''The Leftovers'' is an American

supernatural Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

television series created by

Damon Lindelof Damon Laurence Lindelof (born April 24, 1973) is an American screenwriter, comic book writer, and producer. Among his accolades, he received three Primetime Emmy Awards, from twelve nominations. In 2010, ''Time (magazine), Time'' magazine named ...

and

Tom Perrotta Thomas R. Perrotta (born August 13, 1961) is an American novelist and screenwriter best known for his novels ''Election'' (1998) and '' Little Children'' (2004), both of which were made into critically acclaimed, Academy Award-nominated films. Pe ...

that aired on

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...

from June 29, 2014, to June 4, 2017. Based on Perrotta's 2011 novel, the series begins three years after the "Sudden Departure", a global event that resulted in 2% of the world's population disappearing. The lives of police chief Kevin Garvey (

Justin Theroux Justin Paul Theroux ( ; born August 10, 1971) is an American actor and filmmaker. He gained recognition for his work with director David Lynch in the mystery film '' Mulholland Drive'' (2001) and the thriller film ''Inland Empire'' (2006). He al ...

) and his family, along with grieving widow Nora Durst (

Carrie Coon Carrie Alexandra Coon (born January 24, 1981) is an American actress. Known for her portrayals of complex characters on stage and screen, she has received a Critics' Choice Television Award, as well as nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards a ...

) and her brother, Reverend Matt Jamison (

Christopher Eccleston Christopher Eccleston (; born 16 February 1964) is an English actor whose work has encompassed Hollywood blockbusters and arthouse films, television dramas, Shakespearean stage performances and science fiction, most notably the Ninth Doctor, ni ...

), are the focal points of the series as they struggle to adjust to life after the Departure. The pilot was written by Lindelof and Perrotta and directed by

Peter Berg Peter Berg (born March 11, 1964) is an American director, producer, writer, and actor. His directorial film works include the black comedy '' Very Bad Things'' (1998), the action comedy '' The Rundown'' (2003), the sports drama '' Friday Night ...

. The series stars an ensemble cast led by Theroux and features

Amy Brenneman Amy Frederica Brenneman (born June 22, 1964) is an American actress and producer. She worked extensively in television, coming to prominence as Detective Janice Licalsi in the ABC police drama series ''NYPD Blue'' (1993–1994). Brenneman ...

Liv Tyler Liv Rundgren Tyler (born Liv Rundgren; July 1, 1977) is an American actress. She began her career as a model before making her film debut in '' Silent Fall'' (1994). She went on to receive critical recognition and attention after her starring ...

Chris Zylka Chris Zylka (born Christopher Michael Settlemire; May 9, 1985) is an American actor and model, known for his roles as Brigg Jenner in MTV's ''My Super Psycho Sweet 16'' film trilogy (2009–2012), Blake in the film '' Shark Night'' (2011), Flash ...

Margaret Qualley Sarah Margaret Qualley ( ; born October 23, 1994) is an American actress. A daughter of actress Andie MacDowell, she trained as a ballet dancer in her youth. She made her acting debut in the 2013 drama film ''Palo Alto'' and gained recognitio ...

Ann Dowd Ann Dowd (born January 30, 1956) is an American actress. She has appeared in numerous films, including '' Green Card'' (1990), ''Lorenzo's Oil'' (1992), ''Philadelphia'' (1993), '' Garden State'' (2004), '' The Manchurian Candidate'' (2004), '' M ...

Regina King Regina Rene King (born January 15, 1971) is an American actress, director and producer. She has received various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and four Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2019, ''Time'' magazine named her o ...

Jovan Adepo Jovan Adepo (born 1988) is a British-American actor. He made his feature film debut in the period drama '' Fences'' (2016), which was followed by roles in the psychological horror film '' Mother!'' (2017), the action horror film ''Overlord'' (20 ...

, Kevin Carroll,

Janel Moloney Janel Moloney (born October 3, 1969) is an American actress, best known for her role as Donna Moss on the television series ''The West Wing'', a role for which she received nominations for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress ...

, and

Scott Glenn Theodore Scott Glenn (born January 26 between 1938 and 1942) is an American actor. His roles have included Bill Lester in '' She Came to the Valley'' (1979), Pfc Glenn Kelly in ''Nashville'' (1975), Wes Hightower in '' Urban Cowboy'' (1980), as ...

