Mysteries will surely abound in this Sunday’s premiere of the HBO apocalyptic drama The Leftovers, which doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering that Lost writer Damon Lindelof is on board as co-creator. Hopefully, though, the answers that this new series offers viewers will be a little more satisfying than those offered to the patient Lost fans who stuck with the drama over six frustrating seasons. What’s been made clear from the commercials for The Leftovers is that viewers are in for one creepy, atmospheric ride – and a new spot for the show doesn’t do much more than reaffirm that expectation.
In the 55-second trailer, we hear a sermon about a “young boy” trying to decide whether he should be angry about all the suffering in his life or grateful that it gave him strength and understanding. Mixed in with that are a lot of tantalizing snippets, from a man toting a sniper rifle to two men jumping off a roof and someone getting the crap kicked out of them in a church.
The Leftovers opens as 2% of the world’s population suddenly vanishes into thin air. Those still around on Earth are left to reel from their sudden departure and attempt to figure out what exactly happen to their missing loved ones, neighbors and co-workers. The series centers on the inhabitants of a sleepy town called Mapleton, which becomes fiercely divided in the wake of the disappearances. Some, like chief of police Kevin Garney (Justin Theroux), attempt to maintain order, but the rise of a new cult called Guilty Remnant threatens to start an all-out war.
I’m very intrigued by the set-up for this series, and as long as Lindelof has learned something from the backlash to his Lost ending, we should be in for a fun, thrilling ride.
Liv Tyler, Christopher Eccleston, Amy Brenneman, Carrie Coon and Chris Zylka all co-star in The Leftovers, which will arrive on HBO this Sunday, June 29th, at 10 p.m.