MovieChat Forums > Carnivàle (2003) Discussion > Question Regarding Brother Justin

Question Regarding Brother Justin

posted 11 years ago by mafila
11 replies | jump to latest

Was Brother Justin locked into his fate as an evil man since he was the avatar of darkness? Or was there anything that he could have done to change his path in life? If the church didn't burn down and those children weren't killed, could anything have been different?

It seemed like even though Ben was the avatar of light, he still held the ultimate choice of whether his power would be used for good or evil. Do you think the same thing could have happened with Justin if things went differently for him?

Or were both of them locked into their fates and destined to face off against each other in a fight of good vs. evil, regardless of their decisions in life?

[–] CyberGhostface-1 11 years ago

That's actually an important theme, free will versus destiny.

If you look at Scudder for example, he was the avatar of darkness but he wanted none of it so he tried to flee his destiny. However because of who he was bad things happened around him (like Babylon). So hypothetically Justin could have done something similar.

[–] don-lope-de-aguirre 11 years ago

Scudder did flee from being the Avatar of destruction but he brought doom to the people around him including his loved ones.

[–] Friends810-1 11 years ago

I just finished watching this series and I have about a billion unanswered questions! So mad that it did not get to finish. But I'm wondering something so if Managment was light and Bens dad was dark but their children turned out the opposite does that make Sofie light or dark as she is the child of Brother Justin (dark). Just a thought.

[–] Nuncle_Euron 11 years ago

It makes Sofie the antichrist, since Justin was the Usher.

I always felt Justin decided to embrace the darkness when he used the sin touch on Norman and it was revealed Norman's greatest sin was saving Justin.

I'll pump her full of motley seed, until she pops out a little me! -Shagwell

[–] don-lope-de-aguirre 11 years ago

Sofie is the Omega.
If I remeber (interpret) correctly Maria was the Alpha and Jesus the first creature of Light.
Sophie ends all battles/lineages of good vs. evil. As muzch as I take from the two seasons we got she posseses both abilitites: The crafts of light and dark.

Also it's not clear if she is pregnant with Ben's or Justin's child. She had sex with Ben before turning to Justin. I guess it's Ben's child.

[–] Friends810-1 11 years ago

In season one Sophie's mom said that she was pregnant, but with that guy she sleep with in the dinner, but then I never hear anything about her being pregnant again and I don't remember her sleeping with Justin?

[–] Nuncle_Euron 11 years ago

There was a flashback, season 2 I believe, where it is shown Justin visited her for a fortune telling and ended up raping her.

I'll pump her full of motley seed, until she pops out a little me! -Shagwell

[–] There_Is_No_Sayid 11 years ago

The status as an avatar is passed father to son. However, the identity of them as Light or Dark seems completely random.

Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything.

[–] Smutsigschwein 11 years ago

That's why I preferred season 1 above season 2.
During the season 1 there was some form of ambiguity and mystery which kept you guessing whether or not Ben was actually the Avatar of light and Brother Justin the Avatar of darkness or was it the other way around? There was this sense that the producers where putting you on the wrong leg and you could see brother Justin, a tormented man, fighting against forces who were pulling him in a wrong direction.

In season 2 they just decided to throw it all overboard and went for the classic good guy, bad guy routine. Kind of a shame.

[–] The_Sisk0 11 years ago

I was still anticipating a twist in that regard toward the end. It's fascinating how the light's son was the dark and the dark's son was the light though.

[–] There_Is_No_Sayid 11 years ago

While the Avatars have a nature relating to light and dark they still have free will and can act in other ways. We see this with Hank Scudder. Scudder is his generation's Avatar of Dark and yet he seemed to be a largely decent man and actively tried to avoid being found by his successor.

Unless Alpert's covered in bacon grease, I don't think Hugo can track anything.