Blog 4: Carnivale

Carnivale was a show that started on HBO and after just a short period of time, got cancelled. Carnivale had a very good concept behind its series. Yet it faced a few challenges that could have been greatly detrimental to the length of its life on television. Carnivale had characters that were extremely complex and made it quite hard to relate to for many people. While it could have been intriguing to some viewers, it was not the kind of show that could be watched on a daily basis nor was it a show that could “ease the mind.” The scenes were fairly intense and had very little moments of light heartedness. With that being said, if one episode of Carnivale was missed, it was hard to get back in touch with what happened. The plot consisted of such a complexity that many viewers got turned off after a few times. While this show was interesting, many viewers did not want such a high maintenance show in their daily lives. Aside from the obvious plot complexity and effort it took to keep up with the material, this show was very costly to produce. The background scenery was very in detail. While this is important to a show because of the idea to set the scenery, this was too much. The production cost outweighed the popularity of the show. The costumes on the show were very detailed, and very tedious to put together. There was not just an outfit to put on, or make up to touch up. The costumes that the characters had to wear were a process,; each and every time. This made it hard to shoot scenes over and over again, as well as keep up the maintenance throughout the shoots. There was a lady with a beard, and a man with alligator skin. In order to keep reproducing the same look for each specific character, a tedious and expensive process is involved each time a scene is shot (Carnivale 2003). While a lot of shows today have a tendency to be racy and partially inappropriate, Carnivale had a couple scenes in the episode that may have been almost offensive to a few audiences. There was a midget who slept with a prostitute in one scene. It ended very vividly with the woman’s breasts outside of the sheet as the man is placing money on her counter to leave. In another scene, a woman is not raped, but crying after having sex during a dust storm. When he looks at her she replies “It’s okay, there was a storm.” this implies so many things about a widows morals, and what a man will do. This is virtually making sex casual, and establishing the validity of such a simple act by a simple answer of the weather. When this show was produced, this could have easily been a way to turn off viewers quite quickly. People can be surprisingly picky about the things they allow on their television. And with such harsh concepts, in addition to the frequently inappropriate scenes, it is understandable that this show got kicked to the curb so quickly.

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

“Carnivale”

Carnivale is a little different than your typical shows you see on the air today. And if you are new to show and just started watching it you might find it confusing due to the storyline complication of the show. Carnivale is one of those shows where you have to watch it from the first episode all the way till the last in order to get a full understanding of it. There are a lot of characters to follow and each character basically has their own mini story within the show. The general plot is about a guy named Ben. He soon finds out that he has these magical healing powers and tries to figure out how he got them, while the other characters try to handle their own issues. The plot seems that much more confusing for new viewers just tuning in. Carnivale could seem a little disturbing and strange, which can cause people to change the channel in some cases. There’s a lot of adult themes within the show and isn’t a show from young kids to watch.

The characters in the Carnivale show all have unique qualities. There is Samson, the midget; Sabrina, the scorpion woman, and Ruthie, the snake charmer; Gecko, the lizard guy. The only characters that are even close to being normal are Ben with the healing powers and Brother Justin. Viewers who like shows that are fake and full of fantasies may love it, while others may dislike the show because they want a more realistic show that they can relate to.

This show was not appealing to me at all. It was confusing and there was a little bit of everything everywhere in the show from the characters to the issues it just wasn’t my kind of show. I’m into shows that are easy on the mind and a little less complex and don’t really tie in from show to show. So that way I can still enjoy the show if I miss one. I am more of a comedy fan, watching shows like family guy.

Though this show might not be appealing everyone, many viewers actually found this show pretty interesting and good. When the show actually came to an end and HBO shut it down there were numerous of emails sent out to keep the show alive. The show definitely has its appeal for those interested in historical based television programs. The cost to make a Carnivale episode can get up to a couple million dollars for all the car, clothing, props and the location. Since the show had to put out all that money it had to be cancelled because of the funds it was taking to produce it. Everything down to the opening credits was costly. The creators of the Carnivale wanted to create something different for their audience in which they did and got a lot of positive reviews.

Works Citied

“Black Blizzard.” Carnivale. Television.

