“Lonnigan, Texas” is an episode about … well, I honestly don’t know if there’s one thing that the episode is about. It follows the further exploits of Brother Justin and Ben Hawkins. We get to see more of what transpires at the carnival. But is there an overriding theme? Or conflict? I suppose if there was one it’d be people in places where they don’t rightly belong.

Brother Justin is in a mental institution. Ben is on the road trying to recruit carnies. Sofie is preparing to join the cooch dance. Jonesy is going to pay for sex from Rita Sue. Lodz is talking to Management – with Samson being sent away by Management. But aside from the topic of Scudder being mentioned in the conversation between Lodz and Management, and a Knights Templar ring that Ben steals, that’s about as far as any connection goes between these various disparate events.

Ben’s assignment is to find someone by the name of Scorpion Boy. While on the road, he meets Phineas Boffo – a carnival competitor who has beaten Hawkins to the punch, enlisting “Lobster Girl” for a rival carnival. The two shake hands and Hawkins instantly has violent visions. He pulls his hand away, but not before pull off a strange looking ring from the man. Hawkins speeds off over the protests of the man. Later, we will learn that Samson also has an item with the same markings as the ring. The addition of the Knights Templar is yet another historical layer to this ongoing struggle between creatures of light and dark.

Brother Justin is locked away in an insane asylum, receiving some very harsh treatments. Perhaps the most interesting element to these scenes is his proclamation that he is the “left hand” of God – saying that he is no longer God’s servant, but rather an agent of change. Brother Justin also accurately notices a misspelling on the doctor’s clipboard, while being wrapped in a straightjacket several yards away. Curiouser and curiouser.

The other storylines which take place at the carnival are rather unremarkable fare. Sofie tries her hand at the cooch dance, but the experience turns ugly when an audience member gets a little too zealous – triggering a violent reaction from Jonesy. As for Jonesy, he spends the evening with Rita Sue in a bizarrely awkward scene.

Overall Grade: C-

There simply isn’t much to discuss about this episode beyond the Knights Templar connection as well as Brother Justin’s further estrangement from his religion.

Topics: TV Reviews
Filed under: Carnivàle

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