The Leftovers

[johnnyyukon]

Heavy.

Need a well done HBO drama/fantasy/mystery, with a piano driven score that will wrench your heart from your chest? I've got just the remedy.

The Leftovers takes place three years after a global event in which many people disappeared, known as the "Sudden Departure", which caused the unexplainable disappearance of 140 million people, 2% of the world's population. 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 a cult called the "Guilty Remnant". Their son, Tommy, has left home and college while their daughter, Jill, is acting out.

Looks Fun!!!



This scene (if Vimeo doesn't kick it off) is a cold open montage accompanied with my new favorite Black Keys song, followed by the show intro:
(Trust me, it's not really sad. It's actually a comedy ).

 

[johnnyyukon]

bump

 

[ceecee]

I tried to watch it, I really did. I hated it and I've never said that about an HBO show before.

 

[johnnyyukon]

I tried to watch it, I really did. I hated it and I've never said that about an HBO show before.

Least ya gave it a shot.

I could see it being a love/hate show. It really is rather bleak, wonderfully bleak, with sharp moments of light.

I'm not even sure I enjoy watching it, haha. Yet I'm addicted, doing a marathon.

 

[johnnyyukon]

I'm about 15 minutes into the finale and let me just say, STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM THIS SHIT.

I will soldier on but save yourselves.

 

[johnnyyukon]

This show is an emotional BOG. I've never seen one like it.

It is an immersion show. Utilizing story, powerful music, top tier acting, and extreme character development, it is a show that tears down the fourth wall and places you smack dab in the middle of the shitstorm.

But what it immerses you in are powerful themes of depression, loss, and grief. NOT for everyone. In fact, possibly traumatic for some.

The last 20 minutes of the season finale almost made it worth that watch though. Something unexpected happened. A powerful ending that leaves the viewer with hope. The bog was so heavy and laden with hopelessness that I was only expecting to to sink in over my head.

Alas, this show took a very hopeful twist. So unexpected, that it made the feelings of relief and joy, that much more poignant.

I sill don't reccomend it for the easily depressed, but anyone that wants to go on a journey through hell AND come out with renewed hope, like Virgil in the Inferno, you probably won't find something better in the next five years.

 

[johnnyyukon]

 

[Ivy]

I loved season 1 and can't wait for season 2!

 

[johnnyyukon]

I loved season 1 and can't wait for season 2!

Oh wow. I thought I was alone.

 

[Ivy]

My husband and I were hooked after the first episode. There was just something really compelling about it. Part of what hooked me was that one song they played in the trailers that really kind of nailed the mood for the whole series.

 

[johnnyyukon]

My husband and I were hooked after the first episode. There was just something really compelling about it. Part of what hooked me was that one song they played in the trailers that really kind of nailed the mood for the whole series.

My God, the music in that show.

I like the composer, Max Richter too.

The music is perfectly coupled with the story and the scenes (actually the story has many unfilled gaps, though I think intentionally). One of many reasons it's so compelling.

 

[EJCC]

This show is an emotional BOG. I've never seen one like it.

It is an immersion show. Utilizing story, powerful music, top tier acting, and extreme character development, it is a show that tears down the fourth wall and places you smack dab in the middle of the shitstorm.

But what it immerses you in are powerful themes of depression, loss, and grief. NOT for everyone. In fact, possibly traumatic for some.

The last 20 minutes of the season finale almost made it worth that watch though. Something unexpected happened. A powerful ending that leaves the viewer with hope. The bog was so heavy and laden with hopelessness that I was only expecting to to sink in over my head.

Alas, this show took a very hopeful twist. So unexpected, that it made the feelings of relief and joy, that much more poignant.

I sill don't reccomend it for the easily depressed, but anyone that wants to go on a journey through hell AND come out with renewed hope, like Virgil in the Inferno, you probably won't find something better in the next five years.

Worse than "True Detective"?

Been thinking about watching it, but your reviews are making me uncertain.

 

[Ivy]

It really is an immersive experience. And it's definitely moody. But I still recommend it. I will say that my husband doesn't usually like these kinds of moody pieces, but he found this show very compelling too. The main character, the police chief, is a really well-written and well-acted, nuanced character study. (It helps, for me, that Justin Theroux is super dreamy.)

 

[EJCC]

It really is an immersive experience. And it's definitely moody. But I still recommend it. I will say that my husband doesn't usually like these kinds of moody pieces, but he found this show very compelling too. The main character, the police chief, is a really well-written and well-acted, nuanced character study. (It helps, for me, that Justin Theroux is super dreamy.)

That's a good recommendation!

I should probably finish off one of my angsty shows first, lol. This would be way too much if I watched it along with Breaking Bad (which I'm currently working on).

 

[Ivy]

Yeah, that might be a good idea. I binge-watched Breaking Bad and that didn't do my psyche any favors, lol.

 

[johnnyyukon]

Worse than "True Detective"?

Been thinking about watching it, but your reviews are making me uncertain.

