mythology american television series set united_states great depression series traces disparate storylines young carnival worker named brother preacher california overarching story built good evil theme serves human scaled metaphor complex structure myth carnival dwarf manager sets mythology prologue pilot episode talking creature light creature darkness born generation preparing final battle mythological elements relate called creatures light darkness fictional human like beings supernatural powers good evil season reveal characters makes nature suggested central question second season established ben creature light brother creature darkness characters good evil theme series contemporary religion christian military order historical events like nuclear test creator respond questions mythology provide hints mythological structure online season run intended clues remained unnoticed viewers left fans production summary season years cancellation called originally written hbo writers overview intended storyline backed expanded assumed mythological rules term avatar spelled originates hindu mythology commonly refers incarnation manifestation higher story clearly establishes meaning term hbo writers term series opening monologue series portrays human like beings supernatural powers good evil constant age long struggle serves explain dark ages ages enlightenment humanity history real world represents light dark instances main characters suggest symbolic link hawks winged cards seen opening title sequence sun moon standing god devil token title card logo carnival depict sun placed opposite moon creator designed logo characteristics characters brother revealed usage supernatural powers viewers find immediately apparent suspected avatar served good evil series gave clues depicting coal black eyes according invisible avatar nature determined type application powers states draw talents powers pool abilities vary type strength include limited manipulation transfer life force spiritual granting small measures powers mortal series showed powers ben brother reviewers unsure main characters nature end season ben good nature dark heritage season reviewers began describe underlying message essentially opposite spiritual belief disputed theory repeatedly pointed characters free overcome destiny free choice allows story portray deliberately making use powers acting contrary nature avatar consistent effort defined moral behavior sharing ability past present future literally symbolically plane pure truth given avatar improved study practice manipulate transmit resulting visions dreams far established suffer physical weakness pain opposite makes use powers sense existence moral opponent unable detect identify outside close physical proximity easily detect locate avatar like kind great distances great accuracy abilities contribute convergence storylines terms order succession fictional universe elaborate order succession blood similar ascent royal families king prince replaced series prophet prince female like queens fictional counterpart instead replaced concepts alpha usher wild card special rules addition replacing normal ones reviewers rarely focused significance mentioned terms implied characteristics story despite detailed explanations later public availability setting complex mythological structure prophet mythology alpha creature mentioned series described female lived flood story lost destruction alpha spawned pair higher power house light dark creature light creature darkness born generation unlike alpha male blood travels families forming dynasty born son avatar receives called mantle birth avatar new generation new avatar light dark chance avatar house generation giving birth new avatar leaves mother barren insane time birth unlimited number females avatar children respective offspring called beings removed avatar mantle conveyed birth exhibit minor powers signs insanity eldest avatar house dominant called prophet possesses blue blood called line prince additional house princes ranked generation form blood father son house mixed dynasty youngest prince dynasty dies dynasty ended average generations typical killed means dynasty ends male child born world blood new prince starting new dynasty prophet dies lives things happens prophet killed prince gain mantle prophet measure power passed prophet sound mind willingly pass taken surprise psychic defense prophet impaired prince driven insane prophet dies way prince automatically raised prophet chance unique join alpha exception rule mythology ages usher armageddon known thousand names thousand books manifest appears man visions killed weapon infused thrust tree tattoo dark heart injuries weapons said fully heal known characters assumed long time usher like alpha female known exception male restriction avatar succession allusion beginning end naming commonly accepted avatar manifestation series certain characters seemingly supernatural abilities beginning series brother common visions soldiers appearing man tree chest ben heal beings cost life brother read manipulate people minds ben blind carnival experience visions medieval carnival communicate mother sees raped man progressing story increases importance mysterious soldiers revealed management strange words unknown meaning appear series variations phrase prophet house repeated seemingly context ben finds repeating letter string later able interpret avatar season introduces word usher particular relation brother management repeats term ben instances management death ben sudden knowledge princes usher knowing terms apply respectively sentence seen written mirror explanation demonstrates powers attributes similar ben brother episode context events provided gospel book season connects ben father written archaic english