20 Years Ago, HBO Canceled A Dark Fantasy Series That Was A Misunderstood Cult Masterpiece

Premiering in 2003, Carnivàle was a beautifully filmed series set during the difficult years of the Great Depression. Created by Daniel Knauf, the show centered around a traveling circus and a California preacher, both unknowingly headed for a final showdown between good and evil. It followed Ben Hawkins, a man on the run with the power to heal, who joins the circus, and Brother Justin Crowe, a preacher troubled by religious visions. Though HBO cancelled it after two seasons in 2005, Carnivàle quickly gained a dedicated fanbase thanks to its complex story and unsettling atmosphere.








