Season two of The Leftovers just ended this Sunday on HBO, and there is still no news of whether the show will have another season. Recently, co-creator Damon Lindelof spoke to the Hollywood Reporter about the possibility of another season for the drama.
Only a week ago, co-creator Tom Perrotta said to Indiewire that while they have “vague ideas” for a season three, HBO had not broached the topic yet.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Lindelof said that the series’ low ratings and intense emotional investment may make another season renewal difficult.
For season two, The Leftovers scored pretty low in the ratings, with an average of only about .67 million viewers.
Lindelof, on the series’ low ratings:
Anybody who says to you that they don’t want more viewers is a much more confident individual than I am. I do subscribe to the idea that the more people watching the show, the better the show is. The more critical acclaim, the better the show is. I’m just not the person who’s like, “Hey, if I like it then f— all of y’all.” Television in particular is a medium that is designed to go out to the masses, and I would like a lot of people [to watch my show.] That said, I also understand that the subject matter is really asking for a big investment from the audience. One of the things that we can all acknowledge is that there’s so much great television out there. People who will evangelize the show, they’ll be like, “Oh my god, you’ve got to watch The Leftovers. I cried like a baby last night.” The person they’re saying that to might think, “I’m not entirely sure I want to cry like a baby?” The show does ask for an intense emotional investment, and I have to acknowledge that. And I want to keep writing that show. To HBO’s and Warner Bros.’s credit, no one is asking me how can we make the show more accessible to people. I don’t know how you would even do that. I guess one way would be, like, to cast Matthew McConaughey in the show. “McConaughey joins Leftovers season three!” But then there’s the people who love The Leftovers and have been watching it for two seasons who would probably go, “I don’t know, man. I love Matthew McConaughey, but I don’t know. That feels exploitative. It feels like a ratings grab.” So, I wouldn’t know how to begin to make the show more accessible. If you have any ideas, I’m open to good ones. I’m whorish that way.”
On the possibility of another season:
HBO has been immensely supportive about the creative, and all I can say is that we’re all talking. We all have to acknowledge the ratings. If the show had been on par with season one, I think we would definitely be proceeding. But I think there’s a sense of, “Where did everybody from season one go? Are they going to binge it. Are they coming back?” Because the ratings went down, there’s all sorts of spin that you can attribute to it, but there is this mystifying aspect of, “Well, if everyone says that the second season was better, then where did everybody go?”
What do you think? Did you watch The Leftovers season two finale? Would you like there to be another season?
I love the leftovers. I don’t understand how u figure what is good to keep by how many people watch?? Season 2’s finale was spectacular, please please continue with a season 3…
Yes… definately loved season 2’s finale. Pease have a season 3…..too many unanswered questions.
There are only 4 shows on HBO worth watching, Game of Thrones, Last Week Tonight, Silicon Valley and The Leftovers. HBO would be stupid to cancel this show, especially after such a sensational season. The Leftovers stands out. To me, the rest of the shows are redundant and boring compare to the shows I listed. Don’t be stupid HBO, keep The Leftovers.
I love the show. It would truly suck if it was cancelled. I would question if I wanted to continue watching HBO without the Leftovers. It’s too soon. The audience needs more answers. Absolutely love this show.
I love the show but I knew it would probably be canceled. The producers of the show screwed up big time by announcing during the first season that the mystery of where all the departed people went would never be answered. This was the main reason why many friends of mine gave up on the show during the first season. After all the mystery of what happened to the people would be the main reason people would tune in each week. Yes I know it was never explained in the book but that does not mean the TV show would… Read more »
I really love this show, but if they did that I might seriously reconsider my respect for it. Why do you want to know where they went? Who cares really!? All mystery shows that end up explaining everything, usually leave an unsatisfied feeling. Would it really be better for you if they said it was the rapture or alien abductions or an alternative universe? I love that it is left unexplained and up to the individual viewer. This show isn’t really about that one event anyway, more the aftermath of it and the lingering uncertainty. They even tried to spell… Read more »
Why do you want to know where they went? Who cares really!? All mystery shows that end up explaining everything, usually leave an unsatisfied feeling. Would it really be better for you if they said it was the rapture or alien abductions or an alternative universe? I love that it is left unexplained and up to the individual viewer. Who really cares? How about the overwhelming majority of people who have watched the show. I work for law enforcement and have over 400 people in my office. We have a TV club that consists of over 50 people. All 50… Read more »
My question of “who cares” was more rhetorical, but okay… To that end; I also happen to know a lot of people that watch this show and who don’t care about an explanation to the departure, but that doesn’t prove anything. The low ratings could also be a mix of some viewers finding the first season too depressing and the fact that it premiered in the spring, against other huge shows like the walking dead, instead of in the summer as last year. My point earlier was that this supernatural set up is just the catalyst for exploring the effects… Read more »
Revealing where the departures went would ruin the show. I would rather them cancel the show than do that. Everyone has different viewpoints on what really happens when you die. Who is right? Leave the show as is, let the mystery be. My imagination is running wild because of it. Why ruin it.
I think people prefer simple, ordinary show. Show that they do not want to be complicated. They want simple drama- who sleep with who, adopted brothers and sisters etc. You get my point, don’t you? This is the reason why another one of my favourite shows is most likely to be cancelled “Person of interest”. It makes me mad.
I really like the Leftovers season 1 was awesome I’ve only watched 4 episodes so far of season 2 but have them on my dvr I think the problem w/season 2 is that it came back in October I was looking forward to seeing it in the summer like w/season so that was disappointing and starting in October when there are so many new fall shows I think was a big mistake… I record so much and am still trying to catch up on everything I record and like I said I’ve only watched 4 episodes.. I am liking season… Read more »