I just rewatched it with a new set of eyes and I like your take but in the end Kevin has an ego death and realizes that he is fine with the delusion because it truly makes him and her happy and in the end when 2 or more come together in belief it is so. This is a very spiritual and metaphysical show which I love. Kevin nor his dad are “crazy” it feels like psychosis when we hear spirit talk and we question ourselves out of because no one else is experiencing the same thing. But our world is shifting and this very thing is happening to millions of people world wide so are we all crazy? If so I love delulu land, it’s the new earth the right-side up world vs upside down one that is currently dissolving. Hope to see you all there!! PS if you haven’t watched OA it will help explain, also Heroes and Sense 8 along with many Marvel/Disney movies. It’s all there.
I think you also missed another major point. The ending is about a role reversal between Kevin and Nora. Nora has to (possibly) go through an unbelievable scenario much like Kevin, like you stated. But Kevin also had to go through having someone depart. Remember, Kevin didn’t actually have anyone depart. But when Nora forces herself to depart leaving Kevin, Kevin much like pre-departure Nora refuses to believe their beloved are gone. This is why Kevin scours Australia to reunite with Nora, much like Nora scours the world for answers and opportunities to reunite with her children. The ending is about two people not only conquering their demons, but also understanding each other’s via. similar experience. That is why this time around, Kevin says he believes Nora’s story. Unlike Nora who could not believe Kevin’s. I think it would probably safe to say that if her story is true, she probably believes kevin’s story now. Which would explain why she was ashamed to reunite with him. She believed he would never believe her, because when the roles were reversed, she didn’t believe him. And Kevin who judged Nora for the way she was acting after the departure, has now experienced it himself, and understands how impossible it is for someone to just “accept it and move on”. Just like Nora he couldn’t accept it and wouldn’t stop until he found answers. It’s about two people gaining a complete understanding of one another by experiencing each others pain. Becoming one, in a sense.
It's been 3 years since this show ended. I have not recovered and watch the show completely every year around now. Because I need to be reminded what "feelings" are. Call me mentally f***** but this show destroy me.
Of ALL TIME! This is Lindelof's masterpiece... Not Lost... The first international assassin episode is one of my favorite episodes of any TV show... EVER.
Try Aeon Flux(animated series)probably the greatest meditation about the(metaphysics of)human condition(ing)I ever laid my eyes upon. Leftovers would be no.2(English speaking/made serial)I was fortunate enough to see.
I think part of the masterpiece is how unmarketable and unpopular is was...but somehow they got to do three seasons and stretch is right to the end. I put this series close to Rectify...both dumbfounding explorations of humanity...so moving...so confusing ..so warm...so cold.
This show isn't underrated as in better than people seem to think, it's more unappreciated. Not enough people talk about or even know about it, it's an incredible show.
You aren’t kidding! I had to search through several “best TV shows” lists to even be aware of its existence. But once I was aware myself, I found that practically everybody else who watched it has given it amazing reviews
nah youre tripping there are a lot of lists that place this in the top 20. As much I see this as a great show, the show falls flat big picuture wise becuas the world has not backbone. The characters and the scenes are almost masterpiece worthy but I feel like this at the detriment of having so much plot armour for characters like garvey and having no explanations as to their sudden countless resurrections. As much as the show focuses on the power of coincidence on the human mind, it was at times hard to relate to the show in its emotional beats because not only did they feel forced at times but unbelievable (kevin being proclamed s a jesus type figure) but not having actual grounded reasons as to why this is actually happening. The show has no backbone is this part but otherwise it is great entertaining televison in the moment but its big picture is only derived from a sequences of inferences of different pieces of religon and literature which is not enough to classify the writting as great, just good at best. @@CantTellYou
I feel like you may have missed a vital feature of Nora's baseball story: she's struggling to understand why she grew up to *become* that usher, metaphorically squashing beach balls with her intolerance for other people's self-comforting delusions (or failures to play according to the common "rules" of reality). But it came with a subsumed guilt-- that hatred for the usher turned inward on herself, and she couldn't reconcile it because she didn't understand "why anyone (including herself) would want that job." Then Laurie revealed the reason, because as a psychologist she understood it: people just making up alternative realities for themselves, and pulling others into them, is disruptive, it's "fucking chaos"-- someone *needs* to do that job, even if they're hated for it. Laurie pointing out the nobility in it conferred forgiveness, and that's when-- IF we assume Nora made up the story about crossing over-- she found a tolerable frame for making up those comforting fictions: it's "okay" if it's just for you, and you don't expect or ask anyone else to "play along." It's "okay" if, should you share it with someone else, their choice to believe it or not believe it has no consequences for anyone else-- only for your relationship with them. Nora shared her story with Kevin without any expectation, she'd made peace with being apart, so IF her story was a lie... well, his choice to believe or disbelieve wouldn't harm either of them, so that made it "okay" either way. That said, I believe Nora too. Because keep in mind, this IS a world where millions vanished; a world where Kevin *was* dead of poison, buried and cold, was shot, was drowned (twice), and came back each time; a world where supernatural shit actually goes down, so a transdimensional teleportation machine isn't *that* much of a stretch. I think a feature of that world is that metaphors can express IN reality, hence why symbolism is so abundant in these weird events-- I don't believe that makes the events fantasies so much as it makes the in-world *reality* fantastical, prone to manifest things subjectively. So, arguably, on close examination, everyone who departed seems like they may have been "wished out of reality," even if only for an instant, by someone close to them (a woman Kevin was cheating with, a fetus Laurie didn't want, a kid with sweaty palms maybe, a family that was annoying Nora, a crying baby, etc). To quote Holy Wayne, "wish, granted." Then, whereas Kevin wants to "escape" his fear of vulnerability in intimacy-- okay, when he dies he'll literally escape to an underworld where he can work to resolve that issue by dealing with the condition/preemptive-nuclear-strike-key in his heart, and return, or he can retreat and stay dead. Then you have Nora, who sometimes feels unmoored from reality and is sometimes treated by technology like she isn't there; she obsesses over knowing what became of her family, so in this world of wishes collapsing into reality, I think she did go to them. And once she made her peace she was able to find a way back. It does "work," IF the departure and the underworld and the "other side" are just metaphors for loss and escape and obsession with closure (all of those manifestations of grief more broadly)... but if the Sudden Departure really did happen, if metaphors can become interweaving subjective reality in Leftoververse, then the "delusions" can be "real" too. Without detracting from them AS metaphors. Anyway I fucking love this show and even after multiple rewatches it's still revealing layers to me ❤️
Holy shit I never realized that when she grew up, SHE became the one squeezing beach balls. Exposing fraud even though she knew people would be much happier believing their fantasies. Cases in point, revealing the dead pillar guy and chasing the scientists.
I saw the show in the same way as you. Going through these comments I don’t understand why people wouldn’t believe noras story, in the world where the story set up an event where millions disappear. where is ones logical conclusion that all these other things shown fantastical or not are possible why would one think they’re metaphors? ( for clarification, I agree 100% with what you said I’m referring to other peoples comments, I also like that you gave a reason for the disappearance because before reading your comment I thought there was no Y at all for the event.)
Yeah the beachball story is clearly her feeling guilty about her job. Laurie's logical (psychoanalytical) response is her showing empathy for her friend who is suffering and feels guilty about what she does for a living and what a hypocrite she's become. I don't agree with this video's unnecessarily bleak interpretation. And I think the writers left it ambiguous for a reason - because there is no answer - because it doesn't really matter.
Yes, this show reminds me of Fight Club in that additional layers are revealed each time you watch it. It's a gift that keeps on giving. That final episode of The Leftovers was the most powerful ending to a TV series I've ever watched.
I love your take. I never really noticed before how many of the departed had someone, in that moment, sort of wishing them away. The beach ball monologue is one of the best things I've ever seen on TV. In the moment she delivered that question it carried so much meaning. I think you both have good takes on it. My own is that she was talking about god. She was wondering why god would not just let people be happy and why he had to introduce so much sadness. Why would anyone want THAT job, as it were (obliquely blaming god for the disappearance). Laurie's answer is basically "it has to be like that, trust me bro". Kinda like the real world. Nora, in the most poignant way possible, is asking why she must suffer so much pain that is is so far past her breaking point that she's about to go get deflated (killed) in a beachball shaped vaporizer. My interpretation works a little better, I think, if she DID actually go to the other place. Just more suffering heaped on her when she sees her children happier without her, another deflated beachball. She didn't look for Kevin because really why would she, their last interaction wasn't exactly warm. But I do like your interpretation because that hangs together pretty tight if she didn't go. She's asking why SHE took on the job of spoiler. Then she sort of chickens out and decided a convenient lie is OK for her rather than getting vaporized. She runs away from anyone who might ask her questions about it.
