So...i'm a long time Twin Peaks fan.  And I just finished Carnivale (I know i'm late).  I have noticed so many parallels between the shows it's amazing.  If you haven't checked it out, you really should...if for no other reason than the check out Mr. Anderson as Samson.  Does anyone else see the connections between these two great shows?

Totally agree. I loved it.

'Carnivale' was the last REALLY good thing I saw on T.V. 

I said this when Carnivale first came out. So many shows have been compared to Twin Peaks in the last 15 years or so and the only one that I think warranted this comparison might have been Northern Exposure, but Carnivale was the first show that really gave me that Peaks feeling (and the premature cancellation). The supernatural aspects and slow pacing and all that. I am still hoping beyond hope that Daniel Knauf and HBO might come to an agreement for a four hour, two-part miniseries or such to complete the story. The only drawack to this is the fact that the first two season of Carnivale was the first of three parts so a miniseries to wrap things up who leave us without a lot of cool stuff they would have developed over future seasons but I would take anything at this point              

YES!  As others have posted, it was the one show that actually had a Twin Peaks feel to it amongst all of the other shows that said they did.  The macabre feel, the unique characters, the battle between good and evil and you sometimes wondered if you could ever know which was which.... another show I miss.

And both suffered a premature fate.

Carnivale was friggin awesome. I almost died and cried when it was cancelled. DAMN YOU HBO!!!!!!!!

Just watched the first episode on your recommendations. It really whetted my appetite. Just wanted to ask though, with it being cancelled, do you get a proper resolution or will it just frustrate me. Obviously no spoilers please.

Gio,

     If you like David Lynch, you'll love Carnivale. Season 2 kicks ass and has a great ending. No Saprano bullshit on this one. Just a right touch of Lynch.

Watch and Enjoy!!!!!

I also watched Carnivale months ago based in the recommendations I read on the Gazette... The show has never aired in Spain and I didn't know anything about it, but I watched it and....I was mesmerized. Excellent from top to bottom...

I would say go ahead and watch it, man. When the end comes, you are left with some heavy questions, but the answers you do get really satisfy! After ep.24 you will ask yourself how anyone could have possibly cancelled this show. The show creator said the show was supposed to have like 4 more seasons...and they would have been awesome! Plus the dvd sets are only $20 at best buy.

You won't be anymore disappointed than you were the first time you watched the final episode of Twin Peaks but with only 1/8 of the cliffhangers. Someone said season two was great. Yes it is! The first season has a slow, methodical pace and the season two seems like a runaway train, because it has sooo many plot twists crammed into 12 episodes but still maintains that slow pace somewhat. You won't be disappointed, definitely one of the best shows I've seen.     

Great, I'll buy it then. It's a little pricey at £44 for both seasons but if the rest of the seasons are as good as the pilot then it won't bother me.

The Series 1 box set just arrived. I've just watched episode 2, which is just as good as the first one. I'm intrigued.

The eps. just keep getting better. The first few episodes must bring together all the exposition, so it does seem kinda slow at first, but if you loved the first few eps. then you will continue to enjoy the series. Season 2 is soooo damn good too, hurts to watch the last ep. knowing that it will prob. never be completed.....but still worth it.

Gald you're enjoying them Gio!  It restored my faith in tv like no show other than Twin Peaks has.  The only difference is, I think Carnivale actually has a chance of comming back....a slim one, but it's still a chance.  I think we all have waved our final goodbyes to Twin Peaks.

I agree with all the above posts, this really was a great show. It's a shame that it ended prematurely, but in a similar vein to Twin Peaks the final scene of the final episode will leave you gobsmacked.

Michael J. Anderson is amazing in it too. Such a great character.

That's one thing that hasn't been discussed a great deal; what a fantastic cast Carnivale had. Nick Stahl, Clancy Brown, Michael Anderson, Clea Duvall, Amy Madigan are familiar names, but also Cynthia Ettinger. Tim Dekay, Toby Huss, Carla Gallo, Ralph Waite and others knocked it out of the park week after week.    

You're right about the cast being top notch!  My favorties were Clancy Brown and M.J. Anderson.  But man, top shelf all the way.  How did this show not get the numbers it needed to stay on the air? 

Carnivàle is a great, great show. Not as good as Twin Peaks, but still great.

It didn't get the numbers because the brain trust at HBO ran it up against Desperate Housewives. 

Now that you mention it, they did didn't they?  How do TV executives keep their jobs?

How do TV executives keep their jobs?

Has anyone heard the Carnivale soundtrack?

It's really good, kinda like a cross between James Newton Howard and Angelo Badalamenti.

Yes, the soundtrack is great indeed. He also wrote the music to Rome. Any great HBO show that was killed after two seasons.

I loved Carnivale.  When it showed in Australia it was summer, and there was nothing better than watching it at dusk on a balmy Sunday, totally fit the feel of the show.

While it would have been great to see more seasons, I think that the way it ended was excellent.

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I think it was fitting the way it ended as it showed that there will always be good, and evil.  Evil cannot be destroyed as it will pass down to the next in line, the same for good.  To me that's how the show ended, and was far better than having an overall winner.