Carnivàle (2003-2005)

HBO series Carnivàle debuted as the most watched original show in the network’s history, and went on to nab five Emmy awards. While it only ran for two seasons, it helped define HBO as the go-to source for provocative and well-executed storytelling. Carnivàle is set in Oklahoma during the Great Depression, and its overarching theme is the battle between good and evil in the face of adversity. Belief systems play a major role as our main character Ben (Nick Stahl) is gifted with the ability to heal through majestic, or divine, powers. His storyline of joining a traveling circus in the bleak dust-covered Midwest intertwines with a preacher in California who has the ability to control people’s actions. You’ll lose all control when you see a lean, shirtless Nick Stahl and some cans from Clancy Brown!