I believe she went through and came back, it contradicts with the realism of this show otherwise. But with Kevin's immortality moments I figure, I can leave some room for Nora to have supernatural events happen to her too. And the split realities can make sense within the story. Especially given the last episodes title "The Book of Nora". Which of course is playing in on our faith in her story. I just never believed Nora to back out of it, her conviction seemed so strong and her mind seemed so set. Of course she could have changed her mind but she sold it so well. But maybe I'm just believing because I too want to be happy like Nora. And this ending is by far a happier one then one where two mentally ill people delude themselves into continuing their toxic relationship with fabricated stories for how they got there. I believe Kevin died and came back and I believe Nora went through and came back.
2% of the population vanished into thin air...I'm sure Nora's story is very plausible and doesn't seem to go against the realism of the show. The rules of the in show universe were already crazy.
In those last moments, her sense of conviction didn't feel strong to me at all. She looks like she's knowingly walking to her death. She's terrified when she getting into the pod. I think she backed out at the last minute.
I agree with you. The show already asked a lot. Why not also chose to believe she did go through? The way she tells the story in detail about hiding behind a tree across the street to see her family and even the look on her face when she talks about how long it took to get to America and how long it took to find the doctor. Seems all very experienced to me.
I think an even deeper analysis of the beach ball at the baseball game story is her own employment - she *became* the guy going around and popping everyone's proverbial beach ball, which leads to her asking Matt (paraphrased from memory), "Why would someone choose to do that for a job!?"
This was an amazing story. The Book of Nora is the perfect ending to an emotionally charged series. Everyone involved in bringing this to life I want to thank because it touches on so much that people do to survive day to day in the face of heartbreaking events. Fantastic, just fantastic
Another significant thing about Nora's story is that one of the things holding back their relationship is Nora's grief about her children. She's not able to let them go and Kevin's last words to her are "go be with them". Her inability to let them go prevents them from having a healthy relationship. By telling Kevin that she has gone to see them and voluntarily come back, it lets him know that she's ready to be with him more fully.
The story with Grace and her children and the missing shoes is one of the saddest stories ive ever heard. It was heartbreaking to hear in the show and to imagine if it really happened. I choose to believe Nora went to the alternate universe and on the other earth 98% of the population disappeared. The small detail about how pilots are a rarity makes it seem real. Even if Nora didnt go through, thats probably still actually what has happened. Not having an answer of what happened to the missing people would feel like the show never ended.
I also believe she did. In the show’s world, people disappeared (which is unlikely in real life but happened in this show). So it is likely a scientists (group of scientists) would figure out how that happened and very likely people don’t believe scientists or they don’t want everyone to come over and hog resources (they probably aren’t battling climate crisis because less people). Also, no way they’d stop the machine last minute or even could at that point.
@@Vizeral Exactly and that’s why i don’t believe nora was telling the truth and also think the afterlife was just inside of kevins mind and he wasn’t actually immortal.
Thank you. Usually after watching shows I find out I got the "correct interpertation". Upon watching this analysis, I felt slightly embarrassed that I actually thought she really did go thru to the otherside. But then it dawned on me that I believed IT because I WANTED TO believe her. And that actually made me cry. But it quickly turned to tears of laughter when I realized that's why the show was so damn good.
I genuinely think she did go through. For starters as this video points out, she doesn't accept Kevin's lies. In the three seasons, she's pretty honest. And most importantly her explanation of what happened, is far more believable than 90% of the crazy stuff we saw that happened to Kevin. The show's been 3 years where the whole world was trying to find some spiritual dogmatic explanation for the departure. Turns out there was probably a physical explanation, and a scientist figured out what it was. No one went to heaven, no one went to hell, they just stayed where they were, another dimension of the same place. Whether it was a bending of time and space, it was a physical explanation. Nora is not portrayed as a liar, right through the very end including the finale. She's telling the truth I strongly suspect. All that said, the ambiguity is the point. I just don't think we should assume she's lying or that what she said is probably not the truth or just a coping mechanism.
I believe she did go to the other side. It gives the viewer and Nora and understanding of the show's biggest mystery, expands the world, and gives Nora a more believable reasoning for not returning to Texas. If she didn't go through with it, it seems odd that she would just live in solitary for 15 years in Australia. Whereas living on the other side for some years then coming back, she would already feel alone, guilty, and believe Kevin had already moved on. Also just the parallel of Kevin crossing over to another world as well.
I believe it, and this is why - The departure actually happened, people just literally vanished (the synopsis is lost on some people). So why can't Nora's world exist?
I agree, she went over to the other side. Anyone could interpret the series anyway one wants, but this is the only reasonable interpretation in my opinion. If Nora was willing to move on, she did not have to invent in her mind a story. You could if you want say all the characters were mad and were imagining things. But if Kevin could cross over to another world why can't Nora? Unlike Kevin, she did not even become totally different persona or "die" and come back to life. She was obviously mentally troubled but not deranged. This is best seen that when she saw Kevin in the last episode, she couldn't go along with his obviously fake story about how he found her. I think the speaker is overanalyzing and suggesting something not intended by the script.
Kevin never moved on from nora he went to australia every year looking for her afta the hotel argument .. He believes nora because he went to the land of the dead like 3x
since you believe she did go on the other side (because yes its a really nice explanation i admit) how you are not frustrated by the obvious hole in the scenario: if the scientist could built the machine for Nora to go back why he hadnt built it all along so all the 2% could use it to go back to the 90%?????? I just finished the show and im really upset with how stupid that is. Can you imagine living in a world that the 90% has disapeared? if you can built a machine like that you built it! that should be the first job of the guy-scientist who invented it and first used it! It solves the problem of everyone! Its so obvious i dont understand why people are arguinng about it....
@@user-oc5dm6zl7j The guy built the machine for the sole purpose of traveling to the other world. If he truly got there, what is his motivation to build it again? I could definitely see Nora having to beg him to rebuild it. That said, I was on the fence about whether she really traveled there or not, but this video convinced me that it's more likely she did not.
I watched this whole series in one sitting last year (a late-comer, I know). It is one of the most compelling and haunting television series I've ever seen. It remains with me, in some sense, still. I can't put my finger on why it affected me so, but I loved it - the characters, the actors' interpretations, the writing (of course). Such a beautiful, thought provoking piece of television that deserved much more recognition.
I watched it when it aired but just coming across this synopsis , I am feeling all those emotions I did once again. As you say, it is truly a beautiful, amazing piece of tv.
Best thing about the Leftovers is every time you talk to someone about it - you see it in a different light!! For me, Nora's baseball story was about - why not let everyone use that Machine, why be so picky about who can and can't (that the 2 women trying to prevent her were was the "usher/s" in a sense). And Lori's response was (in light of it basically being a suicide machine) was "because it would be f%&king chaos".. Then Nora said "same time next week?" which I believed to be a nod to Lori about committing suicide too.. Either way, the BEST thing about this show was how you yourself depicted it as an individual - TRUE ART!
JumptheShark, I think you did a great job with this. Seeing those scenes again, with often brilliant narration from yourself (the beach ball scene. I never fully got it until now), brought it all back for me, and underscored how truly great this show was.
Listening to your great analysis of the series and its beautiful ending, and reading all the thoughtful and interesting comments below confirms what I believed about the series: that it is one of the best, if not the best, pieces of creative writing, stunning audio-visualization, and outstanding interpretations that I have seen. I am on my third viewing of the entire series (this time picking episodes at random) and I still find surprising and illuminating elements in each episode. That a work can elicit such intelligent and passionate responses from us, the public, is proof of its quality.
God damn, The Leftovers. Your analysis here captures so much of what I love about this show. It was so fiercely intelligent and creative, examining the big questions about life, faith, and ourselves through such an inventive narrative and remarkable characters. I don't think there will ever be another show like it. And that's okay. Thank you for making this.
Another piece of evidence from the penultimate episode is that the book President Kevin reads is different than the book that Assassin Kevin wrote. Each book was written yearning for what the other half had in a sort of "the grass is always greener" juxtaposition. Bearded President Kevin's book, as read in this video, ends with him finding happiness in solitude after escaping. When Dean read Assassin Kevin's book, it displayed he yearned for the opposite. "The water endlessly stretching to the infinite horizon as he contemplated the impossible distance between them, but he would not stop until he found her." To me, this illustrates that not only was he killing off the world that he was escaping to, he cut the heart out of and killed the part of him that was fleeing. The heart/yearning of that aspect of him held the literal key to destroy his world of escape and Kevin used it to find Nora again.
Just getting to rewatch this show. After learning more about storytelling themes and arcs and such. The Leftovers has a clear theme finding purpose after a worldwide event. Every character strives to find purpose. The antagonist strive for this and so do the main characters. Kevin's purpose isn't some greater save the world purpose its love with Nora.
