The Leftovers - Season 2 Review
This review of Season 2 of The Leftovers will have spoilers for Season 1!
Being that this is my first ever review of a Season 2 of a show, I think it's important to lay ground rules. As stated above, we will be discussing the second season so anything from season 1 is on the table so watch out for spoilers! Also, while I may continue to talk about performances, if they don't get any worse or better I may leave out certain characters so that I can discuss new ones and just the general changes in the status quo. Well, now that logistics are out of the way, let's discuss the new world that is The Leftovers Season 2. Starting off with, of course, the new setting and story.
With Season 1 of The Leftovers, we found ourselves in Mapleton, New York. After ending on a rather violent story beat with the destruction of much of the Guilty Remnant's home, the writers had a choice to either follow that up or get a somewhat of a reset for the characters. They chose the reset, and in my opinion, it allowed the show to be opened up to new areas of the mythos of the show. Seeing the Garveys and other important characters move to a new place in Miracle, Texas was great and watching their desperation in the early goings was fascinating. Being that Miracle is the only place verified to be Departure-Free, that opens up a world of story opportunities for the town and its people. The idea that this place has become a national park and a high traffic area for those who fear for another Departure allows for all kinds of new storytelling to happen. Seeing the conflict between those like the Garveys and those who are from the town who believe they are spared is as fascinating as the conflict between the Guilty Remnant and the people of Mapleton.
Carrie Coon and Justin Thoreux are once again studs in this season and hold together the ensemble cast. Mary Jamison (Janel Moloney) is also used quite a bit more in this season, as her relationship with Matt (Christopher Eccleston) is focused on a bit more. But, the new additions to the cast stand on their own as a secondary story. The Murphys, specifically the John and Erika (Kevin Carroll and Regina King), have a stellar story that unfolds throughout the season. While I'm unsure where the story will go after the finale, I hope they and the Garveys stay connected because they build up a bond through the season that I was really impressed with. It's a testament to this show's ability to manage multiple stories that I found myself enjoying nearly every arc, even though the season, in my opinion, gets off to a slow start. There is one character though that I felt didn't need to have a dedicated episode for themselves, and while I won't reveal it as it's a heavy spoiler, you'll know it when you come to it.
A huge part of season 2 deals with the ever devolving psyche of Kevin Garvey and how he handles these issues. Like in Mapleton, there are people in Miracle who believe they have powers that allow them to help those who are suffering. The way that those people connect to the overall story is great, and I was invested in their abilities and how they help others. When Kevin turns to these people for help, the story takes a turn that was absolutely astounding. Episode 8 of this season is completely different from anything this show has done in the past and I think it's necessary to mention just how special the episode was. I applaud Lindelof and Perotta for challenging what I expected from this show and doing something unique.
All in all, The Leftovers Season 2 continues to hold up to the standards set in Season 1. While the change in location means a lot of the original supporting cast was cut from the show, it allowed for a stellar new cast of supporting characters to be added and increase the quality. Kevin and Nora's story continues to evolve with the addition of Lily and the overall mindset of Kevin. Moving forward, I plan to finish out the series in the next few days, and my only hope that I would be upset about is if they don't explain The Departure. But, other than that, I continue to enjoy the high standard this show sets and once again, if you haven't started watching this show, you most certainly should!
