's entire story.moreless
See All Fan Reviews

Latest News

  • 10 of TV's Scariest Shows 2
    WATCHING THROUGH OUR FINGERS

    10 of TV's Scariest Shows

    Here are 10 shows that people lost sleep over, along with the most frightening episodes that terrified us the most.

    By Louis Peitzman, Oct 27, 2010

  • July 18, 2006 DVD Releases 41
    THE SECOND SEASON OF CARNIVALE IS A FAVORITE THAT TOPS THIS WEEK FOR MOST, BUT WITH TONS OF FAMILY-FRIENDLY RELEASES OUT, WE'RE SURE EVERYONE WILL FIND A GOOD REASON TO GATHER AROUND THE TELEVISION. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, AMAZING STORIES, AND THE PRETENDER.

    July 18, 2006 DVD Releases

    By Melissa Toutjian, Jul 12, 2006

    • See All News

    Watch Full Episodes: Carnivale

    See All Full Episodes

    Photos

    See All Photos

    Forums: Carnivale

    See All Posts

    Related Shows & Movies

    Contributors

    Become a contributor
    More
    Less

    More Info About This Show

    Categories

    Drama, Fantasy, Suspense

    Themes

    back from the dead, biblical disaster, characters with hidden agendas, end of the world, ensemble cast

    TV.com Properties | Shows | Movies | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | Web Series | TV.com Blog
    | Closed Captioning | Rating Guidelines | Mobile

    CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

    © CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use