Be Wary of THE LEFTOVERS

Article first published as THE LEFTOVERS Review at Seat42F.

HBO’s THE LEFTOVERS is unlike anything I’ve ever seen on television. It’s based around a huge, whopping mystery that the writers have no plans to answer. In these modern days, viewers tend to want answers, and most shows are happy enough to give them. Many fail to satisfy with those answers, and it makes for angry fans. THE LEFTOVERS takes a different tact by saying life is uncertain and people don’t always know what’s going on, and if you can’t handle that, it’s probably better you don’t watch this series.

The pilot begins with an unexpected event in which 2% of the world’s population disappears in the blink of an eye, then immediately jumps three years into the future. The easy explanation, the one many have been touting when talking about the premise, is that the Rapture occurred. Yet, not all of the characters agree, as some of the people who disappear are not good people, nor religious. One TV anchor says, to paraphrase, I get why the pope is gone, but Gary Busey?

This one paragraph gives you an idea of what the characters that populate THE LEFTOVERS are dealing with. Neither scientists, who lack evidence, nor religious leaders, many of whom want to deny a rapture because they have been left behind, have any understanding of what happened. Which means the population as a whole has this very uneasy sense that not only do they not know where their loved ones are, but also may worry that it could happen again, to anyone at any time.

Who can live in a world like that? Well, to be blunt, us. Tom Perrotta, the author of the source material who also works on the show, wanted to tell a story in our world, examining parts of the human condition we often ignore. None of us knows when our time will be up, or what disaster could strike, causing untold death and destruction. THE LEFTOVERS takes those nagging feelings and pushes them to the forefront, forcing people to deal with them.

This is a really cool idea, but will it work for a television show? As I said, viewers want answers, and I’m not sure how many will tune in for a show that doesn’t promise to give any. I can see what would attract Damon Lindelof to this project, having been burned by mixed reviews of the finale of his popular drama, Lost (personally, I loved it), but because he knows first-hand what happens when fans don’t feel like a series has fulfilled its obligations, does he also worry that no one will show up if he says right out of the gate he doesn’t acknowledge those obligations this time around?

Setting aside that fundamental debate, which I posed up front because it’s really one that should be dealt with on an individual basis before deciding to tune in, THE LEFTOVERS, like most HBO fare, is a solid program. It’s full of disparate individuals who each see the situation in their own way, and have differing views on how to deal with it.

There’s: Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux, The District), the local cop whose wife is gone and he’s left raising two boundary-pushing teens; Tom Garvey (Chris Zylka, The Secret Circle), Kevin’s son who is turning to what appears to be a wise sage, Wayne (Paterson Joseph, Law & Order: UK); Jill (Margaret Qualley, Palo Alto), Kevin’s daughter who escapes into partying; Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston, Doctor Who), a religious leader trying to make others face what he thinks is the truth; Dean (Michael Gaston, Turn, Jericho), a man with a gun and a plan; Meg (Liv Tyler, The Lord of the Rings), a bride with cold feet; Laurie (Amy Brenneman, Private Practice), who has joined a silent, creepy cult; and others.

It seems THE LEFTOVERS will deal with spirituality and belief a lot, both in group form and on a personal level. I suppose it would be natural to turn to a higher power when things move beyond human knowledge, the birth of religion in our past. In this series, many take differing paths to get to a place where they can accept what has happened, not an easy task, and certainly not one that a wide majority will come to agreement on.

I think three years after the event is a good time frame to set the series in. It’s long enough that the shock has worn off, but short enough that the ramifications are still being felt. People have returned to a new normal in their activities, but not in their thoughts and emotions. This is an intriguing idea, and this one town is a microcosm of the larger world.

Of course, there are also some twists and unexpected familial connections. That part of conventional storytelling does remain and is welcome. We need some level of comfort at the base in order to open our minds to the challenges of THE LEFTOVERS. It’s a show about being, not a show about actions, and so is designed to make us think. If it surprises us along the way with a few reveals at key moments, well, that may just keep some casual viewers interested enough to return, exposing them to more of the bigger issues.

THE LEFTOVERS is weird, to be sure, and many may not know if they like it right off the bat. But I urge you to give it a try when it premieres this Sunday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO.

"Wake" The Secret Circle

     The CW's The Secret Circle meets its newest member this week in "Wake." The town mourns the death of Nick (Louis Hunter), especially Melissa (Jessica Parker Kennedy), who is in love with him. Nick's older brother Jake (Chris Zylka, 10 Things I Hate About You) arrives, and Faye (Phoebe Tonkin), whose heart Jake broke, and Adam (Thomas Dekker), whose family Jake stole from, are not happy to see him. But Cassie (Britt Robertson) sure is when an evil witch hunter shows up, and Jake saves her. The circle knows that Jake can take Nick's place in their group, but they are unaware that he has come to town for a darker reason.

      It's a bold move for a freshman series to kill off a central member of the cast in episode five, completely unexpected, even if he is quickly replaced. This alone buys The Secret Circle some respect. Too bad the actor coming in to replace the offed one seems stiff, more a pretty face than a good addition, acting-wise. Looks can be deceiving, and Jake has a fine story set up, having to choose between his destiny and the witch hunters he is working for. It will remain to be seen if Zylka is up to the challenge.

