Carnivàle — Season 1

Ben reluctantly joins the carnival after the bank forecloses on his family's Oklahoma farm; Brother Justin has a bizarre encounter with a poor parishioner; Sofie has a run-in at a small-town gas station.

Ben uncovers a piece of his past as a result of Jones' sense of humor; Justin tries to persuade a parishioner to make a deal in real estate; Sofie endures a frightening mishap involving her mother; Samson changes the carnival's course.

Ben is the main attraction when Samson refashions the carnival as a religious revival to satisfy a town's moral underpinnings; Justin has a powerful ally in a fight against city hall; Sofie accompanies Ben on a journey into his past.

Jones looks to management when the crew turns mutinous; Appolonia is displeased with Sofie's romantic tastes; Justin faces a difficult choice between his congregations; Ben is tested by Lodz.

Samson tries to improve the troupe's spirits with a night of revelry; Ben has an enlightening experience at the bottom of a mineshaft; a group of miners is anxious for entertainment.

Revenge-minded carnies practice their own form of retribution; Justin encounters a group of hobos on his journey of self-discovery; Ben returns from another strange experience.

After a recent tragedy, Stumpy and Rita Sue debate their future in the carnival; in her brother's absence, Iris receives help from a radio reporter; Ben helps Ruthie with her act.

Lodz disagrees with Samson's decision to send Ben on a business trip for the carnival; a radio-show host tries to help find a wandering Justin; Sofie considers a career change.

Ben tries to escape his dreams by staying awake; Iris uses a radio ally to help locate Justin; Samson goes back to the drawing board to increase business.

Ben and Samson go in search of the mysterious Scudder; Sofie accuses her mother of foul play; Lodz waits patiently for Ben for fall asleep; Justin returns to Mintern with a new plan.

Rita Sue teaches a newcomer a few tricks of the trade; Balthus is nervous about Tommy Dolan's allegations; Lodz gets approval from Management to help Ben.

A distraught Ben finally meets with Management; and in California, Balthus and Justin deal with the tragic undercurrents of their ministry. Elsewhere, Stumpy and Rita Sue try to save their marriage; Samson must think fast when the law comes to the carnival.