Search - Carnivale: The Complete Second Season on DVD

Nancy I. (Nimsy) from WISE, NC
Reviewed on 8/29/2010...

We loved this series! Each episode deepened the mysteries surrounding these unusual characters, members of a seedy carnival of the dustbowl Depression era. It was hard to know exactly who was good and who was evil (except for a few who were obviously one or the other). As the series neared its premature end (canceled after only 2 seasons), we were waiting for the final 'reveal,' but like many series, it didn't come to a thundering halt with all questions answered. Nevertheless, this one is a keeper to be watched over and over, since each viewing clarifies at least one mystery. Definitely recommended!

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Jeanne B. (MeanJeanne) from PITTSFIELD, MA
Reviewed on 2/5/2010...

Great series, watched it on TV on HBO when it was originall on.

0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Robert H. from FAR ROCKAWAY, NY
Reviewed on 9/3/2009...

Excellent follow up to the first season. The finale could have been a little better. Overall I highly recommend this mini-series.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Jessica J. (JessyBird03) from MOORE, TX
Reviewed on 11/6/2008...

The first season was hard to beat, but Season 2 takes a pretty good stab at it. This show is very addicting. I couldn't stop watching it.

The plot twists and turns enough to keep it interesting, but not too much that you forget the beginning episodes. In fact, it ties most everything up pretty neatly at the end. While, of course, leaving room for Season 3 to start.

I was unhappy with some of the choices the writers made, but it is still overall a GREAT show. It does show a lot of R (possibly x) rated scenes, so watch it after your kids have gone to bed.

5 of 7 member(s) found this review helpful.

'Bout Darn Time"!!!

D. Ware | albuquerque, nm United States | 05/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Season two of this amazing series saw a shift in gears as far as the direction of the show. Season one, while a masterpiece, suffered critical hits for taking too long to develop, and thus, perhaps lost some viewership. The not-so-well-kept secret is that time it took to craft the characters is exactly what true fans of the series enjoyed.

Some of the deep mystery and magic is gone from the second season, in favor of moving the plot along, but series creator Dan Knauf was so adept at his craft that he never allowed the series to become ho-hum and typical like other network series that delve into fantasy and science fiction.

What ultimately killed this series was two-fold. 1. It lost viewers who didn't want to be bothered with trying to figure the mystery out instead of having it handed to them on a platter and 2. executives who lost their vision as to what the show stood for and didn't recognize the art for what it was.

This show has created a cult following matched by few others in it's genre. True fans who cry out for more while keeping the vision alive in our minds. Hopefully one day our wishes will be fulfilled, but until then we have memories and two excellant seasons to enjoy."

Bring Back Carnivale!

Dan Pope | W. Hartford, CT USA | 05/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The wildest, wackiest, most inventive series in TV: stranger than TWIN PEAKS, CARNIVALE has a feel all its own, unlike anything you've seen. It makes a sort of dream-sense, although it would be difficult to try to explain to the uninitiated what it's all about. I love this young actor, Nick Stahl, who plays Ben Hawkins. He looks like he walked out of a 1930s postcard, as does Jonesy, Sampson, Sophie and the rest of the carnies (although Adrienne Barbeau looks out of place: too much plastic surgery perhaps? or not enough?). That HBO cancelled this series after its second season finale is lamentable."

"When it comes to livin', dying is the easy part..."

Michael Crane | Orland Park, IL USA | 07/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There has never been a show that has had such an impact on me like HBO's "Carnivale." You can only imagine the heartbreak I went through when I found out that the show would not be renewed for another season. In a world where there is so much pointless garbage on TV with no substance, no emotion and no thinking behind it (again, this is not always a bad thing), it was refreshing to see something that challenged us to the core like "Carnivale" did. At long last, the second season has found its home on DVD.

It's hard to describe such a show without giving too much away, but I will do my best. The first season left off with Ben Hawkins (an unlikely savior and healer) and Brother Justin (a man who once served religion has now found his place along darkness and an ultimate evil)finally realizing their path in life and knowing who they really are. Ben is scared and instructed by the mysterious Management on what he has to do in order to prevent the end of the world as we know it, but Ben is not so sure who is using him and who he can trust. Yet, he knows that the key to the final battle between good and evil is his father, Henry Scudder. The problem is that Brother Justin is also looking for Scudder, as he has some terrible, awful plans of his own for the world. These two are states away, but finally they will meet and the fate of the world ultimately depends on who ends up coming up on top. And that's only a part of the overwhelming and forceful epic that is known as "Carnivale."

The second season is much more darker and unsettling than the first, and it never slows down. As good as the first season was, the pace was very slow--but it had to be in order to set the pieces into place. A lot of things that didn't make sense in the first season will come to light in this one. The scenery, the look and feel of it all really cements this as a memorable and solid series that was quite possibly ahead of its time. Not only does this show rely on great and hypnotic writing, but also the actors who give it their all and bring their characters to life. With a show as complex as this, you have to have the writing and the characters, and this show has no problem delivering the goods on that front. The DVD contains all 12 episodes and some very cool "behind the scenes" features that are worth seeing, along with commentaries on selected episodes.

"Carnivale" is not a show for everybody. It's extremely dark, brutal and the themes can get pretty disturbing and unsettling, especially since it deals with the religous and spiritual world. If you are a fan of the first season, then this is a must-see, even if we may never get another season ever again. Sure, not everything will be answered, the last episode does leave us hanging, but all in all this season is very satisfying and is even more exciting and thrilling than the first. If you're looking for something you've never seen before, check it out. I'm just happy the second season has finally found a home. I just wished that such a great show had more of a chance. I don't think I'll ever see anything that will ever surpass this, and I believe I will think that way until my last breath. -Michael Crane"