CARNIVALE (2004-06)
Carnivale was a slow-burn, esoteric drama of biblical proportions, the battle of good-and-evil distilled between a healing carny (Nick Stahl) and a mind-controlling preacher (Clancy Brown). The nature of these characters’ powers and narrative drive only came slowly into focus during the show’s two seasons, ending in an apocalyptic showdown that left both characters’ fate open. Creator Daniel Knauff had a six-year plan for Carnivale and season 3 would’ve jumped ahead by several years (somewhat assuaging this cliffhanger), but the show’s high production cost and purposefully difficult storytelling has it left behind in the Dust Bowl.