It's time to review another TV series, and this time I've picked one I consider highly underrated. It's called Carnivàle, was aired on HBO between 2003 and 2005, and it offers a view into the life in a traveling side-show in the United States of the 1930's.
Dust Bowl, Freak Show, Great Depression
Okay, maybe it's just me, but I've always found the decade of the 30's highly fascinating. I would even go as far as saying, it has not been covered enough in popular culture, or at least not nearly adequately. What comes to mind is a particular season of American Horror Story called Freak Show, a series with a similar setting, but so poorly made that I'm even ashamed I mentioned it here.
Carnivàle on the other hand manages to combine the themes and feels of those times ... Well, I couldn't possibly say whether it's realistic, but it does convey the sum of the moods and feelings I've come to associate with the 1930's: The constant economic crisis taking its toll on the overall attitude of the working people. The subsequent distrust in institutions in general. The apparent unraveling of the world's order, which still seems archaic from our perspective. And in this intended preservation of "normalcy" comes the confrontation with the "side-show freaks", who are awed and feared at once, representing all things that are different. While at the same time, the circus itself is made up of just people, working hard just to get by.
Surreal, Supernatural, or Just Unusual?
While Carnivàle is not specifically focused on supernatural beings or events, it does carry a strong element of the surreal. Real psychic abilities standing in contrast to the ubiquitous element of the make-belief world of the circus show. Premonitions and mental manipulation are always present, without dominating the plot. Conceptual entities, such as God and the Devil take part in the story line, even if just indirectly, and through the characters' actions.
This extremely rich subtext is so deep, that it felt to me like there was a whole new hidden level to the series.
Very High Production Standards
One of my favorite aspects of Carnivàle was its visual appeal. The faded colors, the worn and wrinkled clothes, the constant dust blowing through the scenes, all just reassured my personal preconceived image of the 30's. Also, the music, the language, the hairstyles... everything seems so accurate. As it turns out, I was not the only one impressed by this show's production design. The studio invested much effort into making every detail as accurate as possible, for which it has received a lot of praise from critiques.
Too Good For Six Seasons?
Actually, the only bad thing I can name about Carnivàle is the fact that it was cancelled after the second season, though the script had been written for six. Unlike most TV shows, this was not for the usual reason of poor quality. On the contrary, the reasons given for its cancellation was that it was much too complex for your average viewer to enjoy. While the first season boasted a record sized audience, this couldn't possibly be sustained. The other reason for discontinuing the series was the high cost of the large cast and on-location shooting.
Of course, the cancellation prompted a huge campaign of loyal fans, who tried to petition HBO to continue, but to no avail. So up to now, the second season leaves the viewers with a number of unresolved cliffhangers. This unfortunate fact, though, should not deter anyone interested in getting a taste of the 1930's from watching the two seasons. They may actually be the best and weirdest impression of that decade. (Should you know a better one, I'm all ears!) So if you feel like getting a first glimpse, take a look at the trailer:
Take a Look at the Previous Posts in my Binge On This Series:
Weeds: The Hillarious Alternative to Breaking Bad
Mr. Robot: Hackers, Freedom, and Mental Issues
Das Boot: A Real German WWII Series
Black Sails: Pirate Lore Galore
Twelve Monkeys: Time Travel and Pandemic
The DocsMX 2020 Film Festival