Carnivàle
| Carnivàle | |
|---|---|
 Carnivàle title screen. | |
| Created by | Daniel Knauf |
| Starring | see below |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 24 |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 45-55 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | 7 September 2003 – 27 March 2005 |
Carnivàle, pronounced /kɑɹ.nɪ’væl/ (“car-nih-VAL”), was an American dramatic television series produced by HBO. Created by Daniel Knauf, it starred Nick Stahl and Clancy Brown. The show ran from 2003-2005.
The series is a period drama set in the United States during the Great Depression. It is an overarching story about the battle between good and evil as well as the struggle between free will and destiny.
Overview
Season 1
At the beginning of the first episode, the carnival’s manager (a dwarf named Samson) says:
Before the beginning, after the great war between heaven and hell, God created the Earth and gave dominion over it to the crafty ape he called man...and to each generation was born a creature of light and a creature of darkness...and great armies clashed by night in the ancient war between good and evil. There was magic then. Nobility. And unimaginable cruelty. And so it was until the day that a false sun exploded over Trinity, and man forever traded away wonder for reason.
This quotation offers a glimpse into the show’s subject matter and framework.
The story consists of two main plot lines that are slowly converging. The first involves a young man with strange healing powers named Ben Hawkins, the “creature of light,” who joins a travelling carnival when it passes near his home in Milfay, Oklahoma. Soon thereafter, Ben begins experiencing strange dreams and visions, and finds himself on the trail of a man named Henry Scudder, a drifter who crossed paths with the carnival many years before...and who apparently possessed unusual abilities similar to Ben’s own. Scudder is eventually revealed to be Ben’s father.
The second plotline revolves around a Father Coughlin-esque Methodist preacher, Brother Justin Crowe, the “creature of darkness,” Ben’s opposite and his ultimate nemesis. Justin is also learning the extent of his strange powers, which seem to include the ability to bend human beings to his will, and to make their sins or “greatest evils” manifest in the form of terrifying, traumatic visions. Justin experiences surreal, prophetic dreams similar to those of his young counterpart.
As the story progresses, the carnival travels west toward California and a confrontation seems inevitable. The westward movement parallels the migration of the Okies (migrant workers and itinerant laborers) from Oklahoma to California during the Dust Bowl era.
Season 2
Samson also initiates us into the second season, saying:
On the heels of the skirmish Man foolishly called the war to end all wars, the Dark One sought to elude his destiny...live as a mortal. So he fled across the ocean, to an empire called America...but by his mere presence, a cancer corrupted the spirit of the land. People were rendered mute by fools who spoke many words, but said nothing...for whom oppression and cowardice were virtues...and freedom, an obscenity. Into this new land, the Prophet stalked his enemy...until, diminished by his wounds, he turned to the next in the ancient line of light. And so it was that the fate of all mankind came to rest on the trembling shoulders of the most reluctant of saviors.
In the second season opener, Ben meets the mysterious figure known as Management, the heretofore unseen presence that controls the carnival, and gives Samson his often stupefying orders. Management is actually a man named Lucius Belyakov, Ben’s predecessor and the previous creature of light. Belyakov shows Ben a vision of the first atomic test at Trinity, near Alamogordo, N.M., and tells him that the devastating explosion he’s just witnessed is “the final link in a chain of events that is unfolding even now. You must break that chain.” (This is the “false sun over Trinity” spoken of in the opening to the first episode.) The only way to do that, Belyakov tells him, is by destroying the preacher Ben sees in his visions.
Meanwhile, Justin (who’s begun delivering weekly sermons over the airwaves via a local radio station, eventually drawing thousands of Okies and migrants to the site of his new ministry outside Mintern, California) is approached by a man named Smith, who identifies Justin as “the Usher” and tells him that, in order for him to attain his full measure of power and thus fulfill his destiny, he must kill Henry Scudder, the previous creature of darkness.
