Carnivale? What do you think?

[The Grumpy Celt]

I do not have HBO and so I’ve not seen this series. It’s not available at Video Rental places, so I can’t sample it. It’s selling for about $100 – but that is a wad of cash.

Have you see it and what are your opinions? Don't be afraid of spoiling me.

 

[celt]

Well, I liked your name so much that I had to reply. Plus, I have just finished watching the first season on DVD with my family.

Overall, we decided as a family not to bother about getting or watching the second season. Still, if a friend of mine recorded it or it came to me on some other version of a silver platter I would probably give it my time.

Me: I love David Lynch. I'm not averse to weird, I prefer weird. People say David Lynch is weird for weird's sake and I disagree. He makes sense. I loved Twin Peaks. I love his movies.

Negatives of the show: Obnoxious amounts of sex. Almost none of it furthering the plot in any way. I don't mind sex. You can bathe me in it (this show does), but please make it relate to the plot or character development or whatever. I think many HBO shows avoid being licentious and lean towards art and creativity. This show is an exception to that statement. I'm being a bit over the top but characters in the show would just look at each other while doing their daily routines and begin breathing heavy and grunting. Like, standing in line for groceries and the teller says "a dollar fifty please" and the buyer starts going "Mmm, ung ung mmmm". My wife and I often found ourselves looking at each other saying "WHAT?!!"

Also, there's a palpable feeling of X-filesy "We ain't EVER gonna explain this. Hell, we have no idea ourselves! Hahaha!" going on.

One more, I felt like I generally understood from the beginning what was going on. I didn't like that. The show didn't push me around at all. I knew who was good and who was evil. I'm not claiming to be a genius. Most of it was just too thinly veiled.

Positives of the show: Beautiful beautiful direction. The camerawork is sweet. The shots are framed so richly and creatively that you often feel like you could grab a random still from the show and it would be a great piece of art.

The acting is excellent. Most of the time people behave in a subtle and believeable fashion. Many of the actors left a strong enough impression on me that I would feel glad to see them in other shows or movies.

Whelp, I have more I could say but I'm being called for supper. Feel free to respond or ask questions and I'll certainly chime back in.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Haven't seen it.

Got it for X-mas.

Still watching Firefly. This can't be any worse I'm thinking.

 

[ddvmor]

I watched the entire first season on FX but I'm still not sure whether I liked it or not. I also have no clue about what's going on. I shall probably watch the second season when it turns up in the UK.

Probably.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I watched the first espisode and taped the rest.

I never got around to watching them to give you an idea of how inspired I was.

 

[Fast Learner]

Me, I love it. Really enjoyed the first season, and the first episode of this second season was outstanding, making me really excited for the rest of the season. There was lots of nifty supernatural stuff.

It would make a really outstanding RPG, I think.

 

[Umbra]

Carnivale.

The first season is currently being broadcast on free-to-air TV in Australia and both my partner and I are loving it. We are six episodes in and look forward to it each week - a must watch. It is not made for those with MTV attention spans and is slow revealing the megaplot but it's gorgeous, excellently acted, seemingly well located in time and place (but I'm not a Yank so take that with a grain of salt) and is a pleasure to watch.

There is sex portrayed but I would never say an obnoxious amount and I think it is all directly related to the characters involved and the themes of the show i.e. never gratuitous.

Perhaps you should check locally if anyone you know has it or has access to it so you can see one episode before you decide. And have you checked the website?

 

[LightPhoenix]

The first season of Carnivale has been described as a prologue of sorts by Lynch and others involved with it. The story is very much supposed to pick up in the second season, where they had originally planned to begin. That said, it doesn't necessarily excuse some of the faults of the first season.

As for nothing getting explained, I kind of doubt that. In the second season premiere alone we find out who Management really is. Of course, it's relation to other people (one in particular) is still a bit fuzzy. I kind of expect that to be resolved by the end of the second season, based solely on the direction it looks like it will take.

 

[Stone Angel]

I love this show I have just watched season one in about three days leaving me very tired but I was addicted.

Positives: Lots of supernatural stuff, think Something Wicked This Way Comes+The Stand+Grapes of Wrath= Carnivale. Cinematography really reminds me of O' Brother Where Art Thou kind of yellowy and grainy which is very appropriate for the depression times.

Negatives: Some stuff they just kind of leave hanging and you don't think that they will ever explain. Someone else said that there was a lot of sex for no point and I agree. There is a just a tad that is actually crucial to the story.

Me likey.


The Seraph of Earth and Stone

 

[Red Spire Press]

I went through a phase of rabid TV series rentals through December and Carnivale sticks out as my favorite by far, and in fact one of my favorite shows ever. The era and environment are wonderfully gritty and fully supportive of the show's dark themes, the characters are interesting and compelling to the last, and the manner in which it handles the supernatural elements is fantastic. IMO, the antagonist is one of the best of any show in recent history -- the struggle between his evil nature and good ambitions is delicious to watch. The Twin Peaks references (Samson, the heavy use of curtains, etc) and general David Lyncheqsue vibe just draws me in deeper.

I wish I could get HBO up here. I'm trying desperately to get ahold of Season 2 episodes from somewhere, somehow...