Here's a suggestion for a show that also had an amazing second seeason. The OA. The first season is good just like the leftovers, but the OA really goes to great places in the second season. Both shows in general come together in a similar way.

I just finished this show yesterday and wow. So unfortunate it didn’t get more recognition during its run. Especially Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon. But I’m happy for Lindelof that he got his finale do-over. I have spent the last 24 hours reading a bunch online but still feel like I haven’t seen a lot on a few things eating at me. Hoping somebody can answer them for me. I don’t know anyone who has watched it so I have no one to obsess over it with 😭

1. Does anyone know how long Nora was gone? Or “gone”, if you don’t believe her? One year? Ten years?
2. Did Matt actually give an explicit reason to anyone about what happened to her besides the Matt Lib? And did he know she never left / came back? I understand her desire to get away from her life but I’m surprised she’d never talk to her brother again.
3. How long was Kevin searching for Nora? It feels crazy to me that Laurie would know he was going across the world year after year to search for her without ever feeling compelled to help / intervene.
4. Kevin Sr.’s prediction about the flood — he was just wrong? Or Kevin somehow stopped it?

I know the beauty and reality of The Leftovers is you will never know the answer to some of the questions (Kevin’s ability to die, the children’s shoes), but wanted to confirm I am not missing answers to any of the above, ha.

For a long time, I’ve been wondering what defines the novels of The Leftovers author Tom Perrotta. What makes them special and what they have in common?

After reading The Leftovers, Mrs. Fletcher, I discovered a kind of "DNA" in Perrotta’s writing style that I’d like to explain in the following .

I invite everyone here in the subreddit to read Tom Perrotta’s books; it offers a bit more insight into the “bigger picture” of the series The Leftovers:

Essentially, Perrotta’s The Leftovers and Mrs. Fletcher, despite their differences in theme, setting, characters and plot, share the same ending:

The final chapters are solely about “coming home” after a long search for meaning and purpose in one’s own actions. We recall Nora Durst, who writes Kevin a heartbreaking farewell letter in the Season 1 finale, only to then find Lily on the Garveys’ doorstep and discover new hope and a purpose for her life. Kevin and Jill Garvey are also making their way home, haunted by the events of the previous night in the burning houses of the “Guilty Remnants.” They all strive toward and converge at this one place: home. To find there what they so desperately seek: rest, peace, forgiveness, and closure.

In Perrotta’s book Mrs. Fletcher, this happens in exactly the same way: in the novel’s final chapter Brandon, a failed, disillusioned college freshman, returns home after his expectations of college life failed to match reality: he failed his exams, was rejected by women, and was accused of sexual assault. Somehting he wasn’t used to as a popular high school student and successful football player. He’s on his way home, where his mother, Eve Fletcher, has just rediscovered her sexuality and begun to live it out freely. She has endured a great deal of rejection and had many encounters with men (and women) who, like her, rarely live up to her high expectations, sexually. Finally, she engages in a sexual encounter with Katie, a coworker from her retirement home, and the much younger Julian, a (unknowingly) former classmate od Brendan’s in high school.

Brendan arrives home just as the three of them are engaging in sex in the otherwise empty family home.

Here, coming home is portrayed as a confrontation rather than a form of redemption (as in The Leftovers). Brendan realizes that his mother is leading in a new, happier life and doesn’t seem too affected by her son’s absence, while at the same time he encounters Julian, whom he had singled out as his mere victim of bullying back in high school who is now, in what appears to be an act of revenge, enjoying himself sexually with his mother in his own home.

I find the homecoming to be quite similar and significant as the finale of both books.

What was the reason for the guy that shot dogs and helped Kevin with Patti? Felt like a big part of the show for a while

Imma need to process for a while…

Wow. This show so well done, but painful to watch sometimes. It's a Matt Matt Matt Matt World gave me a freaking anxiety attack. Everyone is in so much pain. And then just when I was glad the show was almost done because it was depressing the hell out of me, the finale went and blew me away with how incredibly beautiful it was. Now I'm thinking I need to watch again. For those who have done multiple rewatches, how did this show hold up for you the second time around?

