HBO’s mystery-drama The Leftovers is one of those shows you need to be in just the right mood to watch – if you’re happy you soon won’t be and if you’re sad make sure to hide the razor blades – because it’s unrelentingly bleak. Primarily set in the town of Mapleton it follows a small group of inhabitants as they, and the rest of the world, struggle to come to terms with the sudden disappearance of 2% of the world’s population in a Rapture-like event. Wacky hijinks ensue! No. No they don’t. People go way off the deep end while others struggle as hard as they can to hold onto whatever normality they’re able to; everyone trying to make sense of the new world.
However in an unexpected twist HBO has decided to give the series a bit of a soft reboot for its upcoming second season by expanding the scope of the story outside of Mapleton and encompassing a larger world view. So while the bulk of the main characters are returning, many of the supporting characters have been left… out. Confirmed as returning are the entire Garvey family, played by Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Margaret Qualley and Chris Zylka as Kevin, Laurie, Jill and Tom Garvey respectively; Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, Kevin Garvey’s love interest; and ex-reverend Matt Jamison played by ex-Doctor Chris Eccleston (what does it all mean?). Smaller appearances could possibly be made by Liv Tyler’s Meg Abbott and Ann Dowd’s Patti Levin (STARTSPOILERSPOILERbutdidntshe?SPOILERSPOILEREND).
The changes are due to the bulk of the original book’s content being used in the first season, but as producers Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Tom Perrotta (the original author) are still finalising the outline for the second season this is open to change.
Are you following The Leftovers?
Last Updated: December 10, 2014
Rock789
December 10, 2014 at 14:46
Still need to watch this series… Damn it – too few hours in the day!!!
James Francis
December 10, 2014 at 15:11
Interesting tactic.I couldn’t get past the first episode, which really set no direction at all other than to expect copious moping.
Alien Emperor Trevor
December 10, 2014 at 15:47
I’ve only watched the pilot myself. Thought it ended quite well – particularly the bit with the cult leader & the son.