Fortunately, Ben eventually finds Scudder and brings him to Belyakov, who forces him to reveal the identity of Ben’s opposite...Belyakov’s son, Alexi (Justin and his sister Iris were raised by a minister named Norman Balthus, and given their new names, after their mother—Belyakov’s wife—was killed in a train derailment). Belyakov then attacks Scudder, forcing Ben to kill him. At that point, all of Belyakov’s knowledge and power passes on to Ben, who proceeds to begin searching for his nemesis.
The second season ends with a dramatic confrontation between Ben and Brother Justin in a field outside New Canaan, California.
The show mixes Christian theology with aspects of gnosticism and Masonic lore, particularly that of the Knights Templar.
Genealogy
Scudder
| Hilton Scudder | Emma Krohn | ||||||||||||||||||
| Henry “Hack” Scudder | Flora Hawkins | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ben Krohn Hawkins | |||||||||||||||||||
Belyakov
| Lucius “Management” Belyakov | Plemina Belyakov | Norman Balthus | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Apollonia Bojakshiya | Justin Crowe (Alexi Belyakov) | Iris Crowe (Irina Belyakov) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cancellation
While ratings began agreeably, by the end of the first season, they were down significantly. During the second season, the ratings slowly rose toward the end; however, the show became increasingly expensive to produce at the same time. Many fans suspected that, due to HBO’s tradition of carrying shows through to an end, and Daniel Knauf’s six-year plan, the show would be renewed, but in May 2005, it was leaked that the series would not be returning for another season. HBO confirmed that the show had been cancelled on 11 May 2005.
The show’s ending after its second season and leaving so many plotlines unfinished has outraged many viewers. Some of them organized petitions and mailing drives to HBO in an effort to get the show renewed. According to HBO’s president, this generated more than 50,000 emails to the network in a single weekend.
Had the series continued, several things would have occurred, according to Knauf. The series would have been composed of three “Books,” with two seasons per book, spanning several years. (Thus the first book was completed.) Book II (seasons three and four) would have taken place between 1939 and 1940, and Book III between 1944 and 1945 (leading up to the end of WWII and the explosion at the Trinity test site).
According to a February 2006 article on Mediavillage.com, HBO may be considering developing a movie or miniseries that would wrap up many of these plot lines. The article goes on to state that if the ratings are good, HBO may consider renewing the show for a third season.
The Gospel of Knauf (Avataric Rules)
Based on chats, interviews and e-mails by the creator of the show, Dan Knauf. (e.g. "Yahoo Carnivale HBO Files". "Carnivale Interviews".
Terms:
- Avatara: Those carrying avataric Blood and the Mantle of a House. Can exhibit considerable power.
- Vectori: Any others carrying avataric Blood without a Mantle. Can exhibit minor powers, often crazy.
- Houses: Two exist, one Dark and one Light, representing a moral alignment. Manifest in the world through the transfer of a Mantle to one carrying avataric blood upon birth creating an Avatar.
- Creature of Light/Darkness: Another name for an Avatar of a particular House.
- Mantle: The mechanism through which a House manifests on the mortal plane. Cannot be transferred once given.
- Prophet: Dominant Avatar of a House, always the eldest in terms of generations. Exhibits the Vitae Divina (blue blood).
- Princes: All other Avatara of a House. Eldest generational Prince is Ascendant.
- Dynasty: Unbroken line of Avatara from father to son independent of House.
- Boon: Sum knowledge of the memories and abilities of Prophet.
Avataric Blood: One Blood through which the Houses manifest following certain rules:
- Any child of someone carrying avataric Blood also carries the Blood to lessening degree as they become generationally further removed from an Avatar in the bloodline. Such an individual is a Vectorus (e.g., Iris).
- Two Houses, Light and Dark, manifest via the Blood by passing a Mantle at birth and creating an Avatar. The hallmark of an Avatar of Dark is coal black eyes, the hallmark of an Avatar of Light is an “interesting” aura (never seen). An Avatar cannot pass on his Mantle to anyone else (i.e. an Avatar is only born, never made, as evidenced by the failed attempt between Scudder and Lodz).
