Carnivale

2003 • HBO
4.8
210 reviews
TV-MA
Rating
Eligible
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Season 2 episodes (12)

1 Los Moscos
9/1/05
In the Season Two premiere, Brother Justin's word reaches a new 'apostle'--prison inmate Varlyn Stroud--and occultist Wilfred Talbot Smith, who pushes him to seek out the elusive Henry Scudder.
2 Alamogordo, NM
16/1/05
Stroud hits the road on his mission; Ben seeks out a former associate of Scudder's named Fr. Kerrigan; Lila challenges Samson's easy dismissal of Lodz; Management confides in Ben about a secret fear; and Justin makes late-night visits to Chinatown.
3 Ingram, TX
23/1/05
As Ben searches for a mysterious next link, Justin tends to his flock. Meanwhile, Stroud investigates a mining accident that left all but one man dead; and Sofie refuses to read Ben's tarot...but the cards have an agenda of their own.
4 Old Cherry Blossom Road
30/1/05
A relative of Ben's reveals to him dark family secrets--and the face of death. Stroud reports on his progress to Justin, who now sees the threat Ben poses; Balthus bears witness to more of Justin's abuse of power.
5 Creed, OK
6/2/05
Justin is pushed by Dolan to make a tough decision; Iris gives an important dictation; Ben has a dark visit with a mask-maker; Ruthie shares her visions with Sofie, who decides to help Ben; and Justin receives a gift that gives him a new perspective.
6 The Road to Damascus
13/2/05
The troupe breaks bread with another carnival and Samson makes a deal with an old friend; Iris and Justin prepare for their most difficult sermon yet; Stumpy panics as Rita Sue goes on a charity mission; and Ben and Sofie dance around family issues.
7 Damascus, NE
20/2/05
Justin and Iris placate Bishop McNaughton with breakfast; Ben follows his visions to a seedy hotel with Stroud hot on his tail; Sabina airs her dirty laundry with Lila; and Samson is distracted while Management tries to destroy a gift from Ben.
8 Outskirts, Damascus, NE
27/2/05
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; Ruthie seeks refuge in her trailer; and Smith interprets a bad sign for Justin.
9 Lincoln Highway
6/3/05
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; and when chaos breaks out during a public speech, Justin shocks the crowd with forgiveness.
10 Cheyenne, WY
13/3/05
Libby struggles to stick to her alibi, buckling under Rita Sue's superiority; Ruthie delivers a nocturnal message to Lila; Talbot-Smith intercepts a near disaster for Justin and reneges on a deal with Scudder; and Justin does some backseat driving.
11 Outside New Canaan
20/3/05
When Samson announces the carnival's next stop, Lila challenges his authority; Stumpy and Rita fear dark days to come; Libby urges Jones to reveal a secret to the troupe; and Justin is startled by a development in the migrant camp.
12 New Canaan, CA
27/3/05
In the series finale, as the world grows smaller, Samson devises a grand plan; Justin forces Iris to face her fear of heights; Ben performs his most important healings; and the carnival once more shakes dust...

About this show

The final conflict between good and evil is about to begin. This HBO series focuses on the battle as it plays out against a pair of unusual backdrops: a traveling carnival working the American Dustbowl circuit, and an evangelical ministry in California.

Ratings and reviews

4.8
210 reviews
A Google user
15 January 2014
A great series that had its cord cut just as it hit its stride. I highly recommend it for the way the story's complexity evolves but would not recommend it for the inevitable disappointment when we're left adrift at the end of season 2, when it finally hit its stride.
10 people found this review helpful
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Sean A
15 July 2018
Loved the slow, dreamy pace of the first season. The second season was very hit or miss because it seemed like the powers that be wanted more story.
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Matt Mathews (Deuce)
3 August 2021
Amazing! Sad to say, it belonged to a television era that required both the audience and the production team to be attentive enough to see the innuendos and pay attention to the plot lines and character development.
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