On a whim at the local Carrefour department store, I picked up a heavily discounted copy of the first season of the HBO series Carnivàle. I hadn’t heard of it, but it looked like something that would be up my alley, especially with the tagline, “1934. The Dustbowl. The Last Great Age of Magic.”

Turns out that, at least after the first episode, I definitely do not regret picking it up. Carnivàle is the kind of show that, while it seems to be plodding along slowly, is actually bristling with information, full of all kinds of entrancing politlines and threads, and simply captures the imagination, while it’s on.

I won’t bother to get into the plot itself. You can follow any link above to see more about the show, or see the IMBD. But I guess it’s certain that the show’s run is over now; I won’t be able to get more than a second season to enjoy; which is something I’m getting used to, since every show I like only ever gets a couple of seasons at most. Ah well.

By the way, the website includes a great Tarot reading feature. Quite well-put-together, if you find that sort of thing entertaining. And there’s a Tarot-based strategy game, as well, which I haven’t tried yet but may get around to. (My hard drive’s too full to install it and give it a go this morning.)