Tragedy struck when a global disaster caused 140 million of the population to vanish in an inexpiable manner. Now, a group of people living in Mapleton, New York deal with the tragic event and wonder what happened three years ago.
Too many high-concept shows are afraid to be about what they're actually about, for fear of scaring off potential viewers; The Leftovers is exactly about what it's about.
Despite my trepidation, the noisy glimpse of a fallen world proffered in the series premiere is enough to create a strong desire to see these questions answered.
The Leftovers won't give out answers, but it also takes no prisoners. And as usual, the unknown here works to be more unsettling and terrifying than any hard truths.
This is The Twilight Zone by way of J. J. Abrams: a morally provocative, fantastical premise played out through a well-coiffed cast of actors with Gossip Girl-caliber good looks.
Theroux's simmering-souled Garvey hooked me. I don't mind living with miserable characters, as long as they're interestingly miserable. There's some glory in the gloom.
