Feeling Left Behind

"It's easier to stay silent than it is to speak truth. Killing these people is pointless because they're already dead. What I want is to bring them back to life." — Matt, "The Leftovers"

Perhaps the most polarizing series of the summer has been "The Leftovers." The show, which debuted to much fanfare and promotion in June, went out rather quietly on Sunday night. It wasn't a big ratings hit — which HBO seemed to recognize too, as they waited a long time before issuing a second season renewal. That is unusual for HBO, which often renews shows after the season premier or even before the season premiers as a sign of confidence.

So why the struggle with "The Leftovers," which has a strong cast, a fascinating premise, and comes from Damon Lindelof, who was an executive producer for "LOST?" The simple reason is this is a hard show to watch. It doesn't just depict grief, it wallows in grief. It wants to be consumed by grief. And it wants its audience to feel that as well.

For many, that's been a turn off. People wanted to see what this show would be about, but it's harsh tone and unforgiving story lines have been too much. At times I have struggled with this, too. I was on the fence about "The Leftovers" for most of its run, but I was drawn to the finale for a couple reasons.

First, the finale marks, apparently, the end of the source material from the book. It ended in a blaze of glory — literally — as the Guilty Remnant saw its compound set a blaze in Mapelton. It makes me wonder where this show is going next.

Second, I was moved by the way the show wants to look at the long-term effects of grief. I think this is a particularly poignant thing to think about today, the 13th anniversary of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. I was talking with my wife the other day about how weird it is to think it's been 13 years, and how weird it is to see the way it feels like the country has moved on. But, as someone put on Facebook today, some people remember what happened on September 11 once a hear, but others will never forget.

That is the premise of "The Leftovers." It's a worldwide event — everyone was touched. Three years after the event, some have tried to move on, but that grief lingers under the surface. They are touched by that loss every day. They are trying to find a way to understand and to move forward.

The finale, I thought, explored that idea in a rich way. The GR provided physical reminders of those who were lost, bringing all those feelings that were buried under the surface back to the front. There was a beauty in the exploration, and I'm curious to see where the show goes from here.

"The Leftovers" isn't a feel good watch, in fact it's often a terribly difficult watch. It's also not a show that I think will ever be popular or mainstream. But it has value, and it makes you think. For that alone, I'm curious to see what happens next.