. The series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 4, 2015, and concluded December 6, 2015. On December 10, 2015, at Lindelof's request to be able to conclude the series, HBO renewed it for a third and final season, which premiered on April 16, 2017, and concluded on June 4, 2017. Over the course of the series, 28 episodes aired over three seasons. The first season received mostly positive reviews, though some criticized the series for its grim tone. The series underwent a critical reevaluation during its acclaimed second and third seasons, with many critics referring to ''The Leftovers'' as one of the greatest television series of all time, with particular praise for its writing, directing, acting (particularly Theroux's and Coon's) and thematic depth. The musical score composed by

Max Richter Max Richter (; ; born 22 March 1966) is a German-born British composer and pianist. He works within postminimalist and contemporary classical styles. Richter is classically trained, having graduated in composition from the University of Edinbu ...

also attracted critical praise. Despite receiving average

Nielsen ratings Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre, films (via the AMC Theatres MAP program), and newspapers. Headquartered in New York City, it is best known for the Nielsen rat ...

throughout its run, the series has developed a

cult following A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The latter is often called a cult classic. A film, boo ...

. The series has been compared favorably to '' Lost'', a previous series co-created by Lindelof.

Premise

''The Leftovers'' starts 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. Following that event, mainstream religions declined, and a number of

cult Cults are social groups which have unusual, and often extreme, religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs and rituals. Extreme devotion to a particular person, object, or goal is another characteristic often ascribed to cults. The term ...

s emerged, most notably the Guilty Remnant, a group of white-clothed, chain-smoking

nihilists Nihilism () encompasses various views that reject certain aspects of existence. There have been different nihilist positions, including the views that life is meaningless, that moral values are baseless, and that knowledge is impossible. Thes ...

, and a cult led by Holy Wayne, a man who views himself as the

Second Coming of Jesus Christ The Second Coming (sometimes called the Second Advent or the Parousia) is the Christian and Islamic belief that Jesus Christ will return to Earth after his ascension to Heaven (which is said to have occurred about two thousand years ago). The ...

. The first season revolves around the Garvey family and their acquaintances in a fictionalized version of the town of

Mapleton, New York Mapleton is a hamlet in the town of Pendleton in Niagara County, New York, United States. Mapleton first appeared on maps in 1860 as Mapletown, but the name had been in use since at least the 1840s. A post office operated between 1850 and 1862 ...

. Kevin Garvey Jr. is the

chief of police A chief of police (COP) is the title given to an appointed official or an elected one in the command hierarchy, chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. A chief of police may also be known as a police chief or somet ...

. His wife, Laurie, has joined the Guilty Remnant. Their son, Tommy, has left home to become a follower of Holy Wayne, and their daughter, Jill, is

acting out In the psychology of defense mechanisms and self-control, acting out is the performance of an action considered bad or anti-social. They indirectly express emotions through behavior rather than words. These actions are often used to cope with un ...

. Meanwhile, grieving widow Nora Durst and her brother, Reverend Matt Jamison, struggle to deal with their respective traumas while adjusting to life post-Departure. It also follows Meg Abbott, a woman who is slowly seduced by the Mapleton faction of the Guilty Remnant, led by Patti Levin. These characters' lives intertwine and collide as they find themselves in the middle of an ongoing conflict between the Guilty Remnant and the townspeople of Mapleton. In the second season, the location shifts from Mapleton to the fictional town of Jarden,

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, where not a single citizen was lost in the Sudden Departure. The Murphy family becomes a key focal point of the season. The patriarch, John, is the chief firefighter of the town, also acting as a vigilante deterrent of people exploiting Jarden's "miracle". His wife, Erika, is a doctor. Their son, Michael, is an aspiring pastor and their daughter, Evie, is a high school student with

epilepsy Epilepsy is a group of Non-communicable disease, non-communicable Neurological disorder, neurological disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrent, unprovoked Seizure, seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst of abnormal electrical activit ...

. The Garvey family, Nora, and Matt move to Jarden at a time which coincides with an incident that leads to the disappearance of three young girls, followed by mass panic and chaos that threatens the town's safety and forces the Garvey and Murphy families to confront their inner demons. The third and final season unfolds three years later, in 2018, starting 14 days before the seventh anniversary of the Sudden Departure. The setting of the third season moves between Jarden and

Victoria, Australia Victoria, commonly abbreviated as Vic, is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state (after Tasmania), with a land area of ; the second-most-populated state (after New South Wales), with a population of over 7 million; ...

