HBO's New Show 'The Leftovers" Features A-List Cast, Compelling Story, and Yet Something Still Isn't Right
HBO's New Show 'The Leftovers" Features A-List Cast, Compelling Story, and Yet Something Still Isn't Right
HBO specializes in seeking to push the envelope with the subject matter they face in their list of hit series, and yet they do not seem to have slipped up yet, however unlikely the show's premise may appear. With fantasy sagas such as 'Game of Thrones,' scandalous historical drama such as 'The Tudors,' and gritty crime shows such as 'True Detective,' HBO has not let us down yet. However, its new series 'The Leftovers,' which features both a compelling storyline and an A-list cast, seems to be met with mixed feelings by the viewing community.
The series is based on the "Notable Book' award-winning novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta, and was adapted to the screen by Damen Lindelof, the mastermind behind the dramatic must-watch series 'Lost.' It possesses a promising cast, featuring Justin Theroux as the local police chief, Liv Tyler, and Christopher Eccleston. So what's the problem here?
Much like the "Left Behind" series of novels that debuted in the mid-1990's, 'The Leftovers' deals with the aftermath of an event that seems quite similar to the Rapture, where two percent of the world's population disappear into thin air, leaving no trace behind and no clue as to what may have happened to them. Rather than focusing on the event itself (the show spends only the opening scene depicting that aspect), 'The Leftovers' focuses on those left behind, three years after their loved ones have disappeared. The result is a depth of pain that is difficult to stomach, with all of the emotions of betrayal, loss, guilt, and grief played out in full color.
What is absorbed one way on the written page may be absorbed (or not) in a totally different way when it is conveyed on screen. For anyone who has experienced loss or grief of any kind, 'The Leftovers' strikes a nerve - and perhaps not in a good way, despite the excellent casting and promising story depths. While consumers seem to enjoy experiencing alternate realities, fantasy worlds, and gruesome crime scenes, their capacity to stomach something as eerily realistic and simultaneously nightmarish as the world that 'The Leftovers' creates is yet to be seen.
Tags : HBO hbo hit show hbo series hbo new series the leftovers the leftovers hbo the leftovers hbo new series the leftovers hbo series liv tyler the leftovers liv tyler the leftovers hbo christopher eccleston the leftovers christopher eccleston the leftovers hbo justin theroux justin theroux the leftovers justin theroux the leftovers hbo
Hot Trends
-
Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" Bible is Available Now
-
The Gaither Vocal Band Says Farewell to Two Members
-
Chester Bennington Dies: Was He a Christian?
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Brooke Ligertwood Explains the Meaning Behind Her New Song "Calvary's Enough"
-
Charles Jenkins Releases New EP “Gospel Music Changed My Life”
-
Cheri Keaggy is Getting Married
-
Phil Wickham Offers an Intimate Take of Bethel Music's "Raise a Hallelujah"
-
Bluetree's Aaron Boyd Talks About the Importance of Worship and Justice in this Exclusive Interview
-
Citizens Drop their Second Acoustic Single, "when we pray"
-
Jonathan Cahn Unlocks Mind-Blowing Revelations About Our Future with New Book
-
Founder of Crystal Cathedral's Robert H. Schuller May Not Survive Pass Easter
-
Carol Schuller Milner, Daughter of the Late Robert H. Schuller, is Asking for Money to Cover Dad's Funeral Expenses
-
7 Things to Know About Elevation Worship's "Lion"
-
FREE MUSIC: Thrive Worship's "Pour Your Spirit Out"
Most Popular
-
Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" Bible is Available Now
-
The Gaither Vocal Band Says Farewell to Two Members
-
Chester Bennington Dies: Was He a Christian?
-
Hillsong's Marty Sampson's Startling Revelations About Brian Houston & His Own Marriage
-
Brooke Ligertwood Explains the Meaning Behind Her New Song "Calvary's Enough"
-
Charles Jenkins Releases New EP “Gospel Music Changed My Life”
-
Cheri Keaggy is Getting Married
-
Phil Wickham Offers an Intimate Take of Bethel Music's "Raise a Hallelujah"
-
Bluetree's Aaron Boyd Talks About the Importance of Worship and Justice in this Exclusive Interview
-
Citizens Drop their Second Acoustic Single, "when we pray"
-
Jonathan Cahn Unlocks Mind-Blowing Revelations About Our Future with New Book
-
Founder of Crystal Cathedral's Robert H. Schuller May Not Survive Pass Easter
-
Carol Schuller Milner, Daughter of the Late Robert H. Schuller, is Asking for Money to Cover Dad's Funeral Expenses
-
7 Things to Know About Elevation Worship's "Lion"
-
FREE MUSIC: Thrive Worship's "Pour Your Spirit Out"