HBO drama “The Leftovers” is one of the most unique viewing experiences on television — with an aim far beyond pure entertainment.
The show focuses on life in the small town of Mapleton, New York after two percent of Earth’s population has vanished into thin air. This is a series about the “how” and “why” of the drastic past — audiences will probably never know the exact reason for this instant depopulation, but, it doesn’t matter.
The first season of the show focuses on the Garvey family. The Garveys didn’t directly lose anyone in the departure, but three years later, they are still haunted by this unfathomable happening.
Wife Laurie (played spectacularly by Amy Brenneman), has left the family to join a silent cult called the Guilty Remnants. Her son, Tommy, is following a self-proclaimed god, while his sister, Jill, copes with the heightened careless nature of being a teenager in this new world. The main character, Kevin (Justin Theroux), is the town’s chief of police who wrestles with his broken family and fears he will fall down the same path as his mentally-unstable father.
Even for HBO, “The Leftovers” pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling by altering the way just an hour of television looks and feels. “The Leftovers” may be one of the most depressing shows on air, but it is also one of the most compelling.
But even still, the show is certainly not for everyone.
Many fans abandoned the show after the first few episodes, citing the bleak tone as too dismal; but this is where beauty lies. “The Leftovers” isn’t intended to make viewers laugh or to keep them on the edge of their seats. It is a slow burn that requires patience and endurance.
At times, “The Leftovers” delves into over-the-top symbolism. The themes and motifs are often too obvious. The show is also criticized for its plethora of unlikable characters.
Though a reasonable complaint, this is often intended by the writers to keep their viewers from becoming attached to the characters. “The Leftovers” is as an explicit representation of the grit and horror of authentic characters struggling with immense pain.
Stellar performances in every episode create sympathy among viewers, ultimately drawing them into this twisted world that is “The Leftovers.” In the end, the show can be either extremely rewarding or terribly off-putting, depending on the viewer's perspective. The show and its characters rely on perspective, encapsulated in a quote by Coon’s character: "I want to believe that I'm not surrounded by the abandoned ruin of a dead civilization."
This sentiment is core of the show, and those who can recognize this truth will have a greater appreciation of the show's artistic impact.
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