Oh, give it a shot! Haha. It's great, from a creative perspective.

I definitely recommend it. And my take on it is probably just a "you've been warned."

I mean, there's this cult, and they are practically the living embodiment of Depression. Like it's a part of their manifesto or something.

But it is heavy. Heavier than TD, imo. Like TD, there's definitely periods of comedic relief ("Let's make the car a place of silent reflection") and moments of optimism that seem even more poignant surrounded by all the grief/darkness. But UNlike TD, there doesn't seem to be a lot of satisfaction, story/plot wise. But I don't think there's supposed to be. It's focus is the characters and the general mood. I think I read somewhere that The Leftovers is kind of like a rorschach test for the viewer. You fill in the gaps for yourself.

Watch the first episode, don't let me sway you. I wrote a lot of what I wrote RIGHT after watching the darkest parts of the finale and BEFORE the ending, which is quite powerful, hopeful, and optimistic.

It's already been renewed for a second season, I'll be watching, so you better catch up.

 

[EJCC]

Yeah, that might be a good idea. I binge-watched Breaking Bad and that didn't do my psyche any favors, lol.

Ha! Thankfully I have not been doing that with Breaking Bad. However I DID do that with True Detective, and that was a pretty horrendous mistake. (Didn't help that as a fellow enneagram 1, there was something about Rust's logic that I related to more than I would like. )

Oh, give it a shot! Haha. It's great, from a creative perspective.

I definitely recommend it. And my take on it is probably just a "you've been warned."

I mean, there's this cult, and they are practically the living embodiment of Depression. Like it's a part of their manifesto or something.

But it is heavy. Heavier than TD, imo. Like TD, there's definitely periods of comedic relief ("Let's make the car a place of silent reflection") and moments of optimism that seem even more poignant surrounded by all the grief/darkness. But UNlike TD, there doesn't seem to be a lot of satisfaction, story/plot wise. But I don't think there's supposed to be. It's focus is the characters and the general mood. I think I read somewhere that The Leftovers is kind of like a rorschach test for the viewer. You fill in the gaps for yourself.

Watch the first episode, don't let me sway you. I wrote a lot of what I wrote RIGHT after watching the darkest parts of the finale and BEFORE the ending, which is quite powerful, hopeful, and optimistic.

It's already been renewed for a second season, I'll be watching, so you better catch up.

Ooh. Yeah that's a great endorsement too.

Maybe once I'm done with BB, I can watch this while re-watching Twin Peaks!

 

[Ivy]

Ooh, thanks for the reminder- I need to re-watch Twin Peaks too! I really hope it holds up- I LOVED that shit back in the day.

 

[EJCC]

Ooh, thanks for the reminder- I need to re-watch Twin Peaks too! I really hope it holds up- I LOVED that shit back in the day.

It aged well enough that I loved season 1 when I watched it four years ago! (Never watched season 2)

 

[johnnyyukon]

It really is an immersive experience. And it's definitely moody. But I still recommend it. I will say that my husband doesn't usually like these kinds of moody pieces, but he found this show very compelling too. The main character, the police chief, is a really well-written and well-acted, nuanced character study. (It helps, for me, that Justin Theroux is super dreamy.)

I'm 100% straight, but Justin Theroux is a dreamboat.

"Do you think Aimee's really fucking Jill's dad?"
"Probably! Dude's ripped!"


SPOILERS [MENTION=2]Ivy[/MENTION] and whoever

Maaan, so that big scene (and I kind of knew what they were up to when they delivered the truck full of "bodies." I figured it was those lifelike mannequins) and the scenes building up to it, was when I was like "Do not watch this fucking shit!" Actually I wrote that even before the reactions, which were just as wretched and heart wrenching as I thought they'd be.

But yeah, that was soooooooooooooooooo fucked up. And poor Nora, geez, Nora. She's been so unpredictable, especially. Thought she'd grab the gun like so many and go after the Guilty Remnant, but no. Thought she'd kill herself, but no. Thought she'd run off to another state/country, but no.

I also really liked Wayne's end. "I think I might be a fraud." Even though he was a pederast (ok there's worse than underage girls, but still), he was so gentlemanly in his final moments. "Please sir, don't go, I don't want to be alone. "

And the G.R. in general. I fucking hate them!!! Chain smoking fucks!

Also worthy note, is Ann Dowd as Patti, the GR leader. My god, when she spoke, VERY intense actor. Especially in her final moments, and on October 13th, when she like flips a switch in her therapy session and stares down Kevin's wife. Damn, she's good.

And I swear to god, that sob scene (a few, but when Kevin was crying in his pillow) was a little too real for me. In other words, it was eerily spot on. A very strong man having a breakdown.

But yeah, the GR-all cunts. God, did I say I hate them?? Like, imo, NO redeeming qualities. In a sense I KIND OF understand their philosophy of just embracing the pain fully, but even that is repugnant and an affront to the human spirit.


Jill: "Did you fuck my dad?"
Twin: "Uh...let's play ping pong."