To me it seems as if they were all existing in a simulated universe, very similar to a combination of the Sims and Second Life. Their world is a diverse mixture of characters, some autonomous, some NPCs programs, and possibly participants from 'our reality' immersed in the simulation. You had cowboys hanging out with Buddhist monks, nuns mingling with pagan revelers, cops milling about the town dealing with circus clowns, party people and a variety of animals. Strange, random events occurring, changes in the environment and landscape. People who were supposedly dead or killed, RESPAWNING multiple times, some of which had different personalities and memories. A glitch in the matrix or a moderator/programmer altering the parameters of the simulation at will perhaps? Think about the scene in the after life purgatory hotel, where Kevin had to CHOOSE a set of clothing in a closet that would determine what his role would be in THAT simulation, that is straight out of the gaming world, like GTA.
What a great and unique breakdown of one of my favorite shows and one that is so overlooked by so many. I have watched it thru twice and learned more both times. I have been thinking about a third go around. Well done sir.
Your video, is great, I really enjoyed watching it, great analysis. I gasped in front of my screen when you made me realize in both Lost and The Leftovers, they "have to go back" twice to properly sort out what was going wrong with their lives. I would love a crossed analysis video of Lost and The Leftovers as it's full of dialogue between the two shows.
Contrary to most reviews, I believe that the 'Leftovers' are the 2% who vanished. Indeed, If you pay a closer attention, all the people that departed were not being paid attention to at the very moment they disappeared, and no one was LOOKING at them: the baby crying for his mom in the back seat while the woman argues over the phone, the lonely and apparently distraught woman under the sheet that Kevin was having sex with minutes before, Nora's family sitting in silence and her children crying after she yelled at them while turning her back to them and just focusing on her phone call, Laurie and Kevin's unborn child - that none of them wanted and that she kept a secret from everyone - who disappears from the screen while she turns her head away, the grown-up handicapped son who probably thought he was a burden to his elderly parents, the teenage girl holding hands in the circle with Jill and Tom (I had to rewind and see again who had disappeared, because she hadn't even been clearly shown on the previous scene!). That's why I think this show is about acknowledging the REALITY of the others, of their needs, their pains, their dreams, their attention for love and care. Their simple PRESENCE. This show is about someone screaming : "Look at me! I'm here, I exist! I'm REAL, not an illusion! Take me as I am". But we prefer to create our own beliefs, religions or cults to face our deepest fears, and which drift us further away from one another and from the harsh reality of the human condition. So in my opinion, the 2% that erased themselves from the surface of the planet is an allegory which implies that all that actually matters is the 'here and now', and that our common disregard to other people's existences eventually leads to delusion, helplessness and lack of purpose. It is about accepting life as it is: deprived of sense.
I like to think that, as vieweres, we are not supposed to know what really happens, wether she goes to the other world or it's just a story. We decide to believe her or not.
We are definitely not supposed to know what happens or they would have shown us. But I do find it interesting that Nora offers a fairly scientific explanation for what happened and it's the one nobody wants to accept! They were willing to accept all sorts of thoughts about a spiritual apocalypse or something but someone suggest there was a physical issue that caused the departure, nothing to do with dogma or religion, and they immediately assumed she's lying. Even though, in the very same finale, she's rigid about Kevin telling the truth. To me, it's perfectly natural for people to debate the ending. But I don't understand why so many people are willing to accept the crazy events that happened on that show, and not believe Nora.
@@michaelcorcoran8768 It is left ambiguous, but given they intended to film the "other side" as Nora tells the story, I think that shows what the actual truth was determined to be. Also, Damon Lindelof can be seen explaining that before they set out on Season 1, he had to know what the actual solution to the departure was, and it was this. So, whether they decided to leave it ambiguous at the last minute, the intention was not that.
Nora travelled. It is a fact. The whole show was a leap of faith for me, so I choose to believe Nora. It is the first show in which I didn't try to understand what happened, but to let myself go within the narrative and suffer with each episode final. This show is a rollercoaster of emotions, that is the best way to describe it
Well, we can't know for sure. But if she did, why show the scene of her saying "Stop". And also, why didn't she tell anyone? Surely there are many people out there who would like to be reunited with their families. Seems pretty fucked up, even for Nora.
1. She never said "Stop." 2. Who would believe her if she did come back from another dimension? She doesn't have proof and the people who actually run the service don't make themselves publicly available for any extended period of time.
1. They show her about to scream something. What else would it be? They didn't just accidentally write that into the show, it's obviously supposed to make us believe that she stopped them. 2. If she got into a machine, vanished, and then came back... that would be proof that the machine works. Because how else could she come back? She would just have to go back to the physicists and be like "hey, i'm back", and then they'd have proof that it works.Why would she deprive the world of that knowledge? You might say that no one would believe her or the physicists, but it wouldn't be hard to provide evidence. They just need plenty of witnesses. Also, if her story is true, that means the other world has a machine too(that's how she got back), so why haven't people from the other side came back? Why didn't the other people who went there not come back and tell everyone? That's what they were told to do. For her story to be true that would mean that her, and everyone else who got into the machine, is incredibly dumb. It just doesn't make sense.
1. We don't know if Nora screamed anything at all. I thought she was gasping for a final breath of air before submerging into the mineral fluid. But even if she did yell "stop" it doesn't mean they stopped the machine since it's not clear they would've done so once the process was underway. I think the point is to leave that scene ambiguous so two perfectly reasonable and rational people could interpret what happened either way. And this fits the M.O. of the show to a T. As the theme for that episode said, "Let the mystery be." 2. But Nora doesn't have access to anyone in their dimension who saw her vanish. That's the whole point. Matt is long dead and he took their secrets to his grave. The two physicists and their crew are transient ghosts who never stay in one place for long and do not publicly advertise their whereabouts. So, assuming she was an inter-dimensional traveler and was gone from Earth-1 for years, how do you expect her to find anyone who could verify her evaporation? Remember, the physicists were the ones who found her, not the other way around. 3. And let us say Nora goes public to anyone who would listen and not lock her up, which they would since she abandoned her duty as a fraud investigator by failing to report the secret experiment, there's no guarantee the two physicists wish come out of hiding to verify her claim. They were very secretive for a very good reason, to avoid government persecution for conducting unlicensed radioactive experiments in multiple countries. The U.S. government in the aftermath of the Sudden Departure spent years suppressing and executing anyone who sought to illegally gain from explaining the event. 4. Who says no one else hasn't come back? Again, assuming that inter-dimensional travel was possible and the scientist who created the machine advertised his experiment, how do you convince people that impossible happened before you are imprisoned or worse? When Galileo Galilei defended the heliocentric model of the galaxy he was persecuted and imprisoned by a powerful governing body which was invested countering the Copernican discovery because it threatened to radically alter the very way people understood the world. After Marco Polo returned home to Venice from his infamous trek to the Far East and recorded his exploits in 1299 many of his contemporaries, and even certain historians to this day, believed his stories were inaccurate fantasies.
I agree with pretty much everything you said, although I think if you rewatch the scene where Nora's in the machine and pay attention to her mouth, you can see that she's definitely about to say something. Also, think about all the people who went over to Earth-2. What did they do? They were either reunited with their families, or they did what Nora did and just came back. If your departed family member comes back out of nowhere, aren't you going to want to tell everyone that there's a machine that can do that, so everyone can go be reunited with their families? And also, the physicist was the first one to come over. Didn't he tell anyone about his machine? And even if they didn't believe him, they would be provided with evidence when the others start arriving, and out of nowhere multiple people who departed are suddenly returning and claiming it was thanks to this machine. Wouldn't that be proof enough that they're not lying? By this logic, I feel like Earth-2 should definitely all be aware of the machine at this point. All of these people would then just have to come back through the same machine Nora did. Why wouldn't they come back to Earth-1? There's no reason not to. I dunno
Emily Doran Excellent analysis. Thank you. Also, the idea that Nora did make it to the other side and came back parallels Kevin’s going over, as presented below by Spazz, makes logical sense and a awesome ending! If nothing else, it presents an awesome idea for an alternate ending.
Nora not going through with it would mean that she decided to stay in Australia, go off grid for about 15-20 years, severing ties with Matt and Kevin. It would mean that Laurie knew about it and never told Kevin. It would be too sad. This is not an uplifting show, but I found so much solace in this finale, that, me, just like Kevin, I decide to believe in her story
Well it's not sad. It's just a character arc. But the ending is open to interpretation for a reason. If you find more meaning and solace in your interpretation, that's great.
Funny, it never occurred to me that Nora's story was made up, but it makes sense. The one thing that bothered me with the ending was that her explanation of what happened--that her family went to this sort of alternate universe--was just an explanation. We didn't get to see it happen. I remember feeling at the time that everything was wrapped up too quickly, as if the series needed to be ended right away. Your explanation of the ending makes much more sense in the context of the whole story arc. Looks like I will have to watch it again with a different understanding--which will, of course, fit in with this strange Covid Pandemic time. I just wanted to add how the hauntingly beautiful music added so much to this story--and that it became the soundtrack of a personal tragic event that happened to me during this time.