- The Mantle is conveyed through the Blood from father to first-born son. If the youngest Prince in a dynasty dies without issue, the first male child born to the world from a Vectori line with the most Blood establishes a new dynasty and receives the Mantle.
- The only known exceptions to the male restriction are the Alpha and the Omega.
- One Prophet (Dominant/eldest generational Avatar) per House. The Blood becomes Vitae Divina (blue Blood) upon rising to this level. A Prophet knows the given name of his Ascendant Prince.
- The mother of an Avatar is rendered barren and insane upon the child’s birth.
- Any weapon infused with the Vitae Divina is enchanted (anointed). Injuries from such a weapon never fully heal.
Wild Card Avatara: Avatara that have special rules in addition to, or replacing, the normal ones.
- The Alpha: The first Avatar—a female. Her story has been lost since the destruction of the Royal Library of Alexandria by Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria (the patron saint of arsonists).
- The Usher of Destruction: An Avataric Prophet who has been foretold as a harbinger of the End Times. Known by a thousand names in a thousand books, the true function of the Usher has yet to be revealed. The primary resource about him and Avatara in general is the Gospel of Matthias. He is represented in prophecy and visions as the Tattooed Man. Protected by the Tattoo of the Tree of Knowledge, he is only susceptible to an anointed weapon thrust into his Dark Heart where the branches of the tattoo meet.
- The Omega: Erroneously considered synonymous with the Usher by most scholars. Commonly accepted to be the last Avatar.
Avataric Nature:
- Nature is Randomly assigned: Dark can beget Light and Light can beget Dark.
- One Avatar per generation, per House.
- Mortal, but tougher and more resilient than normal humans.
- Ascendant Prince must personally kill the Prophet of the same House to gain his full measure of power: a boon with the sum of the Prophet’s knowledge and power. The Prophet must be in full control of his faculties, and if not willing to pass on the boon, must be taken by surprise else the Prince possibly be harmed in the transfer.
- Free choice is operative allowing an Avatar to act contrary to the nature of their House.
- Dark Avatara react to the actions of Light Avatara (AKA Light heals, Dark feels—e.g., Justin keeps reacting to Ben healing people).
Avataric Abilities:
- Both Houses draw from the same pool of powers but use them differently as befits their alignment. Some uses seem more appropriate to one House over the other. Exercise of a power can be trying on an Avatar (e.g. Ben’s nosebleed after astrally projecting). Examples of observed powers:
- Life force transfer via laying on of hands, limited by the transfer of life energy from the surrounding area (e.g., a Light use is the transfer of energy from plants and animals to heal people. A Dark use could be to drain a person of life to restore oneself).
- Spiritual healing drawing energy only from the Avatar, unlimited in scope (e.g., Ben uses this in a Light manner many times first with the mother and dead child, later with the grandfather pimping his granddaughter. A Dark Avatar might be able to similarly wound the spirit of someone perhaps as seen when Justin shows people their darkest sins).
- Resurrection requiring the deliberate transfer of one human life for another (only Ben has clearly exhibited this ability).
- Divination of an object’s location or direction of travel (e.g., Ben Hawkins looking for Scudder after being abducted by Stroud).
- Conjuring of illusory objects (e.g., the Baggage Trailer and its contents, coins from Eleanor’s mouth).
- See through another’s eyes (e.g., Ben looks through Stroud’s while he is driving).
- Astral projection to remote locations (e.g., Ben projecting to the hotel room).
- Psychometry or the ability to see visions regarding an object or person while touching it.
- Communication to people subliminally over great distances (e.g., used by Justin through his radio broadcasts).
- Telekinesis (e.g., used by Justin to slam door closed and control others’ bodies).
- Ability to read minds (e.g., Justin finding the darkest sins in others).
