HBO has released the first trailer for the second season of The Leftovers, and it’s very different. Inspired by the season-to-season structure of The Wire, showrunner Damon Lindelof has opted to mix things up this year by dropping half the cast and moving locations from New York State to Texas. So how does the shift come into play in the story? Well as we can see from this trailer, there’s a town in Texas that had zero departures. Lindelof described to us his feelings on the change thusly:
"I do feel like the catalyst for coming back was 'let’s try something bold!' And if it doesn’t work, well, it will be a spectacular failure as opposed to a humdrum one."
I was fascinated by the show’s first season. It’s incredibly different than Lost or anything else on HBO for that matter, but it's also extremely obtuse and Lindelof seemed like he hadn't exactly found the right structure he wanted just yet. I watched every episode and I’m not sure I could accurately describe what the show is, per se. But I will say I was blown away by two phenomenal episodes, as Lindelof and his writers opted to do standalone installments that put the focus on specific character.
The series has also been a wonderful showcase for the acting talents of Carrie Coon and Justin Theroux. They’re both returning, as are Amy Brenneman, Chris Zylka, Margaret Qualley, and Christopher Eccleston, but beyond that the Season 2 cast will be chock-full of newcomers.
Watch the teaser trailer below, via HBO. The Leftovers returns this fall.
