Hot take: I laughed at my buddy for loving "The Leftovers" for 3 years straight

He kept telling me it was the most underrated show ever, but the first episode lost me with all that weird cult stuff. I finally gave it a real shot last month after he bet me $50 I wouldn't finish season 1. By episode 5, I was hooked and binged the whole series in 9 days. That ending in season 3 hit me harder than any show I've seen in years. Has anyone else dismissed a show for years only to have it become a top 5 favorite?

2 comments

2 Comments

luna_sanchez1mo ago

The trick with The Leftovers is you have to sit through the misery before you get to the payoff. Most people bail because the first few episodes feel like they're trying too hard to be bleak for no reason. But the show is actually about what happens when you stop waiting for a big answer and just live with the mystery. That episode where Kevin sings Homeward Bound in the hotel is the most honest portrayal of a mental breakdown I've seen on TV. Your buddy was right but he probably couldn't explain why without sounding like a snob.

david_adams1mo ago

Nora's arc is the real heart of the show though. That finale breaks me every time.