The Leftovers (TV series)

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The Leftovers
The LEFTOVERS, written in gray letters, lit from behind by a white background, casting forwards a shadow of the letters.
Season 1 intertitle
Genre Fantasy
Mystery
Psychological thriller
Drama
Created by <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Based on The Leftovers
by Tom Perrotta
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Theme music composer Max Richter (season 1)
Opening theme "Let the Mystery Be" by Iris DeMent (season 2)
Composer(s) Max Richter
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Producer(s) Nan Bernstein Freed (season 1)
Patrick Markey (season 2)
Alma Kuttruff (season 2)
Production location(s) Westchester County, New York (season 1)
Nyack, New York (season 1)
Austin, Texas (seasons 2–3)
Australia (season 3)[1]
Cinematography Todd McMullen
Michael Slovis (season 1)
Michael Grady
John Grillo (season 1)
Running time 51–72 minutes
Production company(s) <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network HBO
Original release June 29, 2014 (2014-06-29) –
present
External links
Website

The Leftovers is an American television drama series created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, airing on HBO. It is based on Perrotta's novel of the same name.[2] The pilot was written by Lindelof and Perrotta, and directed by Peter Berg.[3] The series stars an ensemble cast featuring Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Chris Zylka, Margaret Qualley, Carrie Coon, and Ann Dowd. The series premiered on HBO on June 29, 2014[4] and was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 4, 2015; and concluded December 6, 2015.[5][6] On December 10, 2015, HBO renewed the show for a third and final season.[7]

Premise

The Leftovers takes place three years after a global event called the "Sudden Departure", the inexplicable, simultaneous disappearance of 140 million people, 2% of the world's population, on October 14, 2011.[8] Following that event, mainstream religions declined, and a number of cults emerged, most notably the Guilty Remnant.[9]

The story focuses primarily on the Garvey family and their acquaintances in the fictional town of Mapleton, New York. Kevin Garvey is the Chief of Police. His wife Laurie has joined the Guilty Remnant. Their son Tommy has left home for college, and their daughter Jill is acting out.[2] The second season moves the main characters to the fictional town of Jarden, Texas.

Cast and characters

Main cast

  • Justin Theroux as Kevin Garvey, Jr., Mapleton's Chief of Police and a father of two, who is trying to maintain some semblance of normality in this new world. The breakup of his family puts more and more of a strain on him.
  • Amy Brenneman as Laurie Garvey, Kevin's wife, and Tom and Jill's mother, who left her entire life behind to join a mysterious cult called the Guilty Remnant.
  • Christopher Eccleston as Matt Jamison, a former reverend and current editor of a self-published tabloid that outs sinners. He struggles with his inability to accept that he, a good Christian, was not taken in the Sudden Departure while many sinners were.
  • Liv Tyler as Megan "Meg" Abbott, a woman about to get married when she becomes the target of the Guilty Remnant.
  • Chris Zylka as Tommy Garvey, Laurie's son (whom Kevin has raised as his own), who has recently dropped out of college and taken refuge with a mysterious guru called "Holy Wayne".
  • Margaret Qualley as Jill Garvey, Kevin's teenage daughter, a straight-A student who has a difficult relationship with her father.
  • Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, a wife and mother who lost her husband, son, and daughter in the Sudden Departure. She is Matt's sister.
  • Emily Meade as Aimee, Jill's free-spirited high school friend, who seems unfazed by the rapture. (season 1)
  • Amanda Warren as Lucy Warburton, Mapleton's take-no-prisoners mayor. (season 1)
  • Ann Dowd as Patti Levin, the leader of the local chapter of the Guilty Remnant. (seasons 1–2)
  • Michael Gaston as Dean, a man who seems to understand that times have changed and addresses it head-on—often violently. (season 1)
  • Max and Charlie Carver as Adam and Scott Frost, happy-go-lucky identical twin brothers. (season 1)
  • Annie Q. as Christine, one of Holy Wayne's many "groupies", and whose role apparently has a special and mysterious meaning. She is also Tommy's friend. (season 1)
  • Janel Moloney as Mary Jamison, Matt's wife, who was paralyzed by a car crash during the Sudden Departure. (seasons 2–3, recurring season 1)
  • Regina King as Erika Murphy, a doctor who runs an urgent-care facility. The Murphys are the Garveys' neighbors in Jarden, Texas. (seasons 2–3)
  • Kevin Carroll as John Murphy, Erika's husband and head of the town’s volunteer fire department. (seasons 2–3)
  • Jovan Adepo as Michael Murphy, Erika and John's teenage son. (seasons 2–3)
  • Jasmin Savoy Brown as Evangeline "Evie" Murphy, Erika and John's teenage daughter, Michael Murphy's twin. (season 3, recurring season 2)
  • Scott Glenn as Kevin Garvey, Sr., Mapleton's former chief of police who has been committed to a mental health institute. (season 3, recurring seasons 1–2)

Recurring cast

  • Paterson Joseph as Henry "Holy Wayne" Gilchrest, Jr., a post-Sudden Departure savior who "heals" people of their burdens.
  • Marceline Hugot as Gladys, a member of the Guilty Remnant.
  • Wayne Duvall as Detective Louis Vitello. (season 1)
  • Sebastian Arcelus as Doug Durst, Nora's husband who departed with their two children. (season 1)
  • Steven Williams as Virgil, Evie and Michael's grandfather. (season 2)
  • Darius McCrary as Isaac Rayney, a fortune teller. (season 2)
  • Turk Pipkin as Pillar Man, a mysterious figure residing atop the pillar in Jarden Square. (season 2)