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

Carnivale Blog 4

After watching my first episode of Carnivale, I feel as if I understood very little. The show takes the viewer through many different story lines, many of which begin in previous episodes. Each storyline that was viewed in the episode “Black Blizzard” took the viewer through a confusing rollercoaster of events. The problem with many storylines is that I found it hard to decipher who the main characters of the series were. Also, without prior knowledge of the characters I found it hard to understand what was really going on. I felt that as soon as I began to follow one character, the episode panned to a different character. This complex narrative sort of turned me off to the episode, as I couldn’t grasp the storyline very well.

One thing that may have made it harder to follow for a major audience was that everyone in the series was always depicted in a dirty or dark manner. For instance the show follows a circus, so naturally the characters in the series are all general freaks or people of bizarre nature. To some, this could be considered an interest point but to most I feel as if it is a turn off.

The fact that the series is set in the 1930’s Dust Bowl of America also made it harder to relate to. As an avid television watcher, I like things that I can easily relate to and understand. Although the concept of the time and setting as a back drop is interesting when it was coupled with a very confusing storyline and grotesque set of characters it helped create a very dirty and dark show that I felt was not something I particularly wanted to watch.

It came as no shock to me that the show was cancelled after two seasons. I found it extremely interesting that the cost per episode was part of the reason for cancelation. It cost HBO somewhere in the range of 3.5 million dollars to produce each episode (Folk). When HBO decided to cancel the show, they were met with the large disapproval from Carnivale’s fanbase. HBO received 50,000 emails explaining why they should continue the show (Folk). Along with the emails, many websites protesting the decision were created.

Carnivale may not have appealed to most viewers because of its dirty appearance and hard to follow storylines. It seems as though the few followers who understood and followed the show felt a deep attachment that I could not find in the single episode that we viewed in class.

Work Cited

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

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

Carnivale

Narrative complexity functions to envelop audience members in an alternate world far different from their own where they can be emerged in a different time, setting, and atmosphere. In the show Carnivale, a magical young man by the name of Ben Hawkins is followed on his life journey, and the mystical, mythical, and magical instances around him serve to entice the audience member’s oldest, deepest fantasy. Set in the early 1930’s, Carnivale introduces a complex plot that was both highly expensive to maintain in its scenery and props and extremely difficult to follow in its plethora of subplots. Although the dark fantasy can be enjoyed and appreciated by many viewers, Carnivale’s deep and convoluted storyline makes for a confusing show.

In the episode “Black Blizzard,” challenges that can cause confusion in new viewers arise in a variety of places. For instance, the sheer amount of characters with slightly developed story lines raises the issue of perplexity and misunderstanding. Ben Hawkins has healing powers and gets tricked into driving into the desert by a blind man who revels in making Ben uncomfortable with tales of his past even though he hopes to nurture Ben’s powers and teach Ben how to use them. Sofie Hawkins, a widow who has sex with the owner of Sally’s Café, has a telepathic mother. Samson, a little person who manages the entourage, pays a woman for sexual favors and then berates her for sleeping with another man for less money (“Black Blizzard”). The outlandish plots that follow each character may tie together at the end of this complex show, but keeping up with each history and story proves to be rather difficult and tedious.

On the other hand, the mythical nature of the characters on the show, paired with the sci-fi excitement that comes along with supernatural and healing powers make for a visually and mentally stimulating program. The snake man, bearded lady, and conjoined twins all add a twisted and mystical flare that keeps a viewer glued to the screen. The sheer weirdness of happenings in the show and the disjointed nature of all of the stories and plots strive to keep an audience member interested and captivated in order to tune in to the following episodes. Furthermore, the fact that the story is pre-planned and laid out makes the actual fans of the show completely devout, because they had to have watched every episode for everything to come together in the end and make proper sense. The immense amount of money that went into each episode was not in vain, as the producers tried to make every effort to recreate the early 1930’s so that the viewer could lose himself in the television program.

It becomes apparent that the dark fantasy encompassed in the show Carnivale makes it a “fascinating, entertaining, coarse look at a magical yet real world” that can be appreciated by a few, but not enough to call for the 3.5 million dollars that went into making each episode (Folk, 12).

Works Cited

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

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

Blog 4: Narrative Complexity in Carnivale

A narratively complex television show has several challenges to attracting and keeping new viewers, and it also has many rewards to viewers that keep them coming back.  A common theme to these challenges and rewards is that many of the things that turn new viewers away are the things that prove to be very rewarding to dedicated viewers.

