Within thefantasygenre on TV, there are some truly unforgettable pieces of media that have become crossover hits for HBO. Over the past few decades, HBO has put out some of thefantasy TV shows with the best world-building, from the iconicGame of Thronesto the underseenHis Dark Materials. Many of the more recent projects that HBO has been known for fall into the fantasy genre, such asThe Leftoversor theGOTspinoff,House of the Dragon. Thanks to the resources at the network’s disposal,these projects are always of the highest quality.
It’s well known thatGame of Thronesis anHBO TV show everyone should watch, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some series that have flown under the radar. Fantasy is an interesting position in the 2020s, as there have been many recent cancellations of magical shows that could have continued for many seasons. Of course,HBO isn’t immune to ending a great show before its time,as this happened to an intriguing series long beforeGame of Thrones, or any other ambitious fantasy project, premiered on the network.
Carnivàle Was HBO’s First Ambitious Attempt At Fantasy TV
This 2003 Series Pushed Fantasy Boundaries
Set against the bleak yet beautiful backdrop of the U.S. Dust Bowl during the Great Depression,Carnivàlewas a big, intriguing fantasy projectthat changed things for HBO. Long before HBO invested in the future ofGame of Thronesand its impact on the fantasy landscape, it dedicated a lot of time and resources toCarnivàle. Created by Daniel Knauf,Carnivàlefollowed a traveling carnival populated by unique characters trying to carve out a life for themselves in the midst of fantastical circumstances.
ThoughGame of Throneshas had some successorsin the years since it ended, viewers should look to the past atCarnivàlefor a great fantasy series that will scratch the same itch. Though only two seasons long,Carnivàlestood apart because it was unlike anything audiences had seen within the genre before. Full of rich mythology,Carnivàlebalanced the magic of its world with relevant conversations about the real world and nuanced discussions of social and cultural issues.
Why Carnivàle Was Canceled After Just Two Seasons
The Show Didn’t Get To Fulfill Its Potential
These days, it’s not uncommon for a great fantasy TV show to be canceled before its time, and this is what happened so many years ago withCarnivàle. There are many reasons why a show likeCarnivàlewould be canceled after its second season. Despite its strong critical reception,Carnivàlewasn’t getting the viewership numbers required to justify its high production cost.This is a tricky situation, as part of the reasonCarnivàlewas so good was that HBO invested so much in the show, but this also ultimately contributed to its downfall.
There are some fantasy shows that have been canceled after just one installment, so in some ways, it’s lucky thatCarnivàlegot the two seasons it did. It would still be worth watchingCarnivàletoday even if it had only one season, but it’s interesting to see the direction that the series was taking as it propelled itself into the future. WhileKnauf had additional seasons planned,audiences might never know what would have happened to the intricate characters that madeCarnivàleso fun to watch.
HBO Should Revisit Carnivàle After Its Fantasy Successes
There’s A Path Forward To Bring Back Carnivàle
HBO is known for drama, comedy, and almost every other genre of TV, but it consistently hits it out of the park when it comes to fantasy. It’s clear that the network understands how to craft a work of speculative fiction and knows what audiences are looking for when they seek out series like this. In the years sinceCarnivàlewas canceled, viewers have come to associate incredible fantasy shows with HBO,making this the perfect time to return toCarnivàlein one way or another.
After all this time, HBO has learned a lot about what works and how to market a series likeCarnivàle.
Whether this is a reboot, revival, or spinoff, there are many ways that HBO can return to its roots and bringCarnivàleback into the cultural conversation. After all this time, HBO has learned a lot about what works and how to market a series likeCarnivàle. Since so many works offantasyhave gone off the air before their time, there’s a niche open for another great original fantastical show that will capture viewers' imaginations and leave them on the edge of their seats likeGame of Thronesdid.