The whole point is that Kevin and the audience chose to believe Nora or not. The show is about NOT having answers and coping with that via leap of faith. As the song says "Let the Mystery Be."@@dalmaximus
Some very interesting points, even a few I don’t agree with. As someone who believes Nora’s story, the only way I saw her achieve happiness was having something return to her to make her feel whole. It’s why the final shot is so powerful as the birds return, symbolizing that maybe this will stick. Kevin returned to her after years and years of never having something like that happen. She needed Kevin to believe her tale because that would validate what she had been seeking for so long. I also took the “beach ball at the game” story differently, even though I’m fascinated with how you broke it down. To me, that story does highlight how Nora’s point of view is more narrow than she understands, but the entire thing is more about Laurie. She has spent her life trying to keep order until everything broke down and she couldn’t anymore. She tried again by joining the Guilty Remnant, and it all imploded again. Then, as she started feeling some stability (family returning into her life), she realizes that there’s truly nothing she could do to fix those around her (hence her final exchange with Kevin... we’re all gone). She is the man who deflated the beach ball, trying to keep order, but the world that exists by this point has long left order by the wayside. She’s ready to end it all until she gets a call from people who returned in her life, her kids. She, like Nora, was striving for loved ones to come back to her, and that phone call convinced her that, even if she can’t make everything normal again, she can still find happiness.
I agree the ending on this show was PERFECT. Honestly, I hadn't considered your explanation (which makes so much sense) that Nora made the whole story up about using the machine to go to the parallel universe - see was that convincing. I found the whole show to be enjoyable but when a great show ends like this it is SO satisfying. Thanks for your great analysis.
Hold up.... there is a third option. Nora is not lying when she tells Kevin about the other world where the departed are. She died and went over to the other side when she was put into the machine. What she saw were her family content and already having moved on (just as Kevin is able to meet people who are already dead when he crossed over). All of it is true, but just like Kevin, Nora wasn't willing to die yet so she didn't stay there... The test the scientists gave wasn't to find an answer, it was to see if she truly wanted to die or not (which she didn't). She had attachment to the living (mainly Kevin) and so she came back despite the great effort it took and that it meant leaving her former family behind and moving on. Hence why it is Named "the Book of Nora" to mirror what Kevin had experienced 3 times before and caused his friends to write the new gospel about him. Both of them cheated death because they know they are meant to be intertwined and can't be separated. When she returned she was afraid still and spent the years in Australia because of uncertainty. Then she told just as she'd experienced without lie but without the full truth to match Kevin's truth.
Brilliant life has a way of going to work on you and I can’t imagine this happening. It’s tough enough as it is. I cried so many times watching this series
Ok so I'm French (but I understand) , imbelivable, just I love your explanation for Nora, this show and Nora's arc is really meaning for me, thank you man, i overfeel this. Really great job from France I love You.
this is pretty much in my top two or three series of all time which place is it i do not know. also its the music on op of this what makes it so special...
Airport security workers were unusually affected by the Sudden Departure. The DSD is currently investigating whether there is a correlation between prolonged exposure to full-body scanning machines and Departures. Until the DSD concludes its investigations you can expect to see more lax security measures at ports of entry due to labor shortages. We thank you for your understanding during this time.
I'm thinking of writing my own article about the show and its ending for the third anniversary of the finale coming up in June. That said, one line from Nora's final monologue that I have not seen anyone scrutinize, and, to me, gives her story away as being a false narrative, is that when she supposedly sees her children in the other world and describes her own daughter as "a girl, maybe 11". There is no way in hell that Nora Durst, having been obsessed with the loss of her kids, marking anniversaries of the departure year after year, and being a meticulous investigator for the OSD, would use the word "maybe" in that context. She knew, and knows, exactly how old her kids would have been and she would be marking their birthdays every year so as to never forget. That line feels to me to be a betrayal of her character if it were a true account, and something that she made up that simply sounded good for Kevin, and herself, to hear and to use to cope.
Many comments say how this show is underrated. The thing is, most people seem just to not be capable to understand it. To understand the meanings, the actual narrative that goes beyond plotpoints. I dont think they even understand how to understand these kind of concepts. This maybe sad, but you cant change it. And thats why it will never get the attention it deserves. Its a philosophic masterpiece and my favorite show of all time.
Would you please analyze every single episode of "The Leftovers"? I thoroughly enjoyed this analysis. OK, maybe that's too much work. Could you please post an analysis of each season? Thank you. > Just want to clarify that my interpretation of the ending is just that, an interpretation. It hardly sounded to me like an arbitrary pile of silliness. :-)
Sorry about the audio quality at the end. CZcams, copyright strikes, you know how it is.
Just rewatched your interpretation and synopsis of The Leftovers season 3 and enjoyed it even more this time around.
I just rewatched it with a new set of eyes and I like your take but in the end Kevin has an ego death and realizes that he is fine with the delusion because it truly makes him and her happy and in the end when 2 or more come together in belief it is so. This is a very spiritual and metaphysical show which I love. Kevin nor his dad are “crazy” it feels like psychosis when we hear spirit talk and we question ourselves out of because no one else is experiencing the same thing. But our world is shifting and this very thing is happening to millions of people world wide so are we all crazy? If so I love delulu land, it’s the new earth the right-side up world vs upside down one that is currently dissolving. Hope to see you all there!!
PS if you haven’t watched OA it will help explain, also Heroes and Sense 8 along with many Marvel/Disney movies. It’s all there.
I think you also missed another major point. The ending is about a role reversal between Kevin and Nora. Nora has to (possibly) go through an unbelievable scenario much like Kevin, like you stated. But Kevin also had to go through having someone depart. Remember, Kevin didn’t actually have anyone depart. But when Nora forces herself to depart leaving Kevin, Kevin much like pre-departure Nora refuses to believe their beloved are gone. This is why Kevin scours Australia to reunite with Nora, much like Nora scours the world for answers and opportunities to reunite with her children.
The ending is about two people not only conquering their demons, but also understanding each other’s via. similar experience.
That is why this time around, Kevin says he believes Nora’s story. Unlike Nora who could not believe Kevin’s.
I think it would probably safe to say that if her story is true, she probably believes kevin’s story now.
Which would explain why she was ashamed to reunite with him. She believed he would never believe her, because when the roles were reversed, she didn’t believe him.
And Kevin who judged Nora for the way she was acting after the departure, has now experienced it himself, and understands how impossible it is for someone to just “accept it and move on”. Just like Nora he couldn’t accept it and wouldn’t stop until he found answers.
It’s about two people gaining a complete understanding of one another by experiencing each others pain. Becoming one, in a sense.
Damn. Thank you for that well written interpretation.
Nailed it...
And boom! I’m satisfied. Thank you!
Insert mind blown gif
Daedalus Kevin did have a departure though. In S1 he talk about the woman he was having an affair with disappeared during a meet up.
The title of Kevin's romance novel should be, "the most powerful man in the world & the bravest girl on Earth."
William McCormick
This should be on a shirt. It’s perfect!
Cringe
That's perfect
Hit me right in my feels
One of the most underrated shows ever.
It's more underappreciated than underrated
It's been 3 years since this show ended.
I have not recovered and watch the show completely every year around now. Because I need to be reminded what "feelings" are.
Call me mentally f***** but this show destroy me.
Of ALL TIME! This is Lindelof's masterpiece... Not Lost... The first international assassin episode is one of my favorite episodes of any TV show... EVER.
@@wetteryan same
@@wetteryan leftovers was good but lost is a masterpiece
When this series ended, I felt as if a piece of my soul had gone with it, I do not know, it was weird, I just felt very sad.
I feel this right now after finishing it
Me too
I feel the same way! I finished this series a year ago and I came to this review to feel connected to it again. In a way it’s like a drug.
2% had gone
Try Aeon Flux(animated series)probably the greatest meditation about the(metaphysics of)human condition(ing)I ever laid my eyes upon.
Leftovers would be no.2(English speaking/made serial)I was fortunate enough to see.
The Leftovers is fantastic and got shafted by GoT at the Emmys.
@This Account has been deleted lol one of the shows worst seasons (behind the abortion that was season 8)
Better Call Saul got shafted by GoT too. IT DOESN'T HAVE A SINGLE EMMY
I think part of the masterpiece is how unmarketable and unpopular is was...but somehow they got to do three seasons and stretch is right to the end.
I put this series close to Rectify...both dumbfounding explorations of humanity...so moving...so confusing ..so warm...so cold.
@@buckstarwell7938 Rectify has touching scenes equilavent to The Leftovers really.
Game of Thrones doesn’t deserve to be mentioned alongside this incredible story.