- Showing of visions (e.g., Justin showing others their sins, Belyakov showing Ben a possible future).
- Receive visions of the past, present and future (future visions malleable because of free will).
Unanswered questions
At the close of the series, many plot points were left unanswered and unexplained. Some have since been cleared up by Knauf:
- The past relationship between Scudder and Lodz (the two worked a sideshow attraction together in Europe; Lodz was blinded when Scudder unsuccessfully attempted to rid himself of his powers by passing them on to his friend).
- The reason Ben was a fugitive when he first crossed paths with the carnival (he accidentally killed a guard after being imprisoned for attacking the bank manager who foreclosed on his mother’s land).
- The origin of the Bear that attacked Belyakov on the battlefield (it was part of Lodz's circus act before he and Scudder joined forces).
Plot points that remain unexplained include the following:
- Sofie’s ultimate purpose as the Omega.
- Justin’s purpose as the Usher.
- The significance of the vision Ben and Sofie share of the two kissing as the atomic bomb explodes in the background.
- Lodz’s agenda and what he means when he says that he will soon return “in the flesh.”
- The Sauniere Manuscript and how it relates to the Avatar.
- How Jonesy will survive his gunshot wound.
- Did Ben actually kill Brother Justin, or did Sofie save him.
- How “the fate of all mankind” hinges upon the explosion at the Trinity test site.
Episode guide
Season 1 (2003)
| Episode | Title | Screenshot | Writer | Director | Overview | Original Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milfay (Pilot) | File:Carnivale101.jpg | Daniel Knauf | Rodrigo Garcia | Ben Hawkins, a chain gang fugitive, is picked up by a traveling carnival after the death of his mother. A California preacher receives signs that he and the boy have mysterious powers. | 14 September 2003 (HBO) |
| 2 | After the Ball is Over | File:Carnivale102.jpg | Daniel Knauf and Ronald D. Moore | Jeremy Podeswa | A joke leads Ben to a piece of a puzzle that is his past; Brother Justin has a vision of a new church. | 21 September 2003 (HBO) |
| 3 | Tipton | File:Carnivale103.jpg | Teleplay by Henry Bromell and Daniel Knauf; Story by Henry Bromell | Rodrigo Garcia | The town of Tipton refuses to let Carnivale set up; Ben learns the price of his powers. | 28 September 2003 (HBO) |
| 4 | Black Blizzard | File:Carnivale104.jpg | William Schmidt | Peter Medak | During a dust storm, Łódź tests Ben’s powers; meanwhile, Brother Justin’s church burns down under mysterious circumstances. | 5 October 2003 (HBO) |
| 5 | Babylon | File:Carnivale105.jpg | Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin | Tim Hunter | While the show sets up in a ghost town, Ben has an experience to remember in a mineshaft and one of the carnies is tragically killed. | 12 October 2003 (HBO) |
| 6 | Pick a Number | File:Carnivale106.jpg | Ronald D. Moore | Rodrigo Garcia | Samson learns the truth about Babylon. Ben participates in “Carnivale Justice.” | 19 October 2003 (HBO) |
| 7 | The River | File:Carnivale107.jpg | Toni Graphia | Allison MacLean | Brother Justin learns of his past and his destiny. At the carnival, Stumpy is inconsolable over the death of his daughter. | 26 October 2003 (HBO) |
| 8 | Lonnigan, Texas | File:Carnivale108.jpg | Daniel Knauf | Scott Winant | Brother Justin is committed to an insane asylum; Łódź and Samson having a falling out about Ben’s errand from Samson. | 2 November 2003 (HBO) |
| 9 | Insomnia | File:Carnivale109.jpg | William Schmidt | Jack Bender | Ben tries to drive off the torments of his dreams by staying awake, however he is extremely tired. Justin is released from the mental institution. | 9 November 2003 (HBO) |
