Carnivale - The Complete First Season

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful and creative
Review: In many ways, the best of Television is surpassing the best of cinema. This is thanks to HBO and others having the will to product high quality programs, and to gamble with long story arcs. Some of the professional critics seemed to not grasp the concept of story arc. The season ends with closure, but there are plenty of unresolved mysteries and stories. I look forward to seeing the next season.

Rating:
Summary: Thank You HBO !!
Review: No more needs to be said about how HBO has literally revitalized television, we all know that. What some may not yet know is that, of all their superior past and current offerings (Tales from the Crypt, Sex and the City, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Carnivale takes the prize for the BEST of the best thus far.
Carnivale is incredibly well-written and shot, sporting some of the most intricate, clever and shocking storylines ever put to film. It is absolutely mesmerizing, and for proof of this I suggest episode 5, which is almost hallucinogenic in its visual power.
Obviously the show is not for everyone and is extremely mature on both literal and thematic levels. However, those begging for a hint of entertainment and/or intellectual engagement in the vast wasteland that is network television may find that they've found in Carnivale a dark place of mystery, wonder and horror from which it is difficult to escape (I find myself thinking about each episode long after the TV is dark--and, yes, this show has entered my nightmares more than once!).
This intense and dark drama of apocalyptic visions features characters that pop and visuals that stun. Weave these elements into a haunting and desperate period of American history, the depths of the depression circa 1934, and you have one of the best shows ever made for television.
Imminently re-watchable (so buy the DVDs!) and hightly recommended.
BRAVO HBO!

Rating:
Summary: Totally Addictive
Review: The first thing I said upon finishing this series was "Oh my God, I can't wait for season 2. How can I get HBO?". Carnivale is a dark mix of drama, occult and soap opera revolving around the relationships, powers, secrets and talents of a travelling carnival during the 1930's.
It is well worth the time investment and I highly recommend it to anyone. Once you're done, nothing is answered and you'll go through total withdrawl.

Rating:
Summary: Suprisingly Addicted
Review: When HBO first aired "Carnivale", I had no interest in watching a show about a carnival. Deprived of my "Sex and the City" which was off the air, never to return and "The Sopranos", which takes too long to return, I gave up on television. One day, while home sick from school, my 17 year-old daughter watched a "preview" of Carnivale and was more than excited to show it to me upon my arrival home from work later that day. That was when I suddenly became intrigued with "Carnivale". The story wasn't just about carnies, it was a story about good versus evil; light versus dark; healing versus destroying. Suddenly, I wanted to watch and it wasn't long before I got my wish. New Years weekend, I spent an entire day wrapped up in all 12 episodes of this magnificent show. The acting is exemplary; the scenes are riveting; the storyline is intriguing; the sets are amazing. This show is nothing like what I imagined it to be. It is so much better. Some people have said the show was boring. If you can't deal with actually seeing a prequel before seeing the main storyline, don't bother watching. What can I tell you? I am thrilled with the fact that for once, someone has decided to start a show from the beginning, explaining how things came to be and where it all started. I am anxiously awaiting season 2, which starts this month and even more thrilled to be adding this set to my video collection.

Rating:
Summary: Beyond worth it the money.
Review: When I first watched this show I adored it. Battle for good and evil, good music and cinematography, Clancy Brown, etc.
But my concern with the DVD was the expense, and the desire to watch it over and over. I am currently on viewing four in the last month, and I can attest to the fact that it actually improves upon rewatching. Though other reviewers complain regarding the pacing (and I did the first time through) it is truly where the genius of the series lies. Unlike more traditional serials, the writers do not need to show all their cards immediately, and while on the first watching I was saying things like "don't dwell on this subplot, tell me about the bear," it makes the inevitable explanation that much sweeter. Also, unlike the X-Files, the show has proven to me in only 14 episodes (time of this review) that there will not be a forgotten symbol or plot point. The black goo will not be different in two seasons, and while I may know more about the tree tattoo by the end, it's meaning will not change or be lost.
In the first episode when Hawkins gets his tarot reading from Sophie. She asks him if he wants his past, present, or future, and he dismissively says it doesn't matter. He then gets a reading which is clearly his past. But each time you go back and watch the first episode, it is clear that it actually doesn't matter. That what she tells him is true of the past, present and future.
And because I will watch it again and again, looking for and finding new things, the original cost is more than worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Where's my fix?
Review: You must prepare yourself to begin watching this show. Make sure you can concentrate your entire being and dive head-first into your television. You will be transformed. This show has the ability to take you into another dimension - it sucks you in. When you find others who watch the show, you'll find that your pupils will dilate & you'll have difficulty catching your breath just from the excitement of talking about this show with anyone who "gets it". It's so multi-layered - there are so many questions - so many ways for the viewer to interpret each scene. It means something different to each person who watches it. I've seen each episode at least 5 times - because that's about how long it takes to catch everything they manage to cram into each show. It doesn't get stale, and the actors bring so much life and wisdom to their characters. I found myself actually having dreams about this show in an attempt to sort out its mysteries. And I'm not an X-Files/Twin Peaks fan, so don' t think you have to be to love this show. I was in such a panic that HBO might not air a second season, which would have been just criminal. It's beautiful, tragic, mysterious, bewitching, spooky, and downright addictive. With Sex & the City gone, I was beginning to wonder what I'd do on Sunday nights. Carnivale gives me an idea...