The premise: Set during the Dustbowl, this unique show is a classic tale of Good vs. Evil. The hero is a young healer (Ben Hawkins) who is traveling with a carnival group and is also starting to learn about his destiny. The villain of the piece is Brother Justin who is also learning about his place in the world. Along the way, we also get subplots about all of the carnival folks such as Sophie, Lodz, etc.

I’m not going to lie, season 1 moves slowly. Aside from the pilot (“Milfay”) which perfectly sets up the show, the season takes its sweet time introducing characters and Ben’s past and spends far too much focusing on carnival set-ups and filler subplots involving Rita Sue. There is simply not enough forward movement here, which no doubt hurt ratings and lost viewers. It’s a shame since season 2 more than made up for season 1’s flaws. The second season is the complete opposite of season 1 as it is basically a non stop thrill ride. We get to see Sophie’s character develop in a very intriguing manner, learn more about Scudder, see a bad-ass new character named Varlyn, and we also finally see Ben and Justin meeting face to face. On top of that, each episode has a cliffhanger that makes you want to watch the following episode immediately. It’s near impossible not to watch the whole season in one complete sitting.

Along with the ambitious writing and story structures, the acting is one of the most impressive aspects of the show. Nick Stahl, Michael J. Anderson (of “Twin Peaks” fame) give career defining performances, but the real star here is Clancy Brown as Brother Justin. He owns every scene he is in and makes the character his own. We really believe his character transformation and truly see how evil he becomes.

Normally, one doesn’t comment on the direction or cinematography is a TV show, but “Carnivale” is an exception. The cinematography is impeccable as it perfectly captures the Dustbowl era.

In conclusion, it’s a crying shame that HBO cancelled the series just as it was hitting its stride. If you are listening HBO, please bring this show back or at least make a TV movie or two to wrap up the series. The show left viewers with many questions and storytelling possibilities in the riveting series finale “New Canaan, CA” and they deserve closure. Considering how many people have fell in love with the show over the years, you are guaranteed to please fans and rake in DVD sales.

The 16:9 widescreen picture quality is slightly grainy, but the show is so beautifully shot that it doesn’t matter. Hopefully this show will be released on Blu-Ray in the future.

I have no quarrels with the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. The music and dialogue are perfectly clear.

Season 1:

* “The Making Of Carnivale” (13:00)- The creator and producers essentially give viewers an idea of what the show is about.

* Commentary on the episode “Milfay” by Rodrigo Garcia, Howard Klein and Daniel Knauf. A rather routine and quiet commentary in which the trio talk about shots, the pilot, etc.

* Commentary on “After The Ball Is Over” by Jeremy Podeswan, Daniel Knauf and Howard Klein. More of the same here as they compliment everyone and chat about props.

* Commentary on “Hot And Bothered” by Jeremy Podeswan, Daniel Knauf and Howard Klein.

Season 2:

* “Creating The Scene” shows how 3 scenes from “Los Moscos,” “One From The Road,” and “The Road To Damascus” were made.

* A 26 ½ minute featurette titled “Magic And Myth.”

* The best extra by far is an interview session with the cast and crew from the Paley Museum Of Television and Radio. The group talks about how the show came about, roles, humor, etc. Fans will no doubt eat this 30 minute extra up.

* Commentary on “The Road To Damascus” by Clea Duvall, Tucker Gates, Howard Klein, and Daniel Knauf. The group joke around and talk about their experiences in working on the show.

* Commentary on “Lincoln Highway, UT” by Nick Stahl, Rodrigo Garcia, Daniel Knauf, and Howard Klein. Another solid track. Bringing actors in the mix certainly livens up the tracks.

* Commentary on “New Canaan, Ca” with Clancy Brown, Scott Winant, Howard Klein and Daniel Knauf. Worth listening for Clancy Brown alone.