Development and production

HBO acquired rights for series development with Perrotta attached as writer/executive producer and Ron Yerxa and Albert Berger as executive producers in August 2011, shortly before the book came out.[10]

In June 2012, Damon Lindelof was announced to be developing the series alongside Perrotta, and serves as the series' showrunner.[2]

The pilot was ordered in February 2013.[11] On September 16, 2013, HBO announced that they were taking The Leftovers to series, ordering a 10-episode first season.[12] The Leftovers is the first HBO series to be acquired from an outside studio, Warner Bros. Television, and not solely produced in-house by HBO (though parent company Time Warner owns both).[13]

File:The Leftovers, season 2, official art.jpg
Second season promotional art

The first season covers the entirety of the book; the second season is completely original material.[14] In April 2015, it was reported that the setting for the second season would shift from Mapleton, New York to a small town in Texas.[15] The series shifted filming locations from New York to Austin, Texas, with nearby Lockhart serving as the mainstreet of fictional Jarden, Texas, when principal photography commenced in late April.[16][17] For the second season, which features several changes, including cast, location, and storylines; Lindelof cited The Wire and Friday Night Lights as influences.[18][19]

The final season began principal photography in early May 2016, with filming taking place partly in Austin, Texas and the majority in Australlia.[1][20] It was also confirmed that the season would have a shortened 8-episode run.[21]

Casting

In June 2013, casting announcements began. Justin Theroux, Liv Tyler, Christopher Eccleston, Ann Dowd, Amanda Warren, Michael Gaston, and Carrie Coon were announced to star in the pilot.[22][23][24]

For the second season, eight of the 14 main cast members from season one returned,[6] while Emily Meade, Amanda Warren, Annie Q., Max Carver, Charlie Carver and Michael Gaston did not.[25] In April 2015, casting began for an African-American family comprising a father, ex-convict John Murphy; his hearing impaired doctor wife, Erika; and their teenage children Evie, an outgoing athlete, and Michael, a pious Christian.[15] The roles of John, Erika, and Michael are portrayed by Kevin Carroll, Regina King and Jovan Adepo, respectively, all as series regulars.[26][27] Darius McCrary was cast in a recurring role as Isaac Rayney, John's friend and a palm reader.[27] Steven Williams was cast in a recurring role, playing Virgil, a confidant of Kevin's.[28] Janel Moloney, who had a recurring role in the first season as Mary Jamison, was promoted to a regular cast member in season two.[6]

For the third season, it was confirmed in May 2016 that the entire main cast from the second season would return, with the exception of Ann Dowd, and that Scott Glenn and Jasmin Savoy-Brown had been promoted to series regulars.[21]

Episodes

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Main article: List of The Leftovers episodes
Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
1 10 June 29, 2014 (2014-06-29) September 7, 2014 (2014-09-07)
2 10 October 4, 2015 (2015-10-04) December 6, 2015 (2015-12-06)

Reception

Critical response

Season one of The Leftovers received mostly positive reviews from critics. Metacritic scored season one 65 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[29] Rotten Tomatoes scored the season 70%, based on 60 reviews, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Its dour tone and self-seriousness may make for somber viewing, but The Leftovers is an artfully crafted, thought-provoking drama that aims high and often hits its mark."[30] IGN reviewer Matt Fowler gave consistently high scores to all the season one episodes, including two perfect 10 scores for "Two Boats and a Helicopter" and the season finale "The Prodigal Son Returns."[31] He then gave the entire first season a review score of 9.4 out of 10, particularly praising the character-centric episodes, Max Richter's score and the performances, particularly Carrie Coon's.[32]

Season two received critical acclaim. On Metacritic, it has a score of 80 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[33] Rotten Tomatoes gave the second season a rating of 89% with an average score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 38 critic reviews, with the critical consensus "The Leftovers continues to be unpredictable and provocative in season two with its new location, though the inexplicable circumstances will still frustrate many viewers."[34] Alan Sepinwall of HitFix gave it an "A" grade and wrote that "The Leftovers is still TV's best drama as season 2 begins"; it has "tighter focus, but same powerful, immersive experience".[35] In his five out of five star review, Todd VanDerWerff of Vox wrote: "It's a show that wants to provoke a reaction in you, whether it's admiration, hatred, or just bafflement. It's HBO's best drama—and thus must-see TV."[36]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2014 Critics' Choice Television Awards Most Exciting New Series The Leftovers Won [37]
2015 Writers Guild of America Awards Long Form Adapted Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta for "Pilot" Nominated [38]
Satellite Awards Best Genre Series The Leftovers Nominated [39]
Best Supporting Actor for a Series, Miniseries, or TV Film Christopher Eccleston Nominated
Best Supporting Actress for a Series, Miniseries, or TV Film Ann Dowd Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Christopher Eccleston Nominated [40]
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Carrie Coon Nominated
2016 Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Drama Damon Lindelof & Nick Cuse for "International Assassin" Nominated [41]
Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Drama Series The Leftovers Nominated [42]
Best Actor in a Drama Series Justin Theroux Nominated
Best Actress in a Drama Series Carrie Coon Won
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Christopher Eccleston Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Ann Dowd Nominated
Regina King Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Genre Series The Leftovers Nominated [43]

Home media

The first season was released on Blu-ray and DVD in region 1 on October 6, 2015. The set contains two audio commentaries and four behind-the-scenes featurettes.[44] The second season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 9, 2016.[45]

References

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  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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