Carnivàle

Carnivàle was an American dramatic television series produced by HBO. Created by Daniel Knauf, it starred Nick Stahl and Clancy Brown. The show ran from 2003-2005.

The series is a period drama set in the United States during the Great Depression. It has an overarching story about the battle between good and evil as well as the struggle between free will and destiny.

Overview

At the beginning of the first episode, the carnival's manager (a dwarf named Samson) says:

"Before the beginning, after the great war between heaven and hell, God created the Earth and gave dominion over it to the crafty ape he called man... and to each generation was born a creature of light and a creature of darkness... and great armies clashed by night in the ancient war between good and evil. There was magic then. Nobility. And unimaginable cruelty. And so it was until the day that a false sun exploded over Trinity, and man forever traded away wonder for reason."

This quotation offers a glimpse into the show's subject matter and framework.

The story consists of two main plot lines that are slowly converging. The first involves a young man with strange healing powers named Ben Hawkins, the "creature of light," who joins a travelling carnival when it passes near his home in Milfay, Oklahoma. Soon thereafter, Ben begins experiencing strange dreams and visions, and finds himself on the trail of a man named Henry Scudder, a drifter who crossed paths with the carnival many years before... and who apparently possessed unusual abilities similar to Ben's own. Scudder is eventually revealed to be Ben's father.

The second plotline revolves around a Methodist preacher, Brother Justin Crowe, the "creature of darkness," Ben's opposite and his ultimate nemesis. Justin is also learning the extent of his strange powers, which seem to include the ability to bend human beings to his will, and to make their sins or "greatest evils" manifest in the form of terrifying, traumatic visions. Justin experiences surreal, prophetic dreams similar to those of his young counterpart.

As the story progresses, the carnival travels west toward California and a confrontation seems inevitable. The westward movement parallels the migration of the Okies (migrant workers and itinerant laborers) from Oklahoma to California during the Dust Bowl era.

Samson also initiates us into the second season, saying:

"On the heels of the skirmish Man foolishly called the war to end all wars, the Dark One sought to elude his destiny... live as a mortal. So he fled across the ocean, to an empire called America... but by his mere presence, a cancer corrupted the spirit of the land. People were rendered mute by fools who spoke many words, but said nothing... for whom oppression and cowardice were virtues... and freedom, an obscenity. Into this new land, the Prophet stalked his enemy... until, diminished by his wounds, he turned to the next in the ancient line of light. And so it was that the fate of all mankind came to rest on the trembling shoulders of the most reluctant of saviors."

In the second season opener, Ben meets the mysterious figure known as Management, the heretofore unseen presence that controls the carnival, and gives Samson his often stupefying orders. Management is actually a man named Lucius Belyakov, Ben's predecessor and the previous creature of light. Belyakov shows Ben a vision of the first atomic test near Alamogordo, N.M., and tells him that the devastating explosion he's just witnessed is "the final link in a chain of events that is unfolding even now. YOU must break that chain." The only way to do that, Belyakov tells him, is by destroying the preacher Ben sees in his visions.

Meanwhile, Justin (who's begun delivering weekly sermons over the airwaves via a local radio station, eventually drawing thousands of Okies and migrants to the site of his new ministry outside Mintern, California) is approached by a man named Smith, who identifies Justin as "the Usher" and tells him that, in order for him to attain his full measure of power and thus fulfill his destiny, he must kill Henry Scudder, the previous creature of darkness.

Fortunately, Ben eventually finds Scudder and brings him to Belyakov, who forces him to reveal the identity of Ben's opposite... Belyakov's son, Alexi (Justin and his sister Iris were raised by a minister named Norman Balthus, and given their new names, after their mother — Belyakov's wife — was killed in a train derailment). Belyakov then attacks Scudder, forcing Ben to kill him. At that point, all of Belyakov's knowledge and power passes on to Ben, who proceeds to begin searching for his nemesis.

The second season ends with a dramatic confrontation between Ben and Brother Justin in a field outside New Canaan, California.

The show mixes Christian theology with aspects of gnosticism and Masonic lore, particularly that of the Knights Templar.

Cancellation

While ratings began agreeably, by the end of the first season they were down significantly. During the second season, the ratings slowly rose toward the end; however, the show became increasingly expensive to produce at the same time. Many fans suspected that, due to HBO's tradition of carrying shows through to an end, and Daniel Knauf's six-year plan, the show would be renewed, but in May 2005, it was leaked that the series would not be returning for another season. HBO confirmed that the show had been cancelled on May 11, 2005.

