The Leftovers - Season 2, Episode 8: International Assassin
Trailer
Season two of the drama series ' Leftover' completes the daily struggle of people in a small town in New York, who do their best to survive, after the horrible disappearance of about 2% of population. Lauri and Tom do their best to save the lives of people.
Even after watching three times, I'm not going to stand here and pretend like I know exactly what I'm talking about. After each viewing, there was something new that jumped out about "International Assassin," and the final vote is it was brilliant.
The final two words of the episode that Michael Murphy utters speak for every viewer. It's the only reaction for what unfolded. Damon Lindelof, who used purgatory or some rough definition of it, in Lost, pulls the trick like a master again.
To begin, it must be said that the episode lives and dies on the characterization of Justin Theroux, whose look of bewildered desperation is heart-rending and among the finest performances on television. Theroux is a force.
Another "10." Sorry, folks. I can only bend with the breeze here. What a phenomenal episode. And one I think may be the first truly polarizing chapter of this second season.
You could write a master's thesis on the sheer amount of metaphor used in this episode, then go back to get a PhD in whatever the hell it all actually means.
"International Assassin" has ripped open a hole in The Leftovers. A pathway, might be a better word. It put its cards on the table and made a dozen decisions about the type of story that is being told. Kevin will be forever changed.
In what was arguably the weirdest, most wonderful hour of television this season, The Leftovers followed Kevin to the other side this week to reveal not only the outcome of his battle with Patti but also his ultimate fate.
Hallelujah, people! All praise be to the kind and merciful souls of Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, who saw it fit for us all to get a much-needed win in a series committed to dealing with loss.
