E01
Milfay
Ben reluctantly joins the carnival after the bank forecloses on his family's Oklahoma farm; Brother Justin has a bizarre encounter with a poor parishioner; Sofie has a run-in at a small-town gas station.
TV SERIES / EPISODE GUIDE
Carnivàle
EndedFirst aired 2003-09-14HBO
Drama · Fantasy · Horror
Carnivàle is set in the United States during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. In tracing the lives of two disparate groups of people, its overarching story depicts the battle between good and evil and the struggle between free will and destiny, the storyline mixes Christian theology with Gnosticism and Masonic lore, particularly that of the Knights Templar.
FROM THE SHOW GUIDE
Season by season.
24 listed episodes across 2 seasons. Air dates are provided by TVmaze and can change.
Season 1 12 episodes
E02
After the Ball Is Over
Ben uncovers a piece of his past as a result of Jones' sense of humor; Justin tries to persuade a parishioner to make a deal in real estate; Sofie endures a frightening mishap involving her mother; Samson changes the carnival's course.
E03
Tipton
Ben is the main attraction when Samson refashions the carnival as a religious revival to satisfy a town's moral underpinnings; Justin has a powerful ally in a fight against city hall; Sofie accompanies Ben on a journey into his past.
E04
Black Blizzard
Jones looks to management when the crew turns mutinous; Appolonia is displeased with Sofie's romantic tastes; Justin faces a difficult choice between his congregations; Ben is tested by Lodz.
E05
Babylon
Samson tries to improve the troupe's spirits with a night of revelry; Ben has an enlightening experience at the bottom of a mineshaft; a group of miners is anxious for entertainment.
E06
Pick a Number
Revenge-minded carnies practice their own form of retribution; Justin encounters a group of hobos on his journey of self-discovery; Ben returns from another strange experience.
E07
The River
After a recent tragedy, Stumpy and Rita Sue debate their future in the carnival; in her brother's absence, Iris receives help from a radio reporter; Ben helps Ruthie with her act.
E08
Lonnigan, Texas
Lodz disagrees with Samson's decision to send Ben on a business trip for the carnival; a radio-show host tries to help find a wandering Justin; Sofie considers a career change.
E09
Insomnia
Ben tries to escape his dreams by staying awake; Iris uses a radio ally to help locate Justin; Samson goes back to the drawing board to increase business.
E10
Hot and Bothered
Ben and Samson go in search of the mysterious Scudder; Sofie accuses her mother of foul play; Lodz waits patiently for Ben for fall asleep; Justin returns to Mintern with a new plan.
E11
The Day of the Dead
Rita Sue teaches a newcomer a few tricks of the trade; Balthus is nervous about Tommy Dolan's allegations; Lodz gets approval from Management to help Ben.
E12
The Day That Was the Day
A distraught Ben finally meets with Management; and in California, Balthus and Justin deal with the tragic undercurrents of their ministry. Elsewhere, Stumpy and Rita Sue try to save their marriage; Samson must think fast when the law comes to the carnival.
Season 2 12 episodes
E01
Los Moscos
The Dust Bowl circus troupe deals with the fallout from a fatal fire and, in California, Brother Justin reaches new converts on the radio. Elsewhere, Lila wonders what happened to Lodz; Ben takes off to find Scudder.
E02
Alamogordo, N.M.
The troupe sends out search parties when a distraught Sofie goes missing; Justin and Iris welcome a new housekeeper; Samson accuses Stumpy of skimming; Ben visits an old acquaintance of Scudder's in New Mexico.
E03
Ingram, TX
Dolan continues his quest to get to the bottom of the Ministry arson; Gabriel gets into the act with Ruthie, who experiences another supernatural vision; Ben happens upon some distant relatives.
E04
Old Cherry Blossom Road
Lila hasn't given up trying to find out what happened to the missing Lodz; Iris begs her brother not to harbor so many secrets; Jones finds new work for Sofie; and Balthus sees another display of Justin's power.
E05
Creed, OK
After a conversation with Ruthie, Sofie reaches out to Ben; Stumpy wagers on an important fight; Dolan puts pressure on Justin, who sees things in a new light after receiving a mysterious gift; and Stroud's quest to find Ben continues.
E06
The Road to Damascus
Samson runs into an old acquaintance when the troupe crosses paths with another carnival; Rita Sue's business decisions give Stumpy fits; Justin and Iris struggle with a tough sermon; Libby's honor is in need of defense.
E07
Damascus, NE
Stroud is closing in on Ben, who pays a visit to a run-down hotel; Justin and Iris pacify a bishop with a good meal; Sabina shares her secrets with Libby; the troupe is concerned about Sofie; and Jones gets a favor from Libby.
E08
Outskirts, Damascus, NE
A local politician receives Iris and Justin's support; Ruthie tries to hide from her visions; Rita Sue takes charge of Stumpy's debt; Smith sees trouble for Justin; Sofie gets new work; Libby has shocking news for her parents.
E09
Lincoln Highway
Ruthie's latest vision leaves evidence behind; Lila hasn't given up her search for the missing Lodz; Eleanor goes on a picnic with Iris; Justin's powers calm a chaotic gathering.
E10
Cheyenne, WY
Justin has help avoiding a disaster; Iris locates another branch of her family tree; Stroud tries a strength-in-numbers approach; Libby is cowed by her mother's authority; Ruthie pays another late-night visit to Lila.
E11
Outside New Canaan
Lila voices her opposition to Samson's itinerary for the troupe; Justin's baptism of the faithful coincides with another tragedy and a startling event in the migrant camp; Libby pleads with Jones to reveal his secret; Sofie sees a familiar face.
E12
New Canaan, CA
Samson tries to stay a step ahead of impending chaos; Stroud does his best to protect Justin; and Ben's powers face the ultimate test.
Show and episode information provided by TVmaze ↗. Sources & Credits.