She's Schroedinger's Nora. Until we open the box she simultaneously went to the other place and didn't.
“Schoedinger’s Nora?!”
Thank you for the Nerd Easter egg:)
You know that is actually pretty brilliant
This show isn't underrated as in better than people seem to think, it's more unappreciated. Not enough people talk about or even know about it, it's an incredible show.
You aren’t kidding! I had to search through several “best TV shows” lists to even be aware of its existence. But once I was aware myself, I found that practically everybody else who watched it has given it amazing reviews
nah youre tripping there are a lot of lists that place this in the top 20. As much I see this as a great show, the show falls flat big picuture wise becuas the world has not backbone. The characters and the scenes are almost masterpiece worthy but I feel like this at the detriment of having so much plot armour for characters like garvey and having no explanations as to their sudden countless resurrections. As much as the show focuses on the power of coincidence on the human mind, it was at times hard to relate to the show in its emotional beats because not only did they feel forced at times but unbelievable (kevin being proclamed s a jesus type figure) but not having actual grounded reasons as to why this is actually happening. The show has no backbone is this part but otherwise it is great entertaining televison in the moment but its big picture is only derived from a sequences of inferences of different pieces of religon and literature which is not enough to classify the writting as great, just good at best. @@CantTellYou
I feel like you may have missed a vital feature of Nora's baseball story: she's struggling to understand why she grew up to *become* that usher, metaphorically squashing beach balls with her intolerance for other people's self-comforting delusions (or failures to play according to the common "rules" of reality). But it came with a subsumed guilt-- that hatred for the usher turned inward on herself, and she couldn't reconcile it because she didn't understand "why anyone (including herself) would want that job."
Then Laurie revealed the reason, because as a psychologist she understood it: people just making up alternative realities for themselves, and pulling others into them, is disruptive, it's "fucking chaos"-- someone *needs* to do that job, even if they're hated for it. Laurie pointing out the nobility in it conferred forgiveness, and that's when-- IF we assume Nora made up the story about crossing over-- she found a tolerable frame for making up those comforting fictions: it's "okay" if it's just for you, and you don't expect or ask anyone else to "play along." It's "okay" if, should you share it with someone else, their choice to believe it or not believe it has no consequences for anyone else-- only for your relationship with them. Nora shared her story with Kevin without any expectation, she'd made peace with being apart, so IF her story was a lie... well, his choice to believe or disbelieve wouldn't harm either of them, so that made it "okay" either way.
That said, I believe Nora too. Because keep in mind, this IS a world where millions vanished; a world where Kevin *was* dead of poison, buried and cold, was shot, was drowned (twice), and came back each time; a world where supernatural shit actually goes down, so a transdimensional teleportation machine isn't *that* much of a stretch. I think a feature of that world is that metaphors can express IN reality, hence why symbolism is so abundant in these weird events-- I don't believe that makes the events fantasies so much as it makes the in-world *reality* fantastical, prone to manifest things subjectively.
So, arguably, on close examination, everyone who departed seems like they may have been "wished out of reality," even if only for an instant, by someone close to them (a woman Kevin was cheating with, a fetus Laurie didn't want, a kid with sweaty palms maybe, a family that was annoying Nora, a crying baby, etc). To quote Holy Wayne, "wish, granted." Then, whereas Kevin wants to "escape" his fear of vulnerability in intimacy-- okay, when he dies he'll literally escape to an underworld where he can work to resolve that issue by dealing with the condition/preemptive-nuclear-strike-key in his heart, and return, or he can retreat and stay dead. Then you have Nora, who sometimes feels unmoored from reality and is sometimes treated by technology like she isn't there; she obsesses over knowing what became of her family, so in this world of wishes collapsing into reality, I think she did go to them. And once she made her peace she was able to find a way back.
It does "work," IF the departure and the underworld and the "other side" are just metaphors for loss and escape and obsession with closure (all of those manifestations of grief more broadly)... but if the Sudden Departure really did happen, if metaphors can become interweaving subjective reality in Leftoververse, then the "delusions" can be "real" too. Without detracting from them AS metaphors.
Anyway I fucking love this show and even after multiple rewatches it's still revealing layers to me ❤️
Holy shit I never realized that when she grew up, SHE became the one squeezing beach balls. Exposing fraud even though she knew people would be much happier believing their fantasies. Cases in point, revealing the dead pillar guy and chasing the scientists.
I saw the show in the same way as you. Going through these comments I don’t understand why people wouldn’t believe noras story, in the world where the story set up an event where millions disappear. where is ones logical conclusion that all these other things shown fantastical or not are possible why would one think they’re metaphors? ( for clarification, I agree 100% with what you said I’m referring to other peoples comments, I also like that you gave a reason for the disappearance because before reading your comment I thought there was no Y at all for the event.)
Yeah the beachball story is clearly her feeling guilty about her job. Laurie's logical (psychoanalytical) response is her showing empathy for her friend who is suffering and feels guilty about what she does for a living and what a hypocrite she's become. I don't agree with this video's unnecessarily bleak interpretation. And I think the writers left it ambiguous for a reason - because there is no answer - because it doesn't really matter.
Yes, this show reminds me of Fight Club in that additional layers are revealed each time you watch it. It's a gift that keeps on giving. That final episode of The Leftovers was the most powerful ending to a TV series I've ever watched.
I love your take. I never really noticed before how many of the departed had someone, in that moment, sort of wishing them away. The beach ball monologue is one of the best things I've ever seen on TV. In the moment she delivered that question it carried so much meaning. I think you both have good takes on it. My own is that she was talking about god. She was wondering why god would not just let people be happy and why he had to introduce so much sadness. Why would anyone want THAT job, as it were (obliquely blaming god for the disappearance). Laurie's answer is basically "it has to be like that, trust me bro". Kinda like the real world. Nora, in the most poignant way possible, is asking why she must suffer so much pain that is is so far past her breaking point that she's about to go get deflated (killed) in a beachball shaped vaporizer.
My interpretation works a little better, I think, if she DID actually go to the other place. Just more suffering heaped on her when she sees her children happier without her, another deflated beachball. She didn't look for Kevin because really why would she, their last interaction wasn't exactly warm.
But I do like your interpretation because that hangs together pretty tight if she didn't go. She's asking why SHE took on the job of spoiler. Then she sort of chickens out and decided a convenient lie is OK for her rather than getting vaporized. She runs away from anyone who might ask her questions about it.
I believe she went through and came back, it contradicts with the realism of this show otherwise. But with Kevin's immortality moments I figure, I can leave some room for Nora to have supernatural events happen to her too. And the split realities can make sense within the story. Especially given the last episodes title "The Book of Nora". Which of course is playing in on our faith in her story. I just never believed Nora to back out of it, her conviction seemed so strong and her mind seemed so set. Of course she could have changed her mind but she sold it so well. But maybe I'm just believing because I too want to be happy like Nora. And this ending is by far a happier one then one where two mentally ill people delude themselves into continuing their toxic relationship with fabricated stories for how they got there. I believe Kevin died and came back and I believe Nora went through and came back.
I´m with you bro, but i find absolutly awesome that they left that open for interpretation...It makes you decide if you believe Nora or not.. I do.
2% of the population vanished into thin air...I'm sure Nora's story is very plausible and doesn't seem to go against the realism of the show. The rules of the in show universe were already crazy.
In those last moments, her sense of conviction didn't feel strong to me at all. She looks like she's knowingly walking to her death. She's terrified when she getting into the pod. I think she backed out at the last minute.
I agree with you. The show already asked a lot. Why not also chose to believe she did go through? The way she tells the story in detail about hiding behind a tree across the street to see her family and even the look on her face when she talks about how long it took to get to America and how long it took to find the doctor. Seems all very experienced to me.
@@nf5011 only a fool would believe Nora...
One of the few shows I cannot let go. Max Richter's score, the writing, the acting, the finale-spectacular.
Watching The Leftovers literally ripped out my Soul and left an empty shell. I now live in the other World......Amazing
I think an even deeper analysis of the beach ball at the baseball game story is her own employment - she *became* the guy going around and popping everyone's proverbial beach ball, which leads to her asking Matt (paraphrased from memory), "Why would someone choose to do that for a job!?"
The beachball scene gave me all the feels
I always wonder how that episode didn't win the Emmy for screenwriting and why Carrie didn't win best actress - just iconic
This was an amazing story. The Book of Nora is the perfect ending to an emotionally charged series. Everyone involved in bringing this to life I want to thank because it touches on so much that people do to survive day to day in the face of heartbreaking events. Fantastic, just fantastic
Another significant thing about Nora's story is that one of the things holding back their relationship is Nora's grief about her children. She's not able to let them go and Kevin's last words to her are "go be with them". Her inability to let them go prevents them from having a healthy relationship. By telling Kevin that she has gone to see them and voluntarily come back, it lets him know that she's ready to be with him more fully.
but she didn't go to him when she returned.