, as most of the lead characters—particularly the Garvey and Murphy families—undergo emotional journeys that make them reflect upon their lives, their beliefs, and the events they have encountered in the previous two seasons. Kevin's father, the mentally ill former chief of police of Mapleton, is also a main focus in the final season as he embarks on a spiritual journey to fulfill a cryptic purpose, and eventually crosses paths with the other members of the Murphy and Garvey families.

Cast and characters

Main

as Kevin Garvey, initially Mapleton's chief of police and a father of two, who is trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy after the Sudden Departure. *

as Lorelei "Laurie" Garvey, Kevin's wife, who left her life behind to join a mysterious cult called the Guilty Remnant. *

as Matt Jamison, a Reverend and editor of a self-published tabloid that outs sinners. He later relocates to Jarden, Texas and takes over its church. *

as Megan "Meg" Abbott, a woman who becomes involved with the Guilty Remnant and comes to lead its more radical faction. *

as Tom "Tommy" Garvey, Laurie's son (whom Kevin has raised as his own), who takes refuge with a mysterious

guru Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...

called "Holy Wayne", before starting an alternative cult with Laurie. *

as Jill Garvey, Kevin and Laurie's teenage daughter, a straight-A student who has a difficult relationship with her father. *

as Nora Durst, a wife and mother who lost her husband, son and daughter in the Sudden Departure. She is Matt's sister, and later becomes Kevin's partner and the adoptive mother of Lily, an infant fathered by Holy Wayne. *

Emily Meade Emily Meade (born January 10, 1989) is an American film and television actress. She has appeared in films such as '' Twelve'' (2010), ''My Soul to Take'' (2010), ''Gimme Shelter'' (2013), ''That Awkward Moment'' (2014), ''Money Monster'' (2016), a ...

as Aimee (season 1), Jill's free-spirited high school friend, who lives with the Garveys in Mapleton. *

Amanda Warren Amanda Warren (born July 17, 1982) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Lucy Warburton on the HBO drama series '' The Leftovers'' and as Betty on the Apple TV+ comedy series '' Dickinson''. Early life Amanda Warren was born on J ...

as Lucy Warburton (season 1), Mapleton's mayor who struggles to appease the local community amidst frequent clashes with the Guilty Remnant. She was in a relationship with Kevin's father prior to the Sudden Departure and continues to visit him while he is in psychiatric care. *

as Patricia "Patti" Levin, the leader of the Mapleton chapter of the Guilty Remnant, who continues to haunt Kevin following her death. *

Michael Gaston Michael Gaston is an American film and television actor. He played agent List of Prison Break minor characters#Quinn, Quinn on the show ''Prison Break'', List of Jericho characters#Gray Anderson, Gray Anderson on the CBS drama series ''Jericho (20 ...

as Dean (season 1; guest season 3), a mysterious man who hunts dogs across Mapleton, and accompanies Kevin during his various sleepwalking nights. *

Max Carver Max Carver (born Robert Maxwell Martensen Jr; August 1, 1988) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Preston Scavo in the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives'' (2008–2012), as Aiden on the MTV teen-horror drama ''Teen Wolf ...

as Adam Frost (season 1), a friend of Jill and Aimee. *

Charlie Carver Charles Carver Martensen (born July 31, 1988) is an American actor. His better known roles include Porter Scavo on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives'' (2008–2012), Ethan on the MTV television series ''Teen Wolf'' (2013–2014, ...

as Scott Frost (season 1), Adam's identical twin brother. * Annie Q. as Christine (season 1; guest season 3), one of Holy Wayne's former "groupies" who bears one of his children and is subsequently placed under Tommy's protection. *

as Mary Jamison (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1), Matt's wife, who was rendered catatonic by a car crash during the Sudden Departure. *

as Erika Murphy (seasons 2–3), a doctor who runs an urgent-care facility. The Murphys are the Garveys' neighbors in Jarden. * Kevin Carroll as John Murphy (seasons 2–3), Erika's husband and head of Jarden's volunteer fire department. He subsequently marries Laurie, and operates as a fraudulent medium. *

as Michael Murphy (seasons 2–3), Erika and John's devout teenage son. *

as Kevin Garvey Sr. (season 3; recurring season 1; guest season 2), Kevin's father and Mapleton's former chief of police, who relocates to Australia following his release from a mental health institute.

