Carnivale

2003 • HBO

4.8

210 reviews

TV-MA

Rating

Eligible

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The Complete Series episodes (24)

1 Season 1, Episode 1

9/14/03

Season-only

In the pilot episode of this one-hour drama series, 18-year-old Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl) is taken in by a traveling carnival and begins to display mysterious powers. Meanwhile, a preacher begins to have a similar experience.

2 Season 1, Episode 2

9/21/03

Season-only

A practical joke leads Ben to a piece of the puzzle that is his past. Meanwhile, Brother Justin and his sister Iris are going through their own changes--including an effort to turn a Chinese brothel into a house of worship for migrants.

3 Season 1, Episode 3

9/28/03

Season-only

When authorities of the poor town of Tipton refuse to let the carnival set up, Samson takes Jones's advice and reinvents the troupe as a religious revival show--with Ben as its headliner. Meanwhile, Brother Justin makes a promise to the migrants.

4 Season 1, Episode 4

10/5/03

Season-only

On the road to Babylon (Texas), the carnies come face-to-face with nature's fury. Lured by clues about his past, Ben reluctantly follows Lodz into an abandoned house, where the seer tests Ben's powers.

5 Season 1, Episode 5

10/12/03

Season-only

As Brother Justin tries to make sense of a major catastrophe, the carnival rolls into Babylon, a tapped-out silver-mining town with a luckless history--and few visible inhabitants.

6 Season 1, Episode 6

10/19/03

Season-only

Thirsty for payback, the carnies get caught up in an obscure yet fascinating phenomenon known as 'Carnival Justice.' Ben's dark adventure ends, and Lodz is there to welcome him back. Meanwhile, Brother Justin ends up wandering in the wilderness.

7 Season 1, Episode 7

10/26/03

Season-only

While Brother Justin rediscovers his 'birthright' on the banks of a river, his sister Iris gets some unexpected support from a radio reporter. At the carnival, Rita Sue and Stumpy argue over their family's future; and Ben and Ruthie hunt for snakes.

8 Season 1, Episode 8

11/2/03

Season-only

Samson sends Ben on a road trip to enlist a new attraction, where he encounters a rival. Sofie debates whether to defy her mother and join Libby on the bally; and Lodz and Samson have a falling out over Ben's errand.

9 Season 1, Episode 9

11/9/03

Season-only

Ben tries to stave off the torments of his dreams by staying awake, but the lack of sleep is taking its toll. Samson looks to drum up new business by resurrecting several tried-and-true scams; and Lodz's psychic act gets a jolt.

10 Season 1, Episode 10

11/16/03

Season-only

Brother Justin returns to Mintern to chart out a new direction for his ministry. At the Carnivale, Samson's loss is Lodz's gain; Libby catches on to her mother's deception; and Sofie accuses Apollonia of 'breaking the rules.'

11 Season 1, Episode 11

11/23/03

Season-only

With Management's blessing, Lodz hatches a devious plan to 'reach' Ben. Sofie reads Stumpy's cards and doesn't like what she learns; and Ben learns that some wounds aren't easy to heal.

12 Season 1, Episode 12

11/30/03

Season-only

In the Season One finale, Ben faces a life-or-death crisis that prompts him to turn to Lodz for advice. Instead, he ends up meeting with Management for the first time. Meanwhile, Balthus and Brother Justin contemplate the former's 'greatest evil.'

13 Season 2, Episode 1

1/9/05

Season-only

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.

14 Season 2, Episode 2

1/16/05

Season-only

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.

15 Season 2, Episode 3

1/23/05

Season-only

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.

16 Season 2, Episode 4

1/30/05

Season-only

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.

17 Season 2, Episode 5

2/6/05

Season-only

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.

18 Season 2, Episode 6

2/13/05

Season-only

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.

19 Season 2, Episode 7

2/20/05

Season-only

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.

20 Season 2, Episode 8

2/27/05

Season-only

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.

21 Season 2, Episode 9

3/6/05

Season-only

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.

22 Season 2, Episode 10

3/13/05

Season-only

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.

23 Season 2, Episode 11

3/20/05

Season-only

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.

24 Season 2, Episode 12

3/27/05

Season-only

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

January 15, 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

Sean A

July 15, 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.

Matt Mathews (Deuce)

August 3, 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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