      Jake's arrival serves an important purpose in that it will remind Cassie, who is already beginning to act like a leader, that she doesn't know everything. The other characters have history in the town, and much happens prior to Cassie's arrival that they have trouble forgiving and forgetting. Even Jane (Ashley Crow) isn't all that happy to see Jake. Cassie is exuding the confidence that she's well-informed enough to make major decisions, but without being clued in on a lot of back story, she is in the dark more than the others, and more than she seems aware of being. Cassie doesn't realize this in "Wake," but her quick ability to trust Jake, whom the others are wary of, and whom they have good reason to be so, will likely come back to bite her.

     But will Jake ultimately prove to be an enemy? Despite Faye and Adam's reservations, it's clear that Jake is already growing a bit fond of Cassie. He comes to town with a purpose, but after seeing everyone, including his new neighbor, it may be that his purpose will change. After all, he kills the woman that attacks Cassie. This isn't presented as an accident, and while it may help him maintain cover, that probably isn't all that it does. How soon before Jake lets the others in on the threat that they face? The quicker, the better, as there is a whole group of baddies lurking nearby, led by Isaac (JR Bourne, Teen Wolf).

     Given that The Secret Circle is a CW series, Jake's presence in and after "Wake" will also serve to shake up the romantic chemistry, as that is as much a focus of shows on the network as the action plots. Obviously, Faye still harbors something for Jake, even if it has turned to hate. Also, as mentioned before, Jake is taking a shine to Cassie. This complicates matters, in that Diana (Shelley Hennig) breaks up with Adam so that he can fulfill his destiny and be with Cassie. So all of a sudden, the central character will have two guys who want to be with her, and are available to do so.

     The whole "destiny" thing between Cassie and Adam is weird. It's odd that Diana steps aside so readily, when Adam stays loyal, despite simmering feelings. Perhaps she is trying to be noble, but that isn't how it comes across. Also, considering that Adam's father, Ethan (Adam Harrington), harbors similar feelings for Cassie's departed mother, how is that right? Cassie and Adam would be siblings if the older pair worked out! Or is the blood fate just transferred to the next generation if the previous one doesn't fulfill it? How does one determine which generation the fate is supposed to happen in? Do different age groups have different attractions to different families? If this continues among the circle, wouldn't this lead to much inbreeding? After all, it's only six families involved. Luckily, they all seem to always have kids about the same age. How has this chain not been broken over time?

     It's great that The Secret Circle brings Cassie's grandma, Jane, in on the main action so soon, instead of leaving her in the dark for years, as so many similar series would do, and have done before. Jane is a great asset to the group, providing wisdom and power far beyond what the kids can muster at this time. Even though she doesn't have a circle to back her up, at least not one that seems to be around, she is a valuable asset. But she's also a protection for them, so it wouldn't be surprising if she doesn't live past the first season or two. They need to stand on their own, and can't always have grandma fighting their battles for them.

     What's the deal with the crystals? Apparently, they allow a witch to have power individually, instead of needing another member of their circle to be with them. Who created them, and how do they work? It's a convenience that pops up without a lot of explanation. So if each family has one, and Jake likely is holding onto his, given his knowledge of his power and how to use it, as well as the fact that he's been alone, where are the others? When the elders break up the previous circle, they must have confiscated some of them. Whose does Dawn (Natasha Henstridge) possess? Where did she get it? Does it need a circle to recharge, and that's why hers runs down? Lots of questions about this, that hopefully will get answered instead of glossed over.

     Does Dawn really have Jane fooled? Jane is pretty darn wise, and Dawn has been acting suspiciously, a fact that has not gone unnoticed. Dawn's plans to use the kids to get her own power back sort of her make her a villain, even if she does do things to protect them. Dawn's alliance with Jane is barely that, as the two women don't have any particularly warm connection with each other, and it's doubtful there is much trust between them. Jane may feel like she has no one else to ask for help, since the magic needs to stay a secret as much as possible. But Dawn won't be much help in any regard, unless their priorities happen to align in that moment. Or maybe she is just testing Dawn to see how Dawn reacts when she brings up the kids' magic.

     Nick's death affects the kids in different ways, but it really does a number on Charles (Gale Harold). Having to live with the guilt of murdering a teenager, even if it is done to kill a demon dwelling inside, haunts Charles. Unlike Dawn, who is able to bounce back just fine, keeping her focus on their mission, whatever it may be, Charles seems distant and out of it. He did not sign up for hurting anyone, especially not someone in town, and so young. Taking out Nick, no matter how good the reason, changes the way he thinks about the magic. He is probably a lot less likely to pursue getting his powers back now that he remembers what those powers can cost, a fact forgotten over the years since the last disaster. Jane may want to start looking for a new sidekick.


     The Secret Circle is just getting started. Watch it Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on the CW.

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Article first published as TV Review: The Secret Circle - "Wake" on Blogcritics.