8 Reasons You Must Watch HBO's The Leftovers
4. The Insanely Good Cast
As great as the characters are, they wouldn't be nearly as good without the actors that portrayed them. Justin Theroux leads a sensational ensemble as Kevin Garvey, the tortured and frustrated police chief who is just trying to keep his family together in the wake of the Sudden Departure. Theroux has incredible range and and is a brilliant leading man. Amy Brenneman plays his ex-wife Laurie who has abandoned her family to join the Guilty Remnant, her arc on the show is particularly tragic at times.
Supporting them are career best performances from Christopher Eccleston and Liv Tyler. Eccleston plays a priest who is desperate to keep his faith in God at all costs and Tyler is an impressionable woman who puts all her chaotic energies into becoming a member of the Guilty Remnant. In addition, Oscar winner Regina King is worthy of a shout out giving some of her very best work here before she went on to partner with Lindelof again on Watchmen.
From Kevin Carroll to Scott Glenn to Lindsay Duncan, no one puts a foot wrong and collectively it is one of the best ensemble shows you will ever see. Finally, Ann Dowd, now known for her great work on The Handmaid's Tale, deserves attention for her deliciously devious role as the head of the Guilty Remnant. Dowd's character goes on potentially the most interesting arc of the show and she is extraordinary throughout.