One challenge is that narratively complex shows can be hard to follow if you’re not paying close attention or if you don’t watch them regularly.  This is because they tend to have complex plot lines that need to be followed over time in order to understand them.  Therefore, it is not easy to jump into the middle of the season and watch an episode.  This is exactly what happened while watching Carnivale in class—I felt that the show could be interesting if I knew what was going on, but I spent most of my time frustrated that I didn’t understand who the characters were or what they were talking about.

Many people watch television simply to relax or to get their mind off stress at work or school, and not necessarily for the narrative quality of the shows.  The average viewer just wants to turn on something easy to watch and to relate to, which does not usually apply to narratively complex shows.  This can cause viewers to get easily confused, frustrated, or bored with complex narratives.

There are some other more specific characteristics of complex narratives that cause viewers to be turned off.  One is that they reject “the need for plot closure within every episode,” which can be unsettling to viewers who are used to the happy endings of conventional sitcoms and dramas (Mittell, 32).  In the episode of Carnivale that we watched, there is no closure to any of the plot lines—we are simply left hanging, wondering what will happen.

Though general audiences tend to tune into conventional sitcoms and dramas, there is still a large enough audience for complex narratives that they are economically worthwhile to produce—and these fans tend to be incredibly loyal to the shows.  Complex narratives tend to appeal more to “a boutique audience of more upscale educated viewers who typically avoid television” (Mittell, 31).  The things that turn general audiences of from complex narratives are the same things that appeal to these viewers.

One example of this is the tendency for “unresolved moments” and the rejection of “continuity between episodes” in narratively complex shows (Mittell, 34).  For new or casual viewers, these can be frustrating, but for regular viewers, they enhance the quality of the show by making it more interesting.  Similar to this, complex narratives “invite temporary disorientation and confusion, allowing viewers to build up their comprehension skills through long-term viewing and active engagement” (Mittell, 37).  Again, this confusion can be frustrating for new viewers.  For viewers who follow the show, however, it is satisfying to be able to figure it out over time.

Another unique reward for the viewers of complex narratives is that because they garner such a cult following, there are often “videogames, blogs, online role-playing sites, and fan websites” related to the show that are created by dedicated viewers (Mittell, 32).  Other viewers can play these games, visit these websites, and participate in online blogs and discussions about the show, therefore taking “an active role in consuming narratively complex television and helping it thrive within the media industries” (Mittell, 32).

Also rewarding to viewers are the complex plot structures, such as dramatic plot twists, that are used in these shows.  Viewers like to “revel in the creative mechanics involved in the producers’ abilities to pull off such complex plot structures” (Mittell, 35).  For those who appreciate the complexity of the narratives they are watching, this is a great reward.  It is hard to know whether Carnivale presents any of these rewards, since I have only seen one episode, but I would imagine that over time I could grow to love the show.

Works Cited

Mittell, Jason. “Narrative complexity in Contemporary American Television.” The Velvet Light Trap. Fall 2006. 29-40. Print.

Blog 4- Carnivale

Carnivale, being a very complex and unique show, possesses characteristics that essentially make its viewers either love it or hate it. The characteristics that would tend to turn people off to the show vary. First, the overall mood of the show is very dark. The characters are not attractive and are always covered in dust or dirt. Examples of this are the conjoined twins, the bearded lady, and the reptile man. All of these factors make the show visually unappealing. Furthermore, almost all of the characters commit some kind of shameful act throughout the episode and are all fairly crude. The episode “Black Blizzard” furthers this mood of darkness quite literally and develops the underlying theme of good vs. evil.  Another aspect of the show that would not be appealing to the average viewer is the storyline presented. Not only is it very complex, but it also refers to topics that may be uncomfortable for a large portion of the audience.  Infidelity, religion, nudity, profanity, prostitution, and the death of children are all major parts of the storyline in this specific episode.  The show serves more to depress the viewer and the fact that this episode ends with a view of the burned legs of dead children furthers this point. Very often, television is used as a means to escape everyday life and the worries that come along with it. Unlike most television shows, however, there is no happy ending to be found here.

Another negative aspect of the show is the complex storyline. It seems as though the viewer must watch the show from the very beginning due to the vast number of intricate characters and plot lines.  This would make it difficult for viewers to join in on the show at any point. If a random viewer happened to tune in one night it seems more likely that that person would be completely lost and would probably not continue on to watch the show.