| 10 | Hot and Bothered | File:Carnivale110.jpg | Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich | Jeremy Podeswa | Brother Justin returns to Mintern to make a new direction for his ministry; Samson tracks down clues from Freemasons. | 16 November 2003 (HBO) |
| 11 | Day of the Dead | File:Carnivale111.jpg | Toni Graphia | John Patterson | With Management’s blessing, Łódź creates a plan to reach out to Ben; Brother Justin’s powers turn sinister; Ruthie dies from a snake bite. | 23 November 2003 (HBO) |
| 12 | The Day That Was The Day | File:Carnivale112.jpg | Ronald D. Moore | Rodrigo Garcia | Ben meets management for the first time; as Ben kills Łódź, Ruthie comes back to life. Brother Justin and Reverend Balthus discuss his greatest evil; Apollonia sets fire to the trailer. | 30 November 2003 (HBO) |
Season 2 (2005)
| Episode | Title | Screenshot | Writer | Director | Overview | Original Airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Los Moscos | File:Ep13.jpg | Daniel Knauf | Jeremy Podeswa | Ben goes in search of his father. Brother Justin finds the site for his new temple using recollections from his previous visions. | 9 January 2005 (HBO) |
| 14 | Alamogordo, NM | File:Ep14.jpg | William Schmidt | Jack Bender | Brother Justin and his sister hire a beautiful servant; Samson threatens to fire Stumpy; Sofie finds comfort in manual labor. | 16 January 2005 (HBO) |
| 15 | Ingram, TX | File:Ep15.jpg | John J. McLaughlin | John Patterson | As Ben searches for the next link, Justin tends to his flock. | 23 January 2005 (HBO) |
| 16 | Old Cherry Blossom Road | File:Ep16.jpg | Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich | Steve Shill | Lila grows worried of Łódź’s whereabouts; Iris tells Justin not to bear secrets. | 30 January 2005 (HBO) |
| 17 | Creed, OK | File:Ep17.jpg | Tracy Tormé | Jeremy Podeswa | Justin is pushed by Dolan to make a difficult decision; Iris gives an important dictation; Ben has a nightmare visit with a mask-maker. | 6 February 2005 (HBO) |
| 18 | The Road to Damascus | File:Ep18.jpg | Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich | Tucker Gates | The troupe breaks bread with another carnival and Samson makes a deal with his ex-wife named Sabina; Iris and Justin prepare for their most difficult sermon yet. | 13 February 2005 (HBO) |
| 19 | Damascus, NE | File:Ep19.jpg | Story by William Schmidt; Teleplay by John J. McLaughlin | Alan Taylor | Justin and Iris placate Bishop McNaughton with a hearty breakfast; Ben follows his visions to a seedy hotel with Stroud hot on his tail; Sabina airs her dirty laundry with Lila; Libby and Rita Sue do some self-reflection; Iris displays her strength to Norman; the troupe worries about Sofie; Libby gives Jones special treatment; and Samson is distracted while Management tries to destroy a gift from Ben. | 20 February 2005 (HBO) |
| 20 | Outskirts, Damascus, NE | File:Ep20.jpg | Daniel Knauf | Tim Hunter | Ben and Samson have a heated argument; Iris and Justin back a local politician; Rita Sue tries to play hardball with Stumpy’s debt collector; Libby shocks her parents with an announcement; Ruthie seeks refuge in the safety of her trailer. | 27 February 2005 (HBO) |
| 21 | Lincoln Highway | File:Ep21.jpg | William Schmidt | Rodrigo Garcia | Ben and Jones learn that justice is “for the birds”; Ruthie’s visitor leaves lipstick traces; Lila tries to reach Łódź; Sofie finds salvation in her work; Iris takes Eleanor on a picnic; Balthus misses a big chance; Stroud keeps the morphine flowing; and when chaos breaks out during a public speech, Justin shocks the crowd with forgiveness. | 6 March 2005 (HBO) |
