The second season of HBO's Depression-era gothic--John Steinbeck by way of Tod Browning--picks up where the first left off. Professor Lodz (Patrick Bauchau) is dead. Ben (Nick Stahl), the show's protagonist, appears to be the culprit. Samson (Michael J. Anderson) helps him dispose of the body. Later he tells the other carnival workers that Lodz "took a powder." Lila (Debra Christofferson) doesn't buy it. Meanwhile, Sophie (Clea DuVall), who lost her mother to fire the previous year, feels unmoored without her guidance. A few states away, Brother Justin (Clancy Brown) harbors ever greater delusions of grandeur--and inappropriate thoughts about his sister, Iris (Amy Madigan). In "Alamagordo, NM," he decides to establish a temple, which he dubs Jonestown, er, Jericho. At the same time, life amongst the carnies, who are heading towards Justin's California, is becoming increasingly tense. Ruthie (Adrienne Barbeau), for instance, is starting to see dead people--like Lodz--and Stumpy (Toby Huss) is no longer able to keep his gambling in check. As with the first season, the action continues to alternate between the carnival and the congregation. What binds the two is a man named Scudder (John Savage), who has connections to Ben and Justin. Although writer/creator Dan Knauf had planned to tie things up between seasons three and six, HBO did not renew Carnivàle a second time. Nonetheless, a surprising number of questions are answered, like the identity of "Management" (voiced by an un-credited Linda Hunt) and whether Ben and Justin will have a final showdown. The answer to the latter question is: Yes, they will--and there'll be casualties. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

(HBO Dramatic Series) As the final war between Good and Evil looms two powerful avatars divided by fate share one mission. For Ben Hawkins and Brother Justin, the race is on to find the elusive Henry Scudder--and the fate of the world depends on who finds him first.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:3 Audio Commentaries with Creator Daniel Knauf, Executive Producer Howard Klein, Director Rodrigo Garcia and cast members Clancy Brown and Clea Duvall.
Documentary:"Magic and Myth: The Meaning of Carnivale"--half-hour documentary exploring the apocalyptic writing and mythology behind the show. Interviews with the creator, executive producer, and writers and directors of the show to get their take on the mythology, as well as independent contributors who have examined the show?s characters and the archetypal roles they represent.
Featurette:"Creating the Scene" Featurettes--Find out how Carnivale's creators brought the Daily Brothers show -- and its Scorpion Lady, He/She and Praying Mantis-to vibrant life!
Other:Museum of Television and Radio panel discussion with cast and crew

This is more then likely the best TV show I ever seen. The stories are fairly intense and you cannot miss a moment. But the production vaule is equal that of a movie. If anyone hasn't seen this yet, you MUST!

I have just spent 3 full days in glued to my TV watching this amazing series. Each hour long program was riveting making me continue to the next hour then the next. Set in the dirty thirties with a travelling carnivale reminiscent of Barnum and Bailey but creepier. You get the feel for the times with the poverty in the dustbowl, I almost felt dusty after watching. The person who did the casting for this was great! The character of Ben is strange yet compelling, the parallels to prophets in many religions would ne more apparent to someone who knows the stories better than I (being interested in religious mythology be not enough to study the bible). Brother Justin is well crafted and seems conflicted as to whether he is good or evil, I think evil is winning with a push from his seemingly more evil sister (she may turn out to not be so evil if they make another season). My favorite character, Sophie, is horribly changed in the end of season two, Why is there no season three!!--? The battle needs to continue. It is hard to review giving details without ruining the show for any interested viewers. Any one interested in less than mainstream programming with a well crafted story that sucks you in and makes you feel like you are there, this is for you. Plan to watch when you have a lot of spare time as you can't watch just one at a time.

Excellent series-too bad HBO was too cheap to at least have one more season or more. Excellent service also. Thanks

This easily has to be one of the greatest creations of all time. I've never been so engrossed in a show as I was with this one. I'm not really into the whole magic/freak show thing, but this show doesn't have anything to do with that. It is really hard to describe as it is a mix of fantasy/reality, love/hate, faith/satanism. You just have to try it.

I've never been so sad to see a series end. Please HBO, BRING THIS SHOW BACK!

Like others, I thought the cinematograhpy was exceptional, the character development was commendable and the setting alluring. However, the second season left me quite disappointed. Not only did it become increasingly, gratuitiously gory, but the plot thinned considerably. And the final episode? How was Ben suddenly able to choose who he wanted to take life from? One of the biggest problems he faced throughout Season 1 and Season 2 was that he had trouble directing the siponing of energy to one specific person. Remember how he made Libby leave when he was taking energy from the vultures to save Jonsey? If he had the power to choose the vultures over Libby, then why did he make her leave?

Also, I felt like the writters decision to make Sofie evil at the end was a weak attempt at giving the final epoisode a clever twist. If she was at risk for becoming evil because her father was evil, then why wasn't Ben faced with the same challenge since his father was the "usher"? I resent having spent so many hours watching a show that destroys the most well-developed and likable characters at the end in an disjointed battle between good and evil where evil essentially prevails.