The story with Grace and her children and the missing shoes is one of the saddest stories ive ever heard. It was heartbreaking to hear in the show and to imagine if it really happened.
I choose to believe Nora went to the alternate universe and on the other earth 98% of the population disappeared. The small detail about how pilots are a rarity makes it seem real. Even if Nora didnt go through, thats probably still actually what has happened. Not having an answer of what happened to the missing people would feel like the show never ended.
I also believe she did. In the show’s world, people disappeared (which is unlikely in real life but happened in this show). So it is likely a scientists (group of scientists) would figure out how that happened and very likely people don’t believe scientists or they don’t want everyone to come over and hog resources (they probably aren’t battling climate crisis because less people). Also, no way they’d stop the machine last minute or even could at that point.
But doesn't that bring to light how we crave to have answers rather than accept that something could be inconclusive or ambiguous?
@@Vizeral Ya of course. That goes without saying. The human desire is always wanting to know and to have all the answers.
@@Vizeral Exactly and that’s why i don’t believe nora was telling the truth and also think the afterlife was just inside of kevins mind and he wasn’t actually immortal.
The horror at realising Lori's unborn child was part of the 2%
Fascinating stuff, man. I love watching people break down The Leftovers. One of the best shows I've ever seen.
JfnDWatchesVids me too😁
JfnDWatchesVids I watched the first episode and the last. Maybe I should watch the entire series.
@@Assimilator702 Why would you ever do that for any reason?
Same
Thank you. Usually after watching shows I find out I got the "correct interpertation". Upon watching this analysis, I felt slightly embarrassed that I actually thought she really did go thru to the otherside. But then it dawned on me that I believed IT because I WANTED TO believe her. And that actually made me cry. But it quickly turned to tears of laughter when I realized that's why the show was so damn good.
I genuinely think she did go through. For starters as this video points out, she doesn't accept Kevin's lies. In the three seasons, she's pretty honest. And most importantly her explanation of what happened, is far more believable than 90% of the crazy stuff we saw that happened to Kevin.
The show's been 3 years where the whole world was trying to find some spiritual dogmatic explanation for the departure. Turns out there was probably a physical explanation, and a scientist figured out what it was. No one went to heaven, no one went to hell, they just stayed where they were, another dimension of the same place.
Whether it was a bending of time and space, it was a physical explanation.
Nora is not portrayed as a liar, right through the very end including the finale. She's telling the truth I strongly suspect.
All that said, the ambiguity is the point. I just don't think we should assume she's lying or that what she said is probably not the truth or just a coping mechanism.
Exactly what I was thinking. 👌
I loved all the characters for different reasons. They were so rich, human, and complex. Including Patti!!
We have to go back!
Oh... wrong Lindelof show...
You got me LOST there
i miss lost more than any show that has finished.
Lmao, I've never even seen Lost but I remember this line constantly being shouted on television commercials for the show while the show was on air.
This and Mr Robot are probably the most underrated TV shows ever
Yes
The Americans is more underrated than Mr. Robot.
The leftovers is way better than Mr robot
I think you mean underappreciated. Most people consider them really well done.
I don't think Mr.Robot is not underated
i just finished the show and this is best explanation out there in youtube for the ending and the whole series...
LEFTOVERS IS MASTERPIECE
Agree!!
How much soul and heart can you put in one show? this is incredible achievement of art
I believe she did go to the other side. It gives the viewer and Nora and understanding of the show's biggest mystery, expands the world, and gives Nora a more believable reasoning for not returning to Texas. If she didn't go through with it, it seems odd that she would just live in solitary for 15 years in Australia. Whereas living on the other side for some years then coming back, she would already feel alone, guilty, and believe Kevin had already moved on. Also just the parallel of Kevin crossing over to another world as well.
I believe it, and this is why - The departure actually happened, people just literally vanished (the synopsis is lost on some people). So why can't Nora's world exist?
I agree, she went over to the other side. Anyone could interpret the series anyway one wants, but this is the only reasonable interpretation in my opinion. If Nora was willing to move on, she did not have to invent in her mind a story. You could if you want say all the characters were mad and were imagining things. But if Kevin could cross over to another world why can't Nora? Unlike Kevin, she did not even become totally different persona or "die" and come back to life. She was obviously mentally troubled but not deranged. This is best seen that when she saw Kevin in the last episode, she couldn't go along with his obviously fake story about how he found her. I think the speaker is overanalyzing and suggesting something not intended by the script.
Kevin never moved on from nora he went to australia every year looking for her afta the hotel argument .. He believes nora because he went to the land of the dead like 3x
since you believe she did go on the other side (because yes its a really nice explanation i admit) how you are not frustrated by the obvious hole in the scenario: if the scientist could built the machine for Nora to go back why he hadnt built it all along so all the 2% could use it to go back to the 90%?????? I just finished the show and im really upset with how stupid that is. Can you imagine living in a world that the 90% has disapeared? if you can built a machine like that you built it! that should be the first job of the guy-scientist who invented it and first used it! It solves the problem of everyone! Its so obvious i dont understand why people are arguinng about it....
@@user-oc5dm6zl7j The guy built the machine for the sole purpose of traveling to the other world. If he truly got there, what is his motivation to build it again? I could definitely see Nora having to beg him to rebuild it. That said, I was on the fence about whether she really traveled there or not, but this video convinced me that it's more likely she did not.
I watched this whole series in one sitting last year (a late-comer, I know). It is one of the most compelling and haunting television series I've ever seen. It remains with me, in some sense, still. I can't put my finger on why it affected me so, but I loved it - the characters, the actors' interpretations, the writing (of course). Such a beautiful, thought provoking piece of television that deserved much more recognition.
I watched it when it aired but just coming across this synopsis , I am feeling all those emotions I did once again. As you say, it is truly a beautiful, amazing piece of tv.
Same. Just this show, and Lost have stayed with me and touched my soul in a magical way.
You watched 28 hours of television.... none stop????
Best thing about the Leftovers is every time you talk to someone about it - you see it in a different light!! For me, Nora's baseball story was about - why not let everyone use that Machine, why be so picky about who can and can't (that the 2 women trying to prevent her were was the "usher/s" in a sense). And Lori's response was (in light of it basically being a suicide machine) was "because it would be f%&king chaos".. Then Nora said "same time next week?" which I believed to be a nod to Lori about committing suicide too..
Either way, the BEST thing about this show was how you yourself depicted it as an individual - TRUE ART!
JumptheShark, I think you did a great job with this. Seeing those scenes again, with often brilliant narration from yourself (the beach ball scene. I never fully got it until now), brought it all back for me, and underscored how truly great this show was.
Listening to your great analysis of the series and its beautiful ending, and reading all the thoughtful and interesting comments below confirms what I believed about the series: that it is one of the best, if not the best, pieces of creative writing, stunning audio-visualization, and outstanding interpretations that I have seen. I am on my third viewing of the entire series (this time picking episodes at random) and I still find surprising and illuminating elements in each episode. That a work can elicit such intelligent and passionate responses from us, the public, is proof of its quality.
I just discovered this masterpiece in 2021 and it shot up to the #1 spot in my all-time favorite series ever. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic job! I really enjoyed watching your POV on the ending. Made me love the show more
Best analysis of the finale I’ve seen so far ! Keep up the good work !
God damn, The Leftovers. Your analysis here captures so much of what I love about this show. It was so fiercely intelligent and creative, examining the big questions about life, faith, and ourselves through such an inventive narrative and remarkable characters. I don't think there will ever be another show like it. And that's okay. Thank you for making this.
You're welcome, man. Thanks.
One can hope 'The OA' (Netflix), surpasses this bar set by 'The Leftovers'.
@@mohitoBhau5499 it didnt surpass family guy
Amazing work man, this is the best insight analysis I've seen in a while. Keep up the good work.
This is the best analysis so far on this show, thank you so much man.
Another piece of evidence from the penultimate episode is that the book President Kevin reads is different than the book that Assassin Kevin wrote. Each book was written yearning for what the other half had in a sort of "the grass is always greener" juxtaposition. Bearded President Kevin's book, as read in this video, ends with him finding happiness in solitude after escaping. When Dean read Assassin Kevin's book, it displayed he yearned for the opposite. "The water endlessly stretching to the infinite horizon as he contemplated the impossible distance between them, but he would not stop until he found her." To me, this illustrates that not only was he killing off the world that he was escaping to, he cut the heart out of and killed the part of him that was fleeing. The heart/yearning of that aspect of him held the literal key to destroy his world of escape and Kevin used it to find Nora again.
"Ours is not to ask why, but to do or die"
Human nature is to question. Left without answers, troubles us.
