Get ready for a lot more misery in Mapleton – HBO announced today that it has picked up The Leftovers, from Lost creator Damon Lindelof and novelist Tom Perrotta, for a second season of ten episodes.
Said Michael Lombardo, HBO’s president of programming:
“We are thrilled to bring back THE LEFTOVERS for a second season with the exceptional talents of Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta. It has been truly exciting to see the overwhelming response to their provocative and original storytelling. We look forward to continuing the journey as the show delves deeper into the lives of those who remain.”
A second season order for The Leftovers was far from a certainty – the premiere ratings weren’t stellar, and reviews have been mixed. Especially on a network like HBO, which has unveiled hit after hit with shows like True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, The Newsroom and True Detective, the less-than-jubilant reception came as a surprise (though perhaps it shouldn’t have, given the relentlessly downbeat nature of the premiere).
However, Lindelof and Perrotta now have a second season to show viewers and the network that all their atmosphere-building and enigmatic clue-dropping is leading somewhere great.
Do you believe in The Leftovers, or should HBO have put the series out of its misery? Let us know below!