21 Mysteries That Must Be Solved on THE LEFTOVERS
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher)
The premiere episode of the second season of The Leftovers was one of the most intriguing hours of television I’ve seen in a long time. I feel like the “reboot” of the show is bringing us more layers of substance in an already-substinative series. Here are 21 different mysteries that were set up in this week’s episode. Knowing the creators of the show, I expect we will get answers to these riddles in due time.
- THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CAVEMEN OPENING
The opening sequence for season two was a mystery wrapped inside an enigma. Full of classic mythological imagery, this story of a woman who dies protecting her child seems to carry deep meaning. But what it is it? And what does it have to do with what’s happening in present day Jarden?
- THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE EARTHQUAKES
We see them occurring in the early days of man and continuing through the present. What’s their connection to all the mysterious events that are unfolding?
- THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BIRDS
Are birds some sort of omen in this season? We see birds three times in the caveman sequence. We also see Erika release a bird from a box in the woods.
- WHO IS THE BRIDE WATERING HER LAWN AS MICHAEL RIDES BY?
This doesn’t appear to be out of the norm for Michael. He doesn’t even give her a second glance as he rides by. Is she an anomaly in the town or will we see more women dressed as brides throughout the season?
- WHO IS THE MAN IN THE TOWER AND WHY IS HE THERE?
Michael seems to have a soft spot in his heart for him, bringing him food each day. But who is he and why is he there? And perhaps more importantly, what message is he sending to David Burton in Sidney, Australia?
- WHAT ARE THE MARKERS?
We see Michael ride by a large “7” marker next to a spot in the road devastated by an earthquake. We also hear him mention that his church is just past the “18” marker. What are these markers? What do the numbers signify?
- WHY ARE EVIE AND HER FRIENDS RUNNING NAKED THROUGH THE WOODS?
Are these just girls being silly and having fun? Or is something ceremonial and perhaps ritualistic going on here?
- WHY DOES ERIKA HAVE A BIRD BURIED IN A BOX IN THE WOODS?
Could this have been a dream sequence? Or is there something more significant going on here? Did anyone know about her buried secret?
- WHAT HAPPENED TO ERIKA’S HEARING?
We see Erika wearing hearing aids throughout the episode. We also experience how little she can hear when she wakes up without them in. Was she born this way? Or did an experience give her this condition?
- WHY DID THE PREACHER AT SACRED MISSION BAPTIST CHURCH CUT MATT OFF?
As Matt was telling about his wife’s improved condition since moving to Jarden, the preacher abruptly cuts him off. Why would a person of faith do such a thing? What does the preacher know that we don’t?
- WHY DID A MAN DRAG A GOAT INTO A RESTAURANT AND SACRIFICE IT?
There’s a long religious tradition of sacrificing animals. No one in the restaurant seemed to bat an eye as the horrid affair was carried out. Does this happen often? What was the man trying to atone for? Why did this need to happen in public and specifically in this restaurant?
- WHY DID THE PERFECT STRANGERS STAR FAKE HIS DEPARTURE?
We see in a TV news segment that the actor who played Larry on Perfect Strangers was spotted down in Mexico. Was this just a fun throwback to the mention of him from last season? Or is this a larger plot point? Were there others who faked their departure?
- WHAT BAD THING AWAITS JOHN?
Isaac seems convinced that something bad is awaiting John. Was Evie’s disappearance evidence he was right? Or is something even larger looming at John’s doorstep?
- WHO LEFT THE APPLE PIE ON JOHN’S PORCH?
It seemed like a nice gesture. But John was clearly worried it might be poisoned. Was he right to be concerned? Is this connected to the bad thing Isaac said awaited him?
- HOW DID KEVIN GET THE CUT ON HIS HEAD?
What caused the damage to Kevin’s head? Also, he seemed a bit out of it looking at John’s couch. Did the cut cause some sort of internal problem as well or is there something to that couch?
- WHO DID JOHN TRY TO KILL?
John is fairly forthcoming about his time in prison in his first real meeting with the Garveys. It’s clear he’s not ashamed of what he did. Who did he try to kill and what did they do to him?
- WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN EVIE, WATER, AND MOSES?
There seems to be some connection between Evie and water. We see her bringing spring water back from her swim for her brother. We hear her mother tell a humorous story about flooding the bathroom with her arms outstretched like Moses. And finally, when Evie disappeared, the water disappeared. What is the connection?
- DOES EVIE REALLY HAVE EPILEPSY OR ARE HER EPISODES CAUSED BY SOMETHING ELSE?
Evie’s episode in front of the Garveys is explained as Epilepsy. However, Some of her symptoms don’t appear to be that of an Epileptic. Does she actually go into a trance? How much does her family really know about her condition?
- DID EVIE AND HER FRIENDS DEPART?
Jarden seems awfully proud that no one from their town departed. But with Evie and her friends missing, we must ask, did they disappear in some sort of second departure?
- WHERE DID THE WATER GO?
Fish are flopping around and the ground is all but dry when John and Michael visit Evie’s favorite swimming spot. Where did that water go?
- ARE THE CRICKETS A PLAGUE?
The river has gone dry. Is there now pestilence in the land? Are Biblical plagues descending on Jarden? Why?
Good questions. And no answers, at least from me. A better question is how did you manage to c0llect all these questions? Did you watch the show on demand and hit pause after each unanswerable event. I know that when the caveman era segued into the modern era (at the same watering hole – I immediately thought of Kubrik’s 2001 when the pre-historical ape tossed a bone into their and it became a space ship. Of course that bogged me down for a while. Heres another question – why was the earthquake so localized – one would think that Kevin and faily would have been out in the street too?