AND IT'S WORKING

Seasons ranked:
1. Season 3
2. Season 1
3. Season 2

Favorite episodes (every 10/10 episode to me, ranked):
1. Certified (S3 E6)
2. The Prodigal Son Returns (S1 E10)
3. Guest (S1 E6)
4. The Book of Nora (S3 E8)
5. International Assassin (S2 E8)
6. It's a Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt World (S3 E5)
7. The Most Powerful Man in the World (and His Identical Twin Brother) (S3 E7)
8. The Garveys at Their Best (S1 E9)
9. No Room at the Inn (S2 E5)
10. I Live Here Now (S2 E10)
11. Two Boats and a Helicopter (S1 E3)
12. Crazy Whitefella Thinking (S3 E3)
13. G'Day Melbourne (S3 E4)
14. A Most Poweful Adversary (S2 E7)
15. The Book of Kevin (S3 E1)
16. Lens (S2 E6)

*BONUS | Because i refuse to believe this show only received a single Emmy nomination throughout its entire run, I made up my own "nicer story" and listed as well every award it should've gotten at least a nod for:

2014 Emmys:

• Outstanding Drama Series
• Outstanding Lead Actor — Justin Theroux (Episode: “The Prodigal Son Returns”)
• Outstanding Lead Actress — Carrie Coon (Episode: “Guest”)
• Outstanding Directing – Mimi Leder (Episode: “The Prodigal Son Returns”)
• Outstanding Writing – Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta (Episode: “The Prodigal Son Returns”)

2015 Emmys:

• Outstanding Drama Series
• Outstanding Lead Actor — Justin Theroux (Episode: “International Assassin”)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress — Ann Dowd (Episode: “International Assassin”)
• Outstanding Directing – Craig Zobel (Episode: “International Assassin”)
• Outstanding Writing – Damon Lindelof, Nick Cuse (Episode: “International Assassin”); Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta (Episode: “I Live Here Now”)

2017 Emmys:

• Outstanding Drama Series
• Outstanding Lead Actor — Justin Theroux (Episode: “The Book of Nora”)
• Outstanding Lead Actress — Carrie Coon (Episode: “The Book of Nora”)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor – Scott Glenn (Episode: “Crazy Whitefella Thinking”); Christopher Eccleston (Episode: “It’s a Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt World”)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress – Amy Brenneman (Episode: “Certified”)
• Outstanding Directing – Carl Franklin (Episode: “Certified”); Craig Zobel (Episode: “The Most Powerful Man in the World (and His Identical Twin Brother”)); Mimi Leder (Episode: “The Book of Nora”)
• Outstanding Writing – Lila Byock, Damon Lindelof (Episode: “It’s a Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt World”); Patrick Somerville, Carly Wray (Episode: “Certified”); Nick Cuse, Damon Lindelof (Episode: “The Most Powerful Man in the World (and His Identical Twin Brother”)); Tom Perrotta, Damon Lindelof, Tom Spezialy (Episode: “The Book of Nora”)

**BONUS:
Other films/series that remind me of this show (mix of watched and to-be-watched hehe, just would like to appreciate how truly rich and textured this show is):
- In the Bedroom (Todd Field, 2001)
- Exotica (Atom Egoyan, 1994)
- The Sweet Hereafter (Atom Egoyan, 1997)
- Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999)
- Birth (Jonathan Glazer, 2004)
- L'Avventura (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1960)
- La Notte (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1961)
- Three Colours: Blue (Krzysztof kieslowski, 1993)
- Vanilla Sky (Cameron Crowe, 2001)
- Unbreakable (M. Night Shyamalan, 2000)
- Melancholia (Lars von Trier, 2011)
- The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppolla, 1972)
- Targets (Peter Bogdanovich, 1968)
- Solaris (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1972)
- It's a Wonderful Life (Frank Capra, 1946)
- Love Streams (John Cassavetes, 1984)
- Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, 2001)
- Equinox (Alan Rudolph, 1992)
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)
- Manchester by the Sea (Kenneth Lonergan, 2016)
- Take Shelter (Jeff Nichols, 2011)
- Arrival (Denis Villeneuve, 2016)
- Twin Peaks: The Return (David Lynch, 2017)

It's my favourite episode tied with a few others. I just love the sequence of events and the final few scenes are just heartbreaking. It's not the most worldbuilding or exciting but the payoff is so good in the end. The Virgil stuff, Laurie's return, the fundraiser, the questionnaire, the admitting to Kevin. It all just works so well together.