Recurring

Paterson Joseph Paterson Davis Joseph (born 22 June 1964) is a British actor and author. Joseph appeared in the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) productions of ''King Lear'' and ''Love's Labour's Lost'' in 1990. On television he is best known for his roles in '' ...

as Henry "Holy Wayne" Gilchrest Jr. (season 1; guest season 2), a post-Sudden Departure savior who "heals" people of their burdens. *

Natalie Gold Natalie Gold is an American actress who has appeared in film, television, and stage productions, including on Broadway. Early life and education Gold grew up in Miami, Florida, and studied theatre at the New World School of the Arts and Emerso ...

as Sam's Mother (season 1; guest season 3), a woman who lost her baby son in the Sudden Departure. *

Marceline Hugot Marceline Hugot (born February 10, 1960) is an American stage and screen actress. Best known for playing Kathy Geiss on NBC sitcom ''30 Rock'', she has also appeared in the films ''Working Girl'', ''Julie & Julia'', '' To Wong Foo, Thanks for Eve ...

as Gladys (season 1; guest season 2), a member of the Guilty Remnant. *Frank Harts as Officer Dennis Luckey (season 1), Kevin's deputy in Mapleton. *Wayne Duvall as Detective Louis Vitello (season 1), a belligerent officer in the Mapleton police force who frequently clashes with Kevin. * Jasmin Savoy Brown as Evangeline "Evie" Murphy (seasons 2–3), Erika and John's teenage daughter and Michael's twin sister. *

Darius McCrary Darius Creston McCrary (born May 1, 1976) is an American actor, singer and producer. McCrary is known for his role as Edward "Eddie" Winslow, the oldest child of Carl and Harriette Winslow on the ABC/CBS television sitcom ''Family Matters'', wh ...

as Isaac Rayney (season 2), a fortune teller in Jarden who is old friends with John. *

Steven Williams Steven Williams (born January 7, 1949) is an American actor in films and television. He is known for his roles as Captain Adam Fuller on ''21 Jump Street'', NYPD Detective Lt. Jefferson Burnett on '' The Equalizer'', Det. August Brooks on '' L.A ...

as Virgil (season 2), Evie and Michael's estranged grandfather. He serves as Kevin's guide during his first visit to the afterworld. *

Turk Pipkin Turk Pipkin (born July 2, 1953) is an author, actor, comedian and director. He is the co-founder of The Nobelity Project, a non-profit organization which seeks to find solutions to global problems, and which advocates for basic rights for children ...

as Edward/Pillar Man (season 2; guest season 3), a mysterious figure residing atop the pillar in Jarden Square. *Kenneth Wayne Bradley as Ranger Bob (season 2) *

Lindsay Duncan Lindsay Vere Duncan (born 7 November 1950) is a Scottish actress. She is the recipient of three BAFTA nominations and one Scottish BAFTA nomination, as well as two Olivier Awards and a Tony Award for her work on stage. She has starred in sever ...

as Grace Playford (season 3), a former missionary who lost her entire family and crosses paths with Kevin Sr. *

Damien Garvey Damien Garvey is an Australian actor and former musician known for his film and television roles. Early life and education Damien Garvey graduated from Padua College, a Catholic boys' school in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1982. Career Garvey ...

as Kevin Yarborough (season 3), an Australian police chief. *

Katja Herbers Katja Mira Herbers (born 19 October 1980) is a Dutch actress. She is best known for portraying Dr. Helen Prins on the WGN America drama series ''Manhattan'' (2014–2015), Emily Grace in the HBO science fiction drama series ''Westworld'' (2018� ...

as Dr. Eden (season 3), one of the scientists experimenting with a machine purported to reunite its test subjects with the Departed. *

Victoria Haralabidou Victoria Haralabidou () is a Greek Australian actress. Early life and education Victoria Haralabidou was born in Saint Petersburg, USSR. When she was 15 years old, her family moved to Athens, Greece. In 2005, she moved to Sydney, Australi ...

as Dr. Bekker (season 3), one of the scientists experimenting with a machine purported to reunite its test subjects with the Departed.

