Ep 5. Babylon

In season 1 episode 5 of Carnivale, titled Babylon, tensions are high as the carnival arrives in Babylon, Texas. After a brief altercation with the town's residents, Ben and Samson are warned not to set foot in the town, but they do so anyway in order to gamble and make some money. As they navigate the seedy underworld of Babylon's gambling scene, tensions between the two of them reach a boiling point, threatening to tear apart the fragile trust they've developed.

Meanwhile, Libby and Jonesy run into trouble when they try to purchase supplies for the carnival. They find themselves at the mercy of a group of corrupt lawmen who are exploiting the town's residents and making it nearly impossible for anyone to leave. As they struggle to overcome these obstacles, they become closer and begin to develop feelings for one another.

Back at the carnival, management is concerned about the lack of profits and begins to consider unorthodox methods for attracting customers. Lodz uses his psychic powers to stage a fake miracle, drawing crowds and causing tensions between him and the other carnival workers to escalate.

As the episode progresses, tensions continue to rise until they reach a boiling point during the carnival's performance in Babylon. The town's residents are hostile and restless, and a violent confrontation between the carnival workers and the town's residents seems imminent. In the end, it's unclear whether the carnival will be able to survive in this hostile environment, or whether they'll have to pack up and leave town in order to protect themselves.

Babylon is a tense and emotionally charged episode that explores themes of trust, love, and the struggle for survival. As the carnival workers confront the dangers and injustices of life in Babylon, they are forced to come to terms with the harsh realities of existence in a world that is often cruel and unforgiving. Despite the challenges they face, however, they continue to work together and support one another, showing that even in the darkest of times, there is hope for a brighter future.