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Other Artforms => TV => Topic started by: George on Jul 12, 2017, 10:40 AM

Title: The Leftovers
Post by: George on Jul 12, 2017, 10:40 AM
Greg and I are at the last episode of Season One of The Leftovers, and enjoying it a lot. It's a bit more dystopian than I care for. Admittedly, I have a very low tolerance for such things, and predictably, I'm enjoying the more human interest themes a lot more. I find it difficult to watch more than one episode at a time, however, as the proceedings are rather grim and they pack a lot into each 50-minute episode.

Any other fans out there? I know the series just ended last month.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 12, 2017, 11:11 AM
We're just about at the end of Season Two. All I'll tell you is that the second season is like a different show, though with the same characters. And we've heard that the third season is different from the second. Keep watching and see how you feel about how the show goes from where you are. I could have taken it or left it in the first season, but the second season eventually becomes gripping. And weird.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: artscallion on Jul 12, 2017, 01:23 PM
The third season gets even weirder. I enjoyed all three seasons for different reasons, though I enjoyed the more human drama of the first season the most.
I felt the same way about this as I did about The Walking Dead; the moment I was about to give up because it was becoming too formulaic or too weird, or too gratuitous, they would air an episode that left me dumbstruck by its perfection.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 12, 2017, 03:19 PM
I would have enjoyed Season One more if I hadn't read the book and known essentially what was coming. It became interesting to me the farther it got from the book, which starts happening late in Season One. And Season Two strikes out into entirely new territory.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: George on Jul 13, 2017, 08:23 AM
The Metacritic scores rate the three seasons, respectively, at 65, 80, and a whopping 98. I'm excited to start Season 2, having just watched the Season 1 finale last night. Gripping, yes.

Carrie Coon is so appealing. She did some great work in the recent season of Fargo, which deserves a thread of its own.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 13, 2017, 02:36 PM
Quote from: George on Jul 13, 2017, 08:23 AMCarrie Coon is so appealing. She did some great work in the recent season of Fargo, which deserves a thread of its own.

I love Carrie Coon -- and three months ago I didn't even know who she was (though in retrospect I realize I'd seen her as Nick's sister in Gone Girl). May she continue being offered parts and only choosing the good ones.

Quote from: artscallion on Jul 12, 2017, 01:23 PMI felt the same way about this as I did about The Walking Dead; the moment I was about to give up because it was becoming too formulaic or too weird, or too gratuitous, they would air an episode that left me dumbstruck by its perfection.

Yes, The Walking Dead can do amazing standalone episodes, usually the ones where they focus on a single character or a single pair of characters. And then they go back to torturing everybody, something they did way too much of last season. Amy's ready to hang it up and stop watching. I haven't decided.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 13, 2017, 04:02 PM
About to watch the pilot episode. Love Justin Theroux, so it is a win thus far!
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 13, 2017, 04:04 PM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 13, 2017, 04:02 PMAbout to watch the pilot episode. Love Justin Theroux, so it is a win thus far!

Is he the actor who plays Kevin? His part just keeps getting bigger as the show goes on.

(We're about to start Season Three.)
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 13, 2017, 08:05 PM
Quote from: Chris L on Jul 13, 2017, 04:04 PM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 13, 2017, 04:02 PMAbout to watch the pilot episode. Love Justin Theroux, so it is a win thus far!

Is he the actor who plays Kevin? His part just keeps getting bigger as the show goes on.

(We're about to start Season Three.)

Yes!  I really like episode 1. Let's see how this goes!
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: George on Jul 14, 2017, 08:37 AM
Quote from: Chris L on Jul 13, 2017, 02:36 PMI love Carrie Coon -- and three months ago I didn't even know who she was (though in retrospect I realize I'd seen her as Nick's sister in Gone Girl). May she continue being offered parts and only choosing the good ones.



She's married to Tracy Letts!
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 14, 2017, 11:20 AM
Quote from: George on Jul 14, 2017, 08:37 AMShe's married to Tracy Letts!

