Ben Hawkins is taken in by a travelling carnival on its way to a stint on the outskirts of yet another impoverished town. In Mintern, California, evangelical preacher Brother Justin receives a sign from God that awakens him to the possibilities of his own powers.

A practical joke by Jones leads Ben to a piece of the puzzle that is his past. Brother Justin is attempting to turn Chin's Chinese brothel into a house of worship for migrants. At the carnival, Sofie tends to her comatose psychic mother after she has a run-in with Ben.

When authorities of the cash-poor town of Tipton refuse to let the carnival set up, Samson reinvents the troupe as a religious-revival show with Ben as its main act. Brother Justin is ruling his own show at the former Chin's. A move that upsets his regular congregation.

On the road to Babylon, Texas, the carnies come face-to-face with nature's fury. Meanwhile, Brother Justin struggles with an ultimatum: give up his new migrants' ministry at Chin's, or face losing his old congregation at First Methodist.

As Brother Justin tries to make sense of a major catastrophe, the carnival rolls into Babylon, a tapped-out silver-mining town with a luckless history. A group of restless miners arrive just in time for the evening show - and the latest tragedy to befall Carnivale.

Thirsty for payback, the carnies get caught up in an obscure yet fascinating phenomenon known as "Carnival Justice". Brother Justin ends up wandering in the wilderness. Later, he swaps campfire stories with a group of hobos, one of whom is about to change Justin's life.

While Brother Justin rediscovers his 'birthright' on the banks of a river, his sister Iris gets some unexpected support from an attentive radio reporter. At the carnival, Rita Sue and Stumpy argue over their family's future.

Samson sends Ben on a road trip to enlist a new attraction, where he encounters long-time carney rival Phineas Boffo. Meanwhile, while Brother Justin is receiving treatments for 'religious excitation', Tommy Dolan is posing a rallying cry for his radio listeners.

Ben tries to stave off the torments of his dreams by staying awake, but the lack of sleep is taking its toll. Samson looks to drum up new business by resurrecting several tried-and-true scams. In Mintern, Iris reaches out to Brother Justin over the radio airwaves.

Brother Justin returns to Mintern to chart out a new direction for his ministry. At the Carnivale, Samson's loss is Lodz's gain and Libby catches on to her mother's deception. Ben and Samson come up empty in search of information about Scudder's whereabouts.

With Management's blessing, Lodz hatches a plan to 'reach' Ben, who is vulnerable after letting his guard down. In Mintern, Balthus is concerned about the influences surrounding Brother Justin, as well as some fiery allegations that Tommy Dolan threatens to make public.

Faced with a crisis of life-and-death proportions, Ben turns to Lodz for advice and ends up meeting with Management. Balthus and Brother Justin contemplate the former's "greatest evil", with the latter pondering the prospect of salvation vs damnation among his flock.

As Brother Justin spreads his radio message, word reaches the ears of a new "apostle" – prison inmate Varlyn Stroud - and occultist Wilfred Talbot Smith. Meanwhile, Management urges Ben to find his father and Samson does his best to quell suspicions among the troupe.

Stroud hits the road on his mission. Ben seeks out a former associate of Scudder's named Father Kerrigan. Justin and Iris welcome a beautiful new "servant" into their home. Samson threatens to replace Stumpy, who works Rita Sue and Libby ever harder.

As Ben searches for the next link, Justin tends to his flock. Sofie refuses to read Ben's tarot but the cards have an agenda of their own. Dolan grills another arson witness. Ruthie is visited by a mysterious shadow. Stumpy peddles the girls to a barely legal audience.

One of Ben's relatives reveals to him dark secrets. Balthus bears witness to more of Justin's abuse of power. Iris beseeches Justin not to keep secrets, as she protects her own. Ruthie continues to see visions, and Libby dances around the tension with Jones.

Justin is pushed by Dolan to make a difficult decision. Iris gives an important dictation. Ben has a nightmare visit with a mask-maker. Ruthie shares her visions with Sofie, who decides to help Ben. Rita Sue is generous with Stumpy, who bets on a big fight.

The troupe breaks bread with another carnival and Samson makes a deal with an old friend named Sabina. Iris and Justin prepare for their most difficult sermon yet. Stumpy panics as Rita Sue goes on a charity mission. Jones and Stumpy both try to defend Libby's honour.

Justin and Iris placate Bishop McNaughton with a hearty breakfast. Ben follows his visions to a seedy hotel with Stroud hot on his tail. Sabina airs her dirty laundry with Lila. Iris displays her strength to Norman, and the troupe worries about Sofie.

Ben and Samson have a heated argument. Iris and Justin back a local politician. Rita Sue tries to play hardball with Stumpy's debt collector. Libby shocks her parents with an announcement. Stroud nurses a wound. Jones is blamed for an accident. Sofie finds a new job.

Ben and Jones learn that justice is "for the birds". Ruthie's visitor leaves lipstick traces. Lila tries to reach Lodz. Sofie finds salvation. Stroud keeps the morphine flowing; and when chaos breaks out during a public speech, Justin shocks the crowd with forgiveness.

Libby struggles to stick to her alibi, buckling under the weight of Rita Sue's superiority. Jones goes for a ride with Ben; Talbot-Smith intercepts a near disaster for Justin and reneges on a deal with Scudder; Stroud increases security with his "Knights of Jericho".

When Samson announces the carnival's next stop, Lila challenges his authority. Stumpy and Rita fear dark days to come, and Libby urges Jones to reveal a secret to the troupe. As Justin baptises his converts, a new tragedy rises to the surface.

As the world grows smaller, Samson devises a grand plan; Justin forces Iris to face her fear of heights; Stroud wants to protect Justin; Sofie finds herself in the dark; Ben performs his most important healings; and the carnival once more shakes dust.