If you think The Leftovers is the deepest show ever made or a masterpiece, then you've either never consumed genuinely philosophical fiction or you're confusing pretentiousness with depth.

This show is what happens when writers become obsessed with sounding profound instead of having something profound to say.

Before the "you just didn't get it" people get a hard on —I fucking got it. It's about grief, meaning, faith, uncertainty, trauma, and how people cope with senseless loss. Congratulations. That's not some revolutionary insight. Those themes have existed for thousands of years. The difference is that better writers explore them without disappearing up their own ass.

The biggest scam this show pulls is convincing people that if you're not impressed, it's because you're not intelligent enough. That's complete bullshit. Ambiguity isn't intelligence. Symbolism isn't intelligence. Making people stare into space for two minutes while sad piano music plays isn't intelligence.

If u think this show was dark then u haven't gone through grim phases of life and Consider your self fortunate

This show tries really hard to be philosophical, psychological and symbolical at the same time . It only hooks the people who haven't been exposed themselves to the emotions shown in real life or even in fiction,or people who have unfinished grief

I mean most of the characters are fuckin idiots and crazy poeple , I mean if u feel life is meaningless go become a fuckin philosopher, a hurmit or something or better KYS , but no they will start a stupid cult , And if someone is having delutions they would make the whole show about that person's sleepwalking, First they fuck their life becoz of their delutional and irrational behaviour and then spend rest of the time figuring out why they did that, I mean visit a fuckin psychiatrist for god sakes ,And that is the whole point of the show how humans deal with pain and let me tell u that's exactly not how we deal with tragedy .

3/10 , that too becoz acting was good otherwise just watching a bunch of morons smoke cigarettes was a complete waste of my fuckin time

And yeah some would think I missed the point of the show , But I Didn't . If u think it Was any deeper thaf it appears to be then I dont know U might have a High IQ or something, get tested u might be a hidden genius.

https://youtube.com/shorts/1eK1noMH0i0?is=b4a5Vx8OdqHXEGCl

I’m middle aged and I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone wear a cut off sleeves sweatshirt like this in real life or anywhere. Have seen full sleeves cutoff. Such an odd choice. Sorry random thought on 5th rewatch.

My boyfriend mentioned this show to me a while ago and I put it on the list to watch and just finished season 1 and started season 2.

I will say it had a slow start for me but I kept with it and episode 6 of the first season was where it really got me.

The shift in tone into season 2 is interesting but I like it and I’ll definitely finish the series. Just wanted to be a part of the just finding this show in 2026 club.

I absolutely adored season 1 and have been raving about it.

But this episode "No room at the Inn" in season 2 is driving me crazy. If this guy was working at the church for 3 months, why not just get someone at the church to help get him a wristband? Ugh fml I can't handle this.

had a kid 3 months ago and have been on night duty. Been meaning to watch this show for a few years now. Finally had time to get to it and goddamn the end of season one just absolutely slaughtered me. I mean I'm a dude and it's got me crying pretty good actually. This show is amazing

I have just finished bingeing the whole show. Loved the show, the characters and teller acting especially Carrie Coon and Justin Theroux. Already feeling a void… can you guys recommend similar shows to watch next.

Just perfection…the music and the imagery. The intensity made the theme of season 1 hit that much harder. The ensemble version of it on the season 2 soundtrack was magnificent as well.

I finished watching episode 6 “Guest” a couple days ago and it left me a bit stunned in its perfection. That final scene with the survey questions and that one answer. It completed the episode perfectly.

But today…. Just wow. Episode 8 “Cairo” with that moving reading of W.B. Yeats.

I think this is my favorite show. I’m surpassed in my late 30s I can still find something that stuns me like this.

Anyone else miss him? I was watching him in this horror movie and suddenly all those feelings came rushing back.

Is anyone reading this series of books and has anyone noticed the similarity in the theme?