For those who like the dark tones and unique storylines, Carnivale could be addicting. Those aspects which turn away the average viewer can also pull in those who find the show to be a hit.  The fact that the show ventures into topics that are not the norm in television is one aspect that could set it apart for its loyal audience. The show actually makes the viewer think and really pay attention. Additionally, the lack of censorship, both of language and nudity, as well as topics, makes the show unique. The mystery surrounding the powers of the characters in the show is intriguing and could also draw in more viewers. Furthermore, the overall supernatural aura of the show gives the average viewer an odd feeling, but when presented to the right audience can make it an instant success.  The willingness of the writers of the show to go beyond this world and create a television series outside the norm that explores the supernatural in a new way is really what makes Carnivale so interesting.

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

Blog 4 Carnivale

When watching a new television show, several deciding factors determine whether or not the show is worth the viewer’s dedication and time, including the plot, relevance to reality, or even the intrigue that the show entices. Undoubtedly there remains a need for the show to have a clutch, whether it be the complexity or simplicity of the plot, the genre of the show (humor, drama), or characters present, which draws the viewers into become loyal fans of the show. Carnivale essentially follows the journey of Ben Hawkins, a man who has magical healing powers, who finds himself traveling with a carnival which includes a wide variety of odd characters. While the show is renowned for its dense narrative, making it unappealing to the average audience, it gained an incredible amount of devotion from its fans.

In the episode, “Black Blizzard”, challenges in the show’s production and plot contributes to the viewer’s confusion and ultimate resistance towards the show. Just from the opening sequence, viewers are able to notice that Carnivale contains a cinematic feel, with sepia toned imagery which evokes a Depression era feeling through its “cruel wind, its fog of dust, its torn clothes, and forlorn faces” (Gilbert). While this could contribute to a sense of intrigue, by introducing a new style of television, it mainly causes the audience confusion in its lack of structure- there is no indication as to the story; it only illustrates the time period and setting of the show. As the episode proceeds, the structure of show is revealed- there is a continual switching of scenes and incoherent leaps between different characters and situations. For example, in the first scene, the viewers see Ben watching the twins performing synchronized cartwheels, then randomly switches the scene to show the blind man putting his hand on a glass with shaking liquid, and then to show a school bus in which Betty talks to her mother telepathically. This all occurs within the first ten minutes of the episode, amounting to an increasingly confusing plot-line, which parallels that of a two-hour movie, rather than a continual television series. While the storyline may be confusing, the mere fact that this episode only sets up the show’s overall atmosphere can be overwhelming for the audience, since it does not provide any genuine entertainment or excitement in the viewers. Furthermore, the lack of connection that viewers feel from the show also would result in a resistance towards it, as magical powers, bearded women, and Siamese twins are rarities in society and therefore, empathy for the characters would be difficult to establish. Furthermore, there are a plethora of scenes and characters, each with different stories and questions, yet none of these are ever even partially answered. For example, in one seen, Jonesy enters a room behind red curtains in a dramatized fashion (the camera pans around the room) and says “God damn”; as a first time viewer, this scene was incredibly bewildering and furthered my resistance towards the entire show. Essentially, the numerous plotlines and characters of the show contribute to the confusion and resistance from the audience.

However, despite the show’s complex plot, the show’s inherent creativity and lack of conventional television techniques allows for the immense fan base. For one, the photography and the eerie and dramatic music of the show resemble that of cinema movies, which inevitably allures viewers. Moreover, it is evident that the characters will battle good versus evil, through the help of magical powers, and as stated, “The show doesn’t make it clear which character plays for the light team and which is standing up for darkness, but the two men [Ben and Justin] seem to be moving toward an explosive, biblical confrontation of some kind,” which creates a sense of mystery in the minds of the viewers (Gilbert). The lack of normality of the show is what essentially draws the audience into fervently enjoying it.

Gilbert, Matthew. “‘Carnivale’ atmosphere gets lost in pretentious new HBO series.” Boston.com 09 12 2003: n. pag. Web. 27 Jan 2011. .

Blog 4: Carnivale

With so many genres to pick from on television, for the first time in 2003, HBO ventured out of its comfort zone and into the realms of the paranormal-fantasy world with its premiere of the show Carnivale (“Carnivale”). Coupled with the likes of Twin Peaks, Carnivale mixes the archetype of good and evil with supernatural powers and bizarre characters that made it different from other shows of its time (McKenzie). However, with its seemingly complex plot of events and odd setting and atmosphere, Carnivale failed to deliver to a huge audience, creating loyalty among only some of its viewers while creating confusion and resistance among the rest.

