Blog 4: Carnivale

Carnivale is definitely different than many of the shows on air today. New viewers may be put off and confused due to the narrative complexity of the show. Tuning into Carnivale in the middle of the season will leave many viewers confused. There are many characters to follow and one can easily get confused by the various events going on in each character’s life. The plot is also complex which might cause resistance in new viewers. The main storyline seems to be about Ben; he learns he has magical healing powers and then sets out on a journey in search of how he got them. But the other characters also have their own problems going on simultaneously (“Black Blizzard”).

I was really not interested in the show—it was too weird for me. I like shows that are funny, and that are easy to watch and understand even if I miss a few episodes in between—in essence, episodic programs. I’m not usually a fan of indie movies, and that is exactly what this show reminded me of.

Carnivale could be categorized as dark and disturbing, which may be turn off for a lot of people. Let’s just say that if Carnivale was a movie, it would be rated R. There is nudity and a few instances of foul language. It is definitely not a show to watch with children (“Black Blizzard”).

All the characters in the show have strange qualities. There is Gecko, a lizard man; Samson, the well-dressed midget; Sabrina, the scorpion woman, and Ruthie, the snake charmer. The only semi-normal characters are Ben (despite his magical powers) and Brother Justin. This may attract some viewers, but may be a turn off for others. Some people enjoy watching shows that they feel that they can relate to or shows that are more realistic, while others like more science fiction or fantasy type shows. Obviously viewers who are looking for the latter are more likely to enjoy Carnivale than the first group (Folk).

Though the show might not be for everyone, there are plenty of people who loved the show. When HBO decided to cancel the series after the second season, “fans unleashed a barrage of 50,000 emails.” The show definitely has its appeal for those interested in historical based television programs. Carnivale did a great job at depicted the 1930s Dust Bowl in America. It cost $3.5 million per episode for the correct clothing, cars, locations, sets, and props. Though it made a great setting, it was also the reason the show had to be cancelled—it was costing far too much to go on for four more seasons. The opening credits were also very expensive to produce (Folk).

It seems that the producers and writers of Carnivale were really aiming to create a program unlike anything already out there. And they have definitely succeeded.

Works Cited:

“Black Blizzard.” Carnivale. Television.

Folk, Moe. “Slights and Slants: Visual Representation in Carnivale.”  Print. 26 Jan 2011.

Blog 4: Carnivale

With an exception to Lost, a title adequately fitted because regular viewers could get easily ‘lost’ or confused when watching the show, I have never seen a television show present so many complexing subplots. Carnivale is interesting to say the least, but the many profound stories could complicate the viewers’ knowledge and could cause many interpretations.

Some challenges that could cause resistance or confusion to new viewers could be due to a number of things. First, there is a myriad of characters. Within the episode of “Black Blizzard,” I counted about five main characters and about ten minor characters; however, these minor characters could have their own plot in a different episode causing them to be the main character as well. A multitude of personalities is bound for the show to have elaborate plots.  “Black Blizzard” had five different plots in five different scenes in a duration of 45 minutes: the location of the carnival setup; the house of the woman who sleeps with Samson; the deserted house with Ben Hawkins; Sally’s Café; and the church. These scenes are completely unrelated to each other; the only things that they have in common are the regional settings, the dust storm, and social distress within the characters. Many shows don’t become popular or gain a strong fan base until midway through the season, and with Carnivale’s various plots and characters this could easily discourage new viewers. Furthermore, the show depicts hard times in America during the 1930s, revolving around the economic crisis, the Dust Bowl, and famine. Although very interesting for some, other viewers might become exhausted of the depressing themes. Father Justin state’s about the children that “…no one wants to endure the harshness of the world, so they dismiss it…” (Carnivale 2003). The same goes for TV viewers. Other subjects I saw in the episode was the reoccurrence of women having no self-respect or dignity for their bodies because of their troubles. A woman has sex with Norman and his employee for money, possibly because she has no income or she commits adultery because she wants to satisfy her other needs. Sofie, too, sleeps with a man she barely knows because she finds comfort away from the stresses of her disabled mother and the loss of her husband. Some people don’t enjoy melancholy themes, while others just don’t have access to the HBO network.

On the other hand, Carnivale alludes to a mystical world of the past where the Bearded Lady meets her doom in a dust storm. Many have heard about the stage-show monsters of the circus which entice our curiosity, so who wouldn’t be interested in this? Other abnormalities in the series involved the magical powers harnessed by a boy named Ben Hawkins. The show appeals to an audience that yearn for sci-fi and historic adventures. In addition, the design, make-up, and costume artistry is far superior than its contemporaries. In the opener, the art appeared to be made for a movie. One could assume that it took much time and effort to produce those images, and the art is consistent through the show. Even though the plots are confusing, they are also engaging. In contrast to what I stated before, some people could like the many obscure subplots rather than just a simple story-line. It’s different strokes for different folks, and I think some of these reasons are attributed to Carnivale’s loyal fans.

“Black Blizzard.” Carnivale. 5 Oct. 2003. Television.

Week 4 Blog Post

Narratively complex television shows present a unique set of challenges and rewards to both viewers and creators.  Often receiving far greater critical appreciation than viewer appreciation, these programs nevertheless tend to develop cult-like followings and evoke strong responses from their regular watchers.

Carnivale follows in the footsteps of narratively dense and sometimes uninviting shows like Twin Peaks and Babylon 5, which have been praised for their cohesive storylines but sometimes critiqued for their inscrutability.  It won great critical acclaim, and its pending cancellation sparked one of the greatest fan campaigns in contemporary television, yet its ratings were consistently low despite its many narrative rewards.

What particular challenges does Carnivale present that might cause resistance or confusion in new viewers?  What aspects of it might account for the tremendous loyalty of its fans?