Carnivale 11-23 *SPOILERS*

[LightPhoenix]

Holy crap!

Evil Iris is just great! Nice to see more of their story. I was shocked she burned down the church.

And poor Ruthie... I thought Lodz was gonna force him to reveal himself. I bet the snake prevented Ben from healing her - he brought back the dead cat way back in the first episode.

Nice to see the group is behind Samson for the most part.

And I just want to say, I love the writing for Lodz and Lyla. I don't think I hate anyone more in the show, and that's the way it's supposed to be.

 

[Jamdin]

This series keeps you on the edge of your seat. The thought of Iris burning down the church with the kids in it never once entered my mind. And that moment when Justin didn't know if he should kill or kiss her was priceless.

I knew after Ruthie kicked Lodz out that he was going to get revenge. It's ironic that she was bitten by a snake.

Carnivale makes soap operas look tame...

I cannot wait for the season finale next week.

 

[Aulayan]

Well, one thing to remember. To give life, he must take life.

He took Ruthie out to the middle of nowhere. Now, maybe he is unable to do that large of a job right now, no training.

Or there wasn't enough life out there for him to heal/rez her.

 

[LightPhoenix]

I'm not convinced Lodz would do such a thing simply for revenge. I suspect Management told Lodz to kill Ruthie. After all, review the timeline - Lodz talks to Management, tells Lyla he's going into town for business, buys the snake, and they put it in with Ruthie's dresses. In fact, Lodz says something before Samson walks in, and I can't remember what it was, but it raised my warning bells.

It's possible Ben just couldn't revive her because he isn't strong enough, and that's how Lodz and Management are going to tempt him to learn, and ultimately try and corrupt him. In fact, that's what I think that's what was happening to Scudder as well, in the Old World - they were trying to bend him to their will. Additionally, I don't think Scudder isn't out to harm Ben, but he's trying to protect him. After all, he forced Lodz out of Ben's mind, he counselled Ben in the confession booth... in fact, I don't think we've ever seen Scudder do anything malicious toward Ben.

 

[Fast Learner]

Or there wasn't enough life out there for him to heal/rez her.

That was my take.

 

[RatPunk]

I'm not convinced Lodz would do such a thing simply for revenge. I suspect Management told Lodz to kill Ruthie. After all, review the timeline - Lodz talks to Management, tells Lyla he's going into town for business, buys the snake, and they put it in with Ruthie's dresses. In fact, Lodz says something before Samson walks in, and I can't remember what it was, but it raised my warning bells.

It was something to the effect of "It's the only way to reach the boy."

 

[LightPhoenix]

It was something to the effect of "It's the only way to reach the boy."

That's it. So I highly doubt it had anything to do with Ruthie at all, except for that she was close to Ben. Though I guess that makes it seem more like Lodz's idea than Management's.

 

[Tauric]

I have a vastly different interpretation of what will happen.

I think Ben will heal Ruthie, but kill Apollonia in doing so. In the previews of next week's show it showed someone closing her eyes.

I do think that Scudder (or Scutter?) is not out to hurt Ben. I think Ben is just confused about what is happening in his dreams.

The thing with Iris took me completely by surprise. I thought it was one of the townsfolk that burned down the church. Justin may have the power, but Iris is the real child of darkness.

I can't wait for season 2, I'm so glad this show is on HBO, where it can take its time unfolding.

 

[busker]

I don't think Ben will be able to help Ruthie, but for a different reason than has been mentioned. Let's look at Ben's healing so far: a kitten, a child, a simpleton. Everyone Ben has healed has been an innocent. Ruthie, however, is an unrepentant sinner. For example, she said, "No one tells me how to behave in my bed, not even the Lord." This show is very big on religious themes and for him not to able to heal Ruthie has got to go beyond something as simple as there not being enough life around. If he can't use his power on her, it almost certainly has to be for a reason that fits in with the theme of the show.

-busker

 

[LightPhoenix]

This show is very big on religious themes and for him not to able to heal Ruthie has got to go beyond something as simple as there not being enough life around. If he can't use his power on her, it almost certainly has to be for a reason that fits in with the theme of the show.

You raise a point I hadn't thought of before, and I really should have, given Ben's rant about immorallity before he fled her wagon. On the flip side, does Ben even still have his powers, since he sinned? Or does he actually still have them, since he was repentant?

To tell the truth, I think I would be a little disappointed if it were either of those reasons. I was hoping for Ben's side of the story to be that God accepts everyone, because God is merciful and forgiving, even those who choose not to believe. As opposed to Justin's side, which seems to be more that God is cruel and vengeful.