The Leftovers (TV series) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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.[1] The pilot was written by Lindelof and Perrotta, and directed by Peter The Leftovers Berg.[2] The series stars 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[3] and was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 4, 2015; and concluded December 6, 2015.[4][5] Contents Season 1 intertitle Genre Drama 1 Premise Fantasy 2 Cast and characters Thriller 2.1 Main cast Mystery Created by Damon Lindelof 2.2 Recurring cast Tom Perrotta 3 Development and production Based on The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta 3.1 Casting Starring Justin Theroux 4 Episodes Amy Brenneman 5 Reception Christopher Eccleston 5.1 Critical response Liv Tyler Chris Zylka 5.2 Accolades Margaret 6 Home media Qualley Carrie Coon 7 References Emily Meade Amanda Warren 8 External links Ann Dowd Michael Gaston Max Carver Premise Charlie Carver Annie Q. The Leftovers takes place three years after a global event called the "Sudden Departure", the inexplicable, simultaneous Janel Moloney disappearance of 140 million people, 2% of the world's population, on October 14.[6] Following that event, mainstream Regina King Kevin Carroll religions declined, and a number of cults emerged, most notably the Guilty Remnant.[7] Jovan Adepo The story focuses primarily on the Garvey family and their acquaintances in the fictional town of Mapleton, New York. Opening theme "Let the Mystery Be" Kevin Garvey is the Chief of Police. His wife Laurie has joined the Guilty Remnant. Their son Tommy has left home for by Iris DeMent (season [1] college, and their daughter Jill is acting out. The second season moves the main characters to the fictional town of 2) Jarden, Texas. Composer(s) Max Richter Cast and characters Country of United States origin Main cast Original English language(s) Justin Theroux as Kevin Garvey, Jr., Mapleton's Chief of Police and a father of two, who is trying to maintain some No. of seasons 2 semblance of normality in this new world. The breakup of his family (none of whom—except his unborn daughter— No. of episodes 20 (list of episodes) were taken in the Sudden Departure) 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 Production [8] mysterious cult called the Guilty Remnant. Executive Damon Lindelof Christopher Eccleston as Matt Jamison, a former reverend and current editor of a self-published tabloid that outs producer(s) Tom Perrotta sinners. He struggles with his inability to accept that he, a good Christian, was not taken in the Sudden Departure Peter Berg [9] while many sinners were. Sarah Aubrey [10] Liv Tyler as Megan Abbott, a woman about to get married when she becomes the target of the Guilty Remnant. Mimi Leder Chris Zylka as Tommy Garvey, Laurie's son (whom Kevin has raised as his own), who has recently dropped out of Tom Spezialy college and taken refuge with a mysterious guru called "Holy Wayne".[11] Margaret Qualley as Jill Garvey, Kevin's teenage daughter, a straight-A student who has a difficult relationship with Producer(s) Nan Bernstein Freed her father.[12] Location(s) New York Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, a wife and mother who lost her husband, son, and daughter in the Sudden Departure. Austin, Texas [9] She is Matt's sister. Cinematography Todd McMullen [8] Emily Meade as Aimee, Jill's free-spirited high school friend, who seems unfazed by the rapture. (season 1) Running time 51–72 minutes Amanda Warren as Lucy Warburton, Mapleton's take-no-prisoners mayor. (season 1)[9] Production White Rabbit Ann Dowd as Patti Levin, the leader of the local chapter of the Guilty Remnant.[9] company(s) Productions Michael Gaston as Dean, a man who seems to understand that times have changed and addresses it head-on—often Film 44 violently. (season 1)[13] Warner Bros. Max Carver and Charlie Carver as Adam and Scott Frost, happy-go-lucky identical twin brothers. (season 1)[14] Television 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) HBO Janel Moloney as Mary Jamison, Matt's wife, who was paralyzed by a car crash during the Sudden Departure. (season Entertainment 2, recurring season 1) Distributor Warner Bros. Regina King as Erika Murphy, a doctor who runs an urgent-care facility. The Murphys are the Garveys' neighbors in Television Distribution Jarden, Texas. (season 2) Kevin Carroll as John Murphy, Erika's husband and head of the town’s volunteer fire department. (season 2) Release Jovan Adepo as Michael Murphy, Erika and John's teenage son. (season 2) Original HBO network Recurring cast Original release June 29, 2014 – Scott Glenn as Kevin Garvey, Sr., Mapleton's former chief of police who has been committed to a mental health present institute. External links Paterson Joseph as Henry "Holy Wayne" Gilchrest, Jr., a post-Sudden Departure savior who “heals” people of their burdens. Website (http://hbo.com/the-leftovers/) 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) Jasmin Savoy Brown as Evangeline "Evie" Murphy, Erika and John's teenage daughter, Michael Murphy's twin. (season 2) Steven Williams as Virgil, Evie and Michael's grandfather. (season 2) Darius McCrary as Isaac Rayney, a fortune teller. (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.[15] In June 2012, Damon Lindelof was announced to be developing the series alongside Perrotta, and serves as the series' showrunner.[1] The pilot was ordered in February 2013.[16] On September 16, 2013, HBO announced that they were taking The Leftovers to series, ordering a 10-episode first season.[17] 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).[18] The first season covers the entirety of the book; the second season is completely original material.[19] 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.[20] 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.[21][22] For the second season, which features several changes, including cast, location, and storylines; Lindelof cited The Wire and Friday Night Lights as influences.[23][24] 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.[9][13][25] For the second season, eight of the 14 main cast members from season one returned,[5] while Emily Meade, Amanda Warren, Annie Q., [26] Max Carver, Charlie Carver and Michael Gaston did not. In April 2015, casting began for an African-American family comprising a Second season father, ex-convict John Murphy; his hearing impaired doctor wife, Erika; and their teenage children Evie, an outgoing athlete, and promotional art Michael, a pious Christian.[20] The roles of John, Erika, and Michael are portrayed by Kevin Carroll, Regina King and Jovan Adepo, respectively, all as series regulars.[27][28] Darius McCrary was cast in a recurring role as Isaac Rayney, John's friend and a palm reader.[28] Steven Williams was cast in a recurring role, playing Virgil, a confidant of Kevin's.[29] Janel Moloney, who had a recurring role in the first season as Mary Jamison, was promoted to a regular cast member in season two.[5] Episodes Originally aired Season Episodes First aired Last aired 1 10 June 29, 2014 September 7, 2014 2 10 October 4, 2015 December 6, 2015 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".[30] 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."[31] 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."[32] 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.[33] Season two received mostly positive reviews from critics. On Metacritic, it has a score of 80 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[34] Rotten Tomatoes gave the second season a rating of 88% with an average score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 34 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."[35] 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".[36] 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.