Guests

Brad Leland Brad Leland (born September 15, 1954) is an American film and television actor best known for his role as Buddy Garrity in the NBC/DirecTV series '' Friday Night Lights''. He has appeared in over 100 feature films and television shows and numero ...

as Congressman Witten (season 1), a newly recruited follower of Holy Wayne's cult. *David Turner as Anthony (season 1) *

Victor Williams Victor L. Williams (born September 19, 1970) is an American actor best known as Doug Heffernan's ( Kevin James) best friend Deacon Palmer on ''The King of Queens.'' He has also appeared on several other hit TV shows, including '' Homicide: Life ...

as Ron Jensen, a banker in Mapleton who handles the foreclosure of Matt's church. (season 1) *

Sebastian Arcelus Sebastian Arcelus (born November 5, 1976) is an American actor, best known for his roles as List of House of Cards (American TV series) characters#Lucas Goodwin, Lucas Goodwin on the Netflix Thriller film, thriller series ''House of Cards (Amer ...

as Doug Durst (season 1), Nora's husband who departed with their two children. *

Billy Magnussen William Gregory Magnussen (born April 20, 1985) is an American actor. He has been featured in the films '' Into the Woods'' (2014), '' Bridge of Spies'' (2015), '' Birth of the Dragon'' (2016), '' Game Night'' (2018), and '' Aladdin'' (2019), and ...

as Marcus (season 1), an employee at a business that creates lifelike mannequins of the Departed, who Nora meets at a conference in New York City. *

Tom Noonan Tom Noonan (born April 12, 1951) is an American actor, director, and screenwriter, best known for his roles as Francis Dollarhyde in '' Manhunter'' (1986), Frankenstein's Monster in ''The Monster Squad'' (1987), Cain in '' RoboCop 2'' (1990), ...

as Casper (season 1), one of Holy Wayne's followers who Nora encounters in New York City. *

Bill Heck Bill Heck is an American actor who has appeared on Broadway and in television shows, such as '' The Leftovers'' and '' The Old Man'', and films, including in the role of Billy Knapp in the Coen Brothers' western '' The Ballad of Buster Scruggs''. ...

as Darren (seasons 1–2), Meg's ex-fiancée. *

Dominic Burgess Dominic Burgess (born 29 July 1982) is an English actor. He is known for his appearances in several television adverts and series such as ''Raising Hope'', ''Doctor Who'', '' Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'', ''It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'', ''Ame ...

as Dr. Brian Goodheart (season 2), an Australian scientist who illegally collects water from a reservoir in Jarden. He is one of the first people accused of being involved in the disappearance of three teenage girls due to his appearance and proximity to them on the day. *

Mark Linn-Baker Mark Linn-Baker (born Mark Linn Baker; June 17, 1954) is an American actor and Television director, director who played Benjy Stone in the film ''My Favorite Year'' and Larry Appleton in the television situation comedy, sitcom ''Perfect Strangers ...

as himself (seasons 2–3), an actor who faked his Departure after his co-stars from '' Perfect Strangers'' disappeared during the incident without him. *

Brad Greenquist Brad Greenquist (born October 8, 1959) is an American actor. Career Greenquist appeared in ''Pet Sematary'', the 1989 film adaptation of Stephen King's 1983 novel of the same name, and in films such as '' The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer''. From the ...

as an adoption agent (season 2) who officiates Kevin and Nora's adoption of Lily. *

Charlayne Woodard Charlaine "Charlayne" Woodard (born December 29, 1953) is an American playwright and actress. She is a two-time Obie Award winner as well as a Tony Award and Drama Desk nominee. She was a series regular on the hit FX TV series '' Pose''. She pl ...

as Lois Makepeace (season 2) *

Roger Narayan Raj Narayan is an actor who works in predominantly Kannada and English-language films. He is known for playing the titular role in '' Hola Venky!'' and starring in '' U Turn'' (2016). Career Roger Narayan studied engineering at BITS Pilani befo ...

as Bhagat (season 2) *

Heather Kafka Heather Kafka (born July 7, 1972, in Austin, Texas) is an American film, television, and voice actress who is known for playing Chloe in the television sitcom series '' Austin Stories'', Lacy in the independent drama film '' Joe'', and Henriet ...

as Susan (season 2), a former member of the Guilty Remnant who joins Laurie's therapy group for ex-GR members. *

Mark Harelik Marcus Frank Harelik (born June 5, 1951) is an American television, film, and stage actor, and playwright. Early life Harelik was born in Hamilton, Texas. In 1909, Harelik's Russian Jewish grandfather, Haskell Harelik—upon whom Harelik's ...

as Peter (season 2), a publisher interested in Laurie's book. * Alon Moni Aboutboul as Viktor (season 2) *Sam Littlefield as Almer (season 2) * Brett Butler as Sandy (seasons 2–3), the wife of Edward the pillar resident who lives in a shantytown outside Jarden. *

