#2. The Leftovers
(Season 2)
I will be the first to admit that I quit watching ‘The Leftovers’, about the aftermath of a mass disappearance seen through the eyes of a crazy(?) cop named Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), halfway through its inaugural season. Something about the heavy presence of the white-robed, chain-smoking Guilty Remnant and the unpleasant, to say the least, stoning scene just turned me off. It made me sad, because I love Damon Lindelof and I knew the show had mysterious potential to be special. From the opening scene of season two, which flashed back to the cavemen times, I knew Lindelof and Co. had nailed it - that excellent new opening credits only put the exclamation mark on the newfound wonder. Season two wisely relocates to Jarden, Texas, renamed Miracle because of its complete lack of departures. The show not only benefitted from stronger writing and directing, but also made room for the Murphy’s, a family so rich in character that they sometimes felt more lived-in than the Garvey family. Central theme: no one is untouched. No one is unaffected the by the departure. The twists and revelations come fast and hit hard. Aside from “A Matter of Geography,” the one episode focused on the old New York location, this was a daring, audacious, and perfect season of television. Numbers one and two could be interchangeable on my list. ‘The Leftovers’ 2.0 left me begging for more; season three cannot come fast enough.
(Season 2)
I will be the first to admit that I quit watching ‘The Leftovers’, about the aftermath of a mass disappearance seen through the eyes of a crazy(?) cop named Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), halfway through its inaugural season. Something about the heavy presence of the white-robed, chain-smoking Guilty Remnant and the unpleasant, to say the least, stoning scene just turned me off. It made me sad, because I love Damon Lindelof and I knew the show had mysterious potential to be special. From the opening scene of season two, which flashed back to the cavemen times, I knew Lindelof and Co. had nailed it - that excellent new opening credits only put the exclamation mark on the newfound wonder. Season two wisely relocates to Jarden, Texas, renamed Miracle because of its complete lack of departures. The show not only benefitted from stronger writing and directing, but also made room for the Murphy’s, a family so rich in character that they sometimes felt more lived-in than the Garvey family. Central theme: no one is untouched. No one is unaffected the by the departure. The twists and revelations come fast and hit hard. Aside from “A Matter of Geography,” the one episode focused on the old New York location, this was a daring, audacious, and perfect season of television. Numbers one and two could be interchangeable on my list. ‘The Leftovers’ 2.0 left me begging for more; season three cannot come fast enough.