The Leftovers
Season one of The Leftovers was great. Season two was transcendent (and as long as I’m handing out superlatives, the show wins Best New Theme Song hands-down). The show jettisoned much of its first-season identity, going so far as to move from New York to Texas. An even bolder move was the break that The Leftovers made from conventional storytelling – this is, after all, a show that featured its main character singing Simon and Garfunkel in a hotel bar full of the dead. Justin Theroux has perfected his portrayal of Kevin Garvey; here he acts like a wounded animal: wary, and prone to fits of rage, paranoia, and delusion. It’s rare for a show to tackle mental illness in such a straightforward fashion (see Mr. Robot, above). The entire ensemble was magnificent, especially Carrie Coon, who richly deserves several Emmys she’ll likely be passed over for. The biggest tragedy of The Leftovers is that some refuse to watch it because they’re unhappy with how Damon Lindelof ended Lost. But if this show has proved anything, it’s that Lindelof shouldn’t be scorned for his last show, he should be celebrated for his new one. The Leftovers was about nothing less than what it means to be human, and like the human experience, I didn’t understand all of it – but that’s okay. Like the song says, I think I’ll just let the mystery be.
Best episodes: “A Matter of Geography,” “International Assassin”
Best episodes (in the order listed): “Kimmy Goes to School!”; “Parents”; “Escape from L.A.”; “Auditions”; “Cut Man”; “AKA Sin Bin”; “Chapter 11”