Joel Murray Joel Murray (born April 17, 1963) is an American actor. He is well known for his roles in the television series ''Mad Men'', ''Grand (TV series), Grand'', ''Love & War (TV series), Love & War'', ''Dharma & Greg'', ''Still Standing (American TV ...

as George Brevity (seasons 2–3), an agent of the Department of Sudden Departures who befriends Nora in Jarden. *

Sonya Walger Sonya Walger (born June 6, 1974) is a British and American actress. She had a starring role in the HBO sitcom '' The Mind of the Married Man'' (2001–2002) before landing her role as Penny Widmore in the ABC drama series '' Lost'' (2006–20 ...

as Dr. Allison Herbert (season 2) *

Bill Camp Bill Camp (born ) is an American actor. He has played supporting roles in many films such as '' Lincoln'' (2012), '' Compliance'' (2012), '' Lawless'' (2012), ''12 Years a Slave'' (2013), '' Love & Mercy'' (2015), '' Loving'' (2016), ''Molly's G ...

as David Burton (seasons 2–3), an Australian former sportscaster who seemingly returned from the dead and now claims to be God. He appears to Kevin during his visits to the afterlife, and later meets Matt on the ferry between Tasmania and Melbourne. *

Gary Basaraba Gary Basaraba (born March 16, 1959) is a Canadian actor. He appeared as Sergeant Richard Santoro on Steven Bochco's '' Brooklyn South'' and Officer Ray Hechler on the critically acclaimed but short-lived ''Boomtown''. He has worked for Martin ...

as Neil (season 2), Patti's husband *

Betty Buckley Betty Buckley (born July 3, 1947)LuKanic, Steven A (1995). Film Actors Guide'. Los Angeles, CA: Lone Eagle Publishing. p. 55. . is an American actress and singer. Buckley is the winner of a Tony Award, and was nominated for an additional Ton ...

as Jane (season 2), Meg's mother, who died one day before the Sudden Departure. *

Adina Porter Adina Elizabeth Porter is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Lettie Mae Thornton on the HBO fantasy horror series ''True Blood'' (2008–2014), Kendra James on the HBO drama series '' The Newsroom'' (2012–2014), Indra on t ...

as a G.R. Leader (season 2) who disagrees with Meg's increasingly violent activism on behalf of the cult. * Lasarus Ratuere as Officer Bardo (season 3) *

Jason Douglas Jason Douglas (born February 14, 1973) is an American film, television and voice actor, known for portraying Tobin on AMC's '' The Walking Dead'', voicing Beerus in the anime film '' Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods ''and the series '' Dragon B ...

as Jed (season 3) *

Alexandra Schepisi Alexandra Schepisi ( ) is an Australian actress. Early life Schepisi was born and raised in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is the daughter of filmmaker Fred Schepisi and casting director Rhonda (nee Finlayson) Schepisi. She obtained her ba ...

as The Woman (season 3) *

David Gulpilil David Dhalatnghu Gulpilil (1 July 1953 – 29 November 2021) was an Australian actor and dancer. He was known for his roles in the films Walkabout (film), ''Walkabout'' (1971), Storm Boy (1976 film), ''Storm Boy'' (1976), ''The Last Wave'' (1 ...

as Christopher Sunday (season 3), a native elder living in the Australian outback who Kevin Sr. pursues for mystical knowledge. * Benito Martinez as Arturo (season 3), a loyal member of Matt's congregation in Jarden.

Development and production

acquired rights for series development with Perrotta attached as writer/executive producer and Ron Yerxa and

Albert Berger Albert Berger is an American film producer. Biography He attended Tufts University and the MFA program in film at the Columbia University School of the Arts. He is an executive producer of the HBO series '' The Leftovers''. He and Ron Yerxa ar ...

as executive producers in August 2011, shortly before the book came out.

had reportedly been a fan of Perrotta's earlier novels and had first learned of the book from a positive review by

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror novels and has also explored other genres, among them Thriller (genre), suspense, crime fiction, crime, scienc ...

in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' in August 2011. In June 2012, Lindelof announced he would be developing the series alongside Perrotta. He served as the series'

showrunner A showrunner is the top-level executive producer of a television series. The position outranks other creative and management personnel, including episode directors, in contrast to feature films, in which the director has creative control over th ...