The show's ending after its second season and leaving so many plotlines unfinished has outraged many viewers. Some of them organized petitions and mailing drives to HBO in an effort to get the show renewed. According to HBO's president this generated more than 50,000 emails to the network in a single weekend.

Had the series continued, several things would have occurred, according to Knauf. The series would have been composed of three "Books", with two seasons per book, spanning several years. (Thus the first book was completed.) Book II (seasons 3 and 4) would have taken place between 1939 and 1940, and Book III between 1944 and 1945 (leading up to the end of WWII and the explosion at the Trinity test site).

According to an article on Mediavillage.com, HBO may be considering developing a movie or miniseries that would wrap up many of these plot lines. The article goes on to state that if the ratings are good, HBO may consider renewing the show for a third season.

The Gospel of Knauf (Avataric Rules)

This information was dispersed to the fanbase on the internet by the show's creator, Daniel Knauf, around the time of the end of season 2. There was much online debate going on about the official "rulebook" of the show's underlying pseudo-religious battle between Good and Evil, before the rules were finally laid out through and through by Knauf.

One Blood;

Two Houses, Light and Dark;

Two Avatars per generation - eldest males, one light, one dark;

An Avatar's nature is random - dark can beget light and light can beget dark;

One Prophet (Dominant/eldest male) per House;

One or more Princes (Ascendant males), depending on the number of generations alive at one time (the whole thing is not altogether different from the ascent of royal families, except... );

A Prince must kill the Prophet with his own hands in order to gain his full measure of power.

Free choice is operative.

Though tougher and more resilient than normal humans, Avatars are still mortal.

The Usher of Destruction - an Avataric Prophet who has been foretold as a harbinger of the End Times. The true function of the Usher has yet to be revealed.

The Alpha was the first Avatar - a female. Her story has been lost since the destruction of the Royal Library of Alexandria by Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria (incidentally, the patron saint of arsonists). The Omega (which had erroneously been considered synonymous with the Usher by most scholars) is the last Avatar - also a female. Her story has yet to be concluded.

In addition:

Any woman who carries an Avatar to term will be rendered insane and infertile (witness Flora Hawkins, Emma Krohn, and Appollonia).

The oldest living Avatar in each House is called a Prophet... all younger Avatars are Princes. When the Prophet dies, the Prince of the eldest generation shall rise (become a Prophet). If he kills the Prophet with his own hands, the Prince receives a Boon (the sum of the Prophet's knowledge and power).

Light Avatars possess the ability to heal (either physically or spiritually) with the laying on of hands, but only by drawing life from surrounding creatures. They can also raise the dead, but only by deliberately taking someone else's life in return for each one they restore. After receiving his Boon, Ben Hawkins exhibits the ability to divine his enemy's location or direction of travel, to conjure places and objects (like the Baggage Trailer) out of thin air, to see through another person's eyes, and to project his consciousness or 'astral body' to remote locations. It's unclear whether these are newly acquired talents, or simply abilities he always possessed but never knew how to tap into.

Dark Avatars have the power to impose their will over the minds of others, to make their sins or "greatest evils" manifest in the form of intense visions, to communicate with and control people subliminally over great distances, and possibly some form of telekinesis as well.

Knauf also revealed the nature of the past relationship between Scudder and Lodz (the two worked a sideshow attraction together in Europe; Lodz was blinded when Scudder unsuccessfully attempted to rid himself of his powers by passing them on to his friend), and the reason Ben was a fugitive when he first crossed paths with the carnival (he accidentally killed a guard after being imprisoned for attacking the bank manager who foreclosed on his mother's land). The Bear that attacked Belyakov on the battlefield was part of Lodz's circus act before he and Scudder joined forces.

Unanswered Questions

Though Daniel Knauf's comments on various message boards have cleared up many of the plot threads left dangling by the show's untimely cancellation, many questions still remain, including:

What is Sofie's ultimate purpose as the Omega?
What is Justin's purpose as the Usher?
What is the significance of the vision Ben and Sofie share, of the two kissing as the atomic bomb explodes in the background?
What is Lodz's agenda? What does he mean when he says that he will soon return 'in the flesh'?
How will Jonesy survive his gunshot wound?
How does "the fate of all mankind" hinge upon the explosion at the Trinity test site?

