Plymouth Librarians' Choice

Carnivale by Daniel Knauf
DVD Collection - Main Level - TV CAR

Set in the 1930’s dustbowl, Carnivale tells the tale of Ben Hawkins an escaped convict who is coming to terms with the mysterious powers he has had all his life. After his mother passes away and he loses his home, he is swept up by fate in the form of a traveling carnival. The ensemble is led by the carnival manager Samson (who many might recognize dancing in the red room in Twin Peaks), as well as a cast full of distinct characters like Ruthie the snake charmer, Sophie who reads fortunes by communicating with her comatose mother, and Lodz the blind mentalist who might have more sinister plans for Ben.

While all the various character interactions are part of the charm, the plot is as epic and sweeping as they come, foretelling the last great age of magic that will end an age-old battle between a being of light and darkness. However be warned, Carnivale resembles the structure and pacing of a book with a slow progression revealing a much bigger picture. So don’t expect a fast pace or all your questions to be answered right away. However, the show rewards those who wait, culminating in a spectacular second season finale. Unfortunately the finale would be the last episode of the series which is quite disappointing considering series creator Daniel Knauf had a six season plan in mind. Nevertheless, Carnivale is a unique and worthwhile series that has garnered five Emmy’s and a legion of disgruntled fans who want a conclusive ending.