Fantastic editing, sound, theory, everything! Subscribed
I miss this show so much!! Thanks for the nostalgia!
man i loved your explanation for the ending and characters analysis very good job (y)
Thank you for making this. It was perfect.
Just getting to rewatch this show. After learning more about storytelling themes and arcs and such. The Leftovers has a clear theme finding purpose after a worldwide event. Every character strives to find purpose. The antagonist strive for this and so do the main characters. Kevin's purpose isn't some greater save the world purpose its love with Nora.
Great thoughts! His father even says "you have no greater purpose"
After watching the leftovers i wanted to cry out loud for my life
But i didn't because nobody would have believed that I'm crying just for the show
Just watched this series and I gotta say I'm surprised it hasn't been brought up in top 5 of all time conversations. This is up there without a doubt.
To me it seems as if they were all existing in a simulated universe, very similar to a combination of the Sims and Second Life. Their world is a diverse mixture of characters, some autonomous, some NPCs programs, and possibly participants from 'our reality' immersed in the simulation. You had cowboys hanging out with Buddhist monks, nuns mingling with pagan revelers, cops milling about the town dealing with circus clowns, party people and a variety of animals. Strange, random events occurring, changes in the environment and landscape. People who were supposedly dead or killed, RESPAWNING multiple times, some of which had different personalities and memories.
A glitch in the matrix or a moderator/programmer altering the parameters of the simulation at will perhaps? Think about the scene in the after life purgatory hotel, where Kevin had to CHOOSE a set of clothing in a closet that would determine what his role would be in THAT simulation, that is straight out of the gaming world, like GTA.
What a great and unique breakdown of one of my favorite shows and one that is so overlooked by so many. I have watched it thru twice and learned more both times. I have been thinking about a third go around. Well done sir.
Dammit, tears again. Damn you, The Leftovers. Beautiful bastard.
i always play your video on repeat when am working, god i love this video so much
excellent job with this video. This might be the greatest series I have ever seen.
This show really hit my soul hard. It’s depth and emotion are rare in a series and I cannot wait to watch it again.
This is great analysis on one of my favorite shows ever. Thanks
Your video, is great, I really enjoyed watching it, great analysis. I gasped in front of my screen when you made me realize in both Lost and The Leftovers, they "have to go back" twice to properly sort out what was going wrong with their lives.
I would love a crossed analysis video of Lost and The Leftovers as it's full of dialogue between the two shows.
this show still haunts me to this day
you're officially invited to any movie night at my place. :) brilliant wrap up of one of my favorite shows; thank you.
I Miss this Show.😞
This video is insanely good. Congratulations on the great analysis
Contrary to most reviews, I believe that the 'Leftovers' are the 2% who vanished. Indeed, If you pay a closer attention, all the people that departed were not being paid attention to at the very moment they disappeared, and no one was LOOKING at them: the baby crying for his mom in the back seat while the woman argues over the phone, the lonely and apparently distraught woman under the sheet that Kevin was having sex with minutes before, Nora's family sitting in silence and her children crying after she yelled at them while turning her back to them and just focusing on her phone call, Laurie and Kevin's unborn child - that none of them wanted and that she kept a secret from everyone - who disappears from the screen while she turns her head away, the grown-up handicapped son who probably thought he was a burden to his elderly parents, the teenage girl holding hands in the circle with Jill and Tom (I had to rewind and see again who had disappeared, because she hadn't even been clearly shown on the previous scene!). That's why I think this show is about acknowledging the REALITY of the others, of their needs, their pains, their dreams, their attention for love and care. Their simple PRESENCE. This show is about someone screaming : "Look at me! I'm here, I exist! I'm REAL, not an illusion! Take me as I am". But we prefer to create our own beliefs, religions or cults to face our deepest fears, and which drift us further away from one another and from the harsh reality of the human condition. So in my opinion, the 2% that erased themselves from the surface of the planet is an allegory which implies that all that actually matters is the 'here and now', and that our common disregard to other people's existences eventually leads to delusion, helplessness and lack of purpose. It is about accepting life as it is: deprived of sense.
great interpretation of the show, i've never thought of it that way
I mean that theory is shattered when you look at the town of "miracle" you think that no one in that town was neglected
This video made me cry :( this show means a ton to me
This video is absolutely amazing for so many reasons. Thank you.
Well done! Now I want to rewatch the series
PitchDank I am rewatching it now and I forgot how fucking GOOD this show is.....totally under appreciated and underrated...😁👍
I like to think that, as vieweres, we are not supposed to know what really happens, wether she goes to the other world or it's just a story. We decide to believe her or not.
We are definitely not supposed to know what happens or they would have shown us. But I do find it interesting that Nora offers a fairly scientific explanation for what happened and it's the one nobody wants to accept! They were willing to accept all sorts of thoughts about a spiritual apocalypse or something but someone suggest there was a physical issue that caused the departure, nothing to do with dogma or religion, and they immediately assumed she's lying. Even though, in the very same finale, she's rigid about Kevin telling the truth.
To me, it's perfectly natural for people to debate the ending. But I don't understand why so many people are willing to accept the crazy events that happened on that show, and not believe Nora.
@@michaelcorcoran8768
It is left ambiguous, but given they intended to film the "other side" as Nora tells the story, I think that shows what the actual truth was determined to be. Also, Damon Lindelof can be seen explaining that before they set out on Season 1, he had to know what the actual solution to the departure was, and it was this. So, whether they decided to leave it ambiguous at the last minute, the intention was not that.
Nora travelled. It is a fact. The whole show was a leap of faith for me, so I choose to believe Nora. It is the first show in which I didn't try to understand what happened, but to let myself go within the narrative and suffer with each episode final. This show is a rollercoaster of emotions, that is the best way to describe it
For me it was always clear she didn't travel, funnily. This show is just great.
it's a FACT? i wouldn't be so sure about that
Entschuldigung. It is a fact, in my mind. I did not let myself think other way...
@@migueltaranto9679 that doesn't mean it's a fact. Means you believe it.
@@seaque. I think I prefer to ignore you.
This review really gets it. Thank you for sharing that point of view.
2 people being completely honest with each other but never understanding each other🥺
The Leftovers is a top 10 show of all time. Absolutely amazing. Also, probably has the best score of any show ever.
Wonderful analysis of the two main arches of this TV-novel.
Outstanding analysis. I know this is obviously not the point, but how can you be certain she did not go through the machine and return though?
Well, we can't know for sure. But if she did, why show the scene of her saying "Stop". And also, why didn't she tell anyone? Surely there are many people out there who would like to be reunited with their families. Seems pretty fucked up, even for Nora.
1. She never said "Stop."
2. Who would believe her if she did come back from another dimension? She doesn't have proof and the people who actually run the service don't make themselves publicly available for any extended period of time.
1. They show her about to scream something. What else would it be? They didn't just accidentally write that into the show, it's obviously supposed to make us believe that she stopped them.
2. If she got into a machine, vanished, and then came back... that would be proof that the machine works. Because how else could she come back? She would just have to go back to the physicists and be like "hey, i'm back", and then they'd have proof that it works.Why would she deprive the world of that knowledge?
You might say that no one would believe her or the physicists, but it wouldn't be hard to provide evidence. They just need plenty of witnesses.
Also, if her story is true, that means the other world has a machine too(that's how she got back), so why haven't people from the other side came back? Why didn't the other people who went there not come back and tell everyone? That's what they were told to do.
For her story to be true that would mean that her, and everyone else who got into the machine, is incredibly dumb. It just doesn't make sense.
1. We don't know if Nora screamed anything at all. I thought she was gasping for a final breath of air before submerging into the mineral fluid. But even if she did yell "stop" it doesn't mean they stopped the machine since it's not clear they would've done so once the process was underway. I think the point is to leave that scene ambiguous so two perfectly reasonable and rational people could interpret what happened either way. And this fits the M.O. of the show to a T. As the theme for that episode said, "Let the mystery be."
2. But Nora doesn't have access to anyone in their dimension who saw her vanish. That's the whole point. Matt is long dead and he took their secrets to his grave. The two physicists and their crew are transient ghosts who never stay in one place for long and do not publicly advertise their whereabouts. So, assuming she was an inter-dimensional traveler and was gone from Earth-1 for years, how do you expect her to find anyone who could verify her evaporation? Remember, the physicists were the ones who found her, not the other way around.
3. And let us say Nora goes public to anyone who would listen and not lock her up, which they would since she abandoned her duty as a fraud investigator by failing to report the secret experiment, there's no guarantee the two physicists wish come out of hiding to verify her claim. They were very secretive for a very good reason, to avoid government persecution for conducting unlicensed radioactive experiments in multiple countries. The U.S. government in the aftermath of the Sudden Departure spent years suppressing and executing anyone who sought to illegally gain from explaining the event.