Episode guide

Season 1 (2003)

|| William Schmidt || Peter Medak || During a dust storm, Lodz tests Ben's powers; Meanwhile, Brother Justin's church burns down under mysterious circumstances. || October 5, 2003 (HBO)

Episode	Title	Screenshot	Writer
Daniel Knauf	Rodrigo Garcia	Ben Hawkins, a chain gang fugitive, is picked up by a traveling carnival after the death of his mother. A California preacher receives signs that he and the boy have mysterious powers.	September 14, 2003 (HBO)
Daniel Knauf and Ronald D. Moore	Jeremy Podeswa	A joke leads Ben to a piece of a puzzle that is his past; Brother Justin has a vision of a new church.	September 21, 2003 (HBO)
Teleplay by Henry Bromell and Daniel Knauf; Story by Henry Bromell	Rodrigo Garcia	The town of Tipton refuses to let Carnivale set up; Ben learns the price of his powers.	September 28, 2003 (HBO)
Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin	Tim Hunter	While the show sets up in a ghost town, Ben has an experience to remember in a mineshaft and one of the carnies is tragically killed.	October 12, 2003 (HBO)
Ronald D. Moore	Rodrigo Garcia	Samson learns the truth about Babylon. Ben participates in "Carnivale Justice"	October 19, 2003 (HBO)
Toni Graphia	Allison MacLean	Brother Justin learns of his past and his destiny. At the carnival, Stumpy is inconsolable over the death of his daughter.	October 26, 2003 (HBO)
Daniel Knauf	Scott Winant	Brother Justin is committed to an insane asylum; Lodz and Samson having a falling out about Ben's errand from Samson.	November 2, 2003 (HBO)
William Schmidt	Jack Bender	Ben tries to drive off the torments of his dreams by staying awake, however he is extremely tired. Justin is released from the mental institution.	November 9, 2003 (HBO)
Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich	Jeremy Podeswa	Brother Justin returns to Mintern to make a new direction for his ministry; Samson tracks down clues from Freemasons.	November 16, 2003 (HBO)
Toni Graphia	John Patterson	With management's blessing, Lodz creates a plan to reach out to Ben; Brother Justin's powers turn sinister; Ruthie dies from a snake bite.	November 23, 2003 (HBO)
Ronald D. Moore	Rodrigo Garcia	Ben meets management for the first time; As Ben kills Lodz, Ruthie comes back to life. Brother Justin and Reverend Balthus discuss his greatest evil; Appolonia sets fire to the trailer.	November 30, 2003 (HBO)

Season 2 (2005)

Episode	Title	Screenshot	Writer
Daniel Knauf	Jeremy Podeswa	Ben goes in search of his father. Brother Justin finds the site for his new temple using recollections from his previous visions.	January 9, 2005 (HBO)
William Schmidt	Jack Bender	Brother Justin and his sister hire a beautiful servant; Samson threatens to fire Stumpy; Sofie finds comfort in manual labor.	January 16, 2005 (HBO)
John J. McLaughlin	John Patterson	As Ben searches for the next link, Justin tends to his flock.	January 23, 2005 (HBO)
Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich	Steve Shill	Lila grows worried of Lodz's whereabouts; Iris tells Justin not to bear secrets.	January 30, 2005 (HBO)
Tracy Tormé	Jeremy Podeswa	Justin is pushed by Dolan to make a difficult decision; Iris gives an important dictation; Ben has a nightmare visit with a mask-maker.	February 6, 2005 (HBO)
Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich	Tucker Gates	The troupe breaks bread with another carnival and Samson makes a deal with an old friend named Sabina; Iris and Justin prepare for their most difficult sermon yet.	February 13, 2005 (HBO)
Story by: William Schmidt; Teleplay by John J. McLaughlin	Alan Taylor	Justin and Iris placate Bishop McNaughton with a hearty breakfast; Ben follows his visions to a seedy hotel with Stroud hot on his tail; Sabina airs her dirty laundry with Lila; Libby and Rita Sue do some self-reflection; Iris displays her strength to Norman; the troupe worries about Sofie; Libby gives Jones special treatment; and Samson is distracted while Management tries to destroy a gift from Ben.	February 20, 2005 (HBO)
Daniel Knauf	Tim Hunter	Ben and Samson have a heated argument; Iris and Justin back a local politician; Rita Sue tries to play hardball with Stumpy's debt collector; Libby shocks her parents with an announcement; Ruthie seeks refuge in the safety of her trailer.	February 27, 2005 (HBO)
William Schmidt (writer)	Rodrigo Garcia	Ben and Jones learn that justice is "for the birds"; Ruthie's visitor leaves lipstick traces; Lila tries to reach Lodz; Sofie finds salvation in her work; Iris takes Eleanor on a picnic; Balthus misses a big chance; Stroud keeps the morphine flowing; and when chaos breaks out during a public speech, Justin shocks the crowd with forgiveness.	March 6, 2005 (HBO)
Tracy Tormé	Todd Field	Libby struggles to stick to her alibi, buckling under the weight of Rita Sue's superiority; Jones goes for a ride with Ben; Ruthie delivers a nocturnal message to Lila; Talbot-Smith intercepts a near disaster for Justin and reneges on a deal with Scudder; Iris discovers a relative; Stroud increases security with his "Knights of Jericho," and Justin does some backseat driving.	March 13, 2005 (HBO)
Story by John J. McLaughlin; Teleplay by Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich	Dan Lerner	When Samson announces the carnival's next stop, Lila challenges his authority; Stumpy and Rita fear dark days to come; and Libby urges Jones to reveal a secret to the troupe. As Justin baptizes his converts, a new tragedy rises to the surface; Ben volunteers to stack firewood; Sofie sees a face from her past; Iris welcomes a chance to sponsor some fun; and Justin is startled by a development in the migrant camp.	March 20, 2005 (HBO)
Story by Tracy Tormé; Teleplay by Daniel Knauf	Scott Winant	(Series Finale) As the world grows smaller, Samson devises a grand plan; Justin forces Iris to face her fear of heights; Stroud wants to protect Justin; Sofie finds herself in the dark; Rita Sue is touched by Samson's generosity; Ben performs his most important healings; Ben and Justin finally confront each other; and the carnival once more shakes dust...	March 27, 2005 (HBO)

