# The Leftovers - I don't understand the praise \[Open Spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, hbomax-wb-dc\ **Created:** [November 14, 2019, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398 "2019-11-14T03:53:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/21 "2019-12-16T15:44:14Z")
Amusingly enough I just read Alan Sepinwall’s Top 50 shows of the 2010s this morning. #1 was… The Leftovers. I’d put it in the top 5 of the decade myself. > **[50 Best TV Shows of the 2010s](https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/50-best-tv-shows-of-decade-2010s-914737/)** > > From obscure, oddball masterpieces (‘Baskets’) to epic, blockbuster-grade spectacles (‘Game of Thrones’), this decade gave us almost too much great television to handle. Her… So, it’s interesting to see the vastly different reactions to it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/22 "2021-05-03T03:39:43Z")
Watching this now, S1E7 is where I am at, and I am really enjoying it, especially the character of Nora Dunn. Have no idea where it’s going, this thread has been pretty vague, and am looking forward to this short journey. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/23 "2021-05-03T05:33:29Z")
I couldn’t stand the Smoker cult, had to stop watching. Can someone tell me what happened to the 2%, was that ever solved. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/24 "2021-05-03T05:39:35Z")
Oh, it doesn’t get explained, I know that already. Don’t need it explained- I prefer character-driven dramas, so the disappearance is merely backdrop and setting. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/25 "2021-05-03T13:54:10Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Watching this now, S1E7 is where I am at, and I am really enjoying it, especially the character of Nora Dunn. _The Leftovers_ made me a Carrie Coon fan. She’s terrific in that role. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/26 "2021-05-03T14:25:22Z")
Indeed she is. I guess what I liked most about Leftovers is that I never really even suspected what was going to happen next. Having an unusual premise like that really opened up the possibilities for the showrunners/writers. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/27 "2021-05-03T14:27:06Z")
(Nora _Durst_.) ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/28 "2021-05-03T15:53:14Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > I guess what I liked most about Leftovers is that I never really even suspected what was going to happen next. Having an unusual premise like that really opened up the possibilities for the showrunners/writers. Plus the premise is super spooky to me. I get that it isn’t for everyone (it wasn’t for my wife, for example, but she still enjoyed the show). ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/29 "2021-05-03T15:59:44Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Watching this now, S1E7 is where I am at, and I am really enjoying it, especially the character of Nora Dunn. Sometimes the world looks perfect–nothing to rearrange. ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/30 "2021-05-03T23:11:05Z")
As far as complaints about the smoking, the Guilty Remnant are supposed to be villains. Sympathetic villains, but still. Liv Tyler’s character in particular wasn’t a good person before Oct. 14th. If anything, the series underplayed what would really happen should such an event take place. I think IRL people would be far more nuts. It’s something considered supernatural that actually happened and affected everyone. And could happen again at any time. So people kvetching about smoking, perhaps the deeper implications of such a scenario aren’t in your pondering wheelhouse. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/31 "2021-05-04T01:58:36Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Watching this now, S1E7 is where I am at, and I am really enjoying it, especially the character of Nora Dunn. Have no idea where it’s going, this thread has been pretty vague, and am looking forward to this short journey. I think you mean Nora Durst. Nora Dunn was an SNL cast member back in the day. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/32 "2021-05-04T04:15:58Z")
I just finished S1 and this may be the most beautiful TV show I’ve seen. And don’t make me define ‘beautiful’ in the context of this show, I just know that is the word I meant. The last 3 episodes were some of the most wrenching hours of television I experienced, and I’m thrilled to have this experience. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/33 "2021-05-04T09:27:28Z")
Man, you’re going to love Season 2 then. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2021, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/34 "2021-05-05T03:26:37Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I just finished S1 and this may be the most beautiful TV show I’ve seen. And don’t make me define ‘beautiful’ in the context of this show, I just know that is the word I meant. The last 3 episodes were some of the most wrenching hours of television I experienced, and I’m thrilled to have this experience. Glad you liked it. And it gets even better. One of the best TV series I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2021, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/35 "2021-05-06T03:23:51Z")
So, in S2E2, the scene where Kevin and his Dad are walking, in the background, very softly, they are playing Mozart’s @K364, 1st movement, one of my favorite pieces of all time. As Mozart is one of our civilization’s touchpoints for ‘beauty’, and K364 is considered one of his loveliest works, I felt the selection was very apropos given my comment above. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/36 "2021-05-07T14:31:43Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I just finished S1 and this may be the most beautiful TV show I’ve seen. And don’t make me define ‘beautiful’ in the context of this show, I just know that is the word I meant. The last 3 episodes were some of the most wrenching hours of television I experienced, and I’m thrilled to have this experience. It’s transcendent. I’m sad for the people who don’t get it, and thrilled every time someone new watches and appreciates it for what it is. No other show has affected me they way The Leftovers did (and still does). Welcome to the fold. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/37 "2021-05-07T14:47:52Z")
> [@Jay\_Z](#): > > If anything, the series underplayed what would really happen should such an event take place. I think IRL people would be far more nuts. It’s something considered supernatural that actually happened and affected everyone. And could happen again at any time. So people kvetching about smoking, perhaps the deeper implications of such a scenario aren’t in your pondering wheelhouse. After what’s happened during Covid, yeah, I think things would get much weirder than The Leftovers showed. > [@MoonMoon](#): > > It’s transcendent. I’m sad for the people who don’t get it, and thrilled every time someone new watches and appreciates it for what it is. No other show has affected me they way The Leftovers did (and still does). Completely agreed. Oh, and wait until S2, Ep8. It is my favorite ever episode of television. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/38 "2021-05-07T14:54:51Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Oh, and wait until S2, Ep8. It is my favorite ever episode of television. I would say the last five minutes of S2 Ep7 was one of the great endings of an episode of any drama. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2021, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/39 "2021-05-07T14:57:12Z")
My best ending award is S2 Ep10. (and this is not to say S3 isn’t great, but the last 5 eps of S2 are incredible) ---
**Author:** ![Jay\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Jay\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jay_Z)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2021, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398/40 "2021-05-13T02:53:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Can someone tell me what happened to the 2%, was that ever solved. There is a scientist that supposedly discovers a way to go through to where the 2% went. One of the characters, Nora, who lost her family, decides to attempt this. She “goes through” and finds a parallel, identical Earth containing the 2%. So the experience of the 2% was that the 98% disappeared on THEM. Nora finds her family, but they had moved on without her, and she felt she had no place in the 2% world. So she looks up the doctor who built the machine, who had already gone through, and gets him to build another machine so she can go back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-i-dont-understand-the-praise-open-spoilers/843398.md?page=3)