Watch for a special message from the creators of #TheLeftovers. pic.twitter.com/ttbB9Mo3mN
— The Leftovers (@TheLeftoversHBO) December 6, 2016
In a miracle worthy of Jarden, Texas, HBO has renewed The Leftovers — one of the best shows on television that’s also among the hardest to watch — for a third and final season. That’s despite a massive ratings drop between seasons 1 and 2, and a baffling lack of love from the Emmys. Ending the show after three seasons was creator Damon Lindelof’s choice, though. “It’s a gut instinct,” he said. “I feel like there’s more story, but not MUCH more. And I don’t want to drag it out unnecessarily. Lots of fans and critics understandably had a sense that we could have ended after season two… That was a strong indication we were closer to the end than the beginning.”
(Confession: I hated season one, but thought season two was incredible. It’s that kind of show. Also, I still watch the “Homeward Bound” scene weekly.)
There’s been no official word from HBO about The Leftovers‘s 2017 premiere date, but Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, who wrote the book that the series is based on, took to Facebook to at least give fans a month: April. That’s normally when Game of Thrones returns, but the premiere of HBO’s juggernaut was pushed back to the summer. Speaking of Thrones: check out Lindelof’s shirt in the announcement video above. Both Reek and Kevin Garvey have a history with dogs. I’m thinking… (a very depressing) crossover?