DVD releases

HBO Home Video have released both seasons of Carnivàle on DVD. It is rumoured that the lawsuit surrounding the series (see below) was a cause of delay in the release of the second and final season. Both season set feature extra features, including episode trailers, audio commentaries and documentaries.

DVD Name	Cover	Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
Carnivàle Season 1	December 7 2004	March 7 2005	May 11 2005
Carnivàle Season 2	July 18 2006	August 7 2006	October 4 2006

Cast

Nick Stahl as Ben Krohn Hawkins, an Okie; Son of Henry "Hack" Scudder; Avatar of Light
Clancy Brown as Brother Justin Crowe (Alexi Belyakov) {Deceased - Ben Krohn Hawkins}, a corrupt Methodist minister; Son of Lucius Belyakov; Younger brother of Iris Crowe; Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya's father; Avatar of Darkness; Usher of Destruction
Amy Madigan as Iris Crowe (Irina Belyakov), Brother Justin Crowe's older sister; Daughter of Lucius Belyakov; Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya's aunt
John Carroll Lynch as Varlyn "Bird Dog" Stroud, an escaped convict; searcher for and finder of Henry "Hack" Scudder; Brother Justin Crowe's chosen apostle
Ralph Waite as Reverend Norman Balthus (Deceased - Brother Justin Crowe), Brother Justin Crowe's righteous Methodist mentor and former adoptive father; Crippled stroke victim
Robert Knepper as Tommy Dolan, successful radio host who launched Brother Justin Crowe's "Church of the Air"; Framed for arson and murder (actually committed by Iris Crowe)
K Callan as Eleanor McGill (Deceased - Iris Crowe), an Okie; Devoted follower of Brother Justin Crowe
Time Winters as Wilfred Talbot Smith (Deceased - Henry "Hack" Scudder), occult advisor to Brother Justin Crowe
Glenn Shadix as Val Templeton, a councilman in Mintern, California; Brother Justin Crowe's candidate for congress
- Matt McCoy as Ned Munson, another councilman in Mintern California; Assistant to Val Templeton
John Savage as Henry "Hack" Scudder (Deceased - Brother Justin Crowe), previous generation's Avatar of Darkness; Formerly the "Gentleman Geek" of the carnival; Father of Ben Krohn Hawkins
Linda Hunt as (voice) Management, or Lucius Belyakov (Deceased and Ascended - Ben Krohn Hawkins), previous generation's Avatar of Light; Owner of the carnival; Father of Brother Justin Crowe and Iris Crowe
- Michael Massee as (body) Management, or Lucius Belyakov
Michael J. Anderson as Edgar "Samson" Leonhardt, head of the carnival; Former dwarf-strongman; Ex-husband of Sabina Engstrom
Tim DeKay as Clayton "Jonesy" Jones (Shot and left for dead - Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya), leader of the roustabouts; Husband of Libby Dreifuss
- Bill Moseley as Possum, the carnival's cook
- Scott MacDonald as Burley, a roustabout
- Blake Shields as Osgood, another roustabout
Clea Duvall as Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya, fortune teller; Daughter of Apollonia Bojakshiya and Brother Justin Crowe; Currently exhibiting hitherto unknown powers: These powers seem to be like Ben's as she touches Brother Justin and the field around him begins to die
Diane Salinger as Apollonia Bojakshiya (Deceased - Suicide by fire), catatonic fortune teller; Mother of Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya; Could communicate telepathically with her daughter
Patrick Bauchau as Professor Ernst Lodz (Deceased - Ben Hawkins/Part-time possessing Ruthie), blind mentalist; Ex-assistant of Management
Debra Christofferson as Lila Villanueva, the bearded lady; Professor Ernst Lodz' lover
Adrienne Barbeau as Ruthie (Part-time possessed by Lodz), a snake charmer; Ex-flame of Henry "Hack" Scudder; Mother to Gabriel
Brian Turk as Gabriel, a strong man; Ruthie's son
Toby Huss as Felix "Stumpy" Dreifuss, manager of the "cootch show" (strip show); Rita Sue Dreifuss' husband; Father to Libby Dreifuss-Jones and Dora Mae Dreifuss
Cynthia Ettinger as Rita Sue Dreifuss, main cootch show stripper; Felix "Stumpy" Dreifuss' wife; Mother to Libby Dreifuss-Jones and Dora Mae Dreifuss
Carla Gallo as Libby Dreifuss-Jones, cootch show dancer; Daughter of Rita Sue Dreifuss and Felix "Stumpy" Dreifuss; Former older sister of Dora Mae Dreifuss; Wife of Clayton "Jonesy" Jones
Amanda Aday as Dora Mae Dreifuss (Deceased - Murdered in Babylon by Stangler), cootch show dancer; Former youngest daughter of Rita Sue Dreifuss and Felix "Stumpy" Dreifuss; Former younger sister of Libby Dreifuss-Jones
Bree Walker as Sabina Engstrom, "The Scorpion Queen" (ectrodactyly) of the rival Daily Brothers Carnival; Ex-wife of Samson
Matthew McGrory, as a giant
John Fleck as Gecko, a lizard man (Season One)
Karyn Steben as Alexandria, conjoined twin of Caledonia (Season One)
Sarah Steban as Caledonia, conjoined twin of Alexandria (Season One)
Don Swayze as the Tattooed Man, a symbolic representation of the Usher of Destruction found in Avataric dreams