reminiscent king james bible translation contains parts season prologue mentions alludes apocalyptic passage book revelation contains bent tree image attacked holding knife interprets book brother quoting hand prince prophet dies death prince shall rise usher dark heart branches meet dagger thee deep management ben repeat verses independently smith avatar confirmed current generation end season ben brother usher represented man respective fathers previous generation management creature light time avatar blood color mirrored status ben brother blood red princes blood turned blue blood father avatar undisclosed nature carnival merely mortal received skills exchange sense sight women tied blood daughter iris definition daughter years older ben father generation places generation affected women human mothers began suffer mental illness strange behavior giving birth avatar ben mother flora religious fanatic touch son mother emma cut eyes killed family members night born mother birth older sister iris mother receives special mention series mentions chronic paranoid birth far known mothers pregnant giving birth avatar hinted february chat jesus alexander great brother sic common pitch document stated avatar dedicated developing mastering power direct precision case jesus early plot summary like historical figures explicitly revealed man tree man tree chest introduced opening minutes pilot episode appears visions dreams ben brother common recurring dreams chasing ben like visions visions rape mother extended vision brother dark future ben encounters little boy similar tree painted chest late season brother finds tree grown hill early season prompts chest accordingly tree depicted gospel book painting new_mexico images room chaplain management smith imply tree significance resolution creator stated tree iconic tree knowledge good evil garden implied meaning power prompted place man chest build empire certain power played man depicted focus face frames pilot episode played brother confirmed man spiritual representation historical cultural allusions dust bowl story takes place mid-1930s worst great depression time massive social political unemployment rates high european rise years leading second world war people great plains suffered effects dust bowl farmers ran debt lost properties health dust pneumonia common cause death retrospective interpretation times loses mother farm dust carnival picks carnival travels california preacher brother tends needs dust bowl refugees slowly biggest supporters replaces real scientific reasons drought conditions fantasy elements presence devil addresses dust bowl situation repeatedly catch phrases variations let shake dust episode black focuses ben carnival major dust storm rain occurs twice occurrence ben writers wanted highlight sex affects heavens second brother forcibly takes episode religion major story religion prologue pilot episode based introduction cover sheet initially planned performed prologue shortly mentions genesis creation narrative introducing fictional mythology original segment emphasis battle god beginning great war foundation heaven hell god established uneasy truce face direct confrontation god created earth inhabiting called man henceforth generation born creature light creature darkness gather men nature carry war good evil creator believed religious aspects stemmed epic good evil major fabric 1930s executive producer regarded religion way express struggle good versus evil faith nature humanity audience actors given advice interpret biblical imagery actor portrayed brother know character creature light darkness season thought visions brother believe mission god late season compared brother brown stated practiced religion moderate ways felt brother shares patterns certain religious leaders persecuted visions historical figures like father served inspiration writers telling particular stories originally thought making brother protestant minister producers needed decide specific religious affiliation contested plans catholic priest catholic settled methodist perceived significantly suspicious controversial asked god influenced write story replied relies religious symbols parallels mythology funded father 1930s inspiration temple brother vision episode los vision world potentially build comes power radio preacher producers planned use radio towers instead regular temple design incorporated eastern european western european vision man appears near tree resembles iconic tree knowledge good evil implies usher according usher represents timeless character shows different cultures usher armageddon end times introduces medieval christian military order late season episode ben meets freak ben comes contact ring experiences powerful series visions practicing rituals putting heads spikes burned stake ring bears red crossed symbol passes symbol visions ben falls floor chanting hoc sign conquer remain recurring subplot ben discovers symbol significance early season lodge order appearance mid episode old road escaped convict uses track ben smith asks location manuscript late season answers hidden despite importance series seasons elaborate backstory left cancellation pitch document described fictional order simply called fraternity fellow travelers charged roman_catholic_church locating aiding said father members wanted access knowledge library manuscript mildly relevant future storyline trinity season episode los management urge ben seek ben needs learn preacher dreams brother prevent future induced vision transports ben desert suddenly hears alarm like noise massive explosion occurs followed rising mushroom cloud ben opens eyes blast dust asks offspring warned flee wrath come ben drives past location episode later shared vision episode creed ben kiss desert surrounded