I'll be damned!
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: George on Jul 14, 2017, 11:34 AM
Quote from: Chris L on Jul 14, 2017, 11:20 AM
Quote from: George on Jul 14, 2017, 08:37 AMShe's married to Tracy Letts!

I'll be damned!

Apparently they met when she played Honey in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" at Steppenwolf in Chicago and the subsequent productions/transfers. She did lots of theatre work in Madison, WI, and, later, Chicago.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 14, 2017, 12:03 PM
Quote from: George on Jul 14, 2017, 11:34 AMApparently they met when she played Honey in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" at Steppenwolf in Chicago and the subsequent productions/transfers. She did lots of theatre work in Madison, WI, and, later, Chicago.

So, pride and joy of Illinois, I guess that makes her something of a local girl. No wonder you're so captivated by her. (I'm captivated by her too and have spent less than a week of my life in Chicago, so obviously it's catching.)

Actually, I would imagine that she and Letts make a charming couple. He should write a play for her (if he hasn't already). She'd be perfect as one of the middle-aged sisters in August, Osage County.

Hmm, according to Wikipedia she's going to be playing the late Washington Post editor/writer Meg Greenfield in Stephen Spielberg's upcoming film about the Pentagon Papers. Having grown up reading the Post and doubtlessly Greenfield's byline-free editorials, that interests me.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: AmyG on Jul 14, 2017, 12:29 PM
Quote from: Chris L on Jul 14, 2017, 12:03 PMHmm, according to Wikipedia she's going to be playing the late Washington Post editor/writer Meg Greenfield in Stephen Spielberg's upcoming film about the Pentagon Papers. Having grown up reading the Post and doubtlessly Greenfield's byline-free editorials, that interests me.
Ooh, maybe my brother will be a character in it since he was the best friend of Daniel Ellsberg's son. :P
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: AmyG on Jul 14, 2017, 12:32 PM
And I love that Carrie Coon and Tracy Letts are married. They are both so talented.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 14, 2017, 12:33 PM
Quote from: AmyG on Jul 14, 2017, 12:29 PMOoh, maybe my brother will be a character in it since he was the best friend of Daniel Ellsberg's son. :P

Was that Andy? I'll see if there's casting information. It could potentially be a large supporting role.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 14, 2017, 02:59 PM
@AmyG -- There's a partial cast listing on IMDB, some with only the names of the actors but not the parts they play. It looks like it focuses more on The Washington Post than on Ellsberg, but Andy could still have a walk-on part.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 15, 2017, 08:05 PM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 13, 2017, 08:05 PM
Quote from: Chris L on Jul 13, 2017, 04:04 PM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 13, 2017, 04:02 PMAbout to watch the pilot episode. Love Justin Theroux, so it is a win thus far!

Is he the actor who plays Kevin? His part just keeps getting bigger as the show goes on.

(We're about to start Season Three.)

Yes!  I really like episode 1. Let's see how this goes!

Though I hated all the animal violence. 😩
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 18, 2017, 02:16 AM
Just finished season 1. Wow, what a marathon!  Loved it!  Now I must sleep. Have to be up in less than 5 hours. Oh streaming.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 20, 2017, 04:30 PM
We finished the entire series last night. The show is all over the place throughout seasons two and three, but manages to be thoroughly entertaining most of the time, even if the premise occasionally stretches credulity. (@AmyG pointed out, and I agree with her, that the Departure probably wouldn't have had as profound an effect on the entire world as it did, given that only one out of fifty people vanished. In the novel, Tom Perrotta only followed those people who were, in one way or another, directly affected by the Departure, though he seems to have been on board with Lindelof's take in the series and even co-wrote the finale.)