Genealogy of Scudder and Belyakov lines

Family	Name	Description
Scudder Line	Hilton Scudder	Husband of Emma Krohn; Father of Henry "Hack" Scudder
	Emma Krohn	Wife of Hilton Scudder; Mother of Henry "Hack" Scudder
	Henry "Hack" Scudder	Son of Hilton Scudder and Emma Krohn; Husband of Flora Hawkins; Father to Ben Krohn Hawkins
	Flora Hawkins	Wife of Henry "Hack" Scudder; Mother of Ben Krohn Hawkins
	Ben Krohn Hawkins	Son of Henry "Hack" Scudder and Flora Hawkins
Belyakov Line	Lucius Belyakov	Husband of Plemina Belyakov; Father of Iris Crowe and Brother Justin Crowe; Grandfather of Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya
	Plemina Belyakov	Wife of Lucius Belyakov; Mother of Iris Crowe and Brother Justin Crowe
	Reverend Norman Balthus	Adopted father of Iris Crowe and Brother Justin Crowe
	Iris Crowe (Irina Belyakov)	Daughter of Lucius Belyakov and Plemina Belyakov; Older sister of Brother Justin Crowe; Adopted daughter of Reverend Norman Balthus; Aunt of Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya
	Brother Justin Crowe (Alexi Belyakov)	Son of Lucius Belyakov and Plemina Belyakov; Younger brother of Iris Crowe; Adopted son of Reverend Norman Balthus; Violater of Apollonia Bojakshiya; Father of Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya
	Apollonia Bojakshiya	Raped by Brother Justin Crowe; Mother of Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya
	Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya	Daughter of Brother Justin Crowe and Apollonia Bojakshiya; Niece to Iris Crowe; Grand-daughter of Lucius Belyakov

Lawsuit

On June 9, 2005 a lawsuit was filed in United States District court by writer Jeff Bergquist. Mr. Bergquist claimed that the creators of Carnivàle did not originate the idea for the show but rather stole it from his unpublished novel Beulah. Mr. Bergquist claimed that HBO and Carnivàle creator Daniel Knauf violated his copyright on Beulah and sought both recognition and punitive damages. The case was dismissed with prejudice on February 17, 2006.

External links

Fantasy television series | HBO network shows | 2000s TV shows in the United States | Great Depression fiction | Fictional carnivals

La Caravane de l'étrange | Carnivale | Carnivàle | Carnivàle | Carnivàle

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