The Leftovers

When 2 percent of the planet vanishes without warning, the people left behind wrestle with emptiness, guilt and the urgent need to carry on. The Leftovers follows several intersecting lives in a small town and beyond, centering on Kevin Garvey, a troubled police chief trying to hold his family and career together; Nora Durst, a woman who lost her whole family on the day; a pastor whose faith is tested; and a silent, cigarette-wielding group called the Guilty Remnant that refuses to forget. The show tracks grief as a daily reality, showing how communities, relationships and private habits reshape when nothing makes sense anymore. It balances intimate character study with unsettling mysteries that never settle into easy answers.

Created for HBO by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, The Leftovers premiered in 2014. Lindelof adapted Perrotta's novel and shepherded the show through three seasons, concluding in 2017. The cast included Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Carrie Coon.

The series drew strong critical attention and earned several award nominations across television circles, with reviewers frequently singling out Carrie Coon and Justin Theroux for their performances. Its craft in writing and atmosphere, especially in later seasons, was also highlighted, and several critics' groups noted its achievements.

The show left a mark on TV conversation about grief, faith and communal trauma. The silent, cigarette-wielding Guilty Remnant and their stark white outfits became an unsettling cultural image, and the series' willingness to keep mysteries unresolved influenced later shows and sparked online discussion and academic critical discussion.

Audiences and critics generally rated it highly, with a vote average of 7.65/10. Reviewers noted its focus on grief, belief, identity and moral ambiguity, praising layered character work while some viewers debated the show's deliberate pacing and unresolved questions. Cast performances, notably from Carrie Coon and Christopher Eccleston, received praise.