Written by Ystyn Francis
Just when you thought Carnivale couldn’t get any more sinister or messed-up, along comes an episode like “Lonnigan, Texas”. When rumour hits the camp of a ‘Scorpion Girl’ living in the area (i.e. a girl who has claws instead of hands), Samson sends Ben on an errand to sign her to the show. Understandably, as a rookie new to the circuit, Ben is confused and wondering why he has been asked to seal this particular deal but, as Samson is prone to do, he cites that Management has requested him specifically to do so. On the way, Ben is given false directions by a recruiter from a rival carnival, Phineas Boffo, and, by the time he is set straight by a sniveling, disgusting albino gas station attendant, Boffo has beaten him to the punch.
Now, while seeing a girl with deformed hands that are pretty much merely a pointer finger and thumb is fairly disturbing, it isn’t until Ben shakes hands with Boffo that the real darkness begins. As they amiably part, Ben has a shocking vision of the Knights Templar and men being viciously hewn down on the battlefields of the
Crusades. There is blood, guts and heads on pikes. He recoils in horror, ripping a signet ring from Phineas’ hand that bares a red cross, before driving off in a cloud of dust, the ring still in his possession, much to the chagrin of Boffo. In one small moment, Carnivale adds an extra layer of depth to its already achingly complex mythology as the supernatural and religious storylines paralleled with the Depression-era dustbowl setting are now further enhanced by the very real historical happenings of the Crusades. Knauf and co. really know how to mine some of the most engaging narrative fodder and it is one of the reasons that Carnivale is so freaking good.
While this is going on, things are just as bleak on the West coast as Brother Justin is committed to an asylum after his apparent suicide attempt. The naïve audience is vividly introduced to the procedure of electro-shock therapy which is often hinted at in movies of the era, but never in the step-by-step detail illustrated here. Also, it is in this horrid place that Brother Justin first hears Tommy Dolan’s radio program telling his story, revealed around the campfire in the previous episode, and also the fact that he can [terrifyingly] control the will of the people around him.
And I haven’t even had a chance to talk about Stumpy telling Jonesy to get with his wife, Sofie considering dancing the cooch, and Samson and Lodz’s falling out over Management. Phew!
I was soooo impressed with this episode especially after last week’s stall.
This whole Templar part is actually where I really got sucked into the show. Before this I enjoyed it but I feel like we really have a clear bad guy and good guy and we soon get some clearer objectives and then the race to the finale.
Can’t wait!