Network: HBO
Episodes: 18 (half-hour)
Seasons: Two
TV show dates: October 10, 2011 — March 3, 2013
Series status: Cancelled
Performers include: Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Luke Wilson, Sarah Burns, Amy Hill, Timm Sharp, and Mike White.
TV show description:
Amy Jellicoe (Laura Dern) is a self-destructive executive at Abaddon Industries who’s been her own worst enemy for most of her adult life. Her self-destructive choices, both at home and at work, result in a very public, humiliating nervous breakdown.
After three months of contemplation and meditation at a holistic treatment facility in Hawaii, Amy returns rested and ready to pick up the pieces of her old life, to reshape the world she left behind, and to lead a more enlightened existence. Once a buyer in the company’s Health and Beauty department, Amy is rehired, but assigned to a demeaning position in data processing.
Levi (Luke Wilson) is Amy’s ex-husband and a functioning drug addict. They had a troubled relationship, though the chemistry that first brought them together still exists below the surface. Levi is constantly annoyed by Amy’s attempts to help him deal with his addiction issues.
Amy’s mother, Helen Jellicoe (Diane Ladd) lives with her little Cavalier King, Ginger. After Amy’s crisis, her daughter becomes a live-in house guest “until she gets on her feet.” Helen is very good at being impassive in the face of emotional displays and keeps her deepest thoughts inside her — including her deepest thoughts about her daughter.
Krista (Sarah Burns) is Amy’s former assistant and watched in complete horror as Amy went berserk in the hallways of Abaddon Industries. Months later, when Amy returns from treatment, Krista puts on a very brave, very false face, as she tries to keep Amy at arm’s length.
Dougie (Timm Sharp) is a programmer that was hired by Abaddon to get a new productivity software up and running. He oversees Amy and the other data processing people in Cogentiva. Initially friendly and seemingly laidback, Dougie is in fact not someone who will tolerate being disrespected or crossed.
Tyler (Mike White) is Amy’s seemingly meek co-worker who takes an immediate liking to Amy when she’s transferred down to Cogentiva. Tyler is constantly helping Amy with her work and attempts to avoid getting in trouble with their mutual boss.
Judy Harvey (Amy Hill) is the head of Human Relations for Abaddon Industries. She takes a mandated meeting with Amy after she’s released from treatment with a clean bill of health. An expert at maintaining a blandly unrevealing corporate facade, Judy ultimately has to rehire Amy and is constantly dealing with her attempts to make the company more socially responsible.
A handsome married Abaddon executive, Damon Manning (Charles Esten) had an office romance with Amy and bears the brunt of her temper when she loses her job. Damon is horrified when Amy is rehired at Abaddon and does his best to avoid her.
Episode #18 — Agent of Change
Amy calls Tyler to let him know the story is going to run and he needs to prepare himself. He comes clean to Eileen about what Amy is doing-and his role in it-and she storms out of his house. Helen gets upset when Amy breaks the news about her blowing the whistle at Abaddonn. Amy offers to move out and Helen takes her up on it.
Jeff alerts Amy that someone leaked word to Abaddonn about her involvement in the exposé and Amy immediately suspects Krista. She confronts Krista – just after she’s given birth – and Krista’s family removes her from the room.
Dougie is saying goodbye to his Cogentiva group, when H.R. arrives to take Tyler away. Amy realizes that it was Eileen who told Abaddonn about the story. She collects her documents and hard drive and tries to leave the building but is stopped by security. Escorted to Szidon’s office, she tells Eileen it was her idea, she shouldn’t blame Tyler.
Amy is grilled by H.R., Abaddonn’s legal counsel, and Charles Szidon. They press her for information about what she gave to the L.A. Times, threatening to sue. Amy says, “I have a car that doesn’t work and I’m $20,000 in debt, so knock yourself out.” As an incensed Szidon screams at her, she calmly replies: “The only thing I feel is satisfaction.”
Amy calls Jeff to tell him the news, mentioning that they’re going to sue her. “We always knew that would happen,” Jeff says, but Amy didn’t know that. Adrift, she ends up at Levi’s, wondering who she really is. “You’re just full of hope,” her ex-husband tells her.
The Abaddonn exposé runs on the front page, where Helen reads it, proudly. Eileen and Tyler get back together. Amy sees the paper at a café and walks past it, off to the next stage in her life.
First aired: March 3, 2013
What do you think? Do you like the Enlightened TV series on HBO? Are you sorry that there won’t be a third season?
Please, please, please bring this amazing show back. We happened upon it and couldn’t stop watching it; a show that’s smart and exciting, driven by the flawed characters that we end up loving, despite their shortcomings. This show is a work of art. It leaves you feeling up, down and everything in between! The musical score that underlines the action and voice overs is clever and moving. The actors are the best of the best, the looks, glances, touches, all work of the finest stars. I couldn’t believe this show came out in 2011, the office politics are the same;… Read more »
I love this show! Please bring it back HBO!!!!
So sorry to read that this series was cancelled! We just binge watched the 2 seasons, such a standout show, HBO please bring it back!
Enlightened was such an intelligent, thoughtful, well acted, smartly written series. With all the other junk out there (yes, that includes many on HBO) I can’t believe they pulled this one from their lineup! Please bring it back!!
I loved this show. Bring it back!
I really liked this show!!! So sad to hear it has been cancelled!! I wish HBO would bring it back!!!
HBO missed the right call on this one. Great show, cinematography, acting, deep, gritty and insightful. Laura Dern is fantastic as is the entire cast. Just a shame.
Please bring back another series of Enlightened…..really surprised it was canceled.
Enlightened was one of the best shows ever on TV. Smart, topical, funny, sensitive, complex. I loved it–the imperfect people, the imperfect idealism. The complex multi-faceted women.
My wife and I really enjoyed the show. We were looking forward to season 3. Our friends started to watch it. With junk like True Blood, HBO needs to have some insightful shows!
I love the show and hope some other network will pick it up, maybe TNT or one of the other networks with imagination.
I liked it too. Too bad they canceled it….
It sucks that this show was cancelled. It was real, gritty and so insightful. I’m pretty sure that HBO is losing my vote for ever watching any of their shows if all they do is cancel after everyone gets interested.