Created by Damon Lindelof and acclaimed novelist Tom Perrotta, the HBO series The Leftovers, about what happens after 140 million people vanished from the face of the Earth, is currently in its final season. With the seventh anniversary of the Sudden Departure approaching, ex-Holy Wayne follower and former undercover Guilty Remnant member Tom (Chris Zylka) is just trying to find his place in the world and among his family.

After seeing seven of the eight episodes of Season 3 (they were understandably withholding the final episode of the series), Collider sat down with actor Chris Zylka to talk about the huge journey of ups and downs that he’s taken with this character, the honor of working for HBO and with this cast and creative team, his mutual respect with Damon Lindelof, trying to come up with his own explanation for The Departure, how much he looks up to fellow cast member Justin Theroux, living by the idea that his favorite job is his next one, and his experience on the upcoming feature film The Death and Life of John F. Donovan.

Collider: This final season of The Leftovers is so good, and now that I’ve seen seven of the eight episodes, I’m dying to know how it all ends!

CHRIS ZYLKA: I actually don’t know. I’m such a fan of the show that I didn’t read the last script.

What was it that originally drew you to this show and this character, and could you ever have imagined the journey he went on or where he ended up?

ZYLKA: No. Number one, I could never have imagined working for HBO, at such a young age, which was such an honor, or with Damon [Lindelof], Pete [Berg] or Mimi Leder, or with being involved with the cast that I’ve been able to work with. But the evolution of Tom, Season 2 was a dream for me. Even not being involved with so many episodes, the episodes you are involved in, it’s like, “Oh, my gosh!” There’s an arc that happens, in an hour of a television show, that most people would have to have two-and-a-half hours of a movie to resolve. It’s just been a complete honor.

Some of these characters have been on a very clear path, from the beginning, but your character has been much more unpredictable.

ZYLKA: Tom’s changed a lot. I’m so fortunate, just for the ups and downs. He’s been searching for something. When Season 3 is resolved, I think people will see the evolution, a lot more. I couldn’t have imagined, reading the pilot and talking to Damon, that it was going to be as gnarly of a ride as it has been.

This show presents a lot of questions, some of which it will never answer, and Damon Lindelof has been pretty up front about that fact. Did you have to take a moment to get over not having those answers, or are you okay with not having those answers?

ZYLKA: My career has gone in such a way that I’ve gotten to learn that, when you’re working with a great storyteller, you don’t ask questions, you just trust them. And when you don’t hear from them, that’s a good thing. Me and Damon have that mutual respect for each other, and he knows that I’m not going to ask questions. I’ll ask him how his kids are or how his wife is doing, not what’s next for Tom. It’s just that mutual respect and trust that is The Leftovers.

Did you ever try to come up with your own explanation for The Departure?

ZYLKA: Always. Everyone did. You’d be foolish not to try to figure out Damon Lindelof. Every great story leaves you questioning. If all of the questions are answered and everything is resolved, it’s boring. There’s nothing to talk about afterwards. Any film geek wants to debate about what they think, and that’s something that’s really wonderful, that Damon and Mimi have accomplished with our series. Every episode leaves you asking questions. In my opinion, the show is about how people deal with loss and how people deal with death. You remember those little moments, like jumping on a trampoline. I remember my brother tickling my arm when I went to sleep. Those are the small things that I remember from childhood. I’m an Irish twin. I was born on May 9, 1985, and he was born on May 27, 1986, and I remember not being able to sleep and being like, “Josh, please tickle my arm.” We shared a bed, and he would tickle my arm until I fell asleep because I had sleeping problems. Damon sees the little moments, and that’s why he is who he is.

Now that you know the arc for your character and the journey that he went on, looking back on the series as a whole, does it change your perception of it, at all? 

ZYLKA: No. From the beginning, Tom was searching for something. As a lot of us deal with, in adolescence and even in post-adolescence, for the first few years, everything you really need and everything you really want is right where it began. That’s home. The first time me and Justin [Theroux] ever meet, on the show, is really in Season 3. Maybe that’s all I needed.

What’s it been like to have someone like Justin Theroux to play the dynamic between your characters?

ZYLKA: It’s such a complicated dynamic. I’ve always been looking for someone to look up to, and Justin is the ultimate good man. He’s a pro at what he does. He’s the grandest number one on the call sheet, and he’s someone to look up to, as a human being. It’s easy, being in the scenes, for me. I feel guilty. I look up to Justin so much, as a human being, that I would have to step back and be Tom, instead of looking up to him so much. He does everything the right way.

When you do a show like this, where you do go through so much, do you feel like he’s finally found a sense of purpose, or will he always be searching?

ZYLKA: I think that’s the ultimate question that you’ll take away from Tom. I’d rather not question it and let it go. I think he’s content, and that’s what everyone is searching for, especially in The Leftovers world. He’s been through enough, has seen enough, and has done enough that he’s satisfied with who he is. Isn’t that what all of us want? When you’re young, you make mistakes and are searching for something. And then, you find something that you’re content with and you’re cool with that. For now, Tom is good.

When you have an experience like this, as an actor, how does it affect what you want to do next, in your career, to make sure you continue to be satisfied?

ZYLKA: I always live by the idea that my favorite job is my next one. It doesn’t really matter what the content is. It’s so hard to top HBO, Damon, Justin, Mimi, and the entire cast and crew. You feel like you’re reached a ceiling, but I could go do a guest spot on a Disney show and be just as satisfied because I get to work. You appreciate just being able to work because there are so many actors that aren’t. You have to appreciate every single job, just the same.

How do you think this experience has helped you evolve, as an actor?

ZYLKA: Getting to learn from Justin, who went through hell on set, with mud, dead fish and everything you could possibly imagine thrown at him, and still see him keep up morale, higher than you could possibly imagine. I’ve been on set with other people were it wasn’t that way. To see him be able to handle it, put it on his back and have a smile on his face, the entire time, was the best learning experience for me. I learned how to be a #1.

What were the biggest challenges, for you, in doing this project?

ZYLKA: Being able to step outside of being on an HBO show, working with these people. In my career, it’s always been smaller stuff or indie films. It was taking a step back and saying, “You belong here.” That was the biggest challenge for me. And then, I found out that they were all just wonderful people.

Do you know what you’ll be doing next?

ZYLKA: I’d like to do another TV show. I just wrapped up The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, with Xavier Dolan. That’s amazing! I can’t wait to see the finished product! I’m a huge fan of Xavier, and he’s been a dear friend for a long time. Just to know that he wanted me to be involved was cool. It’s his first “American” film. I was extremely fortunate, just the way that I was when Damon called me for The Leftovers.

The Leftovers airs on Sunday nights on HBO.