10 TV Shows That Changed Dramatically

This masterful drama, created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta (on whose novel it’s based) is by design in a constant state of flux. We’re dropped into a terrifying reality in which two percent of the world’s population has disappeared without trace or explanation, and from there, we follow an evolving cast of characters as they make sense of the new reality, and hope to rebuild.

Most obviously, each season takes place primarily or entirely in a different location. For the first run, we’re in a small town in New York State, where our series-long protagonists Kevin and Nora find each other among a landscape of religious fundamentalism, nihilism, and grief. After this, we decamp first to Miracle, Texas (a town unblighted by the rapture-like event) and later Australia.

Beyond this, though, the tone and genre shift perceivably, sliding from psychological drama to something akin to sci fi. The series remains rooted in realism, commendably, throughout. As time passes, we see the Departure fade into the background - life, as it must, goes on for those who remain.