HBO’s new dramatic series The Leftovers premieres on June 29, 2014 at 10pm ET/PT with Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Chris Zylka, Carrie Coon, Emily Meade, Amanda Warren, Ann Dowd, Annie Q, and Michael Gaston in starring roles. Lost‘s Damon Lindelof and novelist Tom Perrotta created the series and serve as executive producers along with Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey. And as the series nears its premiere, HBO’s released more details on the show along with info on the June and July 2014 episodes.
The Plot:
Based on Perrotta’s bestselling novel of the same name, The Leftovers is an original look at The Rapture…or was it The Rapture at all? Set in a small New York suburb, the intimate family drama focuses on the residents of the fictional town of Mapleton, whose preconceptions are shattered in the wake of a global event dubbed “The Sudden Departure.” Three years after the fateful day when 140 million people disappeared without a trace, the series focuses on the ways ordinary people react to inexplicable events that can unite or divide families and communities, examining how their untold grief and the strain of an unprecedented calamity can turn faith into cynicism, paranoia, madness or cult-like fanaticism.
At the heart of The Leftovers is the Garvey family. Kevin Garvey (Theroux), the town’s beleaguered chief of police and father of two, is trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy when the notion no longer applies. While Kevin and his rebellious daughter, Jill (Margaret Qualley), try to go back to the way things used to be, Kevin’s son, Tom (Zylka), sees the event as a wakeup call to take action. At the same time, Kevin is faced with the conflict between the townspeople of Mapleton and the Guilty Remnant, a mysterious cult-like group that seems to offer an escape for traumatized residents.
The Leftovers June and July Episodes
Episode #1: “Pilot”
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 29 (10:00-11:15 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: June 29 (12:45 a.m., 3:30 a.m.) and 30 (12:10 a.m.), and July 1 (7:45 p.m., 11:00 p.m.), 3 (10:00 p.m., midnight), 4 (8:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 5 (5:00 p.m., 10:15 p.m.), 11 (7:45 p.m.) and 18 (6:45 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: June 30 (10:00 p.m.) and July 4 (1:35 a.m.) and 5 (10:45 a.m., 7:45 p.m.)
Three years after millions of people – some 2% of the world’s population – vanished into thin air, residents of Mapleton, NY weigh the pros and cons of a “Heroes Day” tribute to the local “Departed.” Attempting to maintain a sense of normalcy in his strained community, police chief Kevin Garvey faces additional challenges at home with his daughter, Jill (Margaret Qualley), who’s lost in a cloud of apathy with her friend Aimee (Emily Meade), and son, Tom (Chris Zylka), who has gravitated to a cult led by the charismatic Holy Wayne (Paterson Joseph). Also of concern is a silent, white-clad group of chain-smoking men and women called the Guilty Remnant, who team up in pairs to stake out people and places around town. As tension in Mapleton escalates, the lives of Laurie (Amy Brenneman), an unexpected member of the Guilty Remnant, and Meg (Liv Tyler), a recently engaged young woman, converge.
Written by Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta; directed by Peter Berg.
Episode #2: “Penguin One, Us Zero”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 6 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: July 6 (12:30 a.m., 3:00 a.m.), 7 (12:30 a.m.), 8 (8:00 p.m., 11:15 p.m.), 10 (10:00 p.m., midnight), 11 (9:00 p.m.), 12 (9:30 p.m.) and 18 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: July 7 (10:00 p.m.), 11 (1:00 a.m.) and 12 (11:30 a.m., 8:00 p.m.)
In the wake of a series of disturbing encounters, Kevin pays a visit to a therapist. Tom finds himself in a precarious situation with Christine (Annie Q), a favorite of Wayne’s. A frustrated Meg is asked to part with pieces of her past. Jill and Aimee tail Nora Durst (Carrie Coon), who became a local celebrity when her entire family disappeared in the Departure.
Written by Damon Lindelof & Kath Lingenfelter; directed by Peter Berg.
Episode #3: “Two Boats and a Helicopter”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 13 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: July 13 (12:30 a.m., 3:00 a.m.), 14 (12:15 a.m.), 15 (8:00 p.m., 11:15 p.m.), 17 (10:00 p.m., midnight), 18 (9:00 p.m.), 19 (10:00 p.m.) and 25 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: July 14 (10:00 p.m.), 18 (2:15 a.m.) and 19 (9:50 a.m., 8:00 p.m.)
In the face of dwindling church attendance and threats on his life, Reverend Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston) continues to preach his gospel: that many who disappeared in the Departure were sinners and not saints. Matt’s campaign is detoured when he learns he may lose the church to foreclosure, forcing him to launch a desperate, last-minute plan to come up with the cash to keep it.
Written by Damon Lindelof & Jacqueline Hoyt; directed by Keith Gordon.
Episode #4: “B.J. and the A.C.”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 20 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: July 20 (12:30 a.m., 3:00 a.m.), 21 (11:30 p.m.), 22 (9:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m.), 24 (10:00 p.m., midnight), 25 (9:00 p.m.) and 26 (1:00 a.m.), and Aug. 1 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: July 21 (10:00 p.m.), 25 (2:30 a.m.) and 26 (11:15 a.m., 8:00 p.m.)
A holiday display goes wanting, sending Kevin scurrying to find out who is responsible. Tom and Christine run into trouble at a hospital and on the road. Kevin retrieves a surprise detainee from a neighboring police station, and receives unexpected visitors at home. The Guilty Remnant put its stamp on the holiday season.
Written by Damon Lindelof & Elizabeth Peterson; directed by Lesli Linka Glatter.
Episode #5: “Gladys”
Debut: SUNDAY, JULY 27 (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Other HBO playdates: July 27 (12:30 a.m., 3:00 a.m.), 28 (12:50 a.m.), 29 (8:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m.) and 31 (10:00 p.m., midnight), and Aug. 1 (9:00 p.m.), 2 (12:30 a.m.) and 8 (8:00 p.m.)
HBO2 playdate: July 28 (10:00 p.m.)
Laurie’s resolve is put to the test in the wake of a brutal hate crime. After his latest initiatives to maintain the peace in Mapleton fall short, Kevin turns down an outside offer to rid the town of its problems. Matt brings his pulpit to the street. Meg takes on a new role.
Written by Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta; directed by Mimi Leder.
Source: HBO
-By Rebecca Murray
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