| 22 | Cheyenne, WY | File:Ep22.jpg | Tracy Tormé | Todd Field | Libby struggles to stick to her alibi, buckling under the weight of Rita Sue’s superiority; Jones goes for a ride with Ben; Ruthie delivers a nocturnal message to Lila; Talbot-Smith intercepts a near disaster for Justin and reneges on a deal with Scudder; Iris discovers a relative; Stroud increases security with his “Knights of Jericho,” and Justin does some backseat driving. | 13 March 2005 (HBO) |
| 23 | Outside New Canaan | File:Ep23.jpg | Teleplay by Nicole Yorkin and Dawn Prestwich; Story by John J. McLaughlin | Dan Lerner | When Samson announces the carnival’s next stop, Lila challenges his authority; Stumpy and Rita fear dark days to come; and Libby urges Jones to reveal a secret to the troupe. As Justin baptizes his converts, a new tragedy rises to the surface; Ben volunteers to stack firewood; Sofie sees a face from her past; Iris welcomes a chance to sponsor some fun; and Justin is startled by a development in the migrant camp. | 20 March 2005 (HBO) |
| 24 | New Canaan, CA | File:Ep24.jpg | Story by Tracy Tormé; Teleplay by Daniel Knauf | Scott Winant | (Series Finale) As the world grows smaller, Samson devises a grand plan; Justin forces Iris to face her fear of heights; Stroud wants to protect Justin; Sofie finds herself in the dark; Rita Sue is touched by Samson’s generosity; Ben performs his most important healings; Ben and Justin finally confront each other; and the carnival once more shakes dust... | 27 March 2005 (HBO) |
DVD releases
HBO Home Video has released both seasons of Carnivàle on DVD. It is rumoured that the lawsuit surrounding the series (see below) was a cause of delay in the release of the second and final season. Both season sets feature extra features, including episode trailers, audio commentaries and documentaries.
| DVD Name | Cover | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnivàle Season 1 | File:Carnivaledvdseason1.jpg | December 7, 2004 | March 7, 2005 | May 11, 2005 |
| Carnivàle Season 2 | File:Carnivaledvdseason2picture.jpg | July 18, 2006 | August 7, 2006 | October 4, 2006 |
Cast
- Nick Stahl as Ben Krohn Hawkins, an Okie; Son of Henry “Hack” Scudder; Avatar of Light.
- Clancy Brown as Brother Justin Crowe (Alexi Belyakov) {stabbed and left for dead—Ben Krohn Hawkins}, a corrupt Methodist minister; son of Lucius Belyakov; younger brother of Iris Crowe; Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya’s father; Avatar of Darkness; Usher of Destruction.
- Amy Madigan as Iris Crowe (Irina Belyakov), Brother Justin Crowe’s older sister; daughter of Lucius Belyakov; Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya’s aunt.
- John Carroll Lynch as Varlyn “Bird Dog” Stroud, Brother Justin Crowe’s chosen apostle; an escaped convict; searcher for and finder of Henry “Hack” Scudder.
- Ralph Waite as Reverend Norman Balthus (killed by Brother Justin Crowe), Brother Justin Crowe’s righteous Methodist mentor and former adoptive father; crippled stroke victim.
- Robert Knepper as Tommy Dolan, successful radio host who launched Brother Justin Crowe’s “Church of the Air”; framed for arson and murder (actually committed by Iris Crowe).
- K Callan as Eleanor McGill (killed by Iris Crowe), an Okie; devoted follower of Brother Justin Crowe.
- Time Winters as Wilfred Talbot Smith (killed by Henry “Hack” Scudder), occult advisor to Brother Justin Crowe.
- Glenn Shadix as Val Templeton, a councilman in Mintern, California; Brother Justin Crowe’s candidate for congress.
- Matt McCoy as Ned Munson, another councilman in Mintern California; Assistant to Val Templeton.
- John Savage as Henry “Hack” Scudder (killed by Brother Justin Crowe), previous generation’s Avatar of Darkness; formerly the “Gentleman Geek” of the carnival; father of Ben Krohn Hawkins.