bright light dust season takes place reviews interpreted visions ben challenge find defeat brother ben ultimately stop creation atomic bomb world march season prologue suggested interpretation mentioning false sun ing trinity point man forever traded away wonder reason trinity test near new_mexico test nuclear weapon finished year run explosion atomic bomb beginning age reason story deployment bomb invention bomb focus trinity test site hiroshima nagasaki research visual effects explosion stock footage beats nuclear explosions self created explosion gallons gasoline reference ground effects blowing dust created combinations computer graphics smoke nuclear explosion built images sun left interpretation kiss vision open characters audience readings mother advance plot significantly readings pilot episode induce visions ben insight healing powers childhood season shows attempts leave job repeatedly interrupted cards readings sets ben journey man looking beginning series incorporating symbolism creator started deck took liberties interpretation deck series web games played significant online marketing producers wished provide interactive card reading experience similar depicted series official hbo website collaborated offer fate game downloadable game based symbolism available trial purchase opening title sequence features cards panned camera perspective cards digitally designed based paintings available purchase creative team opening titles stated goal create title sequence grounded viewers mid-1930s allowed people feel larger presence good evil time creators offered detailed interpretation cards opening titles covered topics like good bad heaven hell wars age science 1930s following list cards featured opening sequence provided artwork world completion perfection eternal life judgment ace swords ardent love ardent hate born destruction death transition change death day king swords powerful commander wise counselor judge michael victorious balance harmony originality confidence skill tower sudden change disruption downfall battle romans judgement renewal rebirth moon deception sun success joy creation sun moon reception interpretation legacy executive producer confident complicated shows television creator admitted understand goes certain sense stating meant demanding lot giving explicit clues wish intent author viewer interpretation interpretations run reviewers episodes interpreted story myth seen human scaled metaphor good evil power spirits strongest elements reviewers deeply confused described mysterious characters powers abilities characters scenarios visions carnival wondering fit visions main characters shortly addressed distinguishing violent visions parallels visions beings good evil necessarily drawn characters stories described starts moving forth time space dropping oblique clues way central premise considered cloudy unconventional filled convoluted symbolic interpretations historical events told critics regarded 1930s great age magic ended atomic bomb herald age reason reviews quoted commented prologue explain apocalyptic premise mythology reviews asserted good evil creatures described prologue ben preparing final battle reviews reluctant state main characters good evil aware time question answered sure ben healing powers led reviewers believe good creature demon dangerous received instructions god reviews described question ben big puzzles driving mystery defining details series lack revelation characters roles apparent end season critics expected gain significance later story dvd reviews season previews season premiere advantage retrospective season reviewers continued consider mythology convoluted silly significance prologue emphasized previous reviewers character descriptions good versus evil theme assumed story merge generally repeated good nature ben evil nature brother reviewers bizarre imply deeper sinister connection main characters visions summarized disturbing dreams cryptic mysterious abilities noted connected considered ben job piece mystery past events early season said mark shift story mystery journey ben accepting exploring powers brother seen completely embracing evil nature reviewers regarded turn final episode unexpected new threat story reception analysis themes compared 1990s mystery series novel wrath guide called perfect thought accessible reminded heather disappointment feel kid come pages wrath argued surreal hardly bears repeating especially avoid learning mainstream television serving steady diet hopes viewers refuse risk making emotional connection australian stated conceived essentially literary terms work page deadly large screen let small like biblical injunction television reviewer admitted dismiss season lack involvement prevented understanding going problem dramatic television series zone considered series like fact open interpretation surprisingly proves greatest strengths lauded bringing great depression life shows pain disappointment reviewers confident viewers find slowly sadness appealing long patience endurance find meaning fate legacy mythological storytelling viewership drop significantly season cancelled planned seasons post cancellation interview positive let finish story someday television series possibly series features graphic novels approached continue future storyline kept interested hbo characters rights writers guild america strike stated like today claimed present day television included high percentage talking heads vast majority television writers visual enjoying creative freedom graphic considered directing efforts away television series creation mythology remains public conscience australian newspaper age remembered smart ambitious series unusual characters unfamiliar setting called rich series dense mythology
Mythology of Carnivàle