Following The Leftovers - Series and Season 3 Wrapup

We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and now it’s time to say a very fond farewell and goodbye to the greatest television show I’ve ever seen, HBO’s The Leftovers. After we ponder things we’ve seen and read since the series left us, we open up our bulging mailbag to see the multitudes of takes and opinions from you, our fellow fans. Thanks for everything, everybody. This was incredible, and I wish I could see you next week for more of the same.

Following The Leftovers - 308 – The Book of Nora

Jim, A.Ron, and hundreds of listeners grapple with their feelings about the series finale of HBO’s The Leftovers, “The Book of Nora”. Was it good just because it was a work of art that was brilliantly written, expertly acted and shot, and in it’s rigid adherence to ambiguity the most Leftovers Leftovers of all? Was it bad because it answered nothing, or everything, or betrayed characters we cared about or gave short shrift to, or invalidated what we felt about past episodes? The answer, more than usual, rests with the viewer, and everybody’s got thoughts. We try to capture as many as we can. But we also promise to return next week for more! One final podcast before we say goodbye to The Leftovers, forever. If that’s not worth of a Max Richter soundtrack, what the hell is?

Following The Leftovers - 307 – The Most Powerful Man in the World (and His Identical Twin Brother)

We are incredibly pleased with the penultimate episode of HBO’s The Leftovers, “The Most Powerful Man in the World (and His Identical Twin Brother)”. It is true that this episode is ridiculous, and dumb, and it doesn’t make any sense, and we shouldn’t care so much about, much like the reaction of Kevin himself. But we can’t help it. Everything they were selling we were buying, and in bulk. Dick jokes. Sure. Body swapping between twin Kevins? Why not? Surprise guest stars as Secretary of Defense and the Vice President? Shut up and take my money! It’s crazy how this show can do no wrong with us, but we suspect it’s because this show can’t help but be true to their characters and find an emotional truth at the core of it that manages to surprise and delight us. Can’t wait for the finale next week! See you there…

Following The Leftovers - 306 – Certified

Jim and A.Ron talk about the latest episode of The Leftovers, “Certified”. A very dark, powerful episode that has us rethinking how much sunshine and good feelings the finale is going to allow us to have before everything is said and done. We discuss when Laurie decided on her final course of action, Nora’s beach ball metaphor, the inability of Kevin Sr. to properly judge whether he ends up saving the world, and our thoughts and expectations for the end now that we’re only 2 episodes away. Because happy ending or sad, we’re going to be forced to say goodbye to all these characters we’ve grown to love and care for, and I for one am not ready!

Following The Leftovers - 305 – It’s a Matt Matt Matt Matt World

HBO’s The Leftovers had a Matt Jamison episode in “It’s a Matt Matt Matt Matt World”, which means it was heavily thematic, absurd, inspiring, infuriating, and more than anything, Biblical in it’s intensity. Adding John, Michael, and Laurie, and a bunch of hedonists who’ve formed a cult around a 91 year old lion just makes it so much more so. We discuss Matt’s shifting relationship with his faith, a surprising amount on the human penis, and attempt to talk a few Leftovers fans off their emotional ledges.

Following The Leftovers - 304 – G’Day Melbourne

Jim and A.Ron are struggling to get by in this post-Nora/Kevin romance world. It’s just all almost too much. But are they done for reals? Is there hope for a reunion, or a happy ending for these two, or should we just look for our nearest LADR box and jump in, no questions asked? But there are always questions, aren’t there? Would you kill a twin baby to save the world from cancer? What sort of crazy whitefella adventures are the Kevins going to get up to in the land down under? Will the sun still rise in a post-Mark Linn-Baker world? I guess we’ll just have to keep watching…