Don't Get Mad at Me for Suggesting Carnivale!
Actually, you might get angry at me for suggesting Carnivale on HBO. The reason you might get angry is that HBO produced two seasons of this fantasic drama that blends magical realism with a historical look at America during the Great Depression. The end of the second season finalizes many plot points, but it will still leave you vaguely unsatisfied.
It's got everything. There's a Luke Skywalker type of reluctant good guy, an evil preacher, forces of good and evil, magical tarot decks, nasty politicians, and of course, a old-time carnival. What's not to like? Plus, there's a lot of banal bad things that happen in the story too -- just like real life.
That's because the author of the series planned to run the show for six seasons, but sadly, that didn't work out. It's not all bad though because the author did tell the pubic how he planned to end the series in an interview with AV club. You can find the interview online, but of course it's DARK AND FULL OF SPOILERS, so you shouldn't read it before you watch the two seasons of the series. Here's the interview: https://tv.avclub.com/daniel-knauf-tells-us-his-plan-for-the-end-of-carnivale-1798236491
Anyway, a lot of people who enjoy a bit of realistic fantasy, as many folks describe Game of Thrones, also enjoy Carnivale. The ensemble cast does a great job of acting, and I had no trouble binging both seasons in about three days. The finale isn't entirely satisfying, but it certainly gave me a lot to think about for several weeks afterwards. Why, HBO, why?
** I'm still hungry for more Carnivale. If you watched the show, let's discuss it in the comments.