4. Who says no one else hasn't come back? Again, assuming that inter-dimensional travel was possible and the scientist who created the machine advertised his experiment, how do you convince people that impossible happened before you are imprisoned or worse? When Galileo Galilei defended the heliocentric model of the galaxy he was persecuted and imprisoned by a powerful governing body which was invested countering the Copernican discovery because it threatened to radically alter the very way people understood the world. After Marco Polo returned home to Venice from his infamous trek to the Far East and recorded his exploits in 1299 many of his contemporaries, and even certain historians to this day, believed his stories were inaccurate fantasies.
I agree with pretty much everything you said, although I think if you rewatch the scene where Nora's in the machine and pay attention to her mouth, you can see that she's definitely about to say something.
Also, think about all the people who went over to Earth-2. What did they do? They were either reunited with their families, or they did what Nora did and just came back. If your departed family member comes back out of nowhere, aren't you going to want to tell everyone that there's a machine that can do that, so everyone can go be reunited with their families? And also, the physicist was the first one to come over. Didn't he tell anyone about his machine? And even if they didn't believe him, they would be provided with evidence when the others start arriving, and out of nowhere multiple people who departed are suddenly returning and claiming it was thanks to this machine. Wouldn't that be proof enough that they're not lying?
By this logic, I feel like Earth-2 should definitely all be aware of the machine at this point. All of these people would then just have to come back through the same machine Nora did. Why wouldn't they come back to Earth-1? There's no reason not to.
I dunno
Emily Doran
Excellent analysis. Thank you. Also,
the idea that Nora did make it to the other side and came back parallels Kevin’s going over, as presented below by Spazz, makes logical sense and a awesome ending! If nothing else, it presents an awesome idea for an alternate ending.
Just completing my first (Leftovers) marathon. Could you imagine if ALL television could be this good?
Well done. Some much needed insight here. Thanks
Nora really went to the other side, it happened! Don’t take my flimsy hopes away arghhhhh
Brilliant show. I’m definitely rewatching
Nora not going through with it would mean that she decided to stay in Australia, go off grid for about 15-20 years, severing ties with Matt and Kevin. It would mean that Laurie knew about it and never told Kevin. It would be too sad. This is not an uplifting show, but I found so much solace in this finale, that, me, just like Kevin, I decide to believe in her story
Well it's not sad. It's just a character arc.
But the ending is open to interpretation for a reason. If you find more meaning and solace in your interpretation, that's great.
Funny, it never occurred to me that Nora's story was made up, but it makes sense. The one thing that bothered me with the ending was that her explanation of what happened--that her family went to this sort of alternate universe--was just an explanation. We didn't get to see it happen. I remember feeling at the time that everything was wrapped up too quickly, as if the series needed to be ended right away. Your explanation of the ending makes much more sense in the context of the whole story arc. Looks like I will have to watch it again with a different understanding--which will, of course, fit in with this strange Covid Pandemic time. I just wanted to add how the hauntingly beautiful music added so much to this story--and that it became the soundtrack of a personal tragic event that happened to me during this time.
I agree. To not be given an image of the other side feels like a cheap shot. It felt rushed and I am quite disappointed.
The whole point is that Kevin and the audience chose to believe Nora or not. The show is about NOT having answers and coping with that via leap of faith. As the song says "Let the Mystery Be."@@dalmaximus
Some very interesting points, even a few I don’t agree with. As someone who believes Nora’s story, the only way I saw her achieve happiness was having something return to her to make her feel whole. It’s why the final shot is so powerful as the birds return, symbolizing that maybe this will stick. Kevin returned to her after years and years of never having something like that happen. She needed Kevin to believe her tale because that would validate what she had been seeking for so long.
I also took the “beach ball at the game” story differently, even though I’m fascinated with how you broke it down. To me, that story does highlight how Nora’s point of view is more narrow than she understands, but the entire thing is more about Laurie. She has spent her life trying to keep order until everything broke down and she couldn’t anymore. She tried again by joining the Guilty Remnant, and it all imploded again. Then, as she started feeling some stability (family returning into her life), she realizes that there’s truly nothing she could do to fix those around her (hence her final exchange with Kevin... we’re all gone). She is the man who deflated the beach ball, trying to keep order, but the world that exists by this point has long left order by the wayside. She’s ready to end it all until she gets a call from people who returned in her life, her kids. She, like Nora, was striving for loved ones to come back to her, and that phone call convinced her that, even if she can’t make everything normal again, she can still find happiness.
I agree the ending on this show was PERFECT. Honestly, I hadn't considered your explanation (which makes so much sense) that Nora made the whole story up about using the machine to go to the parallel universe - see was that convincing. I found the whole show to be enjoyable but when a great show ends like this it is SO satisfying. Thanks for your great analysis.
Very interesting analysis.
Absolutely incredible show
Hold up.... there is a third option.
Nora is not lying when she tells Kevin about the other world where the departed are. She died and went over to the other side when she was put into the machine. What she saw were her family content and already having moved on (just as Kevin is able to meet people who are already dead when he crossed over). All of it is true, but just like Kevin, Nora wasn't willing to die yet so she didn't stay there... The test the scientists gave wasn't to find an answer, it was to see if she truly wanted to die or not (which she didn't). She had attachment to the living (mainly Kevin) and so she came back despite the great effort it took and that it meant leaving her former family behind and moving on. Hence why it is Named "the Book of Nora" to mirror what Kevin had experienced 3 times before and caused his friends to write the new gospel about him. Both of them cheated death because they know they are meant to be intertwined and can't be separated. When she returned she was afraid still and spent the years in Australia because of uncertainty. Then she told just as she'd experienced without lie but without the full truth to match Kevin's truth.
Brilliant life has a way of going to work on you and I can’t imagine this happening. It’s tough enough as it is. I cried so many times watching this series
You did a great job with this video, my man
Great vid! I didn't consider the possibility that she may not have gone to the other side so that adds a whole new perspective for me!!!
I'd love it if they made another series about the departed and their life following the event!
Dude. Phenomenal breakdown thank you
Ok so I'm French (but I understand) , imbelivable, just I love your explanation for Nora, this show and Nora's arc is really meaning for me, thank you man, i overfeel this.
Really great job from France I love You.
merci!
this is pretty much in my top two or three series of all time which place is it i do not know. also its the music on op of this what makes it so special...
How come everyone in films and tv shows end up in Australia, when Australia has really tight immigration laws? LOL
Fr man it took me FOREVER to get through the international airports
Airport security workers were unusually affected by the Sudden Departure. The DSD is currently investigating whether there is a correlation between prolonged exposure to full-body scanning machines and Departures. Until the DSD concludes its investigations you can expect to see more lax security measures at ports of entry due to labor shortages. We thank you for your understanding during this time.
Because this show is full of holes and unnecessary "plots". Finished it last night, great idea, really weak execution
Really fantastic review ♥️
Dude, great job with this.
Amazing job, dude. Great watch
That was great. SUBSCRIBED. Shit, i might already be subscribed. I love this type of "Mental chess."
I loved this series, i wish there was more seasons but glad they wraped it up. It's doesn't get the attention it deserves
I'm thinking of writing my own article about the show and its ending for the third anniversary of the finale coming up in June. That said, one line from Nora's final monologue that I have not seen anyone scrutinize, and, to me, gives her story away as being a false narrative, is that when she supposedly sees her children in the other world and describes her own daughter as "a girl, maybe 11". There is no way in hell that Nora Durst, having been obsessed with the loss of her kids, marking anniversaries of the departure year after year, and being a meticulous investigator for the OSD, would use the word "maybe" in that context. She knew, and knows, exactly how old her kids would have been and she would be marking their birthdays every year so as to never forget. That line feels to me to be a betrayal of her character if it were a true account, and something that she made up that simply sounded good for Kevin, and herself, to hear and to use to cope.
Many comments say how this show is underrated. The thing is, most people seem just to not be capable to understand it. To understand the meanings, the actual narrative that goes beyond plotpoints. I dont think they even understand how to understand these kind of concepts. This maybe sad, but you cant change it. And thats why it will never get the attention it deserves. Its a philosophic masterpiece and my favorite show of all time.
Your 100% right I just did not understand this show and found it hard to keep up with
Absolutely brilliant!
I created vivid false memories of her trip to other side. Thanks for reminding me of the truth.
Why would she lie? I mean crazier things happened on the show.
Shes been lying since Season 1
I mean did they really happen? What's up with those dogs infiltrating the government
What a show.
I loved this series. It evoked both grief and hope.
Would you please analyze every single episode of "The Leftovers"? I thoroughly enjoyed this analysis. OK, maybe that's too much work. Could you please post an analysis of each season? Thank you.
> Just want to clarify that my interpretation of the ending is just that, an interpretation.
It hardly sounded to me like an arbitrary pile of silliness. :-)
Loved this review. Loved these characters. Loved this series.