- Linda Hunt as (voice) Management or Lucius Belyakov (deceased and ascended— killed by Ben Krohn Hawkins), previous generation’s Avatar of Light; owner of the carnival; father of Brother Justin Crowe and Iris Crowe.
- Cameron Clapp as (body) Management or Lucius Belyakov.
- Michael Massee as the Russian soldier .
- Michael J. Anderson as Edgar “Samson” Leonhardt, head of the carnival; former dwarf-strongman; ex-husband of Sabina Engstrom.
- Tim DeKay as Clayton “Jonesy” Jones (shot and left for dead by Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya), leader of the roustabouts; husband of Libby Dreifuss; Ben Hawkins’s chosen apostle.
- Bill Moseley as Possum, the carnival’s cook.
- Scott MacDonald as Burley, a roustabout.
- Blake Shields as Osgood, another roustabout.
- Clea DuVall as Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya, fortune teller; daughter of Apollonia Bojakshiya and Brother Justin Crowe; currently exhibiting hitherto unknown powers: These powers seem to be like Ben’s as she touches Brother Justin and the field around him begins to die. Is the illegitimate offspring of Justin after he raped her mother.
- Diane Salinger as Apollonia Bojakshiya (deceased—suicide by fire), catatonic fortune teller; mother of Sofie Agnesh Bojakshiya; could communicate telepathically with her daughter.
- Patrick Bauchau as Professor Ernst Lodz (killed by Ben Hawkins but still part-time possessing Ruthie), blind mentalist; ex-assistant of Management; former friend of Henry “Hack” Scudder.
- Debra Christofferson as Lila Villanueva, the bearded lady; Professor Ernst Łódź’s lover.
- Adrienne Barbeau as Ruthie (part-time possessed by Łódź), a snake charmer; ex-flame of Henry “Hack” Scudder; mother to Gabriel.
- Brian Turk as Gabriel, a strong man; Ruthie’s son.
- Toby Huss as Felix “Stumpy” Dreifuss, manager of the “cootch show” (strip show); Rita Sue Dreifuss’ husband; father to Libby Dreifuss-Jones and Dora Mae Dreifuss.
- Cynthia Ettinger as Rita Sue Dreifuss, main cootch show stripper; Felix “Stumpy” Dreifuss’ wife; mother to Libby Dreifuss-Jones and Dora Mae Dreifuss.
- Carla Gallo as Libby Dreifuss-Jones, cootch show dancer; daughter of Rita Sue Dreifuss and Felix “Stumpy” Dreifuss; former older sister of Dora Mae Dreifuss; wife of Clayton “Jonesy” Jones.
- Amanda Aday as Dora Mae Dreifuss (murdered in Babylon by Stangler), cootch show dancer; former youngest daughter of Rita Sue Dreifuss and Felix “Stumpy” Dreifuss; former younger sister of Libby Dreifuss-Jones.
- Bree Walker as Sabina Engstrom, “The Scorpion Lady” (ectrodactyly) of the rival Daily Brothers Carnival; ex-wife of Samson.
- Matthew McGrory, as a giant.
- John Fleck as Gecko, a lizard man (season one).
- Karyn Steben as Alexandria, conjoined twin of Caledonia (season one).
- Sarah Steben as Caledonia, conjoined twin of Alexandria (season one).
- Don Swayze as the Tattooed Man, a symbolic representation of the Usher of Destruction found in Avataric dreams.
Lawsuit
On 9 June 2005, a lawsuit was filed in United States District court by writer Jeff Bergquist. Mr. Bergquist claimed that the creators of Carnivàle did not originate the idea for the show, but rather stole it from his unpublished novel Beulah. Mr. Bergquist claimed that HBO and Carnivàle creator Daniel Knauf violated his copyright on Beulah and sought both recognition and punitive damages. The case was dismissed with prejudice on 17 February 2006.