Set in the 1930’s around the time of the Dust Bowl, Carnivale tells the story of a young man named Ben who finds refuge in a carnival filled with some very unusual characters. From a blind mentalist and Siamese twins to a bearded lady, the carnival has it all. On the other hand, Ben soon finds out that he, himself, has his own powers – the power to heal; Ben is also haunted by these mysterious dreams and as the show progresses, the audience gradually finds out the answers to all of their questions (“Carnivale”).

Unlike several shows, Carnivale produces a storyline that is made to capture its viewers and take them into a whole different world where the possibilities are endless. In the fourth episode, Sofie and her mind-reading mother Apollonia make for an interesting duo; Sofie is seen talking without a conversation partner until one discovers that in reality, she is actually addressing her comatose mother, who is talking back through her telepathic skills. In addition, the audience is intrigued by the emergence of Ben’s mystical powers. As the blind man reveals the truth to Ben, the viewers get a good look not only at Ben’s weird power over the Black Blizzard but also his healing abilities through the mere touch of his hands (“Black Blizzard”). Thus, through the mysteries and weirdness presented by the show, the viewers have no choice but to watch even more in order to find out the never-ending questions looming in their minds. As such, Carnivale builds loyalty among its curious viewers who have the ability to open their minds and immerse themselves in a completely different level.

However, the weirdness presented by Carnivale can be a double-edged sword as well. Because it is set during the time of the depression in a grungy carnival, viewers may feel a little disconnected from the show’s atmosphere altogether. People are unable to relate to a life that is set in the 1930’s, especially when most viewers today are teenagers and young adults. The life of a carnival is even more bizarre with the existence of such odd characters and the connection that must be established between the show and its audience is not quite there. Last but not least, too many mysteries and questions can sometimes lead to confusion rather than curiosity, inevitably turning away some of its viewers (“Black Blizzard”).

In hopes of trying to accomplish what previous shows have done before, HBO took the chance and made Carnivale for this same group of viewers. However, weirdness coupled with mysterious plots not only can cause viewers to stay loyal to the show but also turn away the confused others who are unable to understand the storyline. Therefore, Carnivale, in itself, produces a divided audience that can only cater to one rather than the whole.

Works Cited:

“Black Blizzard”. Carnivale. Home Box Office, 2003. Video File.

“Carnivale”. IMDb. 2011. Web. 27 Jan 2011. < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319969/&gt;

McKenzie, Shawn. “’Carnivale’ Review”. Entertain Your Brain. 2003. Web. 27 Jan 2011. <http://www.entertainyourbrain.com/carnivalerev.htm&gt;

Carnivale

Carnivale

There are few narratively complex television shows still running in today’s television programming. They are mainly known for playing on HBO. This is primarily because they are quite divergent from the typical American shows today. What makes them divergent from the norm is that they are telling a more complex story than most shows. For example, the George Lopez show always has an ending to each episode. Whereas in these more narratively complex programs, you have got to watch the next episode if you want to fully understand the one before it. The complex story lines are known for drawing in the viewers and making them come back for more. Carnivale is definitely an example of one of these shows.

Carnivale was not given outstanding ratings, nor did its ratings agree with the commendable critical acclaim that it received. I, personally, did not enjoy this particular show, but it is known for its ability to capture the viewers’ attention and cause them to react very strongly to the material being presented on the screen. It was even given numerous narrative awards. So why were the ratings so low?

Let’s look at a few of the challenges which Carnivale presents that might cause a rejection or misperception in new viewers. One challenge might be the mother’s ability to speak with her mind. What’s even more confusing is the fact that her daughter, Betty, can understand her. Another challenge is that the young boy also has a power and doesn’t want to believe it. He is told, by the blind man, that he is the one who started and stopped the sand storm. He even had the unknown ability to heal his burnt cheek. New viewers who have jumped into the show may not understand how or why these characters have these special abilities. A third challenge may be the bizarre physical traits of a few of the characters. For example, there is a bearded lady, a midget, and a man with some odd skin condition. Not to mention, everyone in this show looks dirty. Along the lines of being “dirty”, some viewers may resent the multiple sex scenes. There is a prostitute, an affair between Betty and Harland, and possibly even more sex scenes as the episodes progress. Some viewers may find these sexual encounters to be too much for television, especially in relation to the today’s typical shows based on the “all American family”.

