"Carnevale" is awesome.

[zesty_pinto]

Second season doesn't approach the issues as smoothly as first season, but I think it's partially because of the complaints people gave about slowness. I liked the idea of not being sure whether Management was good or bad, the inner struggles of the carnies and how their lives get pushed and pulled by Hawkins, and I'm especially interested about the seer's daughter (did I mention I'm terrible with names?). It's not bad though, the quickened pace does offer more of a 1-2 punch to the suspense of figuring out just what is happening.

Actually, scratch that. Maybe Management *is* evil and this rush is to reflect how he is craven. After all, there is the issue of bloodlines and Hawkins "tempts" Management. Personally, I think the daughter interests me the most. She was the product of someone's rape (possibly Management/Scutter?), and I think it is reflected in her blood along with her mother's. I have a feeling she may represent something more, but I am not sure if I can really be confident about it.

All in all, awesome goodness. Now, if only there was a way they'd re-expose some of the more interesting first season characters...?

Comments

[morganaus.livejournal.com]

I'm a huge Carnivale fan and here's what I came up with:

Sofie was the progeny of Appollonia and the Usher (the man with the tree tattoo), so she will figure in the middle of the struggle between Ben and Brother Justin. Management is the Russian and so are Brother Justin and Iris, so I think he is their father ("our father is a very bad man").

I also like the pace of the first season a lot better, because they caved to the pressure of having more action - I'm not sure they would have been renewed otherwise. I also wish the female actors weren't so made up this season because they looked a lot more natural and in the period last season.

[zesty-pinto.livejournal.com]

You know, those are some good points. I forgot that the young Isis acknowledge the existence of their father. Plus, it seems that the women do appear more attractive (I think the only really appealing looking female roles in season 1 were the twins, whom I'm guessing wanted to opt out since they weren't really prominent along with the snake man, whom I miss) and makes the carnies overall appear more respectable than they did during season 1.

I also feel like Samson dumped his role as Hawkin's only voice of reason; he doesn't completely lose the role, but I think he isn't trying as hard to play as guardian against a force that he also has no idea of fathoming.

I guess they had to toss a few ideas away due to the pacing, but one thing I hope they remember is the one theme that sticks out all through each of the potential children of light/darkness: "Every god in their place." Do you think it means that maybe all of them aren't as clear-cut as divine good/evil but are warring entities of different ideologies? I don't know, maybe I shouldn't speculate until it gets halfway through the second season, but I hope that gets suggested again in the episodes to come.

[morganaus.livejournal.com]

Well, they stopped filming initially in 2003, so it was almost a year before they started up again. Weirdest hiatus EVER. I had neglected to notice the snake man - damn! Maybe he will show up in a later episode? I didn't like that they didn't explain what happened to the Spanish cootch dancer, either. Too many holes. Maybe the twins will be back for a cameo like the tall guy - they were only in a scant few episodes anyway.

I am sort of confused about the Samson thing, too. I think they made him an ally but now he's completely conflicted. Maybe that's to be expected and he's playing it from fear of Mgmt., anger at the disruption of what's happened to the carnieworld, and pity at how this kid has to carry the weight of the world - and the future - on his back.

Well, it's "Every prophet in his/her house" which denotes something a little different. They seem to all 3 be tools of divine power(s) and it'll be interesting to see how it all comes together. Plus, the Scudder angle is still intriguing and I love the progression of the Brother Justin character - he's really nasty now since he got out all of his doubt, fear, etc in the first season. Gosh, I love this show.

Needless to say, it will all be about good and evil and how the lines start to blur - we still don't know if Sofie is intrinsically good or evil and the same goes for Management.

[zesty-pinto.livejournal.com]

Gah, that's the line! I feel so phillistine. -_-

(double) Gah, you just made me realize that it's Isis AND Justin that are from the same bloodline, which would parallel Hawkins and Sophie. Isis was the one that helped bring Justin to the darkness (the evolution of Justin really is awesome; I'm glad it's Clancy Brown that could do it since I am infatuated with the man (platonically ;) playing the role of a true tragic "hero"))... could it also mean that Sophie will be the one that bring Hawkins to accept his destiny?