# The Leftovers season 2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865 "2015-10-07T21:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gothic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gothic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gothic)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/21 "2015-10-26T17:15:02Z")
Nora had me in tears a few times. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/22 "2015-10-26T18:26:53Z")
Yeah, when she said “Did it happen again?” was absolutely heartbreaking. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/23 "2015-10-26T20:28:15Z")
At this point, from Kevin’s perspective, it might be time to start asking Patty questions to try and verify if she’s really there or is just a hallucination. His subconscious mind could (of course) know where his phone was, so you’d need better evidence than that. But her directing him to the phone is enough reasonable doubt to start questioning. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/24 "2015-10-26T20:54:48Z")
I bailed out halfway through Season 1, but have heard better things about Season 2. My question is whether I have to catch up on Season 1, or can I just pick up Season 2? I really, really started disliking the first season, but want to give this show another chance. I just really, really don’t want to watch the rest of the first season! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/25 "2015-10-26T21:16:18Z")
I think it’s somewhat imperative. Or else you’ll be confused on a lot of things. However, I loved Season 1, so YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/26 "2015-10-26T23:34:33Z")
The last two episodes in season 1 were much stronger than the first eight episodes. I thought both were absolutely fantastic, but if you just want to do the minimal amount of catching up before jumping in to season 2, just watch the final episode of season 1. The “previously on” intro and the episode itself gets you caught up on everything you’ll need to know. The penultimate episode of season 1, while technically skippable from a plot perspective, ended on such a complete home run that it’s worth checking out. Even if only watching the last 15 minutes or so. (It’s a flashback episode to before the departure. The way they handled the actual departure in the final 10 minutes was stellar.) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/27 "2015-10-27T01:42:47Z")
Watched the first episode of season 2 tonight. Have they revisited the prehistoric part of the story? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/28 "2015-10-27T17:48:31Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Have they revisited the prehistoric part of the story? No. And I don’t think they intend to. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/29 "2015-10-27T19:05:11Z")
I just watched Sunday’s episode, and I thought it was pretty great. I’m really enjoying this season. I liked last season, but since it was more about grief, it was harder to watch. And I would get really annoyed by the Guilty Remnant, so I don’t mind not seeing as much of them. > [@EllisDee](#): > > At this point, from Kevin’s perspective, it might be time to start asking Patty questions to try and verify if she’s really there or is just a hallucination. > > His subconscious mind could (of course) know where his phone was, so you’d need better evidence than that. But her directing him to the phone is enough reasonable doubt to start questioning. Yeah, I was wondering about that. Even with the hot/cold game, if his phone wasn’t there, she could say “ha, just messing with you” or something else where she could still be just his imagination. But the “prophet” on the tower asking Kevin who his friend was seems to indicate there’s something going on. > [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > I bailed out halfway through Season 1, but have heard better things about Season 2. My question is whether I have to catch up on Season 1, or can I just pick up Season 2? I really, really started disliking the first season, but want to give this show another chance. I just really, really don’t want to watch the rest of the first season! The second season is mainly in a new setting, with some of the old characters and some new ones. If you just watch the “previously on” at the beginning of the season you should be able to catch up, or just read through what happened last season on Wikipedia, there’s no need to watch the rest of Season 1. > [@ISiddiqui](#): > > No. And I don’t think they intend to. I agree. It will probably be revisited thematically, something about why Miracle is special or not special, but otherwise not visited again. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/30 "2015-10-28T16:14:09Z")
Either the guy in the tower could see “Head Patty” or was just asking Garvey who his friend was because he was talking to someone who wasn’t there. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/31 "2015-11-02T03:21:04Z")
God (no pun intended), those Pastor Matt Jamison focused episodes just wreck me. Damn they are powerful stuff. I guess it is somewhat fitting that his favorite book is the Book of Job (though that is my favorite as well… perhaps I should be worried!). ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Richard\_John\_Marcej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_John_Marcej)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/32 "2015-11-02T06:08:13Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > God (no pun intended), those Pastor Matt Jamison focused episodes just wreck me. Damn they are powerful stuff. I guess it is somewhat fitting that his favorite book is the Book of Job (though that is my favorite as well… perhaps I should be worried!). I was just going to write something similar. The Pastor Matt episode in season one was one of the best, and this one, wow! Gut wrenching. ---
**Author:** ![Gothic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gothic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gothic)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/33 "2015-11-02T13:14:21Z")
All the subject matter on consent, do the writers read the pit threads? On a happy note, I felt much better about Morgan’s situation on The Walking Dead after seeing Reverend Matt for an hour. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2015, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/34 "2015-11-02T13:43:29Z")
The [New Yorker](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/11/02/depression-modern?mbid=social_facebook) has a great piece on the show today. I was unsure after the first season, but I’m fully onboard for season two. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/35 "2015-11-02T14:01:08Z")
[Here](http://www.vulture.com/2015/10/leftovers-questions-reza-aslan.html) is an interview in Vulture with Reza Aslan, who is a consultant to the show on religion and theology. He explains various things, like why that guy sacrificed the goat in the diner a couple of episodes back. As for last night’s episode, it was harrowing. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/36 "2015-11-02T15:46:14Z")
> [@Gothic](#): > > All the subject matter on consent, do the writers read the pit threads? Ha! Well I do think most people would consider it rape, but more of a oh you made a mistake, let’s not punish you for it type of thing - as John was trying to get Matt to go along with. Though, interestingly, Nora would know that Matt and Mary had been trying for 10 years to get pregnant and nothing happened - so her getting pregnant in Miracle would indeed bolster her idea that there is something special about Miracle. ---
**Author:** ![Gothic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gothic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gothic)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/37 "2015-11-02T18:12:43Z")
Interesting point on Nora because I was wondering what her reaction would be to the girls disappearing, and the neighbor scraping off the orange sticker on last week’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/38 "2015-11-04T04:59:22Z")
Wow, that was Brett Butler! I wouldn’t have known it was her but for her accent and grimace-smile. Any clue why the guy needed to be beaten with an oar and called Brian? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/39 "2015-11-04T07:44:15Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Any clue why the guy needed to be beaten with an oar and called Brian? Do you want your $500 or not? ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865/40 "2015-11-04T17:39:19Z")
Matt had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. What a powerful episode–especially that scene at the hospital when he finds out his wife is pregnant, and then realizes the hospital rep is basically accusing him of rape. So gut-wrenching. As soon as he marched back into the camp at the end, I knew what he was going to do. Do you think he’ll stay in the camp now, and try to become their shepherd? If so, will they follow, or is he in for more Job-like punishment? I did a double-take when Brett Butler showed up. I haven’t seen her in anything in a long time, but that voice of hers is unmistakable. And, yeah, WTF is up with ‘Brian’? I do view this show differently than _Lost_. While _Lost_ had a lot of really great characters and character-driven episodes, I feel like _Lost_ was still _about_ the mysteries. _The Leftovers_ feels more like it is _about_ the characters. I’m okay with not ever finding out the cause of the Departures, or why Jarden seems to be special, as long as they keep the characters and their journeys front-and-center and let the mysteries sort of hang in the background. It’s right there in the opening song: “…think I’ll just let the mystery be.” This is easily one of my favorite shows right now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-leftovers-season-2/733865.md?page=3)