. In February 2013, HBO ordered a pilot and, in September, ordered a 10-episode first season. ''The Leftovers'' is the first series HBO acquired from an outside studio that it did not produce in-house. The first season covers the entirety of the book; the second and third seasons are completely original material. 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. The series shifted filming locations from New York to

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

, with nearby Lockhart serving as the main street of fictional Jarden, Texas, when

principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...

commenced in late April. For the second season, which features several changes, including cast, location, and storylines; Lindelof cited ''

The Wire ''The Wire'' is an American Crime fiction, crime Drama (film and television), drama television series created and primarily written by the American author and former police reporter David Simon for the cable network HBO. The series premiered o ...

'' and '' Friday Night Lights'' as influences. The final season began

in early May 2016, in Austin. In June 2016, the production moved to

Melbourne, Victoria Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, where it filmed the remainder of the series and completed post-production. On the move to Melbourne, Lindelof said, "We're immensely grateful for the opportunity to try something that looks and feels different from the preceding seasons and we absolutely cannot wait to bring our story to its conclusion down under." It was also confirmed that the season would have a shortened 8-episode run.

Casting

In June 2013, casting announcements began.

, and

were announced to star in the pilot. For the second season, eight of the 14 main cast members from season one returned, while

, Amanda Warren, Annie Q.,

and Michael Gaston did not. In April 2015, casting began for a family comprising ex-convict John Murphy; his hearing-impaired doctor wife, Erika; and their teenage children Evie, an outgoing athlete, and Michael, a pious Christian. The roles of John, Erika, and Michael are portrayed by Kevin Carroll,

and

, respectively, all as series regulars.

was cast in a recurring role as Isaac Rayney, John's friend and a palm reader.

was cast in a recurring role, playing Virgil, a confidant of Kevin's.

, who had a recurring role in the first season as Mary Jamison, was promoted to a regular cast member in season two. 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 Dowd, and that

and Jasmin Savoy Brown had been promoted to series regulars. Glenn is credited as part of the main cast for the five season 3 episodes in which he appears; Brown ultimately remained as a recurring guest star, appearing in three episodes of the season.

joined the cast on December 6, 2016, also as a recurring guest star. Duncan appears in five episodes of the season. Several cast members did not continue in a regular capacity during season 3, but retain main cast credit for the episodes in which they feature. Liv Tyler appears in one scene in the first episode, and returns for one subsequent appearance in episode 7. Ann Dowd also returns to the main cast in episode 7 only.

appears in the season's first episode only, with one subsequent voice cameo. Regina King appears in episode 2 only, and Janel Moloney features in two episodes.

appears for the final time in episode 2, making only one subsequent voice cameo, but retains his credit as a main cast member for the entire season. Additionally, season 1 main cast members Michael Gaston and Annie Q. return as guest stars.

Opening credits and theme music

The main title from the first season uses "The Leftovers (Main Title Theme)", an original piece of music by composer

, accompanied by images like a fresco in the style of the

Sistine Chapel The Sistine Chapel ( ; ; ) is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Originally known as the ''Cappella Magna'' ('Great Chapel'), it takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and ...

. The second season uses " Let the Mystery Be" by

Iris DeMent Iris Luella DeMent (born January 5, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. DeMent's musical style includes elements of folk, country and gospel. She has been nominated for a Grammy Award twice. Early life DeMent was born in Parag ...

. In addition, the opening changes to one that shows images of pictures and people who were departed missing from them and in their place is various images of earth-related phenomena like

rain Rain is a form of precipitation where water drop (liquid), droplets that have condensation, condensed from Water vapor#In Earth's atmosphere, atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is res ...

clouds In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of miniature liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles, suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space. Water or various other chemicals may c ...

aurora borealis An aurora ( aurorae or auroras), also commonly known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly observed in high-latitude regions (around the Arc ...

and

lightning Lightning is a natural phenomenon consisting of electrostatic discharges occurring through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions. One or both regions are within the atmosphere, with the second region sometimes occurring on ...

. Season 3 retains the opening from Season 2 but with a different theme song for each episode, including reprises of the Season 1 main title theme and "Let the Mystery Be" in episodes seven and eight respectively. This is because Damon Lindelof wants to "thematically introduce the episode to come" with different title music for each episode. Season 3 #None #"Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" (theme from '' Perfect Strangers'') by

David Pomeranz David Pomeranz (born February 9, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter, composer, lyricist, and writer for musical theater. He is also an ambassador for Operation Smile, a foundation dedicated to cleft lip and palate and a member of the Churc ...