That finale is deeply moving and Amy feels that it redeemed the series all by itself, which is an incredible feat for a finale. Our theory is that, after the massive disappointment of Lost, Lindelof wanted to prove that he could get an ending right. ;)
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 20, 2017, 04:45 PM
When you're finished with the show, you may want to read this AVClub review of the finale (http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/leftovers-flawless-finale-earns-its-place-new-tele-256294), which in my opinion is pretty accurate.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 20, 2017, 04:55 PM
Quote from: Chris L on Jul 20, 2017, 04:45 PMWhen you're finished with the show, you may want to read this AVClub review of the finale (http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/leftovers-flawless-finale-earns-its-place-new-tele-256294), which in my opinion is pretty accurate.

I will when I'm done. Right now I am watching International Assassin. Damn!

Can't stop watching this show!!!
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 20, 2017, 05:41 PM
I am in awe of the actress playing Patti.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 20, 2017, 05:44 PM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 20, 2017, 05:41 PMI am in awe of the actress playing Patti.

Yes, and the show gives her the opportunity to adopt multiple personas. There'll be more in Season Three.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 20, 2017, 06:32 PM
Quote from: Chris L on Jul 20, 2017, 05:44 PM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 20, 2017, 05:41 PMI am in awe of the actress playing Patti.

Yes, and the show gives her the opportunity to adopt multiple personas. There'll be more in Season Three.

Woo hoo!!!
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 21, 2017, 10:57 AM
Is that all we get of Betty B?  WE WERE ROBBED!  Finished season 2. WOW!!!!
I think I am gonna have to read the book when I am done here.
No more input @George ?
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 22, 2017, 09:43 AM
Quote from: Chris L on Jul 20, 2017, 05:44 PM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 20, 2017, 05:41 PMI am in awe of the actress playing Patti.

Yes, and the show gives her the opportunity to adopt multiple personas. There'll be more in Season Three.

Only 2 episodes left and no Patti. Le sad.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 23, 2017, 09:48 AM
Done. And now I am sad. 
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 23, 2017, 04:13 PM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 23, 2017, 09:48 AMDone. And now I am sad.
But you got more Patti before you got there.
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: George on Jul 24, 2017, 07:18 AM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 21, 2017, 10:57 AMIs that all we get of Betty B?  WE WERE ROBBED!  Finished season 2. WOW!!!!
I think I am gonna have to read the book when I am done here.
No more input @George ?
Just finished the episode "International Assassin." Wow, indeed!

Spoiler: ShowHide
I got a bit lost with the live/dead bird imagery, as I was unclear about the significance of Erika's wishes and what the birds meant. Since she only told Nora this story, how could it have informed Kevin's dream/hallucination/death/whatever-the-hell-it-was?


We only have two episodes to go in Season 2, and we kind of want to savor them. We don't have streaming, so we'll have to wait for the DVDs from the library, as that's how we're watching the first two seasons. 
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: mrssondheim on Jul 24, 2017, 08:56 PM
Quote from: George on Jul 24, 2017, 07:18 AM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 21, 2017, 10:57 AMIs that all we get of Betty B?  WE WERE ROBBED!  Finished season 2. WOW!!!!
I think I am gonna have to read the book when I am done here.
No more input @George ?
Just finished the episode "International Assassin." Wow, indeed!

Spoiler: ShowHide
I got a bit lost with the live/dead bird imagery, as I was unclear about the significance of Erika's wishes and what the birds meant. Since she only told Nora this story, how could it have informed Kevin's dream/hallucination/death/whatever-the-hell-it-was?


We only have two episodes to go in Season 2, and we kind of want to savor them. We don't have streaming, so we'll have to wait for the DVDs from the library, as that's how we're watching the first two seasons.
Let me know when you are done so we can discuss the finale!
Title: Re: The Leftovers
Post by: Chris L on Jul 24, 2017, 09:16 PM
Quote from: mamarose on Jul 24, 2017, 08:56 PMLet me know when you are done so we can discuss the finale!

You can open the discussion now using our spoiler feature (the Sp on the toolbar) to hide the text from those who aren't ready to see it yet. Others can join in when they're ready.

Spoiler: ShowHide
You know: Like this.