These days, we have a wide variety of live-action fantasy shows available to watch whenever we want. Whether it’s The Wheel of Time on Prime Video or Game of Thrones on HBO, we’re constantly taking high production values and prestige writing for granted. But there was a time when the genre had little representation on TV. However, HBO has never been afraid to take bold swings in its storytelling.
In fact, one of the earliest fantasy shows that resonated with viewers was produced by the network. Unfortunately, the two-season series has been forgotten as the genre exploded. In case you haven’t heard of it before, I’m talking about Carnivàle, a true fantasy masterpiece which remains one of the most ambitious series that HBO has ever made. And if you remember it being good, I think it’s better than you remember.
‘Carnivàle’ Is A Forgotten Fantasy Epic That Still Holds Up Today
Carnivàle was ahead of its time when it debuted in the early 2000s, and that’s why it, sadly, didn’t last long. Despite ending prematurely, Carnivàle managed to feel like one cohesive story because each of its two seasons was conceived as “Book One” and “Book Two,” with their own distinct arcs. That structure has definitely benefited the show and allowed it to age better than many other fantasy series, especially ones that require you to keep up with several seasons until there’s finally a payoff to long-running storylines.
However, that’s far from the only reason that Carnivàle has stood the test of time. It also holds up today because of its expansive world-building, which is just as masterful as any other fantasy series in the modern era. Carnivàle isn’t divorced from our real world, like The Wheel of Time. It’s grounded in actual history and capitalizes on American folklore through its Dust Bowl setting during the Great Depression. As someone who appreciates history, I have always found that to be a major draw. The series follows a traveling carnival and centers on Ben Hawkins, a drifter with healing powers, and Brother Justin Crowe, a preacher with prophetic visions.
From there, it builds organically around religious ideas that were especially prevalent throughout the country in the 1930s. While the show’s lore didn’t reinvent the wheel, it does something arguably even better. It fuses Christian beliefs with folklore and other forms of mysticism. There aren’t many TV shows like it. The series hints at an expansive mythology offscreen, but by leaving much of it unexplored, it maintains a mysterious tone that other shows lack.
‘Carnivàle’ Is Better Than You Remember
You might assume that the plethora of fantasy shows that have come out since Carnivàle would make it feel less appealing, but that’s not the case. These days, we’re used to big-budget shows with dark and gritty visuals paired with cutting-edge special effects. Carnivàle’s impressive production design stands out for its sepia-washed aesthetic. It makes The Wheel of Time or The Witcher look generic in comparison.
At the time, it was a shame when the series ended long before it could reach its originally planned six seasons. However, in hindsight, it might have been for the best. Unlike some shows that lasted a few seasons too long to their detriment, like Game of Thrones, its early ending actually worked in its favor and allowed it to maintain its high quality until the final episode. Even in today’s landscape of prestige TV, the HBO series is a fantasy masterpiece. If you’ve never seen Carnivàle, you should check it out.
SOURCE: COLLIDER