Personal Jesus "Personal Jesus" is a song by the English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was released as the lead single from their seventh studio album, '' Violator'' (1990), in 1989. It reached 13 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 28 on the US ''B ...

" by

Richard Cheese Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine (or simply Richard Cheese) is a cover band and comedy act, performing popular songs in a lounge/swing style. Lounge singer Richard Cheese is a character created and portrayed by Los Angeles–based a ...

#" This Love Is Over" by Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs #"

Ashrei Ashrei () is a prayer that is recited at least three times daily in Jewish prayers, twice during Shacharit (morning service) and once during Mincha (afternoon service). The prayer is composed primarily of Psalm 145 in its entirety, with Psalm ...

" by

Benzion Miller Benzion Miller (, ; 8 December 1947 – 3 February 2025) was a German-born American cantor, schochet (kosher slaughterer) and mohel (circumciser). Early life and career Miller was born in a displaced persons camp in Fernwald, Germany. Mille ...

#" 1-800 Suicide" by

Gravediggaz Gravediggaz were an American Hip hop music, hip hop group from New York. Known for their Black comedy, dark sense of humor and abrasive, menacing soundscapes, Gravediggaz blended hardcore hip hop and gangsta rap with horror elements to pioneer t ...

#"The Leftovers (Main Title Theme)" by

#" Let the Mystery Be" by

Episodes

Reception

Critical response

Season 1

The first season of ''The Leftovers'' received mostly positive reviews from critics.

Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...

scored season one 65 out of 100, based on 42 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...

scored the season 82%, based on 182 reviews, with an average rating of 7.65/10. 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."

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

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." He then gave the entire first season a review score of 9.4 out of 10, particularly praising the character-centric episodes,

's score and the performances, particularly

's.

Season 2

The second season received critical acclaim. On Metacritic, it has a score of 80 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Rotten Tomatoes gave the second season a rating of 94% with an average score of 8.8/10 based on 164 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."

Alan Sepinwall Alan Sepinwall (born October 19, 1973) is an American television reviewer and writer. He spent 14 years as a columnist with ''The Star-Ledger'' in Newark until leaving the newspaper in 2010 to work for the entertainment news website HitFix. He ...

HitFix HitFix, or HitFix.com, was an entertainment news website that launched in December 2008 specializing in breaking entertainment news, insider information, and reviews and critiques of film, music, and television. In mid-2010 HitFix crossed the 1,00 ...

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". In her five out of five star review, Emily St. James 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."

Season 3

The third and final season received unanimous acclaim from critics. On Metacritic, it has a score of 98 out of 100 based on 17 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 99% rating with an average score of 9.35/10 based on 189 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "With reliably ambitious storytelling and outstanding performances from its cast, Season 3 of ''The Leftovers'' approaches the series' conclusion as thoughtfully, purposefully, and confidently as it began." Maureen Ryan of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote the final season "is spectacular, in every sense of that word." ''The Leftovers'' was ranked as the best TV series of 2017 according to Metacritic. Alan Sepinwall placed season three first on his list of the best TV shows of 2017, an accolade he had awarded to both previous seasons in their respective years. He said "this has been my show of the year — of the decade, maybe, depending on how we count things like ''Mad Men'' and ''Breaking Bad'' that debuted in the '00s"; he went on to say "the eight-episode final season was a miracle". According to Metacritic's aggregate of critics' decade-end lists, ''The Leftovers'' was the fifth-highest ranked show of the 2010s.

Critics' top ten lists

Accolades

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. The second season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 9, 2016. The third season's DVD format was released on October 10, 2017, while the Blu-ray format was released by the

Warner Archive Collection The Warner Archive Collection is a home video division for releasing classic and cult films from Warner Bros.' library. It started as a manufactured-on-demand (MOD) DVD series by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment on March 23, 2009, with the inte ...

Notes

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Leftovers (Tv Series), The 2014 American television series debuts 2017 American television series endings 2010s American drama television series 2010s American mystery television series 2010s American supernatural television series Christianity in popular culture Dystopian television series American English-language television shows HBO television dramas Television about mental health Magic realism television series Works about new religious movements Television series about cults Television series about dysfunctional families Television series about missing people Religious drama television series Serial drama television series Television shows based on American novels Television series about parallel universes Television series by Home Box Office Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios Television shows filmed in New York (state) Television shows filmed in Texas Television shows set in Australia Television shows set in New York (state) Television shows set in Texas Television shows about death Television series created by Damon Lindelof