Leftowers already had a few extraordinary episodes in the first season, and after a more mediocre second season, it is again on its's path with telling very personal stories, where it's always at its best.
This episode is focusing on Kevin junior's father, old Kevin Garvey senior, former police chief and former mental institution inhabitant after the events of October, 14th, and his journey to and through Australia, why he had to come there, and why he had to cross the continent in search for something to stop the apocalypse, which he thinks will come soon on the next October 14th (in Australia, October 15th).
For the most time we follow the old man, who behaves like one of the last remaining hippies, traveling through the country, talking to others, and telling his story in his own words, until he is coming to the point at the end of the previous episode, when he came out from a house, asking the four ladies, what they're are up to (drowning a sheriff named Kevin).
Until this point the episode is mostly funny, and easy to follow because we know that Kevin senior is important, and because he is really sympathetic and Scott Glenn is a great actor. Of course there is the usual symbolic scene for us to interpret, and two moments where one knows the outcome for sure.
But, what follows then, in the last few minutes, where Grace (Lindsay Duncan), the leader of the four women, is telling him, is one of the greatest moments in TV shows I've ever met. It's only a story told, but such a heartbreaking story of failure because of belief, that cost many lives, and it is told so intense, that I had to remind myself of breathing for that time. No action movie or drama or tense situation had this effect on me for several years, and I had to wonder how little is needed to create a really gripping scene - great actors, a good story and a caring director. And in this case, the music comes only in later, to release us, instead of pulling us deeper.
Anyways, a great opportunity to spend an hour with a real TV highlight.
This episode is focusing on Kevin junior's father, old Kevin Garvey senior, former police chief and former mental institution inhabitant after the events of October, 14th, and his journey to and through Australia, why he had to come there, and why he had to cross the continent in search for something to stop the apocalypse, which he thinks will come soon on the next October 14th (in Australia, October 15th).
For the most time we follow the old man, who behaves like one of the last remaining hippies, traveling through the country, talking to others, and telling his story in his own words, until he is coming to the point at the end of the previous episode, when he came out from a house, asking the four ladies, what they're are up to (drowning a sheriff named Kevin).
Until this point the episode is mostly funny, and easy to follow because we know that Kevin senior is important, and because he is really sympathetic and Scott Glenn is a great actor. Of course there is the usual symbolic scene for us to interpret, and two moments where one knows the outcome for sure.
But, what follows then, in the last few minutes, where Grace (Lindsay Duncan), the leader of the four women, is telling him, is one of the greatest moments in TV shows I've ever met. It's only a story told, but such a heartbreaking story of failure because of belief, that cost many lives, and it is told so intense, that I had to remind myself of breathing for that time. No action movie or drama or tense situation had this effect on me for several years, and I had to wonder how little is needed to create a really gripping scene - great actors, a good story and a caring director. And in this case, the music comes only in later, to release us, instead of pulling us deeper.
Anyways, a great opportunity to spend an hour with a real TV highlight.