Warner Bros. Television
One of HBO’s newer dramas, The Leftovers, begins with an interesting and frightening premise: what happens when 2% of the world’s population suddenly, inexplicably disappears, and what becomes of those left behind?
The 10-episode first season, now available on Blu-ray and DVD from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, begins with such an event then flash forwards to three years later as those who remain try to retain some semblance of a normal life. Set in the small New York town of Mapleton, the story focuses on several of its residents including Police Chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), his wife Laurie (Amy Brenneman), daughter Jill (Margaret Qualley), son Tommy (Chris Zylka), Mayor Lucy Warburton (Amanda Warren), local pastor Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston), Nora (Carrie Coon), one person who lost every member of her family, Meg (Liv Tyler), a woman who is drawn to a local cult, and Dean (Michael Gaston).
The first episode briefly sets up the event, known later as “The Sudden Departure,” but never tells us exactly what it was. Some people believe it was the Rapture as described in the Bible, but Jamison doesn’t accept that as he has done research into the fifty people that disappeared from Mapleton, showing that most of them were bad people. Why would he, the most devout in town, not be taken if it were the Rapture?
The episode also sets up the cult, “The Guilty Remnant,” a group that has chosen not to speak and to smoke constantly, feeling that there is nothing to be lost at this point. The rest of the townspeople are just trying to live their lives as normal, even as the mayor is attempting to organize a parade to honor the “heroes” lost on that day in October. But are these people heroes worth celebrating?
The Leftovers asks many questions but offers little in the way of answers. But that’s not what the show is about. It’s about examining the lives of the people trying to survive without those answers, or those trying to provide answers either in an honest or dishonest way such as the “healer” Wayne (Paterson Joseph), who claims he can unburden those who seek him out. Unburden them of what and how is a question to ponder as the first season progresses. The show digs deep into the psychological ramifications of what it means to feel abandoned, either by those you love or the God you assume loves you. The old saying that “time heals all wounds” definitely does not apply in this situation.
The first season isn’t big and flashy, but it’s immensely watchable with the end of one episode making you want to watch the next one right away. And luckily with the home video release, you can do just that. The Complete First Season is another stellar product from the studio. The 1080p image features naturalistic colors, fine details and deep black, with only some minor “noise” in low-light situations, likely inherent in the original source. Nothing really to complain about. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 of the Blu-ray keeps voices front and center while using the surrounds to immerse you in the various environments, from crowd gatherings in the park to a moment on a casino floor.
The Blu-ray set contains all ten episodes of the first season on two discs with bonus material. Included on Disc 1:
- Making The Leftovers (28:56) – A behind-the-scenes preview of the show which aired on HBO leading up to the series premiere, looking at story details, characters, theories about the disappearance, the source novel and more. Key cast members also appear to present interesting factoids about famous disappearances throughout history.
- “Pilot” Audio Commentary with producer Damon Lindelof and author Tom Perrotta discussing differences between the book and the show, various characters, and themes. They hilariously also address, briefly, what has jokingly become known as Sweatpantsgate (aka the introduction of Justin Theroux’s character).
Special features on Disc 2 include:
- I Remember: A Season One Conversation with Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta (15:11) – The two discuss taking the story from book to television, casting choices, religious significance, and more in putting the show together.
- Living Reminders: The Guilty Remnant (8:50) – Cast and producers discuss the origin of the cult in the show.
- Finale Audio Commentary with producer Damon Lindelof, author Tom Perrotta and director Mimi Leder.
- Beyond the Book: Season Two (4:15) – Producers and cast discuss what they think will happen in season 2, which continues the story after the end of the book.
If you’re looking for a TV series that goes a bit beyond the norm by asking you to pay attention to the story and ponder the greater meaning of life, then The Leftovers is the show for you.
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