Now, we’ll take a look at what aspects of this television show may be the reasons for it’s extreme fan devotion. As I said before, I wasn’t a huge fan of this specific program, so I could only think of two main reasons as to why people would want to return to the screen each week. The first aspect that may contribute to the fans’ loyalty is that each episode is connected to the next. This, in return, causes people to feel that it is necessary to tune in each week in order to follow the intertwined plot throughout the show. The second aspect is that some viewers may be able to relate to a character or a situation presented in the program. This would make them want to watch what happens to them from the beginning to the end. Jumping into Carnivale made it very difficult to follow what was unfolding on the screen. Not knowing who people were or why they had certain characteristics and abilities really caused confusion and distracted me from understanding the overall plot. I can only imagine that these same challenges and those already mentioned would be difficult for other new viewers as well. In conclusion, specifically when dealing with Carnivale, multiple aspects of narratively complex shows make it very confusing and sometimes unpleasant for new viewers to jump into the mix. However, there will always be shows like this that have unbelievable fan loyalty and we can see why.

Work Cited:

Mitchell, Jason. “Narrative Complexity in Contemporary American Television”. <http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/the_velvet_light_trap/v508/58.1mittell.pdf>

Blog 4: Carnivale

Complexity is definitely a word I would use to describe the narrative of Carnivale after watching only one episode. The complex nature of this television show was so apparent while watching “Black Blizzard” that I can see how it may turn off some viewers right away-or at least left them very confused- an dcaptivate others.. The multiple storylines, the quick pace of each scene and the vague language are just some aspects of narrow complexity that are used in Carnivale which may be troubling to viewers.

One of the first things I noticed while watching Carnivale was the plethora of characters that seemed to play main roles in the show (“Black Blizzard”). Since every character was introduced in this episode without any warning or real entrance, to really follow the storyline viewers would have needed to start from the first episode-and even then might be lost. This may deter many viewers who cannot set aside time every week to follow the plot as it develops. However, as Mittell described his work “Narrative Complexity in Contemporary American Television,” the technological advancements of VCRs and digital video recorders have given the viewers control over when they watch the shows so following a complex series like Carnivale is made easier (31). Because of this, the complexity of pure number of characters may not be so daunting.

These characters all had their own storylines in the show, and the directors bounced the viewers back and forth between each quickly and frequently. Carnivale did exactly what Mittell said Seinfeld did with their storylines: “Seinfeld typically starts out its four plot lines separately, leaving it to the experienced viewer’s imagination as to how the stories will collide with unlikely repercussions throughout the diegesis” (34). This complexity in plot development can both make viewers turn away from Carnivale or suck people in like a cult. Some viewers may find this constant shifting between storylines and various character problems very confusing and may not be able to grasp how they all fit together and who is who exactly. On the other hand, this may be the reason people fall in love with the show. The creators envisioned a show that used multiple storylines that eventually will all converge together somehow, but did not want to give everything away in one episode. The glimpses into each situation do not last very long during the episode and can make a viewer really think about the plot development, which is an aspect many love.

Going along with the vague nature of a narrative complex series, Carnivale uses language in the show that starts to give readers a clue into what is developing but never tells them the whole thing. When the blind man in series takes Ben, his talk is extremely vague saying things like: “…Show you something…” “…You have to drive us there,” “Darkness often yields the greatest light” and “…There is much work to be done…” (“Black Blizzard”). The complexity of the situations are can be further confused for a viewer with language like this. While it may entice some readers and captivate them to continue watching, it may also deter the viewers who are looking for a television show to escape into where they do not have to think constantly during the show about what the characters actually mean.

Carnivale is definitely a show you must follow religiously from the start to really grasp the complexity of its plot development. Different aspects of the show that contribute to the complexity such as number of characters, separated plot lines, switching between plot situations frequently and language used are all elements that can act to deter a viewer from the show or create a ‘cult’ following. It just depends what that viewer is looking for when watching Carnivale.

Works Cited

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

Mittell, Jason. “Narrative complexity in Contemporary American Television.” The Velvet Light Trap. Fall 2006. 29-40. Print.